Green Mountain, Lakewood, CO

[pixelninja]

Green Mountain is a small mountain just west of Denver. Its a great place to bring beginner mtb'ers, which is what we did on Sunday. Trails aren't technical at all, except for a few loose short climbs. Everything else is fast smooth singletrack with great views from the top. The whole mountain is a nice combination of short climbs, short downhills and roller coaster-like singletrack. I only got a few pics from the climb up. Everything after that was too fun to stop and take pictures.

Not sure who this rider is, but this is a typical Green Mtn shot. Nothing technical or very steep...just smooth continuous singletrack.
http://www.pixelninja.net/pics/green-mountain/IMG_9207.jpg

And looking the other way, the trail continues on toward the top. This is about a 2 mile climb. Just enough for newbies to feel the pain of climbing yet still be able to make it to the top and get a good sense of accomplishment.
http://www.pixelninja.net/pics/green-mountain/IMG_9208.jpg

Here's my man Charlie on the way up.
http://www.pixelninja.net/pics/green-mountain/IMG_9209.jpg

View of Denver, off in the distance.
http://www.pixelninja.net/pics/green-mountain/IMG_9216.jpg

[Skookum]

My Green Mountain looks much greener than your Green Mountain haha!

i wonder how many Green Mountains on the planet there are to ride?

[PonySoldier]

How was the Breeze there on Sunday??

[pixelninja]

How was the Breeze there on Sunday??It wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. At the top it was gusting 30-35 mph, but down lower it was a non-factor. At the very top, one of our beginners was blown off the road, but she's fine and laughed it off.

[pixelninja]

My Green Mountain looks much greener than your Green Mountain haha!Yeah, everthing in your area is much greener. Around here, plants green up for a while in the spring, but then go back to shades of brown and greenish-brown by summer, turn completely brown in the fall, and stay that way until the next spring.

One thing that's always cracked me up about Colorado is the sign that's posted next to highway 70 on the Colorado/Kansas border. It says "Welcome to Colorful Colorado", and is surrounded by nothing but brown grasses and tumbleweeds.

[LordOpie]

I'm not a big fan of Green Mt. It is way too brown -- as has been pointed out. Also, when I bring new rider friends, there are too many hot shots out there trying to bomb the runs.

[pixelninja]

Also, when I bring new rider friends, there are too many hot shots out there trying to bomb the runs.What's your favorite place to take new riders? Besides GM, about the only other trail I've found that's more than a bike path yet still mellow enough for beginners is Heil Ranch.

[Skookum]

Yeah, everthing in your area is much greener. Around here, plants green up for a while in the spring, but then go back to shades of brown and greenish-brown by summer, turn completely brown in the fall, and stay that way until the next spring.

One thing that's always cracked me up about Colorado is the sign that's posted next to highway 70 on the Colorado/Kansas border. It says "Welcome to Colorful Colorado", and is surrounded by nothing but brown grasses and tumbleweeds.
Yah a big portion of our state is like that as well. The whole southeastern section on the other side of the Cascades doesn't resemble "The Evergreen State" that much. i've heard your state is fairly similiar in that the west and east side are very different.

[LordOpie]

What's your favorite place to take new riders? Besides GM, about the only other trail I've found that's more than a bike path yet still mellow enough for beginners is Heil Ranch.
Elk Meadows is nice. Flying J is another good one.

[pixelninja]

i've heard your state is fairly similiar in that the west and east side are very different.Well, kind of. You've got the east side which is high plains dry, and then there's the west side which is desert dry.

We've got some nice mountains in the middle...unless they're on fire...

[Ascentrek]

Elk Meadows is nice. Flying J is another good one.

Flying J is good (not aerobic), Green is good for aerobic exercise, not to technical. Waterton Canyon is great, even portions of the climb aren't bad for beginners.

[LordOpie]

Flying J is good (not aerobic)...
yeah, but most newbies aren't really in the cycling fitness shape.

Waterton Canyon is great, even portions of the climb aren't bad for beginners.
There's only four switchbacks, other than that, yeah, it's good for a beginner in decent condition.

[pixelninja]

yeah, but most newbies aren't really in the cycling fitness shape.GM was perfect for the newbie we took. She's a marathon runner, so she didn't have too much problem with the climbing. It was the downhills that scared her. I just couldn't get her to stand on the pedals to get her weight back. She ended up walking down most stuff, so I'm glad we didn't take her any place technical.

[Ascentrek]

My wife likes GM. Its a great 'pick and choose' based on time and the ability to want to get. For her, the uphills are as challenging as she likes, and the Downhills are relatively simple for her.

One of the quality trails on that mountain is heading due west from the summit. That DH is a fun, on the ridge singletrack. The end is especially steep and challenging. Althought short and not technical, that trail is fun.

[SkaredShtles]

Green Mountain is a small mountain just west of Denver. Its a great place to bring beginner mtb'ers, which is what we did on Sunday. Trails aren't technical at all, except for a few loose short climbs.
Get off the beaten path some time - there are trails all *over* that mountain. Some are quite challenging.

Oh - just don't do it when it's muddy. The mud off the main trails can be heinous.

[Mtnrider]

Some are quite challenging

LOL:rofl:

[pixelninja]

LOL:rofl:Have you tried riding up some of the trails on the east side of the mountain that drop down into subdivisions? There is definitely some tough stuff there.

[LordOpie]

There's nothing remotely challenging or interesting on that "mountain".

[SkaredShtles]

There's nothing remotely challenging or interesting on that "mountain".
Says the guy who doesn't actually mountain bike. :rofl:

[SkaredShtles]

LOL:rofl:
Go easy - remember, I'm strictly a XC rider. :)

[Mtnrider]

Go easy - remember, I'm strictly a XC rider. :)

Ahh... it's all good. Just having some fun!

[SkaredShtles]

Ahh... it's all good. Just having some fun!
Yeah - if it gets steep and loose, it's challenging for me. :D

Which means there are a *lot* of trails on GM that are challenging for me.

And those damn bushes that grab you. Man. Steep, loose, and bushy.

[pixelninja]

Steep, loose, and bushy.Are we talking about Green Mountain, or women in your past? :D

[Mtnrider]

Are we talking about Green Mountain, or women in your past? :D

Oh Snap!:rofl:

[SkaredShtles]

Are we talking about Green Mountain, or women in your past? :D
Ummmmmmmm...........

Uhhhhhhhhhhhh..........

I'm not sure?

:help:

:D

[Mtnrider]

Oh man... that was classic... I'm still grinning several hours later. Good $hit!:)