Fire pushes evacuations in Ouray County, closes part of Hwy 550
Evacuations have been ordered for parts of Ouray County because of a fast-moving fire that broke out Saturday, June 27, and as of 9:30 p.m., U.S. 550 was closed between Ouray and Whispering Pines.
The Gold Mountain Fire began below Gold Mountain Ranch Saturday evening, near the Bachelor Syracuse Mine Tour area, off of County Road 14. Ouray County Sheriff's Office and Ouray County Emergency Management said at the time that a tree had fallen on a powerline.
HD/e stands for heavy duty and electric and the frame is built stiffer, stronger, and longer.
The complete bike includes:
Jones Plus LWB HD/e Frameset.
Wheels with 50 mm wide rims, 36 spokes, Schrader valve stems.
Big 29” 29" x 2.8" smooth tires.
BB7 disk brakes with 203 mm rotors front and rear.
1 x 12 speed drivetrain with a single click shifter.
Steel chainring, cassette teeth, axles, and hub driver body.
Bigger seat with deeper padding and chromoly rails.
And more!
The Jones Plus LWB HD/e is based on the Jones Plus LWB, a design that has proven itself as one of the most versatile bikes around, winning awards for its abilities as a bikepacking bike, as well as praise for just about all other types of riding. Combine this with Jones Geometry, the upright riding position, big 29” 36 spoke wheels and plus size tires, drivetrain and brake parts selected for strength and durability, and we have a heavy duty bicycle that is efficient and comfortable!
The Jones Plus LWB HD/e frames and unicrown forks are made from heat treated 4130 chromoly steel and have a great feel to them that is stiffer, stronger and with a little more weight than the non HD/e version (~ 300 grams).
Perfect for heavy loads or an ebike conversion. If you’re in need of a heavy duty bike for loaded touring, bikepacking, mountain biking, commuting, gravel or road riding, the Jones Plus HD/e has you covered!
Features and Benefits
Jones Plus LWB HD/e Geometry for a great ride in a wide range of conditions.
Frame and fork designed to work together, a frameset.
Frame is compatible with Jones Truss Fork for Plus LWB
These steel frames have a great feel that is stiffer, stronger and with a little more weight, ~ 300 grams. Perfect for heavy loads.
Super tough heat treated 4130 chromoly steel frame and fork with butted tubing.
Longer chainstays, 20", provide a longer wheelbase with more stability, smoother ride, keeps the front end down on steep climbs. It also creates more chainring clearance and room for a center kickstand mount.
Big and tall Jones Spec. wheelset with 29" x 3.25"/700c x 82 mm tubeless ready knobby tires, or 29" x 2.8"/700c x 71 mm tubeless ready smooth tires on 50 mm wide rims allow you to run very low pressure for maximum suppleness, better traction, more flotation and comfort along with lower rolling resistance, less flats and more safety, on or off road!
36 spokes for ultimate strength and durability.
Schrader (automotive type) valves are easier to use and are more durable. More airflow for easier tubeless set up.
Big tire clearance.
Jones 710 mm Loop H-Bar and H-Grips.
Wide range 11 - 50 SRAM SX 1 x 12 drivetrain.
Single click shifter for quiet, reliable shifting with greater durability.
Mechanical disk brakes with large 203 mm rotors front and rear for more power and better cooling.
Multiple rear rack and fender braze-on mounts for the best rack/fender/tire size fit, or for mounting water bottles. The fork can hold two more water bottles.
Bosses located at top of seat stays for ease of mounting racks.
Chain: SRAM SX Eagle 12 speed
Update June 2026:
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| 2009 - 2026 |
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| upside down view of frame crack |
It indeed has the "Make it your own" feel that has evolved to my needs over many years and miles.
I still like the rim braking. I know that the Surly Bridge Club might be considered a similar configured bicycle. I have given some though about getting one just to treat myself to a new bicycle. But for now, this configured Old School Long Haul Trucker just works fine.
Although I may have a new rear wheel built for it,
since my rear wheel with an indestructible White Hub broke!
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| White Industry M15 Rear Hub |
Nice hub.
It lasted 10 years and lots or miles and pound of hauling.
Since this conversion, I have converted Fat Tire Surly bikes and a semi-recumbent RANS Fusion. (see E-Bike Touring for details)
I added the wine cork bar end stops, which I think compliment this French bicycle.
The Huret Jubilee derailleur works perfect.
As I watched the Bike Farmer work on a Vintage Gitane (see video below)
... My mind drifted back to purchasing my Motobecane Grand Jubilee in 1974. It was pricey, I saved up, and missed a few college day meals to purchase it. I visited the bike shop across the street from the College Campus often to see if they had sold it before I was able to save enough money to buy it.
