Jake and I tackle some of the less traveled routes on the Trans America Trail, we take on the Rainbow Trail and experience some of Colorado's finest single track.
9:51 the rider has 1 finger up indicating "1 more rider coming up". Trail 101 for those who don't know.. Thanks for putting this video together.. Trail looks awesome.
I live just a few miles from the Rainbow Trail. I have ridden it from Salida south to South Colony and back and I can attest to the fact that it is not easy. There are tight switchbacks, plenty of rocky stairstep hills, narrow sections where the brush drags both handlebars and it can be considered to be fun if you happen to be an 'A' enduro rider. The trail is closer to 10,000 feet and was initially built to attract bicycle riders. Ha. The bailouts are just trails onto private property and locked gates, for the most part and there is a lot more ATV traffic than motorcycles. It is beautiful if you have the time to stop and admire the scenery. As mentioned down this page, the trail is a LOT longer than the 30 miles you keep mentioning and it really is tiring.
I went on a single track a couple months ago near durango, Co. I was all rutted out from the quads. I only went a few miles since I was by myself. It was rocky, kinda icy at certain spots and when i got to a certain section i just said nope not by myself. So iust turned around and hauled ass back haha. I don't know where this trail is at exactly though.. Do you?
@@banditryder4696 The Rainbow Trail is in the Sangre de Cristo National Forest and runs roughly parallel to the mountains on the east side of the peaks from Salida, Colorado southward to a trail access a bit south of South Colony Road. Maps of the San Isabel forest will show it, as it is one of the main access trails in this area. Almost everything west of the Rainbow Trail is in a wilderness area, so the only access is from the east side of the mountains. Salida and Westcliffe are the two main towns along and east of the trail with some bailouts to Howard, which is along the US 50 route along the Arkansas River. In the Westcliffe area there are several access points, including South Colony, Horn Peak Road, Hermit Road and one access just above the Lutheran Camp road. The majority of the trail is at or above 10,000 feet elevation.
Very well put together video of a challenging ride! That trail would have been physically and mentally demanding at sea level and much more difficult in "rare air" at 9K feet. Thanks so much for sharing your adventure!
love your videos.. thanks for sharing.. the narration is excellent, and your insight and observations are very helpful in getting a realistic sense of what's actually going on..
What an epic trail! Best single track I have ever seen, and I’ve seen plenty up here in North Eastern Ontario Canada. Thanks for the virtual ride. -15 Celsius up here right now! Cheers!
On the seventh day, they rested. Great idea for motorcycle trips. Check your bike, change your oil. Take a nap. Eat a decent meal. I do this every trip for years now. Great video. Thank you.
Too much beauty to take in! Thanks for sharing! Recognize the symptoms of the fatigue factor. Appreciate the "lo key" style. Thanks again for "the ride along".
Well done video. Thanks for sharing it. Your opening clips brought back some very specific memories. You guys are good riders, I think I struggled more than you did. 😎
Hey guys thanks for taking us along with you what an epic ride thanks for making this video for people that don't get the chance to get out and do this type of thing very cool
Excellent video of the trail and a good storyteller you are. Thanks. I went over a similar trail here in MN on my DRZ400 this last summer but that only lasted an hour or so. You had some endurance to handle thirty miles of it. Congratulations! It would be a standout memory by itself but you have it in video. I imagine you and your son viewing it thirty years from now.
@@thistledewoutdoors3331 I did one of the trails at red top that was rocky and very narrow at points. fell once. I have a DRZ and the rock on gandy is pretty big. Do you have suggestions for other trails?
Excellent video and narration throughout. Enjoyed it from beginning to end. Hoping to hit trails like that someday soon but on my dual sport and not on my ADV bike. Looked like an epic experience!
@@BillyTyo we are. I have a truck and two bike trailer to bring the bikes down. Still working out the plans for return trip ect.. i still have to get Sams route also.
WOW..clearly this is expert single track..rocks..roots.. ruts..the danger factor here is massive..to body and bike..riding this alone a recipe for disaster..loved the vid.. THANKS :0)
Wonderful video Billy! It really looks like a technical single track with lots of stones and a very technical route, narrow in the mountain. and because of the low speed and its technicality its, tiring. Greetings to Jack I enjoy you videos over and over again! just great.
I have watched several of your videos today, you can probably guess why, but at the end of the day, I have really enjoyed watching you two, from packing the stuff on the kitchen table to the first camp and riding into this video. I have recalled a lot of memories of some of the stuff my dad and I did when I was your sons age. Mostly hunting and fishing and some 4 wheeler and rode bikes tuff, nothing like this, but seeing this video still brought back some good fond memories. I know when your son is my age, he will look back on these videos and even if he isn't watching these videos, he will recall these trips for the rest of his life. How fun is that, I am so proud for you both. Keep up the fun videos. I hope to see you out on a trial sometime, keep up the fun videos, new sub here sir. Dale
That's a real trail there. Wow! I think most people must take the alternate path I don't know about taking the ol KLR on that one :) Incredible video. I hope you guys have a great year riding and making content. Imo some of the better true riders out there.
This was an incredibly fantastic video from beginning to end! I also appreciate the voice over commentary explanations of each part of the ride. I would love to see more from you guys. Awesome video!
@@dudleydoorite4677 I couldn't agree more dudley. I hate when people put music in their dual sport videos. I'd rather hear the engine and ambient noise of nature.
