Electric Spring!

Warm weather is coming! Flowers will be blooming. The winter brown will be turning to green. But the electric bikes are already here!

Last year there were lots of people asking about e-bikes. You asked, we answered! Routes Outfitter is proud to launch into spring with a new bike partnership - Denver based FattE-Bikes are now available to rent and purchase at our Monument location! You know how we like to keep things local with quality, Colorado based brands like Guerrilla Gravity and Revel.

That’s why we’re so excited to be partnering with FattE-Bikes. These e-bikes are just as fun to ride as they are pretty to look at, and they’re perfect for cruising around town, or up and down the Santa Fe Trail.

We have three different models for you to check out.

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Sgt. Mingo

The Sgt. Mingo is named after one of the leaders of the US Army’s 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps. A sturdy, mountain bike style hybrid frame, this ‘go anywhere, do anything’ model gives you an abundance of performance and fun. From the mountains to the urban streets and everything in between!

FattE-Bike Sgt. Mingo

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Londonderry

The Londonderry is named after Annie Londonderry, the first woman to bicycle around the world, in 1894. Cruise, ride, commute, have fun running errands. When you ride the Londonderry, you ride in comfort and style. The elegant low step-through frame makes it easy to mount and dismount.

FattE-Bike Londonderry

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Penalosa

The Penalosa is named after two brothers – Gil and Enrique Peñalosa. As Mayor of Bogota, Columbia, Enrique has championed the message of Ciclovia - a weekly event where pedestrians and bicyclists take back the streets from cars - around the world. With 20" wheels and a low step-through frame, this fat tire folding electric bike is compact, easy to mount, navigate through dense environments, easy to store, yet zippy enough for wide-open spaces. Fold it up for easy storage and transportation in your vehicle.

FattE-Bike Penalosa

FattE-Bikes offers an amazing level of customization on all of their bikes with 15 color options, a variety of accessories like racks, and fenders, and lights, and seats, and locks, and more!

The Routes Outfitter FattE-Bike Fleet!

These bikes are wicked fun to cruise around paved trails…and gravel trails just like The New Santa Fe Regional Trail right around the corner from our Monument location. And they’re built just up the road in Denver!

But don’t just take our word for it, come try one for yourself! Reserve yours to ride today at RoutesReservations.com. And when you’ve been throughly blown away at how fun and easy they are to ride, we can help you place an order for your very own FattE-Bike!

P.S. Join us in Monument on Saturday, April 23 between 9am -4pm for our first community/demo day of the season! There will be special demos with the FattE-Bikes and you can meet the founders/owners of FattE-Bikes! We’re at 252B Front Street, right behind Trails End Taproom.

From Snow to Sand to Ice

By Nate Van Noord (RO Staff)

Since moving to The Springs from Detroit last summer, I have been so enamored with all the trails around town to ride, run, and hike, that I have barely ventured out to the rest of CO. However, a few buddies recently invited me to go skiing, my first time since 9th grade. Back then, I did a few bunny hills at Mount Holly in Michigan - a former trash dump. 

So, a few weeks ago, we ventured to Keystone. On my first ride ever on a ski lift (the bunny hills at Mt. Holly had tow ropes) I fell down getting off and couldn’t get up. The lift operator rushed over to stand me back up.

After dusting off the snow, I made it down the bunny hill without falling. My buddies said I was ready for a green.

On the green, all these little 7 year olds whizzed by me without poles. Some were even tethered to their parents.

When it was time for lunch, I got down to the bottom of the run and my buddies were nowhere in sight. Left hanging, I had to ask a group of strangers to help me out of my skis.

All those 7 year olds and strangers on the mountain had me hyped though. Their enthusiasm for being outside and enjoying the mountain and snow was contagious. On my last couple runs, I took in the views and felt super grateful to be out there. 

I decided it was time to start exploring the rest of Colorado. 

…

On the drive back from Keystone, one of my skiing buddies, Joel, told me about The Great Sand Dunes National Park and said it was super beautiful. My other two skiing buddies in the car agreed - even though they had never been.

