Colorado Mountain Bike Expedition 2006
About the Colorado Expedition
Objectives
- To learn about mountain environments
- To develop skills in mountain biking
- To appreciate a different culture and environment
- To ride unsupported 525 miles along the Colorado Trail (U.S.A)
Expedition Brief
Mountain biking is a great way to travel and be a part of a country. You can't find a more scenic, exciting, challenging, exhilarating, adventurous and physically testing expedition.
The expedition crosses the Colorado Rockies from Denver to Durango and then a rest at Ouray before making the trek back to Denver following old mining tracks, utilising the famous Colorado Trail as much as possible. 70% is singletrack, 15% jeep track and 4x4 trails and 15% on the road. Every day we set off into the wilderness ending up either wild camping or at a campsite in a small town. The trip is unsupported, in other words we are doing it by ourselves. We will, however, have a support 4 x 4 to carry food and fuel supplies as we will be so remote.
This expedition is not for the faint hearted, you have to be physically fit and love your biking. Just ask yourself, can you imagine riding for 19 days at an average of 52 miles per day? Take a look at the route...
Mountain biking requires teamwork, stamina and dedication. The expedition will be self sufficient. We will be carrying all equipment and supplies on our bikes, run repairs on route and will ride various distances each day. Team members will be involved in route selection, navigation, first aid, up keep of bikes, campsite management, photography, cooking and group welfare. Meet the team...
Mountain biking is a risk activity. Group members faced a rigorous selection process to determine if they possessed the right qualities for such an expedition. Experience of mountain biking and a decent level of fitness is an advantage on such an expedition, but was not a pre-requisite. We invited applications from young people who want a challenge within a team environment. Initial training will take place before we leave the U.K.