Apr 7th:  Potlucks are on temporary hold as the club hibernates during the winter.  For those of you who can't wait for the next biking season, the first potluck for 2010 will be held on April 7th.  For everyone else, get your winter gear out!  The mountains are ripe for skiing, boarding, and shoeing!!  For addresses and directions to the next potluck, please contact membership@rmbb.org.

First warm, sunny weekend in April: Get the 2010 season off to a fun start with a two-day camping and biking weekend at Lake Pueblo State Park!  We won't decide which weekend to go until we get a good weather report, so keep your schedule flexible.  There are quite a number of short trails along the south shore: some mellow rollers over open prairie and other more challenging plunges into the arroyos that drain into the lake.  This will be a low-key, low-cost outing that has proven delightful in previous years.  Please contact ginzndenver@aol.com to put your name on the list to be notified about the trip dates.

Apr 30th - May 2nd: Our annual spring excursion to Fruita this year will coincide with the "Fat Tire Festival" weekend.  We've reserved three campsites at Highline Lake State Park near Loma.  Most of the Fat Tire Festival activities will take place in the 18 Road trail complex, so we'll likely spend our time riding the loop trails along the rim of the Colorado River or those near Grand Junction to avoid the crowd.  That's not to say, though, that we won't spend any time in Fruita mingling with the hordes of mountain bikers.  To express interest in the outing, please email Paul at RacerX29er@gmail.com.

May 28th - 31st: Moab, Utah, is the undisputed Mountain Biking Capital of the world and a perennial club favorite destination.  The area's treasure trove of slickrock formations and miles of gorgeous jeep roads and singletrack is a grand escape for bikers and hikers of all abilities.  We'll stay in deluxe condos along the golf course where we can unwind with cold margaritas after a long, hot day on the bike.  Mark your calendars for now.  We'll post more details as they develop.

Jul 2nd - 5th: No other place in Colorado can match the exquisite beauty or challenging trails found in Crested Butte.  Home to the world’s first fat tire festival, Crested Butte can honestly lay claim to being the cradle of mountain biking.  We'll stay in well-appointed condos.  More details will be forthcoming; mark your calendars for now.  To receive email notification of the official announcement, please contact Paul at RacerX29er@gmail.com.

Jul 22nd - 25th: We've ridden in the South Park area before but have rarely taken an extended stay to explore the many recreational opportunities to be had.  Many miles of amazing singletrack and jeep trails snake through the north and west part of the valley.  Experienced hikers can tackle any of the several nearby fourteeners of the Mosquito Range.  We'll stay in a luxurious vacation home where we can soak in our own private hot tub after each great day in the mountains.  Cost of $160 covers three nights lodging and most meals.  Please contact calbiker@live.com for more information.

Jul 31st - Aug 7th: The biggest sports and cultural festival in the world will take place in Cologne, Germany.  Some 12,000 participants from more than 70 countries will converge for the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 and celebrate the principles of participation, inclusion and personal best.  Be part of it!  The invitation is open to everyone, and the parties are simply "fabulous!"  The opening ceremony is guaranteed to be one of the most spectacular and moving events you will ever witness.  J.L. participated in the Mountain Biking contest in both 2002 and 2006 and can give you more information about it.  Please email him at jlcleland1@embarqmail.com.

Aug 6th - 8th: Happily, we've found another new (to us) hut for our ninth annual hut trip.  We'll spend the weekend exploring the trails around the Harry Gates Hut, south of Eagle.  Located in an area rich with amazingly scenic jeep roads, Harry Gates is one of 10th Mountain's lowest in elevation.  All of which make for an easier, more relaxing hut vacation.  Of course, if you get bored, the notorious Mt. Thomas Deathmarch beckons!  Cost of $125 covers two nights lodging and all meals.  Due to sag vehicle requirements, space is limited.  Please contact calbiker@live.com to get on board.

Mar 3rd - 7th: Pack your snowshoes, skis, boards, and warm mitts!  Here's your chance to cram in five days of winter sports in the Colorado high country.  We'll rent another deluxe vacation home in Fraser for four nights and spend the days hitting the ski slopes, tubing hills, cross-country trails, natural hot springs, and/or shopping boutiques!  Cost of only $145 covers all four nights of lodging!  Coupons for discount lift tickets available.

Feb 20th: Need to burn off some holiday Kibbles?  Avoid the crowds on the ski slopes and take your best friend on a snow hike to Lost Lake by the Eldora Ski Area west of Nederland.  Human laws permit well-behaved powder hounds off-leash on this hike so here's a great chance for you and your owner to get some winter exercise, and, of course, sniff some butts!  Canine-less humans are also welcomed, as their existence without us dogs is tragedy enough.

