West End Trails Alliance’s president Tim Tait, along with approximately 13 other bike packers (endurance bike riders) embarked on a challenging adventure last Friday morning. The group left Nucla, at Paul Koski’s wood shop on Main Street, and set out to ride 365 miles as quickly as possible in a route that veered out to Utah, went up to Grand Junction and then circled back east onto the Uncompahgre Plateau before returning to Koski’s shop.
Although the experience was rather quiet in town, it was a big moment for the endurance riding community. Called the Grand Loop, the trip encompasses the Kokopelli, Paradox and Tabeguache trails. First Established by the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA), the loop is what Koski calls the “grandaddy” of other endurance rides. It’s inspired other, similar rides in other states — but the Grand Loop might be the most challenging. It’s a self-supported event, and riders are not allowed to cache food or other items.
Some people have done it as an individual trial time, but until now it hasn’t been a group event since 2009.
Last weekend, some of the riders were from places like Utah, California, Durango and even Norwood. Two of the riders were women.
A web app, called trackleaders.com, enabled those with access to the link to follow the riders, monitoring their progress over the weekend.
Tait was bike packing the 365-mile trip quickly, it seemed, and was expected to arrive in Nucla first, ahead of others, on Sunday. On Sunday afternoon, Koski planned to meet Tait with a small group to welcome him home and ride the last stretch with him, from about as far as the Paradox Trail’s crossover.
Those following Tait online became confused Sunday afternoon, though, as he seemed to veer off the trail. Some wondered if he had hit snowpack on the Grand Loop.
By Sunday afternoon, Koski reported that he’d heard from Tait personally, and that Tait was experiencing knee pain. Tait made the decision to scratch the race to take care of his body.
He released a statement on social media Sunday evening that stated he was in too much physical pain to finish, and while he was able to keep riding his mountain bike, the Grand Loop requires a rider to be able to walk and carry a bike through some portions that are not ridable.
In fact, though, there was snow on the Love Mesa portion returning to the Nucla area. Tait announced on Sunday that riders were directed to stay on the Divide Road for a detour, reconnecting with the Paradox Trail later.
The first finishers arrived in Nucla on Sunday night. Because of the detour around the snow, there were no complete “finishers.”
Tait, who was feeling better by Monday remained enthusiastic.
“It’s exciting to have an opportunity to bring back an iconic bike packing race,” he said. “From who’ve I’ve talk to, the challenge and the reward seem pretty equal. They knew it would be pretty challenging, but they were blown away by the beauty, remoteness and while it was really hard, they had a lot of fun. People are talking about coming back next year.”
Tait said the group stayed at the Vestal House, and feasted at Saucy Mama’s afterward.
An endurance rider named Kurt Refsnider holds the record (2020) for the Grand Loop. He completed it in a little more than two days and five hours. Koski met Refsnider that year when he rode back into town for the finish.
This was the first year, however, that the Grand Loop event started in Nucla for an official group.
