Annual pilgrimages often include cities with names like Crested Butte, Fruita, and Salida. We pulled out the map recently to plan our summer to-do list, and decided to throw some new trails into the mix. Here are three lesser-known options that rose to the top.

A cornerstone of the cycling community on Colorado’s Front Range, SMBA offers everything from one-day introductory programs to summer camps and team racing for kids ages 6 to 18. Their newest offering? Adventure trips to places adults wish they could sign up for, like Moab and Crested Butte.

We dive into the details, including how we’re partnering with SMBA in a big way this year, in our exclusive interview with SMBA Director Heather Williams, below.

We’re looking forward to celebrating SMBA’s 30th anniversary in 2023! One way we plan to celebrate is to have our SMBA teams complete 30 Epic Rides (of 30 miles or more) during the season. We’ll be documenting each one throughout the season.

Here are some of the changes I’ve seen since then: I had just been introduced to mountain biking around the time SMBA started. I had always ridden a bike, but I got my first real mountain bike in ’94. It was a nice bike at the time; a lugged carbon hardtail with a suspension fork (65mm of travel) and I had a lot of fun rides and adventures on that bike. I really fell in love with the sport on that bike and it took me to a lot of different trails. Since that bike, I’ve seen the expansion of trail systems in places around Colorado and beyond, as well as a lot of changes in bike design and technology: bigger wheels, bigger cassettes, wider handlebars, and cushy suspension!

Another really cool change that I’ve seen is growth in the sport, particularly among women and juniors. When I first started mountain biking, I rode with a really supportive and fun group of mountain bikers, all still close friends, but I was usually the only girl in the group. At the time, there really weren’t any women’s social ride groups around the Front Range, and I didn’t meet any other ladies to ride with regularly until the early 2000s. In the last few years this has changed and it has been awesome to see more opportunities for girls and women to get into the sport and super cool to see the numbers of women and girls participating in the sport grow. Each season we see an increase in the number of girls participating in SMBA programs and they continue in the program through high school. Most continue to ride and many join their collegiate mountain bike teams. Currently we have an amazing team of girls’ coaches who are awesome role models for our newer athletes. They all started in SMBA when they were in elementary school and now some are juniors and seniors in high school and some are in college, but they all stay involved in the program as coaches.

The increase in youth participation in mountain biking has also grown since I first started mountain biking. In general, when I am out riding, I see more juniors riding with their families on the trails than I ever remember seeing before, and I’ve watched the Colorado High School MTB grow from just a few hundred riders in 2012 to over 2,000 riders last year. Many of those high school athletes also participate in SMBA during the spring and summer.

We’ve also noticed increases in the number of younger riders getting into our program. The number of kids participating in our K-1 Dirt Riders program and second-grade through fifth-grade team groups has continually increased over the past two to three years; and the enthusiasm and excitement to ride among our youngest riders is so much fun. It is always amazing to ride with these younger groups and watch their confidence, skill progression, and love of the bike build over the course of the session. What is even more fun is to see our first cohort of K-1 riders continue in the program. This spring, we have a couple of them who will be riding with our Spring Team program!

I think there has been a shift in interest among many of our riders as well as a number of our coaches. We have team riders who love racing with their high school team and riders who love cyclocross or competitive ski racing in the winter and look forward to some non-competitive rides and adventures they can share with their SMBA teammates and friends. We also have coaches who love being on their bikes, and love exploring new ride routes.

Our two adventure trips—Moab on spring break and Crested Butte at the end of summer—have actually been part of our schedule for many years now. There seemed to be increased interest in exploring some of the great trail systems and classic rides around Colorado, and a little less interest in racing from our SMBA families.

This year, we also decided to head to Fruita in April. We are also planning a summer mini-trip to join in the fun with CB Devo’s Jr. Mountain Bike week in June, and a fall trip to Curt Gowdy in October. In addition to van-supported camping trips, we were also able to purchase a dedicated set of bikepacking bags for any SMBA group that wants to experience a self-supported bikepacking ride. This past summer, our Girls’ Team was the first group to test out the bags on a three-day bike packing ride across section 11 of the Colorado Trail. They are hoping to build on that ride and do a longer trip this summer.