Wait, you fellas grew up in Colorado Springs, I thought. 800-foot sand dunes sandwiched between prairie and 13,000 peeks, only 3 hours away, and y’all never been!

Right before I was about to say something, though, I remembered there are big sand dunes on Lake Michigan, 3 hours from Detroit. I had never been either.

Joel agreed to go with me the next weekend. On the way to the dunes, we drove past the snowcapped Spanish peaks and through little towns like Walsenburg and Ft. Garland.

When we arrived, we picked up a map at the visitor center, and parked in the half full lot. 

We followed a small stream of folks heading up to Star Dune, the highest dune in North America. The recent snow, now only in sporadic patches, compacted the sand. We walked barefoot and the sand was cool, not blazing like in the summer. We passed a few kids trying to sandboard or sandsled. After an hour of hiking, we summited Star Dune and had our lunch. We debated if there were any other places like this in the world. Maybe in the Himalayas, the Andes, or in the Southern California desert. Or maybe just in Star Wars. 

We kept walking, away from the crowd, trudging up steeper inclines and running down the declines. The dunes stretched for miles in every direction. After spending a few hours on the dunes, Joel and I agreed we needed to camp in the Park someday to do some star gazing. 

…

On the way back home we stopped at Zapata Falls, just a few miles outside the park. We hiked the half mile to see and touch the falls. They were frozen, but with a steady stream of water still rushing behind the ice. 

As we drove home, past the Spanish peaks, a deep sense of gratitude settled in. Gazing out the window and thinking about the dunes and falls, I thanked God for hooking His creation up and making it so phenomenal. As Joel told me about other spots around Colorado, I started daydreaming of all the new landscapes to explore next.

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From Burnt Out To Trailblazing in Colorado Springs

By Nate Van Noord (RO Staff)

After living and teaching in inner-city Detroit for the last 14 years, I needed a break. I was burnt out and needed rest. I needed some extended time away to reflect on my years there and discern what was next.

My sister lived in The Springs, and when I would visit her in the summers, she would take me for a run through Garden of the Gods, do “The Incline” with me, or show me the trails around Cheyenne Canon. After each time visiting her, I always felt refreshed. 

Moving to The Springs seemed like a great spot to find some rejuvenation. 

So in the summer of 2021, I moved out to Colorado Springs, and realized that the city has A LOT of easily accessible trails. I bought a bike and explored Ute Valley. I ran up Stratton Open Space to Gold Camp Road. My sister bought me a pass to explore Cheyenne Mountain State Park. I had to pinch myself that I was living in Colorado - the mountain views, the little scrub trees and yucca plants, and ALL the sunny days. 

I moved to Colorado to explore its beautiful landscape, but I didn’t want to do it alone (after two knee surgeries, my sister plays pickleball now instead of running and biking). I wanted to be a part of the outdoor culture and meet like minded folks. 

After Googling ‘trail running groups’ in the area, I found Trailblazers at Trails End Taproom. The website said it was for bikers, runners, and hikers. On a Wednesday night, I showed up to the Old Colorado City location with my running shoes. After walking past about fifty mountain bikers, I saw a dozen other folks stretching, checking their watches, and chit chatting. The group’s run leader, Sarah, introduced herself and a few others in the circle. After a few minutes, we jogged from the Taproom over to the trailhead at Red Rocks Open Space. Since the group ran the same basic 4-5 mile route each week, some folks sped ahead, and after a mile or so, waited for the rest of the group to catch up. I met another guy from Michigan, a lady who ran ultramarathons, and a couple who play pickle ball.  

Trailblazers is a welcome group for many levels of running. No one gets left behind. Getting out on the trails is what matters most. Doing it together makes it that much more fun.

After the run, folks stuck around, had a drink, and ordered a pizza. I learned about other local trails to run, races people were training for, and what the Tuesday Trailblazers in Monument was like. After coming for a couple weeks, I exchanged numbers with the couple who play pickleball and we played doubles with my sister. Now we run together outside of Wednesday nights, explore local restaurants, and still get the occasional game of pickleball in. 

