I should be cranking out another column soon!
I'm a bit off the back with my blog because my home computer crapped out and spent some time being futzed with by the kind folks at the Mac Shack, who have a shop cat, of all cool things. Just about every local business in Boulder has some dog lying around, but leave it to the Mac folks to break the mold.
I'll be back in business here shortly.
Cindy Vanover of Longmont rides the North Rim Trail.
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North Rim Trail can ease those Arizona blues
By Marty Caivano, Camera Staff Writer
February 25, 2006
This time of year, I get the itch. I ogle magazine spreads, troll Web sites and get lost in lurid fantasies. If I don't get my fix soon, I will do something unsavory to satisfy myself ... like spend a lot of money traveling to Arizona.
If you, too, are yearning for a taste of singletrack this winter, you can stave off the itch by riding a new-to-you bit of dirt in your own backyard.
The good, old Boulder Reservoir provides a place to start. Now, before you roll your eyes and tell me you've ridden that area more times than you've watched Simpsons reruns, I must encourage you to check out the North Rim Trail. Affectionately known among mountain bikers as The Trophy Home Singletrack, it sneaks behind a row of prairie mansions near the Lake Valley golf course and adds a fresh section of slender fun to the dirt highways of the reservoir. It connects the Sage Trail to Niwot Road, allowing you to ride west on Niwot Road for about a mile and catch the Lefthand Trail, where it terminates near the trailhead of the same name, creating a killer loop that is frequently free of other users.
If you think the trails at the Rez are boring on your mountain bike, try a cyclocross bike, or you can even ride your road bike with some heavy-duty tires if you feel like it. Just be sure to bring extra supplies in case you get a flat.
To find the trail, turn north off the Sage Trail on a gravelly connector that looks as if it merely dead-ends into some large homes. Go through the gate and follow the trail as it winds northeast; soon you'll find yourself on the North Rim.
Judging by the condition of the trail, it doesn't see a lot of riding. When I rode it last fall, I had to bushwhack through an overgrowth of weeds, grasses and thistles, emerging with legs that looked like they'd been attacked by territorial prairie dogs. I'm happy to report that last weekend the situation was much more pleasant. A few more knobbies had come through to clear the trail, and Mother Nature's herbal bounty has hunkered down for the winter. The February sun slanted between the golden thistles, and the gradual upslope revealed, upon looking back, a wide-open view of the reservoir, the mountains and Boulder, domed by a cobalt sky. As a friend and I cruised along the narrow strip of dirt, there was not another person in sight.
I won't lie to you, though. Riding around the reservoir does expose cyclists to the elements. And you all know what element I mean — the one that's been challenging your sanity on a regular basis this winter. We listed sideways in the howling wind, like drunks angling toward the doorway to the bathroom.
"Wow, this is some wind," my cohort yelled.
"WHAT?" I shouted.
As we approached the section of trail directly behind the homes — and I do mean directly, so be prepared for dogs charging their fences — we got out of the wind with an abruptness that made us catch our breath. That's the kind of wind that pulls the saliva out of your mouth if you're breathing hard. God, I hate that. Note to self: Start saving money for trip to Sedona.
The trail goes up the slope, turns a corner around a house, marches over a wooden bridge, and pops you out onto Golf Club Drive for a brief stretch before hitting Niwot Road. While we were tempted to turn around and haul the mail back down, we decided to expose ourselves to more wind in exchange for the swoopy bliss of the Lefthand Trail, where I have twice seen bald eagles gliding overhead. This section is frequently devoid of people as well, with a few fun climbs, descents, bridges and carve-ready turns to keep things interesting.
If you're really looking for a long ride, turn off the Lefthand Trail just north of the picnic shelter on a gravel road that will put you out onto Neva Road. Take it up to U.S. 36 to Lefthand Canyon and ride Heil Valley Ranch. Don't freak out about the asphalt — it's only two measly miles to the dirt road of Geer Canyon. This epic ride will only get more gonzo and fabulous when the Heil-to-Hall Ranch connector is built. Think of the possibilities! Note to self: scrap Sedona. Save money for new bike.
Contact Camera photographer Marty Caivano at caivanom@dailycamera.com.
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