10
May
Section 16 and Palmer Loop Downhilling in our Back Yard!
The Palmer Loop and Section 16 Trail Review: It’s A.Y.C.E!
By Scotty Mac
The opening hit of the Section 16 descent is all the payoff you’ll need for the multi-mile grunt-n’-grind up the Palmer trail from our fair town below. Dropping in, you’re faced with a steep, chundery (mountain biker ‘bro’ word meaning “rock-strewn”), rooted chute that
gets the adrenaline pumping. You’ve gone maybe a quarter of a mile at this point.
It feels at least six times longer.
gets the adrenaline pumping. You’ve gone maybe a quarter of a mile at this point.
It feels at least six times longer.
I have all the respect in the world for the folks who can take this stretch wide open. I sure as heck can’t. I remember riding it for the first time late last summer. Going into the ’16, I tried
to stay loose as my bike picked up speed, seemingly of its own accord. Getting on the binders for the first turn, I found myself squeezing harder and harder as I waited for my steed to come down to a less-than-break-neck velocity for that corner. We are talking steep, people!
to stay loose as my bike picked up speed, seemingly of its own accord. Getting on the binders for the first turn, I found myself squeezing harder and harder as I waited for my steed to come down to a less-than-break-neck velocity for that corner. We are talking steep, people!
Clattering down the next section, you come upon a pretty tight switchback and upon
negotiating that feature, you’re trail-slaying experience is opened up some. Which is nice. The heart can only take so much, after all. The breath came out of me in a rush, there. I realized I may have been holding it as that verdant, pine and underbrush canopy flashed past, close and cozy-like.
negotiating that feature, you’re trail-slaying experience is opened up some. Which is nice. The heart can only take so much, after all. The breath came out of me in a rush, there. I realized I may have been holding it as that verdant, pine and underbrush canopy flashed past, close and cozy-like.
Line choice dictates the flow (or lack thereof) for the next section. Sail that rock step! Sail the next one, too! Keep eyes well down the trail; at one point the left side of the track loses its line. I recommend going right.
Section 16 isn’t quite a controlled fall, but it isn’t far off, either. If you read up on the trail at a website like mtbr.com, you’ll see a couple reviews from dudes intent on showing the Internet how macho they are, saying stuff like “this trail used to be sooooo much harder, you can ride it on a rigid now and not feel a single bump. I rocked it on the unicycle last week, didn’t even have to dab,” und so weiter, und so weiter. Pay no attention to the meatheads, folks, this trail is properly involving. The Palmer climb to the S16 trailhead is stout enough to require a decent cardio base (or a misguided love of suffering, either way), and the descent, as described above will have you hooting and hollering, or holding on for dear life, or perhaps a little bit of both.
I am of the opinion that a mid-travel trail bike, something in the 5”-6” range, is just
what the dirt doc ordered. My weapon of choice, courtesy of the good fellas at Ascent Cycling, is a 2012 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR EVO 29er, known henceforth as the EVO. The EVO has good suspension travel, relatively slack geometry, and a handlebar wide enough to keep me feeling in control. A couple of the shop guys and groupies are on both the 29” and 26”-wheeled versions of this bike and the river of superlatives gushing forth from our mouths has not dried up yet. Huh. That reads like we spit when we talk.
Gross.
what the dirt doc ordered. My weapon of choice, courtesy of the good fellas at Ascent Cycling, is a 2012 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR EVO 29er, known henceforth as the EVO. The EVO has good suspension travel, relatively slack geometry, and a handlebar wide enough to keep me feeling in control. A couple of the shop guys and groupies are on both the 29” and 26”-wheeled versions of this bike and the river of superlatives gushing forth from our mouths has not dried up yet. Huh. That reads like we spit when we talk.
Gross.
Much like my St. Patrick’s Day feature from a month ago, many of the same rules apply on this ride: go with a buddy or three, be nice to the other trail users, wear sunscreen, etc. Alpine Colorado trails like this one also mean you’ll want to keep a sharp eye out for the
non-human denizens of the area. Luckily, the Palmer loop and Section 16 trails are used enough during daylight hours by hikers and bikers that the noise keeps the sharp-toothe creatures away. The weather can come in fast over the mountains too, so layer up and be prepared.
non-human denizens of the area. Luckily, the Palmer loop and Section 16 trails are used enough during daylight hours by hikers and bikers that the noise keeps the sharp-toothe creatures away. The weather can come in fast over the mountains too, so layer up and be prepared.
So who says you have to head to the resorts to get your fill of downhill? Mountain biking in Colorado Springs has some singletrack sections that will give you thrill-seekers all you can eat (all you can eat… A.Y.C.E., get it?), and the cross country guys will find good value
out here, too. I know I have.
out here, too. I know I have.
What, you’re still reading? Get some people together, air up the tires, buckle on a helmet and go shred! That adrenaline hit is just a stone’s drop away.
Mac out.