In addition, our newly introduced Epic Team program has also been extremely popular. The goal of the Epic Team is to provide opportunities for SMBA athletes to explore trails they may have never ridden before, experience fun challenges on big epic rides, build endurance throughout the season by increasing the distance and effort of each ride from spring to summer, learn a little more about orienteering and being self-sufficient in the backcountry, learn a little bit more about the local ecology and environment, develop an increased appreciation and stewardship for the the beautiful natural landscapes we have access to on bikes, and have a lot of fun while going on big ride adventures all season. We’re excited to see this program grow and expand under the leadership of one of our coaches, Jim.

If you’ve been following along with us for awhile now, chances are you’ve heard of World Ride. Perhaps you attended the SG-sponsored Pivot Cycles Sunset Shred that benefited World Ride, or have been lucky to see one of their movie nights at your local bike shop. If not, let us introduce this female-led nonprofit.

Part travel company, part global community development, World Ride goes beyond the typical “sustainable travel” paradigm. Their female-guided co-ed trips to Nepal, Guatemala, Peru, Lesotho, and Botswana provide on-the-ground support and resources for local women, as well as encourage promising local riders in the sport of mountain biking. Their programs have significance that extends beyond any one trip, providing education and careers for the long term.

Learn more about what sets World Ride apart—and how you can get involved—in our interview with Julie below.

Our trips are very similar to other guided trips in that they are fun mountain bike trips in an amazing destination. The thing that sets them apart is that they are guided by women that we have helped to support with training to become mountain bike guides. This gives trip participants a chance to meet the women that we work with and get to see firsthand how mountain biking has made a difference in their lives. Also, all of the proceeds from our trips go back into our programs to get more women into mountain biking in the place that we work. Essentially, World Ride trips are an important source of funding for the economic development we’re doing with women around the world.

Our trips are a really special way to support our programs! We often have trip guests bring gear to donate or even leave their bikes in the countries they visit to add to our bike libraries in those locations.

There are so many stories! I think one of the most special things about all of them is the commonality between them. Every woman we work with around the globe says the same things about what mountain biking gives them: a sense of freedom and confidence. This is exactly why we are doing what we do. Because mountain biking can be a challenging sport, it can really give someone a newfound sense of confidence. We find that with the women we work with, this confidence translates into other areas of their lives off the bike. Some of them have started their own businesses and some have started their own women’s groups. It is hard to say if they would have done this if they hadn’t gained that confidence through mountain biking, but we really believe in the power of the sport.

At Sports Garage we’ve been following the categorization of these bikes with curiosity and enthusiasm. The question for an e-mtb is no longer: E-bike or no e-bike But rather: Which e-mountain bike is right for me?

With recent new releases from our favorite manufacturers and more on the way, riders can now explore different e-mtb riding styles. Most manufacturers began with one e-mtb in their line-up. As new models have been introduced, e-mountain bikes are differentiated in similar ways to analog bikes—different geometries and travel lengths, most notably. However, e-mtb categorization also means new drive unit (motor) specifications as well.

In this comprehensive guide, we break down the most exciting products currently available in the following manner: lightweight versus long travel, torque, and battery capacity. You’ll find that depending on your riding style and desired ride experience, there might be a specific bike best suited for you.

The primary differentiator in the new e-mountain bike riding experience is the categorization of the bikes. Lightweight bikes blur the lines between analog bikes and those with a battery on board. The frames tend to weigh less and are most likely to be described as having better power to weight ratios. Just look at the Pivot Cycles SL, which stands for “Super Light.” This agile bike features a FAZUA Ride 60 drive unit, achieving one of the lightest e-mtb experiences possible. In contrast, the Pivot Cycles LT, which stands for “Long Travel,” serves up more power, battery life, and travel, but weighs closer to 50 pounds.

