What makes the Colorado Utah Mountain Bike Adventure special?
From the slickrock desert of Moab, Utah to the high alpine trails of Telluride, Colorado -- we'll ride through the best and most famous mountain biking destinations in the world. Along the way we'll whitewater raft two great American rivers and spend a day learning to rock climb the granite walls that Colorado is so famous for. With expert instruction and a wide variety of trails and environments to challenge and excite all skill levels, this trip is for beginners and seasoned riders alike.
How difficult is the mountain biking?
The mountain biking is suited to riders of all abilities. We will begin with some easier warmup rides and progress to more physically and technically difficult rides as your skills and stamina improve. Whether you're a beginning or experienced cyclist, we promise you that you've never experienced riding as good as this.
I've never mountain biked before; is that a problem?
Absolutely not a problem. In fact you'll be in good company with other beginning riders. We also provide a high level of individualized instruction, allowing you to instantly enjoy the fun and reward of this new-to-you sport.
I'm an awesome mountain biker; will the riding be fun and challenging for me?
We'll be riding in the most coveted MTB destinations on the planet. We'll be sure that you get a high level of challenge and that your technical skills improve throughout the journey. We promise you will not be bored.
Will I need to bring my own bike?
No. Wilderness Ventures will provide you with mountain bikes and helmets.
What kind of bikes will we be riding?
We will be providing you with a 2010 GT Avalanche 3.0 (pictured here). We have this model of bike in all different sizes and your leaders will help you custom-fit the bike to your body size and comfort preferences. Please Click Here to visit GT's website and learn more about the Avalanche 3.0.
Where will we be sleeping?
We'll be sleeping in comfortable, two-person tents, segregated by gender. While we will be camping 100 percent of the time on this trip, all of this camping will be in "frontcountry" sites -- meaning you'll have frequent access to running water, flush toilets and showers.
If I have clipless pedals, can I bring them?
Please bring your pedals and shoes if you like. We should warn you; however, that the terrain in Colorado and Utah is unique for most students, and for safety reasons we need to make sure you are proficient with clipless pedals before setting out on the trail. Your leaders will help you install your pedals onto your bike and give you a quick proficiency test (making sure you can clip-out instinctively, without thinking about it) to make sure that you can ride safely with your pedals. If it turns out that you're not completely proficient, that's just fine, we'll have plenty of traditional flat pedals for you to use and enjoy.
What sort of special equipment do I need?
We provide the bike and helmet. However, you'll need to bring a few biking specific items such as a hydration pack, bicycle shorts and jerseys. You won't need a backpack, and cycle-specific shoes are optional, though not required.
Do I have to bike with all of my stuff?
No. Our camping is all "van supported," meaning that we will not be carrying our camping gear on our bikes. Our bike riding will take place during the day, and then we'll return to a vehicle-accessable campsite each night. While we're biking, we'll be carrying snacks, an extra clothing layer, maybe a light lunch, sunscreen and plenty of water in our hydration packs.
Can I bring my own bike?
While we understand that you may want to bring your own bike, we would encourage you to use the bike we provide for several reasons. Notably: we know our bikes are built for the environments we'll be riding in, we have extra parts on hand to fix our bikes if you have a mechanic issue and the cost and hastle of traveling with a bike can be problematic. Our bikes are brand new, built for the terrain and we're sure you'll have a great time on them.
