Imogene Pass

Single speeds are stupid. Especially when attempting a 13,000ft 4x4 mountain pass. It's fine for designated bike trails, but riding anything else around here is just brutal. Honestly, it makes riding not fun. The premise behind single speeds is that in rolling terrain you can use your momentum from the downhill to help you up the next hill. Imogene Pass, however, is a sustained 7 mile climb.

The first 5 miles up to the ghost town of Tomboy weren't too bad. After that the road became steeper with big loose rocks. It stayed that way until the summit, a distance of about 2 miles. I walked a good bit of that, but I had come too far to give up. Along the way, I passed an old mine shaft that was partially boarded up. It renewed my interest in spelunking, but I haven't been able to find any information about caves or mines in the area. The town of Tomboy was pretty interesting too. I read that it used to contain a school and a general store. I can't imagine living in a basin at that altitude.

The top of the pass was well worth the effort; even though, it was cold with blasting winds. A shot of Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey really hit the spot. It took a few hours to get up and about 25 minutes coming down. I would've liked to continue down the other side to Ouray riding through Ridgway and back to Telluride on Last Dollar Road, a relatively mild mountain pass. That route would only be 63 miles, but it was already 5 o'clock when I reached the summit.

I started and ended the ride with about 10 miles of single track. I may attempt another pass or the route through Ouray but only with a geared bike. Regarding my previous post about cyclocross bikes, I'd like to clarify that they make great adventure bikes in most parts of the country, but out here on the western slope, I think one would be better off with a geared, full suspension 29er. That's my plan for next season, but for now I have to focus on a 4wd truck and a snowboard!