Fruita Fat Tire

After a week in the mountain biking mecca of Fruita, CO, Tim and I are feeling like we’re home.  We setup camp at the base of the Book Cliffs on Thursday and stayed inside for the first two days while a winter storm brushed past us. We felt lucky that we only had a few snow squalls compared to the several feet that fell north of us in Salt Lake and Jackson. Wolste joined us by Friday and it seemed like the weather may change for the weekend.

By the time Saturday rolled around, it was chilly but clear and Wolste and Tim decided to take the 30 miles Edge Loop up and around the Book Cliffs.  They left at noon, assuring me they’d be back in about 4 hours.  After their ride we planned to go into town and join the Fat Tire Festival fun that evening.

I spent the afternoon riding closer to camp, climbing Chutes and Ladders and joining up with another group of ladies for the ride.  I got back to the car thinking that I’d be just in time to meet Tim and Wolste after their big loop.  4 o’clock turned to 5 and then 5 moved to 6 and I started getting really worried.  By 7:30 I was googling how to reach Search and Rescue and debating whether I should wait until after dark to call or not.  It was right about then when two mud covered riders rode back into camp.

Tim and Wolste had had a great first 12 miles before running into the mud bog.  It looked like it should be short so they hoisted their bikes over their shoulders and started to walk.  6 miles later, caked in heavy clay, they were finally able to climb back on and ride out the rest of the trail.  By the time they rolled into camp, they were exhausted and ready for dinner and then bed.

We missed the Fat Tire celebrations this year but that was the most appreciated meal we’ve ever had.

Our next few days were full of work, rides and finally sunshine. By Monday we’d settled into the best camp at the Book Cliffs and started to gather more Jacksonites.  This weekend 8 ladies of JH are racing together in the Fruita 18 Hour Race and folks were starting to move south. First Jaclyn and Kurt joined us and then BJ and Lisa pulled into camp.

We hadn’t seen BJ and Lisa for 18 months and stories flowed.  BJ brought a helmet cam ( the Go Pro Hero) with him and he shot some amazing footage of bike rides over the following days.  Below is Tim riding one of the hairiest rides in the Book Cliffs, the steep, exposed Zippity Doo Da Trail.  (Music is inspired by the camera’s classic name).

Tonight we have all moved to Highline State Park in preparation for the race that starts Friday night.  We now have 6 of the ladies here with two more in transit.  Tim is riding the race in a two man team with his old college buddy Geoff from William and Mary, who is driving down from Boise with his girlfriend Sarah. Tomorrow the excitement starts at midnight.   We’ll have pictures on Sunday!