USAPCC Stage 1: Salida to Crested Butte 159.9km (23/8/2011)

[greenedge]

True. I forgot that Andy got dropped on a cat 2 this year/ mur de bretagne

 

[phanatic]

Welcome to Colorado

Best Road Race Ever

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Imagine that... Levi Leipheimer attacking like crazy because he is chased by a wild bear.

 

[spetsa]

And they think making the race less exciting is the road to success?

Considering the lack of specific preparation put in by many of the top Euros, this race is not high on their priority list. Make it too hard and none will come back and race. What do you have then.....on the other hand though, having ridden most of them training, I would love to see a field of this quality, on form, racing to a couple MTF's. Left Hand Canyon to Ward would be interesting!

 

[dlwssonic]

Evans gotta be the favorite for this one. His form isnt bad from what we could see in the prologue.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Thanks Ben !

By coincidence there came a docu about Colorado river on ARTE when the Prolog was finished.

Is it true that I can't just inflate my rubber-boat and give it a go ?
They were telling something about some years (Up to 10) of waiting time.

Pretty funny that Mexico just gets some sand.

 

[spetsa]

Thanks Ben !

By coincidence there came a docu about Colorado river on ARTE when the Prolog was finished.

Is it true that I can't just inflate my rubber-boat and give it a go ?
They were telling something about some years (Up to 10) of waiting time.

Pretty funny that Mexico just gets some sand.

http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/river-faq.htm

All the info you need.

 

[benpounder]

By coincidence there came a docu about Colorado river on ARTE when the Prolog was finished.

Is it true that I can't just inflate my rubber-boat and give it a go ?
They were telling something about some years (Up to 10) of waiting time.

You are speaking of the stretch of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, and yes, it is true. The permitting process for private trips is quite lengthy and quirky. But it is not the kind of river that you can just do on a whim. From the put-in at Lees Ferry to the take-out at Diamond Creek, 225miles down river, is typically between 14 and 18 days in an oar boat.

(Incidentally, the Colorado River was initially called the Grand River, hence Grand Canyon and Grand Junction.)

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Really love all your info Ben. Thanks

 

[Deagol]

.... Colorado bear.

I was mountain biking in Summit County this weekend and saw two black bears saturday evening near Green Mountain Reservoir- probably less than 1/4 mile from the race route. The dirt road was just off the route on the Steamboat to Breckenridge stage 5 near Henney, Green Mountain Reservoir. There is also a very short gravel sectionon that section of the route, a bit after Elliot Creek campground.

Back on topic, My prediction for today is for the Columbians to score KOM points on Monarch pass, but that they won't survive out front on their own to the finish. It's a long drag into Gunnison from the pass.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Thank you spetsa and Ben !

My planned big US-trip (around 3 month) still has to be finalized, but such a boattrip HAS to be included I guess, and be planned long in advance .

Anyway, I'll be a happy man just by standing somewhere in the Grand Canyon and watching the vultures circle above me, with heat shimmer on the horizont.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Really love all your info Ben. Thanks

Colorado River can be cruel and is stunning.

But those Americans should see the Maas. Won't be a problem to paddle along Colorado River, if you spent many years on or close to the epic Maas.
Compared to this, Colorado will be an easy boattrip.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Colorado River can be cruel and is stunning.

But those Americans should see the Maas. Won't be a problem to paddle along Colorado River, if you spent many years on or close to the epic Maas.
Compared to this, Colorado will be an easy boattrip.

Sometimes we get a visit from the Maas in the middle of the city...

 

[LaFleur]

How much time left till the start of the stage?

 

[Deagol]

How much time left till the start of the stage?

about 2 hours from now (about 9:45 AM Mountain time) Stage starts at 11:45 AM.

 

[Anonymous]

Good thing about May and August is we get to see two races in a day.

 

[jobiwan]

This stage is hard to predict. So I won't!

 

[BillytheKid]

Thanks Ben !

By coincidence there came a docu about Colorado river on ARTE when the Prolog was finished.

Is it true that I can't just inflate my rubber-boat and give it a go ?
They were telling something about some years (Up to 10) of waiting time.

