My Colorado Trail Race was WET, very wet. 2017 saw only 20 of the 69 riders finish. The biggest take away for me was not so much about gear but mental toughness. There are some gear changes I would make if I rode the Colorado Trail Race again. Whatever you do, don’t underestimate how challenging this route is.

My gear changes would be minimal but their effects would hopefully have a large impact. The goal for those changes would be to cut down what I brought, which would hopefully cut time off my race and mean me having to expend less energy. Below I show the changes and why I would make them. A simpler set up would hopefully translate to making life on the bike and in camp easier, thus less wasted time.

To better understand those changes to my set up, one needs to know a little about my approach for my next try. The main goal would be to better my previous finishing time and eliminate weight and bulk from all areas of my kit. I would also ride more and sleep less.

Hopefully this post, If I Rode The Colorado Trail Race Again will assist others with their own gear list planning and better their chances at a successful go at the Colorado Trail.