With the help of Trailblazers, I have found people to explore all the beauty of Colorado and to find rest and rejuvenation with a community of others.

Guerrillas Spotted On Trails Near Pikes Peak!

The time change this past weekend has ushered in a new warm weather riding season…and we here at Routes Outfitter are ready for 2022! We’ve got a brand new fleet of Guerrilla Gravity bikes ready to ride.

We’ve mixed things up a bit with some fresh new models this year. In addition to GG’s top bike, The Smash, we’ve brought in several Trail Pistols, a couple of Megatrails, and a Gnarvana.

Here’s a rundown of the bikes and sizes:

Routes demo bikes are outfitted with SRAM NX Eagle Drivetrains

The Smash - Guerrilla Gravity’s top seller with Revved Carbon front triangle and alloy rear. 230mm rear shock with 150mm front fork. Take on anything from epic big mountain days, to days in the bike park, to your rock-strewn after-work lap. Our two fleet bikes are a size 2 (medium), and size 3 (large) equipped with

• SRAM NX 11-50t 12-speed drivetrain with Descendant 6K cranks

• SRAM G2 RSC hydraulic brakes

• RockShox Deluxe Select 230x60mm shock

• DVO Diamond D2 150mm fork

• SDG Tells 150mm dropper

• Raceface Aeffect R stem and 800mm e*thirteen Race Carbon handlebars

• Front Maxxis Minion DHF 29x2.5 and rear Minion DHR II 29.4 tires mounted on Sun Single SD37 Comp wheels.

RockShox Deluxe Select and Super Deluxe Select shocks provide a competent ride for the backside.

Trail Pistol - Fully revved carbon, front to rear! GG’s full carbon short travel trail runner that’s 300 grams lighter and 50% stiffer it’s faster, more efficient, and more fun than ever. We have three Trail Pistols in size 2, (medium), size 3 (large), and size 4 (extra large) set up to fly with:

• SRAM NX 11-50t 12-speed drivetrain with Descendant 6K cranks

• SRAM G2 RSC hydraulic brakes

• RockShox Deluxe Select 210x50mm shock

• DVO Sapphire D1 130mm fork

• SDG Tells 150mm dropper

• Raceface Aeffect R stem and 800mm e*thirteen Race Carbon handlebars

• Front and rear Maxxis Recon 29x2.25 tires mounted on Sun Single SD37 Comp wheels.

A beautiful DVO Diamond D1 170mm fork in luscious green gloriousness.

Megatrail - best-in-class pedaling, next-level cornering, and downhill authority. The Megatrail is this season’s 27.5” wheeled addition to our GG fleet built for everything from conquering high-alpine adventures to shredding bike park laps. We’ve got two stunning Megatrail bikes in size 2(medium), and size 3 (large), stunningly equipped with:

• SRAM NX 11-50t 12-speed drivetrain with Descendant 6K cranks

• SRAM G2 RSC hydraulic brakes

• RockShox Super Deluxe Select 230x65mm shock

• DVO Diamond/Onyx D1 170mm green fork

• SDG Tells 150mm dropper

• Raceface Aeffect R stem and 800mm e*thirteen Race Carbon handlebars

• Front Maxxis Minion DHF 27.5x2.3 and rear Minion DHR II 27.5x2.4 tires mounted on Sun Single SD37 Comp wheels.

A Guerrilla at The Chutes Trailhead in Colorado Springs. Ready to shred.

