Colorado Bucket List Item #1 – Bike Grand Junction to Moab

Have you considered riding your bike from Grand Junction, Colorado to Moab, Utah? Neither have I. The drive is challenging enough. After looking at an article from a Grand Junction website, this bike journey might just deserve consideration.

Until today I had no knowledge of this organized bike tour. It sets out at various times of the year guiding cyclists through Unaweep Canyon, Gateway, and Paradox, touring along the Dolores River.

Get our free mobile app

Where did this idea come from?

Earlier this morning a post from visitgrandjunction.com caught my eye. It was their rundown of 21 bucket list items for Grand Junction for the year 2021.  Most suggestions involved either outdoor activities or festivals.

One bucket list item instantly draws attention: Gravel Grinder Tour of the Canyons.

First question: What's a "Gravel Grinder"?

According to Google:

Gravel grinders are gravel road races and rides that combine riding on surfaces such as asphalt, gravel, dirt, some singletrack trails and maintenance or B roads. The courses vary from hard-packed dirt to softball-sized rocks. The distance usually ranges between 50 and 150 miles, but can be even longer.

This bucket list item is a three-day, two-night tour.

The tour suggested by visitgrandjunction.com is a 165-mile trip, averaging 55 miles per day. According to the event organizer, sanjuanhuts.com, you'll "...explore canyons of the Southwest, view wildlife, and experience the hut-to-hut convenience on this 3 day 2 night tour."

When can you do this?

Tours with this company are available in May and October.

Things to remember.

Sagwagons are not allowed on this route. That brings us to the next question: What's a Sagwagon? According to Merriam-Webster (seriously, the definition of Sag Wagon can be found in this dictionary), a Sag Wagon is "a vehicle that follows behind bicyclists (as in a race) to pick up those who drop out or to carry gear."

Why no Sag Wagons?

According to the website, the huts are on private land. One can only speculate that the corridors leading to the huts cannot be traveled by a vehicle.

Are you ready to embark? May is coming up quick.

There's no way I'll be in shape for this by May 2021. October? Maybe. Either way, if you're interested, you can make reservations for this tour by calling (970) 626-3033.

If you're suffering from a case of the mullygrubbies after 13 months of COVID-induced seclusion, then perhaps this is exactly what the doctor ordered. A tour of this caliber is not to be taken lightly. With that in mind, perhaps it's best if we start training now.