Why do we mention your friends? In our time working with Boulder e-mtb customers and clients, we’ve heard stories about being “out-powered” in an e-bike group ride. While we haven’t experienced this personally, we follow the logic: If you have a more powerful motor and more battery life, you may have the tools on board to ride harder or further than riders on a lightweight e-mtb. Conversely, if you’re the only person with a full-power bike in a group of riders on nimble “SL” style e-bikes, you might have a power-to-weight ratio disadvantage. We look forward to learning more about this dynamic as more diverse e-mountain bikes show up to group rides.

When it comes to brute force, look no further than the lineup from Rocky Mountain Bicycles. The highest power setting on their proprietary Dyname™ 4.0 motor delivers a jaw-dropping max boost of 350 percent—that’s 108 Nm! (It is aptly named “Ludicrous” Mode.) All three of Rocky Mountain’s e-mtb rigs, from the Growler Powerplay hardtail to the long-travel Altitude Powerplay, sport this beefed up system. Keep in mind that bigger battery power typically translates to a heavier bike.

Choosing the right e-mountain bike means the difference between a good ride experience and a great one, and there’s no better way to hone in on your preferences than with a demo. While an e-mountain bike demo continues to be hard to come by as supply chains normalize, our fleet will be ready to test ride again by spring 2023. If there is a particular bike you’d like to try, we’d love to know. Drop us a line at sales@sportsgarage.net.

Meet the e-mountain bikes for sale, or presently available from our partners. To learn more about each model, visit our e-mountain bike catalog.

However, there are always great conditions somewhere, so we refer to late fall and early spring as “getaway season.” Embracing the art of the getaway brings new reasons to welcome changing conditions on the front range, and Patagonia, Arizona, is at the top of our list.

Perhaps no other geography boasts as many inspiring getaways as the desert southwest, drawing thrill-seekers, vortex-healers, conservationists, vision-questers, and, most recently, serious gravel cyclists. A riding itinerary in Patagonia can be tailored for any rider (beginner, intermediate, or advanced) looking for big blue skies, unexpected beauty, and a small-town vibe. This town of fewer than 1,000 residents, nestled in the Sonoran Borderlands, serves up riding, food, and regional interest in perfect proportions for a 3-day weekend, or a longer-term stay.

Patagonia lies one hour south of Tucson International Airport, a quick 18 miles north of the Mexico border. These recommendations will help you make the most of your getaway. Though we’ve ridden much of the region, the route links below were created by other riders and are just an example of the adventures you can put together!

Settle into the valley on the first day with a middle-distance ride to familiarize yourself with major gravel access points, and leave time to provision yourself. The Patagonia 50 takes you quickly out of town along Harshaw Creek, climbing to stunning views of the San Rafael Grasslands. The route gains a total of 3,022 feet. This classic loop is an ideal introduction to the area.

Photo Credits: Freihofer Photography

We love, love, love the Red Mountain natural food store. But like life in an 80s country song, they roll up the street when the sun goes down. Red Mountain is open 10:00am to 5:00pm every day of the week (early birds welcome at 9:00am) and they only take cash, so plan ahead for provisions. You’ll be blown away by the selection: allergen-conscious, vegetarian, and vegan eaters will find lots of options. 

When evening arrives, head to the other end of the main drag, where The Cyclist’s Menu founders Zander and Heidi Ault opened the Patagonia Lumber Co. just under one year ago. The Lumber Co. has become one of Patagonia’s living rooms, bringing together locals, travelers, weekenders from Tucson, and anyone else passing through for music, exceptionally curated regional beers and wine, and—if you’re lucky—authentic tamales. Pop in to pick up a gravel guide to the county, with loads more riding ideas. Check the weekend music and food truck schedule online.

