Mountain Biking Colorado

[brad nicholson]

This is from a trip over Labor Day weekend this past year. My friend John and I were in Kansas for six weeks and we decided rather than hash the same old trails over a four day weekend we would make the nine hour drive to Colorado Springs and head up into the hills. We ended up going to a great shop downtown that I have since forgotten the name. That afternoon we headed up to get a little acclimatization ride in before we came back down to the valley. This trail was around a resevoir at about 9000ft elevation up above Manitou Springs. Lots of smaller loops connecting with other trails as well so we made a day of riding in the lake area. It was some great riding but towards the afternoon we spent most of the day in foul weather gear in a biblical downpour. Bad thing is that this was the only ride we got in! Thunderstormed all weekend so we spent most of the time playing the regular tourist. Oh well...gives me a good excuse to head out there again!

[brad nicholson]

Rookie error...here are the pics...i'm the one in yellow, john in blue. That big mountain is Pike's Peak in the background. Lots of nice trail there, the road into the lake was mostly an old service road but the trails was interesting. Some places really rocky, someplaces deep gravel. Good ride...anyone outthere know this trail?

[DefJef]

Nice pics, nice scenery!

[TonyB]

Rampart Reservoir. I believe the trail is Rainbow Gulch. 30 minutes from my house. Did you jump off any of the elephant boulders?

[brad nicholson]

yes, but they were more like controlled crashes from up high!

we also rode the foresters trail...it was great! sadly were stormed out the last three days of the trip...would love to get back. it was my second time there, the first i was there in 98 to ride road bikes for a week and it was just as fun...brad

[TonyB]

There's a ton of great trails in the Colorado Springs area. They're opening up a brand new state park this summer that is focused on mountain biking. Then there's the high drive area and a new trail in the works -- "ring the peak" 65 mile circumnavigation of Pikes Peak. Schwweeeeet!

Next time you come out, give me a shout.

[brad nicholson]

...take you up on that when i get back to the states. i am trying to head back to cos when i leave germany. there is so much of everything i might have sensory overload...

[brad nicholson]

Wife was experimenting and came up with these, one a paint-over type scene and the other a charcoal type drawing. Compare to original below. Opinions wanted...

[wspokes]

Really nice work! At first, I thought I liked the charcoal the best, but I really like the paint over as well. I actually clicked and saved for desktop images to send home.

[brad nicholson]

my wife will be stoked, if you have anything you would like her to play with let me know and send it to jason.b.nicholson@us.army.mil . i am going to dig the scanner out of the dungeon tonight and get some climbing pics posted soon i hope.