Gnarvana - pairs 160 mm of Freedom Linkage-controlled travel with 29” wheels to create a bike fast enough to outrun your professional distractions and release yourself from terrestrial bonds. We’ve got a size 3 Gnarvana set up for you to rip down the steepest, chunkiest, fall-line trails with:

• SRAM NX 11-50t 12-speed drivetrain with Descendant 6K cranks

• SRAM G2 RSC hydraulic brakes

• RockShox Super Deluxe Select 230x65mm shock

• MRP Ribbon Air 170mm fork

• SDG Tells 150mm dropper

• Raceface Turbine R stem and 780mm Chester handlebars

• Front and rear Hutchinson Griffus R Lab 29.25 tires mounted on Sun Single SD37 Comp wheels.

We’re excited to continue our partnership with Guerrilla Gravity as an official Demo Center and Authorized Reseller for 2022! GG continues to impress with their Colorado made frames and super fast delivery times. Come ride yours today!

Reserve yours online at routesreservations.com

Ready? Set? Hike!

Guest Authored By: Becky Giovagnoni

Despite the atypical gloomy, wet weather over Memorial Day, summer is indeed upon us. (And actually, given our history of summertime wildfires, we say, bring on the rain. We’ll take as much moisture as we can get, right Colorado?)

With the advent of summer and the easing of COVID restrictions finally, hiking is bound to be a popular pastime for Coloradans in 2021. In fact, a recent post in the Colorado Springs Indy by Bob Falcone, a.k.a. Hiking Bob, highlights 10 Essentials for Hiking. We’d like you to take a second, jump over to the post, and give a quick read. (Don’t worry … we’ll wait.)

Done?

Okay, cool. Now that local expert Hiking Bob has educated you on what you’ll need for a successful hiking experience, we want you to know ... we’ve got you covered. Routes Outfitter can set you up with all the things! 

Hiking Footwear

Whether you’re brand new to hiking or on a quest to bag all 54 fourteeners, we have the shoes you need. You’ll find a wide variety of styles and colors to choose from, everything from heavy duty hiking boots to lightweight trail running shoes. Brands include Altra, Lems, and Salomon. 

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate 

Not only is the Colorado air dry, it’s also high (as you may have heard.) At high altitudes, hydration is absolutely critical to keeping your physical performance at its peak and keeping altitude sickness at bay. From our Routes Outfitter branded stainless steel water bottle to a variety of hydration packs, we’ve got all your hydration needs covered.

Stay Dry

There’s a saying around here … If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change. This is not actually a joke. Whether it’s the cold, freezing rain found at the top of a fourteener or the warmer rain of the Colorado ritual of late summer afternoon thunderstorms, we have the perfect jacket for every hike. 

Protect Your Skin

At 6,000 feet, the air here is thin which means the sun is more intense. And with 300 days of sunshine, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get sun. Protect your skin from sun damage with our sun care products.

At Routes Outfitter, we are all about equipping you for the adventure. Visit one of our two stores in person to see all of our gear and prepare yourself for a summer full of outdoor fun.

Happy hiking!

719 Ride - The Easiest Pain A Little Money Can Buy

This ride isn’t for anyone, but it is for everyone. Indeed…you heard that right.

It’s just too simple, and yet painful, a ride to pass up. $17.19 is all it takes…sort of. And then you show up with a bike…and whatever grit you can muster….for the most part.

So gloriously painful and challenging…and oddly wonderful and satisfying at the same time. You sit in your saddle alongside those who dare to repeat lap after lap…after lap…possibly after a lap…and maybe after one more lap.

You may be attempting to honor OTTAVIO SEVERO - a man, a myth, a legend…or maybe just a myth. Or you may just be attempting to push your own limits with every lap. Either way…the ride in general is tempting to say the least.

A load of fun. A simple bicycling event to challenge us all right here in COS. A must ride if you’re looking for motivation to spin those pedals.

You just should. Check out the 719 Ride today…and sign up because you simply can.

See you out there!

Don’t Forget…and Look Forward

2020

Yup…another post about 2020.

It was a year many would like to forget…but we shouldn’t. Forgetting might not produce what we think it will produce.

Life comes with all sorts for challenges. If it didn’t, it might not take us to those “edge-places” where we refine into the best “us” possible. Individually or collectively…challenges can and often do make us better. They often make us better together.