Photo Credit: Freihofer Photography

This San Rafael-Lochiel-Harshaw route provides a great description of a backcountry tour of the Canelo Hills, which grazes the border at the Lochiel townsite. We’ve seen similar routes labeled “Almost to Mexico.” The loop can be connected to Patagonia via Harshaw Creek. The route through the Canelo Hills circumnavigates the San Rafael State Natural Area, the largest remaining expanse of native grassland in the American southwest. For an alternative 100-mile route, follow the course of the 2021 Spirit World 100 gravel event. 

Time to refuel. Velvet Elvis has been on the radar of travelers and foodies since first opening in the late 1990s. The craft pizza establishment recently moved to its new home in Patagonia’s historic mission church on McKeown Ave. The namesake painting of Elvis (on velvet, of course) presides over the dining room while you enjoy beautiful handmade pizzas, salads, and stromboli. With 24-hour notice, the chef will prepare the designer Inca Quinoa Pizza for six—an artisan blend of quinoa and wheat flours, stuffed with layers of sauteéd vegetables, herbs, cheeses, and a roasted tomato wine sauce baked in a cast iron skillet.

Photo Credits:  Ruth Hager

Spin out your legs after the previous day’s adventure with an out-and-back toward Mount Wrightson on Temporal Gulch Road. This road takes you past access to a new section of the Arizona Trail (AZT), a masterpiece of trail building, which we got to pre-ride in April of 2022 with the Arizona Trail Association. This new single track eliminates 16 miles of road, connecting the AZT from the south to the trail in Gardner Canyon. Our bucket list still includes a return trip to Arizona to bike pack additional sections of the 800-mile AZT, a designated National Scenic Trail. 

Photo Credit:  Freihofer Photography

You’ll wrap up your morning ride with plenty of time to play, either touring local wineries or relaxing at the lake. Yes, we did say wineries. The villages of Sonoita and Elgin—13 miles from Patagonia—were the first designated American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Arizona. In the early 1970s a soil scientist named Dr. Gordon Dutt conducted a vineyard study, and surprised winemakers with his discovery that grapes flourish in the warm growing temperatures and water-retaining soil, making the region the highest elevation AVA in the United States. The highly regarded Callaghan Vineyards and Dos Cabezas Wineworks are among a dozen or more vintners offering tastings in the area. 

Photo Credits:  Circo Vino

If wineries are not your pace, an afternoon at Lake Patagonia State Park offers fishing, swimming, boating, or SUP. The lake is well-managed to limit the use of motorized personal watercrafts, ensuring a peaceful place to play! 

If you’re like us, three days will not feel like enough time, and you will have uncovered enough hidden corners in and around Patagonia to draw you back to this special town over and over again. 

There are a lot of lovely, well-managed Airbnbs within walking distance of central Patagonia, or nearer the lake with loads of open space. Some dispersed camping areas can be found in the Coronado National Forest; however, we haven’t camped there yet. 

In Town

• The Gravel House
• The Cottage on Santa Rita

Open Space

• The Kestrel Cottage
• The Hummingbird Casita

Camping

• Lake Patagonia State Park
• TerraSol

Photo Credit:  Freihofer Photography

Luggage: Southwest Airlines offers nonstop flights to Tucson, and it costs $75 each way to bring your bicycle as a piece of luggage. There are lots of bike bag options on the market, many specific to drop bar bikes. We recommend the EVOC mountain bike bag because we can use it to travel with either our gravel bikes or a full suspension mountain bike. We have packed an XL full suspension bike with 29” wheels in the EVOC with minimal disassembly. Among the gear investments we have made in the past year, these bags are at the top of the list.

Tires: The flint rock and cacti of the San Rafael Valley have one mission: to eat your tires. The right tire really makes a difference anywhere in Arizona, and after testing several different brands and talking to local riders, we recommend the Kenda Flintridge or Alluvium Pro. 

Clothing: Patagonia is usually 15–20 degrees cooler than Phoenix, and 8–10 degrees cooler than Tucson. During “getaway season” the nights and early mornings will be cool, and the days warm and wonderful. Pack with appropriate layers. 