Lovin’ these additional videos and more extensive explanations. My buddy and I are in the planning phase of doing the TAT this coming summer. I greatly appreciate your wisdom and sharing your experiences with us. Lookin’ forward to see more.
@@BillyTyo Great video (as usual). I watched your entire TAT series, and the speed at which you and your boy flew down the steps on Black Bear is still mind boggling. Question, I think on one of your videos you mentioned that you would do a video about routes. I know there's somewhat of a debate about Sam vs Kevin or whatever. If you've already done this, please let me know which vid it might be in.
@@waltermitty7452 we haven’t really gone into detail about the route we took, we did a mix of Sam’s and Kevin’s. I’ll try to put something together on it in an upcoming video. Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it
Holly shit !!! thats hardcore offroad ... I am impressed of you folks ... i wouldnt dare to try that ... hat off !! respect from a 60 year old Danish AT rider
I watched this video after your Black Bear pass video and it is an amazing trail. You boys can ride those things! I will look for additional videos of your trip.
Hit a good section of the Rainbow Trail on my mountain bike. I found it very challenging and at the time I couldnt fathom how motorcycles navigate those bench cuts.. Great riding in this video.
I'm from Iowa and have a friend that live in the Mt's near Basalt, he took me to the Rainbow trail a few years ago, he has a couple KTM's, 250 and a 300 that we rode, perfect for that trail(I bring a Triumph Bonneville with me to CO but of course that's not going to do any good there) We took a good part of the day ridding it, a lot of rest breaks and water breaks, but we made it, not bad for a couple 60 plus old guys. Your video brought back some good memories of that day, I'd like to do it one more time before I'm to old to ride. Thanks for the vid
Welcome to my neighborhood! I just ordered a Beta 300 rr from a dealer in Buena Vista. I’ve been doing these trails for years on motocross bikes and I’m looking forward to riding them with my new enduro bike!
I could just feel your exhaustion when you mention the fatigue. That rainbow trail has all colors of difficulty! I would be tired as well from a ride like this, even without all that extra gear.
Great video! Colorado boy here loving the perspective from some hard core out of staters. If you are ever back in Colorado you should also try the South San Juan mountains. It is likely that you will see even fewer riders.
Great video. Thanks for the ride. I thought I'd be able to handle a trail like that until I saw the side of the mountain. My little Versysx 300 is too heavy and low to the ground. ...and I'm too old.
wow what a ride , i ride alot here in montana on my klr but i would never try that trail on my loaded down bike, you guys picked a good choice of bikes .
awesome vid! All the Salida locals(me) will find it hilarious. The Rainbow Trail is a favorite. Only five miles from town with many access points. Cheers!
We loved Salida, what a cool town. We had no idea what we were getting into when we started up Rainbow with loaded down motorcycles, but it was one of the best days on the Trans America Trail for us.
Great vid, love hearing the bike work and your narration was top shelf. Ridding big dressers for 50 years and was looking at Tuareg. Now thinking 250/450 size bike to learn on for off road. Would not EVEN try Rainbow Trail regardless, lol. subbed
Welcome to the beginning of what you call hard Enduro that's like the minor classes I'm used to the heavier ones they look on their next adventure 👍👍😁🇺🇸
I like it! I've ridden this trail. I can see you being caught off guard. There really arent any pullout points on it. Glad you made it through relatively unscathed.
@@BillyTyo I was really thinking about running the lacc series down here in Louisiana then I think about how old and out of racing shape I am in and figure the injuries will not out weight the reward lol
@@BillyTyo I know you guys exited at Bear Creek Road but do you remember at what point you entered Rainbow trail? It looks like the trail is close to 100 miles long total but you guys did 35? We will be using Sams route. Thanks!!!
Been living in the area for 65 years and have ridden those over the years. Mostly on 250 2 stroke enduro's and recently settled in on a 300 which about the biggest bike I care for on some of those trails, or should say 'pick up' after a day of exhausting ride. Great video, thanks.
Subscribed about 5 minutes into the video :) Great ride and awesome trail! Thanks for sharing, in my country all trails are illegal for motorized traffic so it's either illegal night rides or enjoying nice trails through videos like yours :)
Im also going to say this, it is nice to watch you guys rides these bike, not complaining about them flaming out, blah blah blah, nice to see guys just ride it like it was meant to be riden. Dale
Amazing video….What a day, what a ride, what an adventure….Absolutely not a place for big bikes unless you are an expert (as you said). It looks very difficult, especially the first part but I am sure that after a day like that you feel so happy.
Nice job, especially on the big bike with bags ! I grew up riding that trail there are some very tough sections. We have seen abandon bikes in some of them where guys just walked out and left the bike against a tree. Rainbow trail is rough, but it gets even worse in CO.
Great video- That side hill section looks pretty sketchy. Great idea to do this trail as a tandem. I'd hate get that far out and get stuck with no help. Hats off to just doing it.
Excellent video with nicely done commentary. Thank You. I live in Colorado and I've ridden that trail and some others that were truly a joy. I'm an old guy now and I don't do that stuff anymore. You guys did extremely well for being so heavily weighed down by all you carried on your persons and strapped to the bikes. Good Job!
Looks fun and rough. I don't have a ton of trail experience, especially single track. My off road bike is a DR650. Kind of a beast for tight rough single track.
