A nice little video of the kids and their mountain bikes from this summer in Vail. Each summer join Vail Mountain Bike Camps for a great time to learn more about your bike and mountain biking. It is fantastic for all ages.
Archive for the ‘Vail Biking’ Category
Kids in Vail this summer for Vail mountain bike camps
Thursday, September 8th, 2011Meadow Mountain mountain biking trail
Monday, July 25th, 2011Meadow mountain bike loop and trail is one of the “classic” mountain bike routes in and near the Antlers at Vail condominiums located in Vail, Colorado. To get there from the Antlers hotel, drive West on Insterstate 70 to exit 171. Go south on Hwy 6 (take a right) underneath the freeway and as you go south you’ll almost immediately pull into the U.S. forest service station, on the right again. Park here and suit up. Ride your mtn bike south through the parking lot and start climbing for 7 miles or so and 2000+ vertical feet. As you go up there will really only be one fork in the road (about 1/2 of the way up). Take a right here and keep climbing. After about an hour (or more) you’ll come to the little cabin. Take a much needed rest and have some lunch. Directly to the north (heading west) is the single track. It descends through the woods for what seems like miles. It goes back and forth constantly but for the most part is completely rideable. When you are getting close to the freeway you’ll come to a fork. Take the fork to the left, continue to Eagle Vail. You’ll come out by the high-school and the Par 3 golf course. Ride through Eagle Vail, hop back on Hwy 6 and ride back East (couple of miles) to your car at the Forest Service station.
View Meadow Mountain line shack single track in a larger map
One of the classic mountain biking trails near Vail, Colorado
Big views going up Meadow Mountain
Cabin at the top of the loop.
Single track on the way back down to interstate 70 and Eagle Vail
USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Vail Colorado
Sunday, July 10th, 2011Antlers at Vail Room rates are 35% off for the USA Pro cycling Challenge August 24-26th. Riverside/mountain view Studio suite rooms from $156 per night with a full size kitchen.
The USA Pro Cycling Challenge is the most demanding bike race ever held on American soil, with racers experiencing breathless altitudes, day after day. The race is on the level of the Tour de France, bringing the high speeds, danger and adrenaline of professional biking to elevations over 2 miles high in some of the most picturesque terrain in the world—the Colorado Rocky Mountains. August 25th is Stage 3 of the USA Cycling Challenge and is the Vail Time Trial going up the old Highway 6 road towards Vail Pass. It starts right from Vail village. August 26th will be Stage 4 of USA Cycling Challenge and goes from Avon Colorado to Steamboat.
Here is the ”TEAM ANTLERS” bicycling team who should be around town watching the races in August. Come join us !
Antlers at Vail Peddles to Summer Mountain Bikers
Wednesday, April 20th, 2011Hotel offers convenient location, knowledgeable staff, value pricing
The Vail Valley offers numerous bike trails for all ages and abilities
April 20, 2011 – Vail, CO – “I was going so fast, I wondered if I’d need a runaway truck ramp like the ones they have on I-70!” a biker quipped after a thrilling ride down the Vail Mountain bike trail. With the Vail Gondola offering transport for people and bikes to the top, those who prefer downhill cruising to uphill climbing will find plenty to enjoy in and around Vail.
The Antlers at Vail hotel is a conveniently located home base – rated #1 in Vail Specialty Lodging by TripAdvisor readers – with comfortable condominiums just footsteps from the Gore Creek trail and darned close to the Vail Gondola. The Antlers knowledgeable staff can suggest trails, and nearby shops like Charter Sports, Vail Bike Tech and Bike Valet offer bicycle and helmet rentals for adults and kids. Both Vail and Beaver Creek offer summer maps for navigating the area’s 340+ miles of biking trails. Guests who reserve rooms by June 1, 2011 can save 25% to 40% off regular prices, with rates for a studio suite starting as low as $144 per night.
