Work and weather has made the long ride elusive, but I finally got one done last Sunday. This was my first ride at Buffalo Creek proper, and my first 5000'+ climbing effort on the new SB-66C.
All things considered, it went fairly well.
I've heard amazing things about Buffalo Creek. I mean, its an IMBA epic, and the front ranger accolades run deep. I enjoyed the myriad loops and the ability to link big mileage, but the trail surface SUCKS! Loose, gravelly sand its like riding in a giant litter box. Good for training which was what I needed, but the the zero-technical, loose, energy-sucking surface was a big downer on the fun factor.
I know there is the hyper-technical, free-ride, Blackjack Trail, but I could never find it. My goal was mileage and vert and I got that so it was a success. But absent training for a looming 500 mile trail race, I doubt I'd go back just to ride for fun. If the high country near home is still under snow, I guess I'd prefer to drive on a bit longer to ride Fruita where you can still get big miles, but with a bit more tech to keep the brain engaged.
Here's my GPS profile:
40 Miles of Buff Creek
Gonna try my first overnighter of the season this weekend with a fully-loaded bike. Still lots of snow, so not sure where to go, but I'll think of something.
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