As part of its Summer Weekend Planner and latest issue, Backpacker Magazine rated America’s 12 best campsites and our neck of the woods made the cut. Blue Lakes located on the northern flanks of the Mount Sneffels Range was named one the country’s best place to lay your head outdoors. We agree and have our Blue Lakes Hut perfectly placed. So if camping in a tent doesn’t appeal, try a summer hut trip to Blue Lakes.

Blue Lakes Hut

As part of a series, we are presenting riders’ writing from log books located at each hut, tracking the adventures from creative meals to nearly missed spills.

Day 3: 7/10/09 Deep Creek
Team Oracle left the Black Mesa Hut at approximately 7:45 a.m. Opening the upper windows in the hut helps with circulation. It seems that earplugs are a must to get some sleep. Eight tired males in a small room yields a nightly symphony of bodily noises. Kevlar found some clothes in his bag last night left from the Italians. I’m sure he will be digging deeper tonight for more intimate apparel.
Caspar a.k.a Kevlar took off first down the hill dressed in white. I’m sure the locals thought the Colorado Yeti had returned to the Black Mesa. The downhill today was great. FSR 615 was very rocky with patches of mud. We ate lunch at the ‘T’ intersection of Beef Trail Road. The locals drove by and offered some grit to the PB&J.
We arrived at Miramonte Reservoir for a quick swim. No sign of Kevlar. We pushed on for Dry Creek Basin Hut and arrived at approximately 1:45 p.m. Kevlar had the hut open and had a plate of milk and cookies waiting for us. We were also greeted by biting black gnats. Some of the team made some nachos for all to enjoy. Curious George repacked his front bike bearings with Vasoline.
Interesting to note some of the items the team members brought: “Jim Dandy” is still carrying his eight pound arctic raingear. He’ll probably put it on and run through some Moab lawn sprinklers to justify the load. Curious George has enough bike tools to open a shop in Durango. Kevlar has a livestock brush that he hopes to use to groom an elk herd.

—Ronaldo, Team Oracle

As part of a series, we are presenting riders’ writings from log books located at each hut, tracking the adventures from creative meals to nearly missed spills.

Day 2: 7/9/09 Black Mesa
Six of us (the smart ones) left Bolam Hut at 8 a.m. Kevlar and “Curious George” decided to do Alternate 1 and 2 while we ventured to Black Mesa. Lots of gravel downhill helped the Wizard’s chain ring come apart. Thank God the “Godfather” was with him to repair it. Great ride with killer views today. The only other difficulty was repairing the Godfather’s handlebar bag a few times.
Got to the hut at 3:04 p.m. Worked on the bikes and prepared burritos for dinner. Kevlar drifted in between 3-4 p.m. looking like a freight train hit him. Curious George stumbled in later. The consensus of the lost boys was that Alternate 1 and 2 sucked. Getting lost, lots of mud and rock—never again!

—Ronaldo, Team Oracle

It’s true that your glutes, quads, hamstrings and calves take a toll after big rides, especially those first big rides. But it comes down to the core when it comes down to post-riding pain and particullary back and neck. Here are a few exercises that  align the spine, encourage upper body flexibility and relieve pain in the back, neck and shoulder–and a few can be done right at your desk. Check out Bicycling Magazine easy upper body training in yoga fashion.

As part of a series, we are presenting riders’ writing from log books located at each hut, tracking the adventures from creative meals to nearly missed spills.

Team Oracle

Day 1: 7/8/09 Bolam Pass

The eight amigos (seven California boys and one from Colorado) left the Starbucks at Purgatory around 8:25 a.m. The extra coffee was critical for the anticipated *** trail needed to be deposited to mark the way for the stragglers. Great climb up the mountain. Creek crossings were a surprise. We got to wash our shoes and the “Wizard” participated in a high-altitude baptism. Thought we had the hut at the Graysill mining site. If that’s the hut we’re in for a long ride. Made it to hut around 1:45 p.m. The Italians left the hut in great shape. The two cans of chili missing indicated their dinner was less than special. We started dinner early. “Kevlar” field-dressed a Marmot. We had pasta as a side dish.

—Ronaldo, Team Oracle

How much do you know about shifting? To make riding more fun and bike repair less frequent, check out these tips from seven-time Canadian national cross-country champion Andreas Hestler from Bicycling magazine for a better ride and a longer drivetrain life.