Riders looking for a summertime challenge can join the Antlers team for the 10th Annual Comcast Colorado Eagle River Ride on Saturday, July 23. The tour begins in Beaver Creek and brings riders along the scenic banks of the Colorado and Eagle rivers, and riders can choose from the 100-mile, 68-mile and 42-mile routes. The fee is $90 until June 24, $100 for those who register before July 22, and $130 on the day of the event; proceeds benefit the youth nonprofit, SOS Outreach. Riders of all levels are welcome, and new riders receive a customized Antlers team jersey.
The Antlers is also a sponsor for the Runner’s World and Bicycling Magazine “Pursuit” Package August 18-21, 2011. This all-inclusive weekend features celebrity hosted runs and rides plus dining at Vail’s premier restaurants, luxury lodging, activities and more. For those who enjoy watching the pros, the USA Pro Cycling Challenge features elite professional teams and athletes from around the world in Vail and Avon August 25 and 26, 2011.
Since 1972, the Antlers has offered a unique Vail lodging experience in a relaxed mountain setting. The Antlers Vail condominiums – named the ‘Green Business of the Year’ by the Vail Valley Partnership Success Awards – is also proud to be a Green Star rated business. With condominiums ranging from studio suites up to four bedrooms and plenty of space to spread out, each room at the Antlers offers all the comforts of home including fully-equipped kitchens, fireplaces, outdoor balconies, free Internet access and free parking in a heated indoor garage. The Antlers Vail is conveniently located in the Lionshead area of Vail with numerous restaurants, galleries and shops within walking distance, and the free Vail town shuttle stops just footsteps away. For more information, call 1-800-843-8245.
Son of middle creek Vail mountain bike trail
Tuesday, September 14th, 2010Son of middle creek mountain bike trail is a fantastic Vail mountain bike ride. It is around 8 miles and only takes 1 to 1.5 hours for a wonderful loop from the Antlers at Vail hotel and conference center. Click on the link below to print out the map and read about the directions etc. It has about 40 minutes of climbing and 30 minutes of single track ascent/descent.
View Son of middle creek in a larger map
Great views over the valley.
The leaves are starting to change…
Winter arrives in 2-12 weeks depending on what happens… Get that hike and bike ride in soon.
Two Elk mountain biking trail
Saturday, September 4th, 2010Two Elk mountain biking trail is a LONG… ride. Figure on 4-6 hours. It starts at the Antlers at Vail hotel and conference center and ends up being a 30 mile loop. It offers around 4000+ vertical feet of climbing. Just click on the attached map for details or even to print out the route. Two Elk mountain biking trail is usually open from July 1 – until the end of September and travels through Vail’s Back Bowls (see our Vail ski map). It is a combination of double track, single track, regular road and Vail bike path. If you do ride by yourself, mention to someone where you are going, because you’ll be a LONG way from anything on this ride. And bring tools and tubes. I seem to get one flat tire each time I do this ride. Chris R.
View Two Elk Trail mountain biking trail Vail in a larger map
On the top of Benchmark overlooking the Gore Range and I-70. Great place for a snack and a drink.
Up on top of Outer Mongolia Bowl ready to take the single track along the China Wall heading West above Vail’s Back Bowls. We are at 11,600 feet at this point.
Looking up towards China Bowl from the Trail. The base of the China Bowl lift is behind me.
Lost lake loop Vail mountain biking trail
Monday, August 30th, 2010The Lost lake mountain bike trail is one of the top mountain bike trails in Vail Colorado. It is quite a long loop depending on how many “add ons” you do. It is a 3-4 hour 25 mile ride. So bring food and water. You start at the Antlers at Vail condominiums and conference center. Head up the road, across the pedestrian bridge and take a left down the bike path for about a 1/4 of a mile. Take a right up Red Sandstone road and continue up a couple of switch backs until you get to the rock/gravel road of Red Sandstone going to Piney lake. You then travel up this road about 3 miles? until you get to a fork. Take the right fork to Lost Lake. Continue for another 30 minutes or more until you get to Lost lake. If you hit any forks, just stay on the most traveled path. If you get off, virtually all the roads end up at the hiking trail head to Lost Lake anyhow. From here on it is single track around the lake and back down to a parking lot off of Red Sandstone. You might be 2-3 hours into your ride at this point. Take a left on Red Sandstone but only go a block before taking a right onto another forest service road. You are now heading south back to Vail on top of a big ridge. When you top out at a camp site, take a left off the main road to a faint double track. Follow the trail/road down until you pick up a crazy single track called Buffehr creek. You’ll be taking a number of switch backs before intersecting the Vail North Trail on your left. Follow this back for even more vertical downhill until you exit onto Red Sandstone road again near Vail village.