Hardly anyone could have suspected geometry would evolve into the elongated—yet efficient—machines we see today. eMTBs are yet another development pushing the envelope of what’s possible. And now, an upgrade you may not have known you needed is gaining in popularity: smart suspension.

Two brands lead the charge in delivering the suspension of the future—Fox and SRAM. While each system functions in a unique way, both strive to achieve the same end result: automatically adjusting your suspension settings, optimizing the amount of “openness” or “closedness” for the most efficient ride possible. We break down the tech and what it means for the typical mountain biker, below.

The truth is, suspension technology impacts every rider, whether you are aware of it or not. If you’re someone who doesn’t bother locking and unlocking your suspension based on the terrain (and ascending vs. descending), you are losing substantial pedaling efficiency. On the other hand, if you’re a rider who does lock and unlock your fork or shock (or both if able) constantly throughout a ride, you probably see the immediate benefit of no longer having to reach around your bottle cage and almost knock your front teeth out on your handlebars multiple times per ride. And if you’re riding a fully rigid mountain bike, well, come see us. 

Much like the introduction of the dropper post, you can see how electronic suspension solves a problem we all share.

Gone are the days of lugging your mountain bike to the farthest stretches of Boulder County. That’s right: there’s a lot more going on behind our maintenance counter than you might think! Not only do we offer a full maintenance menu and bike fitting service, but we can also take care of all your suspension needs. 

Our Suspension Studio services some of the most important components on your mountain bike: your fork, shock, and dropper post. Without these modern elements, mountain biking would still be a bumpy experience cut out for only the hardest of spinal columns. And while often overlooked, it’s important to service these components at regular intervals to keep your ride as plush as possible. Think of it like putting oil in your car—you won’t notice there’s a problem until it’s too late.

We caught up with team member and bike mechanic, Blake Sommer, to find out why you should consider scheduling a suspension service sooner rather than later. 

Riding an electric mountain bike, in many ways, is no different than riding an entirely self-powered mountain bike; both styles of bike deliver the joy of being on the trail and the opportunity to challenge yourself as a rider. However, there are some nuances to keep in mind while preparing for your next eMTB ride. Set yourself up for success with the key guidelines, below.

Each electric mountain bike will have a different interface, and it’s important to know how these controls work before you find yourself heading up technical terrain on an exposed trail. For example, the Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay features a top-tube display mount so that all your key metrics are a glance away, while the Santa Cruz Heckler and Yeti 160E have control centers affixed directly to the handlebars. From there, each will feature different levels of assistance, from eco to turbo. Just like with any new bike, it will take a minute to dial in the touchpoints and feel of your new eMTB. Take some time to get familiar before heading out.

Electric mountain bikes have power controls, but as we like to say, “they don’t have a technical skills button.” Even the most seasoned mountain bikers have a few things to consider when switching over to an electric-powered ride.

The biggest difference in terms of riding awareness is simple: eMTBs are heavy. As a result, you’ll need to brake earlier on descents, and remember to move your weight forward even more than you may be used to when climbing. And as we mentioned earlier, it may also take some time to get confident with the different modes on your eMTB of choice. A good rule of thumb is to resist kicking it into turbo mode so that you’re still getting a workout in with good tire traction and trail etiquette—and so that your battery will last the entire ride.

The Electric Mountain Bike Network has a library of helpful videos for progressing your skills. (And there’s always Danny MacAskill on e-bikes if you need even more encouragement.)

If all else fails, don’t forget to pedal!

As always, trail etiquette is king. Remember that all mountain bikers–e-bike or otherwise–must yield to hikers, horses, and uphill traffic. When you yield, try not to step too far off the trail into delicate foliage. Rather, lean your bike to the outside to allow enough clearance for the other trail users to pass. For more trail guidelines including Leave No Trace, check out our 10 commandments, here.