Despite the slight nip in the air, spring is popping up all around Aspen and Snowmass Village. The sweet scent of spring stirs more than the plants in the earth and the birds in the trees; it sings to the very soul of the mountain biker. As the trails begin to emerge from their winter blanket of snow, bikers begin racing up and down the hills of the Roaring Forks River Valley chasing their demons, challenging themselves and finding their Zen.

There are a plethora of trails for every level of rider in the Snowmass Village and Aspen area. Great books such as, Mountain Biking Aspen Guide Book by Bob D’Antonio; give details on the trails, their difficulty levels, and their attributes. D’Antonio recommends The Lincoln Creek Road as a great beginner’s ride, from Lincoln Creek to the Grizzly Reservoir; this ride offers the opportunity to hop off the bike and into the refreshing water alongside the trail.

Climb up Little Annie Road for a scenic view from Richmond Ridge or the Aspen Mountain sun deck. Meander through the old mining town of Lendo on the Lenado to Four Corners trail. After confronting the ghosts of Colorado’s past, this trail connects to other more strenuous rides in the area.

For the serious rider, D’Antonio suggests Pearl Pass or Light Hill Road. Light Hill Road is a short, extreme ride with amazing views. Pearl Pass offers a longer, tough ride up to mountain heights, where riders can stretch their physical limits and encounter vistas that evoke spiritual epiphanies.

New riders, or tourists in the area can take a bike tour of the Maroon Bells Wilderness on an easy, paved-road, which leads right to Aspen. For more advanced riders there is an intermediate ride to the Snowmass Divide or advanced rides on single-track trails on Rim Trail, Government Trail or Tom Blake Trail. For more information on mountain bike tours in Aspen and Snowmass Village, go to www.stayasspensnowmass.com.

Grab the bike, get away from the cares of the day and come out to commune with nature. It is just part of the better way-of-life that Aspen and Snowmass Village offer. While racing down the hills of the Roaring Forks River Valley, breathing in the crisp mountain air and seeing the world the way it was meant to be seen, reach your own personal Nirvana. Then find out all out all of the ways the Universe is in balance here, by contacting Greg Rulon and taking a look at the homes, properties, and real estate havens in the Aspen and Snowmass Village area. www.GregRulon.com

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