Sage and Saddles - The Gunnison Bikepacking Loop

[@windy415]

Whoa there feller. The birthplace of mountain biking is Northern California

[@gregors1422]

Haha! I caught that too and came here to say it... you beat me to it! Don't forget the Klunkers!

[@harris4035]

myself and a group of 7 other awesome dudes are coming to ride this route June 24 - 28th! And although I was already stoked, this video up' d that stoke level. We can't wait!

[@ezr168]

The day has arrived, June 24, enjoy

[@johnmccarthy1010]

Let us know if you still need to take the construction detour.

[@harris4035]

@@johnmccarthy1010 from Pitkin to Tin Cup we had to take the Cumberland pass instead of the Tin Cup pass and then from Tin Cup, ride "backwards" up to Mirror Lake. other than that, everything was totally rideable and open. And AWESOME! We loved it. Took a fishing pole and caught some rainbow trout along the way. That was a highlight.

[@reeceholmes8546]

Bicycle heaven right there, thanks Neil

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

indeed!

[@PumpkinVillage]

What a beautiful and diverse country. Thanks for the video and take care, Al

[@soloist777]

As an Aussie bikepacker, this looks like bikepacking heaven! I think I could immigrate to Gunnison County quite easily.

[@inavandownbytheriver]

I love the art at the end of the video! Gunnison is pretty cool, as are the counties to the south: Hinsdale, Saguache, and Mineral. Gravel roads and trails everywhere and hardly any people.

[@ScottandJodi]

Must. Do. This. Route. Wonderful. Minor quibble: Mtn. biking started in Marin County, CA, on Mt. Tam.

[@joecruz8314]

Yep, it evolved there, too, in parallel to what was going on in Crested Butte.

[@richardwolf6269]

I’m from California and I invented bikepacking in the 80’s! 😀

[@mihaylo_kovin]

I feel why in the name it has "sage"! Thanks for sharing the video!

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

Love all of that scenic gravel and double track, I need to get back to Gunnison soon!

[@andytromans1]

Beyond excited to be doing this route in June. First trip to the the US....

[@milesarbour2210]

So awesome, nice work with the video Neil. This looks amazing!

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

Thanks Miles!

[@LorenzoEnzooey]

what a beautiful life it is to witness this kind of beauty

[@lewis4175]

This looks incredible. Going on the bucket list for next summer!!

[@bruce.KAY-bike-drifter]

Wow. You captured my imagination. Yes, I want to ride there.

[@bruce.KAY-bike-drifter]

Good to see all my bikepacking heroes in the one ride video.

[@hobbithikingnz8321]

Wow that looks exceptional! Thank you for showing us around 😊

[@KevinBikeTour]

Beautiful route! Great job community building!

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

Thank you very much!

[@IntrepidGlobalCitizen]

Wow! I will have to check out this route one day!

[@timparsons2741]

Superb , Looks like I'm going to Gunnison next summer .... SWEET !

[@RomanoCortesJorge]

Great video. I hope you can also feature routes through either Red Wood or Sequoia giant tree forests in California, especially those by locals.

[@kenprice1047]

Very nice route and video! 🤙🏼🚵🏼🚴🏼‍♀️

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@blue-wanderer4392]

I've got goosebumps seeing those mountain giants

[@bleachlectures3973]

mind blowing wonderful

[@cincinnatijones]

Loved the watercolor work

[@ericsimpson84]

This looks so good!!

[@albert85b]

LOVE this.

[@James-gx7sk]

Looks bad ass! ❤

[@niklashbg]

Screw New York or Vegas, next time I go to the U.S. it'll be for Gunnison!

[@richardwolf6269]

There is no such thing as a good big city!

[@charlesmansplaining]

Good to see proper flatbar bikes used on this terrain.

[@anitaried115]

Is it too early in the year to do this route and would it be best to have a wahoo for alternate routes. For example tin cup pass is closed till July however the sage and saddle trail might be open (as it does not summit)? We what to go the last week of this month. Anita and Abigail.

[@TheDharmaBarber]

Moved to Denver almost a year ago. This route just jumped the list. Thanks for conjuring this route and giving me trips to look forward and to experience. What time of year was this filmed? And what’s the feel for late early May into June around this loop? Still snow? Sun making it hot than the actual temp?

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

we started on July 8th, I would recommend later in the season or earlier, but high alpine access is limited earlier in the year depending on snow.

[@lsara3699]

July is a safer bet for snow, might still need to walk parts of the passes

[@dirtyteeth0]

Great 🤦🏻‍♂️ Like we needed another ride to put on the list 😂 This looks so awesome!! Probably like top 3. We’re doing Alabama Skyway over Thanksgiving. Idaho Hot Springs some time next summer. We did EDT Seg 8 (FL Divide or at least a monster chunk) Tally to Key West this past December

[@mogulmayhem]

Do I grow a sick beard before, during, or after setting off on this adventure?

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

A nice thin beard acts as sun protection, but sometimes it gets out of hand, up to you entirely.

[@hupo]

I just wish there was more CO routes for my gravel bike :\

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

this is a great one: bikepacking.com/routes/hartman-rocks-overnighter/ and stay tuned, we will be publishing many more over the next year+

[@kevinselin2288]

Well…you made my next adventure planning easy. Thanks! What month(s) would be ideal?

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

Lots of good info here: bikepacking.com/routes/sage-and-saddles/ But I would say either as early as you can go, if it's a low snow year, that would be end of June, or later in the summer, mid August or September. And by mid to late September, you can even start to get some golden aspens, but that also mean risk of colder temps and snow up high.

[@user-se2hw3cb6b]

Relatively new to this, is this route doable on a Cannondale Topstone with lefty fork and 47Ish tires?

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

It would be a challenge in sections, you may find yourself walking a bit more.

[@workstudy8118]

Where can I find the gpx file!?!?

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

the route is linked in the description.

[@samrichardson2641]

35% of gravel roads in Colorado are in Gunnison County is just 🧢 🧢 🧢 what?!?!?😂

[@samrichardson2641]

Says forest service roads, not all gravel roads.

[@nateisright]

Gunnison has a Walmart for crying out loud! What more could you want?