Feb 14th: We can't promise you a bouquet of roses, but we can probably swing a box of chocolates.  Spend the day with your special someone playing in the powder at Loveland Basin.  A special sweetheart treat will be provided for those who pre-register.  A limited number of twofer discount coupons are available by request.

Jan 17th: With the unfortunate demise of the Ski Train for the 2009/2010 season, we will instead visit Copper Mountain for a fun day on the slopes.  Meet in Denver to carpool up to the mountain or rendezvous at the base of the "Super Bee" lift at 10:00 am.  Lunch in the lower level of the Solitute Station at 12:30.  Apres ski at Endo's Adrenaline Cafe at 3:30.  Coupons for discount lift tickets are available!

Oct 18th: While we hope that good biking weather will extend well into November, we'll have an end-of-season ride and picnic at Heil Valley Ranch northwest of Boulder.  This will be a great opportunity to sample the Wapiti, Ponderosa, Wild Turkey, and perhaps Picture Rock trail.  We'll cap it off with a picnic lunch back at the trailhead.  Brats for the grill will be provided; participants are asked to bring a side dish to share with the group and their own beverage of choice.

The weather was exquisite and trail conditions superb during the recent extended weekend trip to Marble, Colorado, Sept 25-27.  We settled in at the Chair Mountain Ranch for three days of hiking, biking and sight-seeing around the town sites of Marble and Crystal City.  The aspen forests carpeting McClure Pass glittered golden in the bright sunshine beneath flawless azure skies.  Participants explored the ruined Marble Mill Site, visited the famous Crystal mill, wandered afoot over high country trails and/or bicycled many satisfying miles through the autumn woods.

Sep 24th: Meet at the trailhead at 5:30 for this evening ride.

Sep 19th: We're in for a treat this month with TWO bike-n-beer rides.  This second trip will explore the miles of red canyons and rolling prairies of Red Mountain Open Space north of Ft. Collins.  The park opened just this year and promises to be a grand treat.  How better to end the ride than with a visit to Ft. Collins' famous Coopersmith's Pub and Brewery?  Could this become "the Fruita of the North?"

Sep 17th: Meet at the lower lot at 5:30 for this evening ride.

Sep 13th: For those pansy nellies not killing themselves on the Sufferfest this weekend, here's a good chance to check out a budding gem that has just opened up to mountain biking!  Let's visit the newest Colorado State Park for a day of exploration and beers.  Cheyenne Mountain (next to NORAD and Colorado Springs) boasts a network of 16 easy to moderately difficult trails, totalling at least 20 miles.  Now get this: they're all open to bikes but CLOSED TO HORSES.  Hell yeah!!  We'll end the day with a stop at Phantom Canyon Brewery for some appropriate liquid celebrations.

Sep 10th: Meet at the trailhead at 5:30 for this evening ride.

Despite the lowering clouds, most of the troup set out Saturday morning on the epic 20-mile ride of the Canyon Creek Loop.  After humping 12 miles up the jeep road to Tomichi Pass and just 300 vertical feet shy of the mountain top, the skies opened up with pelting hail and lightning.  Rather than risk continuing over the exposed tundra, the group was forced back down and ended the day cold, numb, and muddy!
On Sunday the forecast was equally forbidding so some in the group opted for an easier, safer ride at Hartman Rocks near Gunnison.  A few brave souls took off on the Monarch Crest Trail and continued down Tank Seven Creek back into Sargents, which made for a very long and torturous ride.  Happily, the weather cleared as the day progressed, and everyone returned to camp dry.  Some much more exhausted than others!

Sep 3rd: Meet at the Loaf-n-Jug in Golden by 5:30 for this evening ride.

Aug 29th: Finally, a day to ride the fabulous trails in the Buffalo Creek area without having to do trail-building duty first!  The maze of interconnecting trails that swoop through the woods and over rolling terrain is a mountain biker's paradise.  Whether you're a newbie biker or a seasoned pro, there is plenty to like about these trails.  Pack your sack (light lunch or snack), including a toothpick to pick out all the bugs stuck in your smiling teeth after this fun ride!  We'll stop by the Bucksnort Saloon for some quirky local flair and more delicious beer.

Aug 22nd: One of the finest high altitude day rides around is the spectacular climb from Jefferson Creek to the top of Georgia Pass, located on the Colorado Trail between Kenosha Pass and Breckenridge.  This ride is on the RMBB “must do” list every season.  The single track trail winds its way from 10,000’ to 12,000’ in the course of six miles, and is rated intermediate, demanding strong climbing ability but posing only moderate technical challenges. Most people prefer riding the Colorado Trail, but Trail 648 is a nice alternate route to the same destination.