By: Kristen Smith

Most commonly known amongst mountain bikers for it’s TranSierra Norte Race, Oaxaca has so much to offer in addition to epic riding. This vibrant Mexican city is full of bold flavors, bright colors, beautiful murals and mezcal made by the locals. Cheap flights make Oaxaca a must-see destination for the mountain biker who wants more than just great riding. 

Where to Stay

The Ride by TransSierra Norte is an all inclusive outfit for the no fuss traveler. This option makes it all too easy to drop in to Oaxaca on the fly with offerings such as airport pickup/dropoff, shuttle service, mountain bike guides, casual hostel style lodging, and an in-house chef. Located in the heart of Oaxaca, visitors can easily explore local murals, historic buildings, restaurants, and bars right outside the front door. Additionally, The Ride has the best trail beta as they build and maintain a lot of trail in region.

Where to Ride

The riding in Oaxaca is seasonal. The best riding can be found after the rainy season wraps up around October, just in time for Día de Los Muertos. Oaxaca has varied trails with huge descents. One local classic called “El Toro” offers over three thousand feet of descending in under three miles. Many trails offer PNW-esque loam and dry, loose desert all in the same descent. Full suspension enduro style bikes are recommended. Here are the highlights.

What to do when you’re not riding

Located at the center of Oaxaca is the Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. This church and former monastery is surrounded by agave, bright vendors, and endless mezcalerias.    

Bring home the flavors of Oaxaca by taking a cooking class while you’re there. Visit local markets to pick out the freshest ingredients and drink Victorias as you learn to make your mole. 

Take a short ride to San Bartolo Coyotepec to buy barro negro pottery. When you arrive, walk the cobblestone streets and visit the various barro negro studios. There you can watch local artisans making everything from skulls to vases with this traditional black clay. 

The leaves in Colorado are already beginning to shimmer with that first hint of yellow and with that, comes one of the most beautiful times of the year to hit the trails. If you’re like us, you’re already planning your rides for peak color season, so we’ve put together our list of favorite places close to the Front Range to peep the leaves.

Colors typically peak in the Northern and Central Colorado mountains in mid September, but this year meteorologists are predicting an early peak due to drought. We should see peak fall colors from September 15 – September 30 for most areas within 2 hours of the Front Range.

So where should you go to check out the colors? Check out our list of recommendations and how-tos below:

Image: Steamboat Chamber

What’s in a name? As it turns out, a lot. The aptly named Flash of Gold trail on Buffalo Pass in Steamboat Springs is a sea of aspens from top to bottom. The trail itself is a calm, smooth and fun 10 mile stretch of singletrack that’ll keep you grinning from ear to ear. It offers up about 2,000 feet of vertical, with plenty of fast and flowy sections, berms and a few rocky bits to keep things exciting. This trail transforms into an electric mix of yellow, red and orange in the fall and is one of the best bang for the bucks spots in the fall.

Ways to Ride It:

1. Loop it with Grouse Mountain or Soda Mountain: if you have the legs, this is the way to do it. Enjoy the Flash of Gold Trail at a calm climbing pace and take in the fall colors before working your way over to the technical and challenging descent of Grouse Mountain. Soda Mountain is a new trail on Buffalo Pass and can be substituted if you’re looking for the additional challenge of a loop but with a less technical descent.
2. Shuttle from the top: have a friend drive you to the top of the Flash of Gold trail right off of Buffalo Pass and enjoy an easy and smooth descent back to the start. Easy peasy!
3. Pedal it as an out and back: park at the main trailhead and follow the Flash of Gold singletrack all the way to the top enjoying the views of the aspens along the way. Flip it and come back down the way you came.

Check out the full ride description here for maps, profiles, and driving directions.

Jen Toops rolling through the changing aspens on the South St. Vrain Trail.

