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What does it take to bring one of bikepacking’s original routes back to life? And what makes the rugged, remote West End of Colorado such a special place to ride?

In this episode of The Endurance Studio Podcast, I sit down with Tim Tait, Grand Loop race director and West End cycling advocate, after taking on the Grand Loop myself. We talk about the history of this legendary bikepacking route, the challenges of organizing a race on public lands, and what the future of bikepacking looks like as the sport continues to grow.

Tim shares how the Grand Loop went dormant, why he decided to bring it back, and what goes into organizing one of the most demanding bikepacking events in the country. We get into permitting, land stewardship, route design, and the delicate balance between creating challenging adventures and protecting the places that make them possible.

We also dive into Tim’s own racing career, including his recent Tour Divide finish, the lessons he's learned from years of endurance racing, and the now-legendary story behind his Tour Divide tradition of smoking a cigarette at every state line.

Plus, we discuss the Grand Loop's coin-flip start direction, the realities of riding through the brutal desert terrain of Western Colorado, and why the West End deserves a place on every bikepacker's radar.

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https://www.thewestendgravelrush.com

https://www.instagram.com/westendcycling/

https://www.instagram.com/tim.tait/

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(00:00:00) Choosing the Grand Loop and Early Challenges

(00:03:22) Water Sources, Red Canyon, and Technical Terrain

(00:10:29) Bike Failures, Resupply, and Route Logistics

(00:16:13) Grand Loop History and Route Evolution

(00:18:46) Fruita Resupply, Hotel Nightmares, and Gear Failures

(00:28:40) Geography, Hunting Season, and the Uncompahgre Region

(00:32:03) Route Changes, Scenic Highlights, and Night Riding

(00:42:21) Kokopelli Section, Trail Conditions, and Returning to Town

(00:48:43) Accommodation Challenges and Vestal House

(00:54:02) Pacing, Race Types, and Tour Divide Reflections

(00:57:53) The State-Line Cigarette Tradition

(01:02:54) Personal Background, Soccer, and Competitive Sports

(01:12:44) European Influence and Different Racing Perspectives

(01:19:07) Weather, Race Directing, and Mental Challenges

(01:24:46) Racing Mistakes, Personal Struggles, and Life Balance

(01:33:28) Future Races and the Origins of Utah Mixed Epic

(01:39:57) Reviving the Grand Loop: Community, Permits, and Planning

(01:45:02) Permitting, Funding, and Participant Limits

(01:48:57) Land Managers, Community Involvement, and Race Growth

(01:53:27) Nucla History, Mining, and Regional Development

(02:05:19) Land Use, Conservation, and Community Perspectives

(02:09:31) Trail Magic Debate and Community Reactions

(02:20:54) Grand Loop Logistics, Trail Magic, and Reflections

(02:25:40) Quick Q&A: Lessons, Gear, and Problem Solving

(02:32:54) Recommended Routes and Closing Remarks

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#endurance #bikepacking