2020 produced lots of good from the bad…

We opened an outdoor culture store. I mean…that’s cool. We persevered through the noise and made it through to the other side of 2020 as well. We got to touch the lives of people stepping out into adventure for the first time…or the hundredth time. We made new relationships with incredible people in the outdoor and bicycle industry. We put people on insanely cool rental bikes and introduced them to super sweet shoes, equipment, and gear. We did it all safely…and we did it with kindness and compassion. We loved every chance to brighten a person’s day. We loved brightening our community as much as we could…and were allowed to. We loved getting to open this store in 2020. And we love the idea of moving forward to all the good that will continue to come.

There are many other good things that we can reminisce upon as well.

Don’t forget.

As well …because of the challenges we faced together…there are many other good things we can look forward to.

Don’t forget.

Here’s to 2020…and to 2021. We’re on this adventure together…in the challenges and in the good.

Don’t forget...and look forward.

Running My Very First Mile

Remember in High School when they made us run a mile for Gym class? Well…that’s the way I remember it at least. I walked it. I received a passing score too because most human beings in their youth can walk a mile under 13ish minutes.

And…

That’s what I did…barely.

It wasn’t until I was in my early 30s that I actually got out and ran (and I do mean ran) a full mile. The first time, I did it in about 12 mins.

And…

It was awesome!!!

It was amazing to accomplish something that really was a thing I always wanted to do, but never applied or disciplined myself to do…or let myself do.

Because…

I had “exercise induced asthma”. It’s what the pediatrician said when I was young. He said it was why I became short winded when I ran.

And…

I chose to smoke cigarettes for so many years before my 30s…destroying my lungs and deteriorating my body with the poison.

And…

I didn’t think I had the time or the right stuff to do it right.

But…

When I ran that first mile ever…I moved beyond those things. And I let my body decide after my mind pushed it a bit farther than it was comfortable with.

And…

I ran more miles…and built longer distanced bases…and kept running for years after.

And…

I ended up participating in an Ironman 70.3 when I turned 40. It was brilliant. Not fast…but brilliant.

And…

That very first mile was the hurdle. It was the mental block I had to overcome to get farther. It was the thing that my mind had to say - “absolutely, without a doubt, I’m gonna frickin’ do it” - to.

And…

I think my first shoes only cost $25 dollars.

And…

I walked out my front door and ran around the neighborhood.

And…

It only took a mile.

And…

That mile was awesome. It was the mile I never ran…before running my first mile. There are many other first miles I hope I keep pressing forward to run as well. They’re worth it.

Hardest run I’ve ever done.

So grateful for the support to finish this one. Me in the center with friends on both sides.

"Here"...En Route.

Hi.

My name is Jason Mezey…and I launched and own Routes Outfitter (with my wife).

20+ years ago I thought I was going to be a punk-rock star. That route never panned out. I’m okay with that.

Every route from there has barely made sense. From High-School Dropout (I did eventually graduate) to Construction Tradesman…to Not-for-profit Ministry Marketing Leadership, it’s been an interesting journey.

Regardless, it’s been a journey that created the Route to “here”.

And where is “here”?

“Here” is simply the “next turn” or “next segment” on a Route that likely won’t end for quite a bit longer (I hope).

“Here” is gratitude for the wonky realness of every adventure before.

“Here” is recognition of people and circumstances that mattered in shaping me En Route.

“Here” is contentment in being a husband and father to amazing human beings.

“Here” is knowing God the Creator through Jesus, who IS deep, deep love and grace. (ask me about it sometime)

“Here” is celebration of wellness and outside…and activities that compel us to embark on even more Routes to find better or deeper versions of ourselves.

“Here“ is an idea that a store and business can be a part of community as a place for kindness, compassion, and really fun stuff.

“Here” is Routes Outfitter…the next segment that hopefully doesn’t “make sense”…but brings huge impact to everyone that it touches.

“Here” is where I am glad to be…En Route to all the great things to come. :)

Here we go…