A lesser known ride and a local favorite of ours, the St. Vrain Figure 8 is only about 45 minutes drive from downtown Boulder but offers up a true high-country experience. The ride is no joke, with some tough technical climbs and descents but with plenty of aspen groves, views of Brainard Lake, and a remote feel close to home, the juice is worth the squeeze.

Ways to Ride It:

1. Full figure 8 loop – 16 miles, 2100’. Park at the South St. Vrain Trailhead of CR 96 and Peak to Peak Highway. Immediately begin climbing up the rocky Sourdough trail and work your way towards Brainard Lake, crossing the St. Vrain trail along the way. Climb up Little Raven Trail and complete the loop and enjoy the sustained technical descent back to your car along South St. Vrain Trail.

For bonus aspen views, check out the mellow pedal at Caribou Ranch just down the road along Peak to Peak Highway.

Check out the full ride description here for maps, profiles, and driving directions.

Love it or hate it, let there be no mistake – the Dirty Copper Triangle is one of the most stunning rides in Colorado. Pedaling the ridge along Searle Pass before dropping into the mighty Aspen grove descent to Camp Hale is almost otherworldly, and makes our list as one of our favorite, albeit challenging, rides to do in the fall.

Ways to do it:

1. Loop from Copper Mountain – 32 miles, 5,300’.
2. Shuttle from Camp Hale – leave a car at the base of Camp Hale and begin your ride from Copper Mountain.

Check out the full ride description here for maps, profiles, and driving directions.

Two Elk Trail is a Colorado mega classic, and for good reason. Starting high in the alpine, and crossing through the vast alpine landscape of Vail’s famous back bowls. There’s a certain feeling of being out there that you just can’t help but appreciate.

Once you begin the descending, you’ll be pleased with a smooth and fast alpine flow before hitting tree line where the true fall colors begin to flourish.

Looking for some bonus riding? Hit the newly opened bike park in Minturn for some extra ripping and grab a burrito and enjoy a Gore Range IPA when you’re done.

How to ride it:

1. Full loop from Vail – park at Vail mountain and follow the fire road all the way to the top, using the resort trails to connect to Two Elk lodge and the back bowls. When you finish in Minturn, climb back up to Vail via the bike path. Note: the loop can easily be started in Minturn as well, if you prefer to get all the climbing done at once.
2. Shuttle from Vail Pass. Drop a car in Minturn, return to the top of Vail Pass and start your ride here.
3. Ride a lift to the top of Vail Mountain and start from the top.

Check out the full ride description here for maps, profiles, and driving directions.

Image: Chasing Epic MTB

We call it this one The Classic, and for good reason. This section of the Colorado Trail offers up an alpine adventure that rivals some of the best rides in Colorado. It just so happens to meander through some of the most stunning fall color zones in the state, making this one of the best leaf-peeping rides around.

With all good fame comes a caveat, however. Kenosha’s proximity to Denver and celebrity status on the Front Range outdoor scene means it’ll be crowded with hikers and bikers alike. You can anticipate the crowds thinning as you get further from the start and closer to Georgia Pass, but we still recommend hitting this one on a weekday to avoid the crowds.

2 ways to ride Kenosha Pass:

1. Out and back. Park at the main parking area on HWY 285, head West on the Colorado trail all the way to Georgia Pass.
2. The big boy – shuttle the ride all the way to Breckinridge. This one requires a bit more planning, but the extra descent into Breck is worth every bit of effort. For this one, you’ll need to drop a car at the finish in Breckinridge, and return to 285 to the main trailhead. Take the Colorado Trail from Kenosha Pass into Breckenridge for a huge day with incredible views.

Check out the full ride description here for maps, profiles, and driving directions.

Since there are just too many good ones to leave off of our list, here are a few bonus and honorable mentions to enjoy:

• Teocalli Loop – Crested Butte, CO
• Aspen Alley – Breckenridge, CO
• Dyke Trail – Crested Butte, CO
• South Boundary Trail – Taos, NM
• Monarch Crest – Salida, CO

We hope this list helped you get your fall riding plans rocking and rolling! Be sure to let us know if you make it out on any of these rides this fall by tagging us in your photos @sportsgaragecycling!