• Is cross chaining the answer? Riding in a combo of the big chainring and big cog, or the small ring and small cog, is generally not a good idea. But Hestler says, it can at times offer the ideal gear and races set their bikes to handle it. However, it’s rough to shift into.

• Think before you shift. Your eyeing that hill climb before you and it’s all about anticipation. Anticipate your next gear and when to accelerate. Shifting after terrain changes sets you back energy-wise and slows you down. Same goes for sand and water crossings—think before you get in gear.

• Care for your chain. Changing the chain, Hestler says, keeps you from having to replace your cogs and rings as often. And be weary of wet-dry riding, chains weaken in these conditions. Check your chainring and cassette for burrs and nicks.

• Go easy. Make shifting light, careful and timely to avoid breaking something. “If you love your bike it’ll love you—shift lightly and carefully,” says Hestler.

Mesa Arch in Canyonlands

You’ve made the trek to the mountain biking mecca and a well-deserved stop following 215 miles in the saddle. Now what’s next…stay a night or two and explore Moab.

Moab never ceases to amaze with its geographic wonder spanning slick rock domes, bowls and fins to high mesas and the La Sal Mountains’ 13,000-foot peaks. The gorge of the Colorado River provides its own beauty and recreation. And, don’t forget Arches and Canyonlands national parks…spectacular.

Best site for lodging options: Check out discovermoab.com .

Porcupine Rim Trail-Moab, Utah

Both our local Peak to Peak Bicycles and Moab’s Porcupine Shuttle pick up our riders in Moab and shuttle them to regional airports in Grand Junction, Montrose, Durango and Telluride, and also to Durango Mountain Resort and the town of Ridgway.

Slick Rock Trail-Moab, Utah

Generally, a flat rate from Moab to Ridgway or Telluride costs approximately $275 while Moab to Durango, Montrose or Grand Junctions runs approximately $325 to $425.

Call us for more info on shuttles and more. This summer San Juan Hut Systems is providing Ridgway-based travel packages so we got you covered from your arrival to your departure with transportation, lodging, bike shipping and bike equipment. Call us at 970.626.3033!

If you don’t ride year-round, you know the outcome of those first rides in the saddle as summer approaches. Ouch: lower back and glute pain, hamstring, hip flexors and quad aches. How do you lesson the strain in these first rides? There are some simple answers that require a stability ball, some floor space and, most importantly, your motivation.

Bicycling Magazine offers up some stellar advice and it starts at the core—your core.

Try this one: Lie with the middle of your back on the stability ball with knees bent 90 degrees and feet flat on floor. Place hands behind head (don’t pull on neck). Squeeze belly button toward the spine, lift upper back off the ball. With your shoulders off of the ball, make a circular motion with your torso while applying pressure with lower back to ball through motion. Clockwise 15 ovals, counterclockwise 15 ovals.  Works the transverse abdominus (inner abs), stabilizes lower back, glutes, hamstrings and hip flexors.

“Why It Works: Despite the straightforward motion of the bike, your body moves in three directions: forward as you head down the road, vertically as your legs pedal up and down, and laterally as your hips and upper body rock side to side,” writes Bicycling author Dimity McDowell.

If renting a bike will take the load off of your upcoming Telluride to Moab or Durango to Moab trip, well we’ve got you covered. San Juan Hut Systems is working with bike shops in Durango, Moab and Montrose to set you up with the perfect ride.

Pedal the Peaks 

Cascade Bicycles in Montrose is offereing Trek, Specialized and Yeti full suspension mountain bikes, prices TBA. In Durango, Cliffside Ski & Sport offers NORCO mountain bikes in both full suspension and hardtail ranging in price from $350-300 per bike per week. Another Durango shop, Pedal the Peaks, carries Iron Horse and Raleigh full suspension bike for $455 per week. Pedal the Peaks also offers custom-built demo rentals ranging in price from $475-$675. Second Avenue Sports, also of Durango, offers Yeti 575 full suspension for $440, Kona full suspension for $320, and Scott/Kona hardtails for $240.

Cliffside Ski & Sport

We’ll get you set up with a bike, bike tunes and equipment, shuttle services and lodging–just give us a call. New this summer, San Juan Huts is offering Ridgway-based travel packages, to even further lighten your load. Call us! 970.626.3033