Made my way to Breckenridge
I finally made my way to Breckenridge via the Peaks Trail! I have been wanting to do this route since we arrived a few weeks ago. I have been studying the maps and learning the lay of the land. I am primarily using Trail Forks and the GAIA GPS apps.
Trail Forks has been great, especially for the Mountain Biking in the Frisco & Breckenridge areas. They have expanded into other activities, so we also use it for trail running and hiking. It has been very reliable and virtually bug free.
Total duration for this ride was just under 6 hours, covering about 44 miles on a bunch of trails and some recpath. Eventually this route will be on mostly trails beginning and ending in Silverthorne.
For bigger rides like this, it is imperative to take a close look at your bike. The most important things to begin with are the state of your tires, chain and brake pads. These areas are where the most wear and tear happens. After each ride and before, give your bike a once over. Have a close look at your tires, making sure that the side walls are not compromised and have adequate stan’s tire sealant. The tire sealant dries out over time so you will need to replace it if you are running tubeless.
Chains only have so much life to them and need to be swapped out periodically, especially on 12 speed drivetrains. A great tool to have on hand is the Park Tool Chain Checker. This is a simple measuring device that lets you know when it is time to change your chain. Doing this in a timely fashion will save you money. If a chain's life is too long, it will wear on the teeth of the cassette and front chain ring as it stretches out. Which will ultimately need to be replaced as well. To learn how to replace your chain and other bike maintenance things, visit Park Tools YouTube Page.
As you are going over your bike, check for any loose bolts, broken or loose spokes, compromises to your frame and any unusual liquids around your brake calipers and shocks.
I have been riding the Ibis Ripley since March and have put many miles on it already. It has been mostly ridden on the rugged trails of the east coast so it took a beating. Prior to this ride, I replaced my chain, swapped out my tires for the Maxxis ForeKasters and replaced my brake pads. I did a couple of rides during the week with the new parts to make sure all was well before my ride to Breckenridge. I should be good for the rest of the fall season and into early spring riding.
I have a couple of other big rides in mind before the snow falls here in Colorado. Hopefully I can get those in soon because the seasons are changing quickly. I am feeling aerobically fit and acclimating well to living at 9,000+ feet. It is the threshold and Vo2 efforts that burn a bunch of matches at once, these hurt. I can recover well from them, which is a good sign. Sleep is improving, which is essential in order to acclimate and recover well from training and life.