Vail Sport & Outdoors

Don't crash your car gazing at the breathtaking blanket of fall colors lining the Vail Valley.

Advice: Take a hike/bike ride on Vail Mountain before the leaves are gone.

The panorama is amazing, but not as magical as stepping or riding over the yellow leaves while the sun breaks through branches in a kaleidescope of reds and oranges.

This array of colors doesn't stick around for long, so get your cameras ready and enjoy it while it lasts.

Here are some ideas for the best places to hike and bike for soaking up the beauty of autumn.

- Take your bikes down the recreation path between Vail and East Vail. It's nothing but aspens the whole way. You'll never see so many bright shades of yellow.

- Hike up Berry Picker on Vail Mountain. There's a blanket of leaves the whole way to the top of the gondola.

- Take a drive through Minturn, up Battle Mountain, through Leadville, up and over Independence Pass. It just might be the most scenic ride of your life. The warm colors will be imprinted on the backs of your eyelids. Believe it.

- Go hiking around or kayaking in Sylvan Lake outside of Eagle. You've got the changing aspens PLUS blue water surrounded by bright red bushes. It's surreal.

- Hike or bike up Lake Creek trail in Edwards. Take the Edwards exit off of Interstate 70, go left into Edwards, take a right on US Hwy 6, then a left onto Lake Creek. Veer right for about 3 miles until you see the trailhead.

Anglers, throw back your lines for casting heaven.

Gore Creek features gold medal waters full of trophy-sized brown and rainbow trout.

Outside Go's signature fly-fishing weekend is coming to Vail Sept. 26-28. Anglers from across the US will spend the weekend at the Vail Fly event, wading through the Eagle River and Gore Creek and kicking back in luxury accommodations at The Arrabelle in Lionshead in the evening.

Team USA and a number of local guides will provide clinics and tips on fishing Vail's rivers, including Brian Capsay, who led his team in the best US finish ever at the 2007 World Championships in Finland. Angler secrets will also be revealed throughout the weekend.

Vail Fly culminates in a series of awards for the largest and smallest fish caught, the fisherman or woman with the most fish and best accuracy.

For more information on the fly-fishing extravaganza, visit www.vailfly.com.

As if he hasn't ticked off enough accomplishments on two wheels, Lance Armstrong is competing in the 2008 Leadville 100 mountain bike race this Saturday, Aug. 9.

The seven-time Tour de France winner has not done much competing since retiring from professional cycling after his 2005 Tour victory, but has been training in the Colorado High Country the last few weeks preparing for the Leadville race.

The Leadville 100 is considered one of the most difficult mountain bike races in the world, with 50 miles out and back, more than 14,000 feet of elevation gain and a high point of 12,600 feet.

Only about 66 percent of riders who sign up complete the Leadville race within the 12-hour time limit.

Gunnison resident David Wiens is considered the king of the course, having broke the record last year when he finished in 6 hours and 58 minutes, barely beating Floyd Landis (who forfeited his 2006 Tour de France win after being found guilty of doping).

Landis, who competed in last year's Teva Games in Vail, will not be competing in this year's Leadville 100.

OK local mountain bikers. Those of you who have been busier growing fat tires this summer rather than riding on them might need to be reminded that this Wednesday, Aug. 6, is the last of the town series races this season.

The final race of the 2008 Vail Recreation District mountain bike race series goes off at Beaver Creek at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6.

Can you believe it? What happened to the summer?

Just don't tell us it's going to be snowing soon.

At any rate, the Beaver Creek Blast launches at 5:45 p.m. (5 p.m. for Little League) Wednesday at the base of the Centennial Lift in Beaver Creek Village.

The Blast course is known to be one of the most competitive of the series, involving both plenty of climbing on the mountain's service roads and some fast, technical descents on the Beav's best singletrack.

Course lengths depend on level, with beginners and children going 6 miles and expert/pros topping out at 18 miles.

Post-race festivities will take place at The Coyote Cafe.

Find out everything you need to know about the race and take a glance at course maps on the Vail Rec District's page.

In most contexts, 100 is a big number. One hundred years is a long time to live, 100 stairs are a lot to climb, 100 miles is a long distance to travel if you don't have a car.

The Colorado-Eagle River Ride

For most people, it's a long way to go on two wheels, but the Colorado-Eagle River Ride makes it all worthwhile.

The seventh annual River Ride pedals out of Avon on Saturday morning with hundreds of cyclists - some faster than others - but all determined to finish the ride by the afternoon.

Not all opt for the 100-mile version. There are also 100-kilometer and 42-mile rides, but if you're thinking of signing up, we suggest one of the "100" versions.

Beginning in Avon, the ride takes you along US Highway 6 to Wolcott, where you begin a climb up Hwy 131 and cruise over State Bridge to Colorado River Road. This smooth dirt stretch is by far the best part of the ride. With very little vehicular traffic, you cruise along the Colorado River before climbing and descending into Dotsero. The 100-milers then continue on Hwy 6 back to Avon.

Aid stations are numerous throughout the ride and chalk full of energy elixirs, Oreos and PB & Js.
All level of cyclists are welcome to try. It's not a race, and not everyone is a seasoned pro, as can be attested by one man's River Ride story from last year's ride.

If you are still interested in signing up, the ride is $95 by July 25, including an exclusive riding jersey and post-ride lunch.

For more info on the ride, click here.