My almost 21 year old son and I are going to Winter Park so he can ride. He is a reasonably experienced biker and would be dismayed that his mother would ask such a question! However, while I realize that riding with another person is preferable, should I encourage him (and maybe offer the money) to ride with a group or just let him take off on his own. He is too good for me to keep up with him. He has a hand GPS, but I am not overly confident that it will work out in the mountains. PJK

If you have safety concerns, what about making sure each of you have a walkie-talkie. That way you can talk to each other if there's an emergency or a problem.

My advice: You should always have at least two for these types of activities, preferably more. There are lots of things which can happen - and do - to the most experienced individuals.

Check out the organized mountain biking tours for more experienced bikers. Not only is there safety in numbers but he can visit with people from all over the country-or world-with his same interests.

Who knows? Maybe they'll give him some advice on future jaunts as well and he'll thank you for it in the long run.

Is he planning on heading out to the back country? If he is on the trails within WP, using the chairlifts and riding back down, there will probably be plenty of bike traffic.

I always take my cell phone. I don't know how good coverage is in WP.

Maybe he'll hook up with other riders when you get there.

Three is what I shoot for: one to stay with the person in trouble and one to get help. But that is rarely doable!

A whistle would be a good idea,too. Cheap, and effective.

When we've done chair lift assisted mounting biking (my favorite!) in Keystone and Copper the trails are well defined and fairly well traveled. I'd worry less on this than true, off-road mountain biking.

Before I opened this, I thought it was maybe from the perspective of a female riding alone. I have good trails nearby (which is amazing considering I live in suburban Phila), but I rarely ride b/c I don't like to go alone.

Ask him to consider this:

1) If he gets with a group of four or more, he can save $5 or so off the cost.

2) He may be good, but if he goes with an expert on tour he may actually learn a thing or two and become better.

3) What's the point of riding some cool trails or making some cool moves/jumps if there's no one around to back him and talk it up.

Hiking isn't as dangerous an activity as mountain biking, but I've done it alone for decades now. I've gotten lost, I've gotten sick, and I've misread a map so badly that I came off a mountain in pitch dark. But I've never felt like I've been in any danger because I always do the following:

1) let someone know where I'm hiking, what time I'll be back, and who to call if I don't make contact at day's end.
2) stay on the trail where I say I'd be.
3) carry enough supplies and equipment so I could survive a day or so if immobilized.
4) make myself easy to find with a whistle, emergency sign, reflective mirror, and GMRS radio.

Some people (like me) just prefer to hike alone. Others prefer to be with others. Both can be valuable ways to hike / bike. But if you prefer to do this alone, take the extra precautions I note above.

To answer one other concern: the GPS should work fine in the mountains, as long as there is a clear view of the sky...it's actually being in thick underbrush/trees that you can lose a signal at times. GPS uses satellite. GPS is MADE for backcountry use.

This is different than cell phone coverage, which is dependent on signal towers and often iffy in mountain areas, depending on the level of development in the area.

So, cell phone and GPS coverage are two completely different animals.

Thanks for all your replies. I will pass the suggestions along. I do think I will check about some organized rides for him. PJK

We just returned home from Winter Park, where my husband mountain bikes all the time by himself. He does know the area inside and out, though, so he's never gotten lost.
He likes to go around the Silvercreek area.

One place to go for a newcomer to the area might be Snow Mountain Ranch (YMCA of the Rockies), where the trails are probably marked fairly clearly and he could also get a trail map. I believe the bike trails are the same as the Nordic trails. It's beautiful there, and you'd also have a lodge and grill to relax in afterwards. They rent mountain bikes there, so maybe he could connect with others and ride with them.

Or ask at the bike shops in town for group rides.

Do caution him to take a phone (although our cells don't always work there), and be careful. There are signs posted warning people to be aware of mountain lions. We've been going to Winter Park over 25 years now and have never seen a cougar, but some people have. Just be aware. Make noise when traveling alone, etc.

PJK,

While it would be prefereable to have a riding companion don't let that make you stop him. Most of the trails in that area will have other riders on weekends.

I have always enjoyed solo backpacking and riding. A small survival bag may be carried in his camelback (get him one if he doesn't already have one) and should include a space bag, waterproof matches, a whistle, small roll of athletic taped, and water purification tablets. That will get him through any short term mishaps. One should always remember to tell people where you are going to be and stick to that plan. Also once lost a person should sit down and wait for help, make yourself as comfortable as posible and wait for Search and rescue to find you.

BeanMan

Your son is a grown man and will do what he wants. Having been a 21-year old man a, um, few years ago, I know the more my mom pushed me to do this with a group, the more I'd be determined to do it alone.

I think DB's suggestions above are the best.

You've gotten a lot of good advice here. Knowing which way he's heading and when he expects to get back is key. As long as he stays on the trail, if something bad happened, searchers would find him in a reasonable period of time as long as you got them looking for him soon enough.

If you by riding w/ a group you mean pay for him to go with a guided tour, be aware that if he really is a good rider, he will likely be too good for your average tour group. Hooking up with a group ride from a bike shop might work out better. The best bet, I think, is for him to go to MTBR.com and look at the message forums under Colorado. He can ask some questions, get trail recommendations, and might find a group of riders at his level to hook up with.

Walkie talkies do not work in mountains, btw. At least none of the civilian ones found in bike catalogs.

Oh, and please post a trip report. My husband and I were planning on riding Winter Park this summer, but another trip postponed it til next year. I'd love to hear about the riding and also about where you stayed, shopped, ate, etc.

Have fun.

I disagree about the walkies talkies. I have two kinds, the newest kind has two ranges which is about 2-5 and the other (which you aren't supposed to use unless you have a FAA license goes to ten miles I believe). We just used them last week when we went to Rocky Mountain and although it was broken up at times (when the rest of our party was pretty well out of range) they still worked and are probably more reliable in the mountains than a cell phone where you will get little coverage to none. It would be best to take them with just in case, have a set channel to talk on and take extra batteries just in case.

I meant to say they have ranges of 2-5 miles and 10 miles. They are just a little higher end Motorola.

Litespeed, I will post a report when I get back at the end of the month. Lenleigh, I am borrowing walkie talkie's. Can't hurt. Thanks everyone for the suggestions. We are off next Friday. PJK

Be sure to try the pizza at Hernando's, on the main drag, north end of Winter Park. Great family place. Good Italian. Best pizza crust anywhere!