THE POWER OF FOUR

Hidden amongst the staggering beauty of the Aspen mountains are a series of gnarly, rocky and rugged trails and old dirt tracks that, when combined, come together to create one of Colorado’s premier mountain biking routes; the Power of Four. At sixty kilometres in length, with close to three thousand metres of ascent and maximum gradients reaching 40 per cent it’s not to be taken lightly… which would explain why for the annual race every July only a select group of riders gather at the start line.

While my trip to discover the mountain biking scene in Aspen and Snowmass didn’t coincide with the official race I wasn’t about to let an opportunity to pit myself against the mountains pass me by, even if more than a handful of locals had given me quizzical looks when I told them of my plans. By the time Riley, my guide for the day, and I reached the start line in Snowmass Village I was