Pretty funny that Mexico just gets some sand.

Sad to say that agriculture, swimming pools, etc. in and around the "oasis" city of Pheonix, AZ suck the river almost dry, but further north through the Grand Canyon it still holds a lot of power. The Grand Canyon offers the best rapids, but also is a national park. That's where the permits and 10 year wait are in effect.

I once took a shorter trip on a guided raft out of Aspen on the Roaring Fork down Section of the Colorado. More scenic than action. They had massive snow fall this winter. So in early June it must have been pretty good. Those boats out of Aspen and any where not in a NP are pretty easy to catch.

You could do it on your own, but unless you have some experience, I wouldn't mess with it.

 

[BillytheKid]

Imagine that... Levi Leipheimer attacking like crazy because he is chased by a wild bear.

Nah, cyclists are too skinny, the bear would not bother.

 

[Deagol]

Everyone probably knows this, but the Grand Canyon is in Arizona, hundreds of miles away from where this race will be.

 

[BillytheKid]

Everyone probably knows this, but the Grand Canyon is in Arizona, hundreds of miles away from where this race will be.

I just was responding to the Cobblestoned's post about the Colorado River. Thanks for the geography lesson. Next time I be sure not to be so kind in just killing time.

 

[benpounder]

My planned big US-trip (around 3 month) still has to be finalized, but such a boattrip HAS to be included I guess, and be planned long in advance .

Anyway, I'll be a happy man just by standing somewhere in the Grand Canyon and watching the vultures circle above me, with heat shimmer on the horizont.

Seeing as this race doenst start for another hour, I will go off topic again.

The process of gaining permits for Grand trips has long been contested. There are two kinds (primarily) of permits: Privates and Commercial. If you are in Flagstaff or Paige AZ, you could walk into an outfitters office and be on the river that week. But because so few Privates are available each year, there is a years long waiting list. Of course, if you have loads of open time and all the necessary equipment (and it is a lot!) you can sometimes score a cancellation. When I lived in Durango, many of my friends would get on the river this way. However, if it is your first time, I highly recommend properly planning your excursion. Do an 18 to 21 day trip in a kayak, dory, or oar boat (all available through professional guides). While the river is nice, it is the day hikes up the many side canyons that make this trip so memorable.

If your time is limited, you will likely be on a 10m motorized raft (3, 5, and 7 days are the typical trip duration). Chose a company that focuses on the lesser known side trips. Fern Glen Canyon over Havasu Creek for example. The hike up through Surprise Valley (do a small detour and climb behind Thunder falls) and down Dear Creek is simply stunning.

Of course, there are other options to get a sense of high desert rivers. Cataract Canyon just outside Moab is much less traveled (3-5 days) and upstream is the day trip of Westwater Canyon (between Grand Junction and Moab). These however, are dependent upon snowmelt, so dont expect the signature big water of June/July. Westwater is much more fun in a kayak at lower flows - I done many a trip in October.

[my edit] Wow, who knew that West water (no space) was a proscribed word.

Cobblestoned, another option is the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River - not for river running as it is a bear. It is just down stream from where today's race turns north in Gunnison.

 

[Deagol]

I just was responding to the Cobblestoned's post about the Colorado River. Thanks for the geography lesson. Next time I be sure not to be so kind in just killing time.

It's cool..

 

[Deagol]

Off-topic again: Ben, sounds like you have done the Grand ?

I've hiked down it and back in a day, but never done it on the river. I did jump in the water at the bottom and god that was cold. It got to 116 degrees F that day and we had to hang out near the river until the heat subsided. The hike out was brutal...

I know a few folks who have done the Grand. I'm jealous....
We will actually be camping at the Grand Canyon this October, but just the usual South Rim....

Wait, is this a cycling forum ?????

 

[BillytheKid]

It's cool..

Thanks. It is some cold water. I have know idea how this stage is going to play out. I am hoping for a good break off the first climb and some good attacking in the lead up to the final climb. Too far for the break to stay away. I hope they don't just ride tempo on the pass.