The Bike Culture of Crested Butte

Sailing Down the Ski Hill in Crested Butte

Fat tires, skinny tires, town cruisers, sleek road bikes, bouncy mountain bikes—you name it, everywhere you turn in this freewheeling mountain town in the summer, you see a cyclist, a bike, a bike part or a bike path popping into view. I’ve been to many mountain towns across the Rockies, yet never have I observed so many bike doings as here in Crested Butte, Colorado. A bike mecca for sure, perhaps largely due to its glorious network of trails (many single track) and the fact that mountain biking took off here in the 1970s after some locals began retrofitting old Schwinns with gears and took to the hills. Since then, the bike culture has done nothing but grow to the point that people of all ages and ability levels can’t help joining in on the fun when they land in this stunning mountain town.

This morning I went out for a little power hike on the ski mountain. Did I feel out of place not being on two wheels? Not at all. Instead, I enjoyed hoofing about at my own pace and observing the biking activities both up close and from afar. From the bike wash station to the easy bike loading setup at the gondola, I realized Crested Butte is a mountain resort destination that takes cycling seriously. I meandered up my own single track that accommodated two-way hikers and uphill bikers, a sinuous path bordered by fields of wildflowers, where I could take in the full expanse of CB’s alpine setting and still boost my heart rate and break a little sweat.

Greasing Gears and Switching Out Pedals

CB: Where Bike Rentals and Gondola Rides Abound

Bike Enthusiasts Encountered Along the Way (Note the Six-Year Old)

Mt. Crested Butte Sighting On My Hike

A Tour of the Heart: A SEDUCTIVE Cycling Trip Through France

No, cycling’s not in the cards for me this trip—I have too many other things going on and a one hour plus power hike up and down the mountain more than suffices for my daily exercise needs. I’m not a big mountain biker anyway. In truth, I haven’t given mountain bike riding much of a chance; since I moved to Colorado over eleven years ago, hiking has had far more appeal for me. And in terms of cycling, road riding is much more my deal, as I express vividly in my new book, “A Tour of the Heart:  A Seductive Cycling Trip Through France.” Maybe next time I come to the area I can do a good ride on the fabulous 28-mile stretch between Gunnison and Crested Butte, a broad-shouldered route that offers many scenic vistas and few big climbs. Now, that’s my speed.

Tomorrow, Saturday, July 27, at 6p.m. I’m doing an event at Townie Books, a bookstore whose logo even features a classic cruiser (the wheels make up the double Os in BOOKs). If it wasn’t for the fact that I’ve done tons of book events over the span of more than two decades, I might be a little intimidated. Some say that in Crested Butte the men are real men and so are the women. Damn, I’m hoping they’re not thinking I’m some sort of a super cyclist. I’ll be sporting my yellow Tour de France jersey, but I’m just a wannabe—a casual Sunday rider at best. There was a story in the Crested Butte News today announcing the event. Damn, they didn’t run a photo of the cover of the book. Now, folks might really think I’m some sort of an expert cyclist. Oh well, they’ll find out soon enough. Plus, I do have the word “seductive” in my book title.

CB Bike Sculpture

Let’s hope that some of these super athletic types can relate to me. I think so; we do after all share a passion—that of cycling and the whole culture surrounding bikes. To me, whether you do it well or not is beside the point. What matters most is to have fun. And here in Crested Butte, I see tons of folks having a blast. And as for the ladies, they’re pretty hot, too. There’s a lot to be said about self empowerment through sports and knowing how to approach life like a good ride, whether you’re cruising solo or not.

Visit The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in Crested Butte and their quirky museum. Their website is also a great resource for information. Real bike enthusiasts might want to go to CB during Crested Butte Bike Week, America’s oldest mountain bike festival.

Check out Testing My Mettle in Crested Butte to read about another one of my outdoor adventures there.

In Praise of CB Cycling Culture

More CB Bike Sculpture