Words by Madison Pitts and Jarrod Adcock, photos by Madison Pitts and Matt Jones.

Nestled in a small valley on the west side of the Continental Divide lies the town of Winter Park, home to Colorado’s most favored bike park.

With over 2,000 feet of vertical rise, Trestle Bike Park contains the largest variety of lift-access mountain bike trails. The resort offers mountain bike enthusiasts forty miles of descending terrain via three lifts, accessing 63 trails in total. The trail variety at the bike park, hours of operation and being located nearest to Denver, makes this lift access bike park beloved by the Front Range locals and visitors alike.

Arriving at the resort you will notice that there are plenty of parking lots; all lots are free-of-charge.

The locals know that you will want to arrive early to secure a spot in the parking garage. The garage is nearest to the resort base and offers you, your vehicle, and any fur-babies you bring relief from Colorado’s unpredictable weather patterns. Keep in mind if adverse weather does occur, and lift service is paused for 70 consecutive minutes you can stop by the ticket office and receive a rain check for your lift pass and/or bike rental. Throughout the day, expect mountain bikers to be hanging out, snacking, and having a refreshing beverage in the garage between party laps! Sorry van-lifers, you cannot park in the garage. If you still want to join the party, tall vehicles can park on the roof of the garage or in other lots throughout the resort property. Self contained vehicles are permitted for overnight parking in the G Lot for a maximum of three (3) days.

While you are waiting for the lifts to start running, head over to Goody’s Mountain Creperie where you can kickstart your day with a warm brew of coffee and indulge in a sweet or savory crêpe. Goody’s is known for its baked goods, but our go-to order is the breakfast burrito with the gravy on the side. This fairly priced breakfast burrito is large enough to sustain two hungry mountain bikers for hours.

10 am and it’s time to hit the slopes! Visiting Trestle Bike Park with a group of friends? No problem!

The Gondola at the resort base fits three people with bikes. A quick ride up Winter Park Mountain and you will not only find yourself at the start of most of the bike park’s trails, but you will be at 10,700 feet in elevation surrounded by panoramic views of the continental divide and the rocky mountains. Take note of the Sunspot Lodge as it is perfect for a quick lunch stop serving everything from grab-n-go salads to nachos and CLIF Energy Bars. If mom and dad tag along for your mountain bike adventure, the Sunspot also offers a full bar with outdoor seating and family activities. Let it be known that this lodge has typical resort prices, and you can save yourself a few bucks by shopping at the convenience store at the resort base. The Trails End Mercantile offers groceries, souvenirs, gifts and is easily accessible as it’s located a few steps away from the Gondola.

At the top of Winter Park Mountain, you will be faced with a plethora of trail options.

Many riders choose to explore Green World Trail as their first lap on the mountain. Green World is a flowy green trail that spans from the top of Winter Park Mountain to the base of the resort and offers access to all lifts serving the Trestle Bike Park. If Green World Trail is too mellow for you, Shy Ann is also accessible from the Sunspot Lodge. This blue trail is extremely fun, offering a variety of terrain originating as a speedy jump line and flows into sections of steep, technical terrain into Five Points. For the intermediate rider, Long Trail and Free Speech are continuations of Shy Ann from Five Points to the base of the mountain giving you a stepping stone into Trestle Bike Park’s black diamond trails.

If you are an expert-level mountain biker with a need for speed, Rainmaker is a black diamond jump trail and is perfect to get warmed up on or host party trains with your friends.

Rainmaker Trail provides a beltway to a majority of Trestle Bike Park trails. At different points, you will pass beneath the Olympia lift, descend into Five Points, and get dropped off at the Eskimo lift. On Rainmaker, you will continue to flow down the mountain to the intersection of multiple trails known as Five Points. Five Points serves as a meet-up point for friends and provides a spot for a quick bike tune, water, or access to emergency services. Rainmaker has jumps ranging from 5-20’ in length (give or take a few feet) and it will lead you directly to the Eskimo Express, Trestle’s third trail serving lift. Here’s where you make the hardest decision: continue on Jury Duty to Boot Camp and ultimately to the base or hop on the Eskimo lift which takes you back up to the Sun Spot Lodge?

