The Nederland Halfass 100

The Gauntlet has been Half-Dropped

Images and Words by Fred Marmsater

NEDERLAND, Colo.—Route finding was the name of the game at this year’s Nederland HalfAss 100, the third stop of the Colorado Endurance Series. Consisting of two different unmarked 50-mile halfs, the HalfAss dished out a full serving of sweet singletrack mixed with enough classic Front Range trails and challenging navigating to keep a rider honest (Front Range trail = loose, eroded, rocky, technical).

Eighteen adventurous souls rolled out of Ned last Saturday morning to tackle the ambitious and tricky HalfAss. Front Range locals, David Weber, Rob Batey, Paul Maude, Owen Murphy, Chuck Ray and a few others, formed a group at the front of the ride, but even with local knowledge, detailed maps and GPS technology, a few wrong turns where made. The slow and demanding HalfAss course had the riders’ full attention.

It took the lead group over 6 hours to complete the first 50 miles, and with dark clouds looming over the highcountry sections of the second loop, most of the field called it a day and made plans to return to complete the other half. At the eight hour mark, half the field was still tackling the first half of the HalfAss, and the second half of the HalfAss was left sagging. In the end, the 2010 HalfAss 100 ended up as a QuarterAss 50. But to anyone who says that this year’s HalfAss ride was half-assed, you better be ready to sit your ass on the saddle and go the distance. The HalfAss gauntlet has been dropped. The Nederland HalfAss 100 is part of the Colorado Endurance Series. Made up of a collection of the finest, self-supported, self-guided, grassroots backcountry mountain bike endurance (solo effort) rides, the Colorado Endurance Series represents true mountain bike adventures! More info on the series can be found here http://coloradoes.wordpress.com/.

David Weber, Rob Batey, Paul Maude, Owen Murphy, Chuck Ray and crew before the start of the Ned HalfAss 100.	Ned HalfAss rider checking his GPS before the start. Route finding was one of the cruxes of this year’s ride.	High tech timing at the Ned HalfAss 100.
Jonathan Caine, Owen Murphy and the crew rolling out of Ned for the Nederland HalfAss 100.	David Weber and company coming through the alley, West Mag trails, Ned HalfAss 100.	Owen Murphy disappears into the tight trees. Ned HalfAss 100.
Chuck Ray coming through the alley, West Mag trails, Ned HalfAss 100.	Chuck Ray chasing the lead group. West Mag trails, Ned HalfAss 100.	Pat Stein threads the needle.  West Mag trails, Ned HalfAss 100.
Rider rolling through the tight trees of a single track section in the Ned HalfAss 100.		Rob Batey and David Weber cruising single trak during the first half of the 2010 Ned HalfAss 100.
Chuck Ray climbing late in the first loop of the Ned HalfAss 100.