Silverthorne to Radium Campground
Strava: 115.5 km, 1250m, 6:19, 308 shifts, 79.5 kph max – unpaved!
Due to our really hot room, I didn’t sleep well and was not psyched for riding in the morning. We packed up and rode over to a coffee shop for breakfast and takeout lunch. That was pretty nice and I left my one star review of the hotel.
We rolled out on bike paths, then continued downhill on route 9. After 21 easy km, we turned off on the Ute Pass Road, surprisingly also paved. The climb was not so steep or long and soon we were on top loving the scenery.
The descent was fast and soon the road turned to dirt, really just unpaved I should say. It was smooth and washboard-free, sort of oiled. We took it a long way, generally downhill but with lots of short climbs. Around a reservoir and then we came out at the highway at about 85 km around noon.
We decided to detour off route into Kremmling for lunch and supplies and then continue on to the first campsite en route to Steamboat Springs, about 120 km away. That way we could make it there the next night and only camp once.
The detour was quick and we stopped at the first restaurant we saw, a Mexican one with three bikes in front. We talked with the SOBO trio who had just come from our target, Radium Campground. They told us about the water and the road condition and we told them about the route to Silverthorne.
While we were eating one of the guys mentioned to me that my back axle was partially unscrewed. Now the shifting and slight brake rubbing problems were explained! I went outside and sure enough it was loose. The mechanics in Salida forgot to tighten it and it lasted quite a way but was no match for the continuous washboard. I fixed it quickly – lesson learned.
Then Wytze volunteered to do the shopping while we relaxed at a Coffee/Ice cream place. We took that offer for sure! Andrew and I enjoyed root beer floats and Daniel had a nap on a bench. Wytze returned soon with dinner and food for tomorrow, and even a bottle of Malbec from Mendoza strapped to his frame where a water bottle normally goes!
We shared out the groceries and headed back onto the track. We had 30 km with 500m of climbing left and it went well. 11 of my 12 gears worked perfectly, not sure what’s up with the 42 (second gear). The initial climb was hot and steep but then the route changed enormously. We went over a pass we barely noticed then were on a fancy road (even paved for a little while), looking down at a beautiful gorge with the Colorado River and the Amtrak tracks. We stopped at “Inspiration Point” for photos.
Then more descent, another climb, then a final super fast descent on unpaved road, but smooth enough to hit 80 kph, unheard of! The gusty wind slowed me a little but boy did that feel great!
We had a last four km to the campground, right on the Colorado River. It was “reservation only”, but almost empty of people so we just paid and occupied a site by the river. Tents up, we settled in to dinner. We filtered about eight liters of Colorado River water.
Dinner was two liters of Broccoli/Cheddar soup followed by a cheese platter even Ype would be proud of. The Malbec was delicious and reminded Andrew. Wytze and I of the amazing days we spent in Mendoza in 2019. After dinner it was 7:30, our usual bedtime (we’re such party animals!) but the very loud generator across the river was still going. Luckily it stopped soon and we settled down for another long night of sleep. I tried but failed to read first…
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