Tim Does the Plummet

Tim in foreground, buddy in background. Little Pikes Peak in they way back.

Tim Schardt, RO Staff, has been a bike technician in Colorado Springs for years. His favorite ride in all of Colorado is the Pikes Peak Plummet. He’s done this 28 mile bad boy over 40 times! And this is how he does it:

Tim drives up the Pikes Peak Highway, getting to the toll gate around 7:30 a.m. He likes to drive to the summit for some photo ops. It’s one of the highest places in North America where one can take a bicycle!

Tim’s whip.

Then, he rides 2 miles down the toll road to Devil’s Playground and the Elk Park Trailhead. Fun facts from Tim!: From 1939 to 1984, Elk Park had a ski lift. And an old growth forest with 800-900 year old pine trees is nearby as well. Elk Park Trail goes for 8-10 miles before hitting Barr Camp. 

Tim likes to chat it up with the Park Ranger at Barr Camp and have a few leftover pancakes the Barr Camp staff make for campers each morning. 

From there, he hits the Lake Moraine Trail for 3 miles. The 1st mile is nice and flowy and the 2nd two miles have 1,200 feet of climbing. 

Then he hits Jones Park before hopping on the iconic #667 trail, also known as Captain Jacks. He takes Gold Camp Road before hitting up the famous upper and lower Chutes. Lastly, he winds his way through Stratton Open Space to his car chillin’ in the parking lot. 

It’s a 4-6 hour ride - depending how hard Tim hustles. A long but breathtaking day!

If you need someone to arrange a ride for The Plummet, give Tim a call. 719 641 9528   

Medicine Wheel: Trail Advocates

Cory, near Garden of the Gods

Cory Sutela, director of Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates, stopped by Routes the other day. Medicine Wheel is a non-profit organization of “mountain bikers who build, protect, and share inspiring trail experiences” in the Pikes Peak Region.  

Cory shared that Medicine Wheel was originally started by Brian Gravestock in 1991. Brian found mental and physical healing from being on the region’s trails. Inspired by the native american tradition of the Medicine Wheel, he created MedWheel as a way to encourage people to connect with nature and to improve cooperation among trail users. Brian wanted to provide a way to let trail users heal themselves as well as the trails. This work has led to the vision of creating a world class network of mountain biking trails in the Pikes Peak region. Read more about this history here.

Cory became the director of Medicine Wheel in 2019 after serving on the board of directors for many years. He originally moved to Colorado Springs from Canada in 2004 to work as a SRAM engineer. He first learned about Medicine Wheel when he volunteered at Red Rocks Canyon Open Space at a Medicine Wheel Trail of Love Dig Day - MedWheel’s volunteer building and maintenance program for the trails we all love. 

Ribbon cutting at Lake Morraine Trail

Medicine Wheel has had their hands in many of the trail projects around town in the last 30 years like Chutes and Ladders, Lion trail, Codell and many others. They spent 20 years bringing the Lake Morainne Trail to completion. They had to coordinate with State Senators, Colorado Springs Utilities, the State and National Railways, multiple landowners, and the Army Corps of Engineers. One of the most rewarding parts of this job for Cory was cutting the ribbon on the Lake Moraine Trail (and the recently opened Cresta Bike Park). 

Trail of Love Dig Day on Rattle Rocks at Ute Valley.

Cory mentioned during his visit to Routes that Medicine Wheel is in need of volunteers - not only for Trail Love Dig Days (which are posted regularly on their website) but also to attend public meetings, find sponsors, curate their social media, and in communications to help share Medicine Wheel’s story with the greater public. 

Additionally, Medicine Wheel partners with community organizations like Rocky Mountain Field Institute, Pikes Peak Outdoor Rec Alliance, Trails and Open Space Coalition, Concrete Couch, Upadowna, Friends groups in parks and open spaces across the region, schools, and businesses. MedWheel always seeks additional business, individual and organizational partners.

You can also follow them on Facebook  Instagram  Youtube  .