View Lost Lake Trail to North Trail Vail in a larger map
Map of the trail
An elk we saw along the trail almost at Lost Lake (perhaps it was sleeping?)
They should call this trail “one elk”
All smiles
Nice single track section
Big hairpin turns coming down into Vail
What is a Driver?
Monday, July 12th, 2010This is an account of what goes on behind the scenes. I feel compelled to share with you some information that goes unnoticed, but certainly has an impact on a days event if some detail was missed.
This past Saturday the annual Triple By Pass bike race, event, excursion, whatever the participants call it, was scheduled from Evergreen, Colorado and terminated in Avon. This is 100 miles of insufferable bike riding over 3 Colorado mountain passes. Congratulations to the Antlers team that endured and completed the contest. (I suppose I should name names. Meridith, Rob, Kathy, Bert, Danny, Jimmy, Randi and Don. Your commitment to your sport is admirable).
Now I would like to congratulate me. The preparation to get these world class athletes in place for the days event is tireless.
First I have to get gas in the van. Then I have to get up at 4:00 am to drive these people to the starting point in Evergreen. Then I have to drive back.
Mighty are the preparations for thier arrival back in Avon 10 hours later. I have to get a spot for the gang in the picnic area. Make sure the ice for the margaritas doesn’t melt, buy a watermelon, purchase some helium balloon’s and write countless text messages that no one answers. I was exhausted.
I suspect pictures will be posted soon dramatizing the day. You will not see, however, any pictures of the “Driver”. He simply goes about his business. It is a thankless yet rewarding job and I am proud to be a small part of such a momentous day.
That is what a Driver is.
Greg
(This Post is filed under shamless plugs)
Biking Vail Pass: The Easy Way
Sunday, June 13th, 2010Last week Ratz and some of his partners in crime biked up Vail Pass. CJ and I decided that looked fun. Or rather, half of it looked like fun. So when our good friends next door at Charter Sports offered to give us a ride up to the top of the pass, a couple bikes, and let gravity take care of the rest, and feed us beer and bbq at the bottom, so we jumped at the offer. We met up with a few of the fine ladies from Sage Outdoor Adventures Our driver Jaimis (I have no idea how to spell it, but its pronounced Jay-mus) knows pretty much every thing there is to know about Vail and is a great resource to have for the half-hour ride to the top. The views up there are pretty amazing. I was suitably impressed:
For just 45 bucks Charter Sports will hook you up with a comfort cruiser bike, helmet, water, and a ride to the top of the pass. It’ll take you about two and a half hours for the whole activity, depending on how much you use your brakes, and you can make an afternoon of it if you stop at bighorn park at the bottom of the pass and bbq, like we did.
View Vail Pass Bike path in a larger map
Vail mountain biking
Saturday, June 13th, 2009Vail mountain biking is finally underway in Vail Colorado. We’ve had quite the wet and cold spring, but the sun is finally out this weekend and the trails are drying out. Not only is the sun out, but so are the animals. On our recent mountain bike ride we saw a beaver in the river near the Antlers pool, a fox 200 meters to the west of the Antlers and four different deer up on the hill. Chris R.
Riding up village trail, plenty of snow up on the Gore Range
Fox crossing the street
Moving so fast the picture is blurry
Deer heading into the woods (can barely see it, trust me)
Vail ski area reported 11 inches of new snow this morning at 5:30am and we probably received another 3-4 inches on Vail mountain throughout the day. Vail's ski conditions are fantastic. It has been a bit of a wait. Most of the Back Bowls op...
Finally, we are getting a bit of a turn on the snow. 9+inches today and it snowed pretty good throughout the day so maybe another 3 inches or so will be reported on tomorrow's Vail snow report. I did a few runs with Antlers at Vail condomin...