You won’t want to miss out on exploring the newly cut trails of Paper Boy and Space Force located on the backside of Trestle Bike Park and accessed via the Olympia lift.

At 11,200’ in elevation, Olympia is the only lift that serves blue and black trails on the backside of the mountain. Our favorite route to Trestle’s newest freeride terrain starts at the top of the Olympia lift jumping on Diane, a mellow flow trail with small jumps, and a few man-made rocky sections. From Diane, you must ride Lower Roof of the Rockies, Trestles XC trail, to Happier Camper. The extension of Happier Camper was completed in the fall of 2020. After a short connection from Green World, you end up at the start of Paper Boy trail. Happier Camper and Paperboy are blue freeride trails that will leave you hanging on as you speed through the forest hitting pristine berms, jumps, and side hits. Make sure you turn on your Strava App as the KOM/ QOM leaderboard for this trail is constantly challenged. You will want to see where you stack up among Trestle’s top riders.

Unfortunately, the only way out of the backside of the mountain is up Olympia lift.

This lift line can often become long, but we assure you that Happier Camper/ Paper Boy is always worth the wait. Before descending these trails you will want to make sure the lift is actively running. You must have enough time to make it back as this lift closes 30 minutes before all other lifts. Once you make it to the top of Olympia, you have the choice of Green World or 36th Chamber, Trestles largest (and always windiest) jump-line. Both Green World and 36th Chamber will intersect trails on the front side of the mountain.

Cruel and Unusual should be on every rider’s must-do list as it tests your ability to maintain speed through tight wooden berms, and other technical jumps and wooden features. Approach with caution, as this trail has a fair amount of ladder drops and gaps! If you do find yourself stopping to eye up or walk around any obstacles at the park be aware of oncoming riders.

Most of the technical trails at Trestle Bike Park are located on the eastern facing slope.

Here is where you can find trails raced on during well-known events such as Big Mountain Enduro Series and USA Cycling’s National Championships. Trestle DH, Search and Seizure, and Boulevard are fan favorites. These steep, technical trails are fast-paced and full of rock gardens. Riders will cruise through the subalpine country while rapidly descending in altitude. You must choose your lines wisely as these trails will challenge the most experienced of riders. One of our most favored trails is a connecting trail to the base called Space Ape. This trail has a lot of roots, unforgiving rock gardens, and even a creek gap. A perfect run through Space Ape will leave you with a feeling of accomplishment.

**Brice Shirbach descending the Space Ape rock garden

Hidden away in the trees is a pro-line trail that runs parallel to Space Ape known as Banana Peel.

This trail is full of gravity-defying obstacles that will intimidate any rider. Banana Peel has 10 main features. These features will test a rider’s ability to ride shark fins, whale tales, jumps with large gaps, big drops, and more. This line is well built as it offers a rider to tackle each obstacle one by one, building skills and confidence upon their journey to conquering the line. Be aware; this trail does require a pro line pass available to any rider above the age of 14. You will be required to sign a waiver and view a safety video. Anybody caught riding without the pass will have their bike park pass taken away.

Don’t think you are ready for Trestle Bike Park’s Pro-line? Beeall UCanB offers advanced riders the chance to showcase their skills on less intimidating drops and gaps. Have your riding buddy camera ready for the last drop on this line. Viewable from the base, the “Trestle Drop” is a picturesque feature you will be excited to show your friend through social media.

Stoked on the days riding and need to refuel? Meet up with your friends at The Pizza Pedal’r and grab their happy hour special of “Mega Cheese Slice and a cold one” for $7 between the hours of 3 pm-5 pm.