Over the years it provided lots of commuting, touring, and racing miles. I still cannot part with it. It seems like it is a tie to my past...
A few years back, I decided that springtime in Missouri was calling my name—and that the best way to answer was with a bicycle, a train ticket, and just enough optimism to believe the weather forecast might be wrong. Thus began my Amtrak–Katy Trail Ride, an adventure that combined passenger trains, crushed limestone trails, historic towns, good food, minor mechanical drama, and a healthy amount of smiling at my own good fortune.
This ride was later written up by Adventure Cycling, which made it feel slightly more official than it probably deserved—but I’ll take it.
The Big Picture
Route: Kansas City to Jefferson City, MO… then back again
Trail: One hundred miles of the Katy Trail along the Missouri River
Riding Days: Two days of roughly fifty miles each
Overnights: A charming bed & breakfast and a historic downtown hotel
Bonus Points: Amtrak’s walk-on bicycle service
Weather: Occasional rain (because of course)
This trip featured Amtrak’s roll-on bicycle service, which deserves a standing ovation. A rail worker flagged me toward my car, I pushed my bike directly onto the train, secured it in its designated space, and—this was the real luxury—sat right next to it.
Previously, traveling with a bike meant stuffing it into a cardboard bike box, watching it disappear into a baggage car, and later reassembling it on a platform while pretending not to panic about missing parts. Compared to that? This felt like first-class travel for both me and my bike.
I was so impressed that I immediately pulled out my iPhone and sent Amtrak a message expressing my appreciation. Not all heroes wear capes—some design bike-friendly train policies.
The ride to Jefferson City was smooth and relaxing. I watched the Missouri countryside roll by while silently negotiating with the weather gods, hoping the forecasted rain would at least wait until I was good and tired.
As we passed through Sedalia, I noticed the depot and made a mental note: In two days, if all goes well, I’ll be back here boarding this same train. Adventure always feels better when you have a plan—and a return ticket.
We arrived in Jefferson City around noon. The depot sits just a few blocks from the State Capitol, which made the disembarkation feel appropriately official. Amtrak prefers a speedy unload, so as the train rolled in, I sprang into action. A helpful rail worker assisted me down the stairs with the bike, and just like that, I was officially rolling.
It was raining lightly—but I was prepared. Or at least dressed like someone who thought they were prepared.
I pedaled past the Capitol, following my route toward the Katy Trail.
The Katy Trail delivers beauty in abundance. I was heading toward Rocheport, my stop for the night, but progress was… leisurely. Not because of the trail surface—it was excellent—but because every few minutes demanded another photo. Trees, river views, old rail remnants—it all added up to a comfortable 12 mph pace and zero regrets.
Eventually, I rolled into Cooper’s Landing,
Yes. The rear tire.
It’s always the rear tire.
With about eight miles left in the day, I noticed it slowly losing air. Rather than stopping immediately, I opted for a strategy best described as “optimistic denial”: stopping every couple of miles to add air and promising myself I’d deal with it properly once I arrived.
Miraculously, this worked.
I found my lodging in Rocheport
I woke early, energized and ready for another fifty-ish miles. Today’s destination was Sedalia, MO, where I had reservations at the Historic Bothwell Hotel downtown. Once again, rain was in the forecast—but hope springs eternal.
The stretch from Rocheport to Boonville is especially delightful. Birds chirped, small animals scurried, and for a while—victory!—no rain fell. The trail felt alive and peaceful all at once.
In Boonville, I stopped at a downtown café for breakfast before heading back onto the trail toward Pilot Grove—one of my favorite sections. The scenery is lovely, the trail is a bit hillier than usual, and it includes both an overpass and a tunnel, which always feels like a bonus.
Pilot Grove also features something critically important: excellent pie. I stopped at the trailhead, where a thoughtfully placed bicycle workstation allowed me to check tire pressure and make sure everything was still behaving.
(Then I went for the pie.)
The next stretch of trail grew quieter and more remote, perfect for reflection and photography. One of my favorite sights was an old train signal, standing as a reminder of the route’s railroad history.
Not long after passing it, the rain arrived—right on schedule. It followed me faithfully all the way into Sedalia, proving once again that forecasts should never be ignored.
Downtown Sedalia was just a short ride away, and soon I arrived at the Historic Bothwell Hotel. The building sits proudly in the old downtown district, surrounded by history—including another beautiful structure across the street that was undergoing renovation and absolutely required a photo.
The hotel staff welcomed both me and my bicycle. I was allowed to bring it into the historic lobby, and they stored it safely in the basement for the night.
The hotel itself was wonderful—comfortable, full of character, and exactly what tired cyclists dream about. I chose to dine at the hotel restaurant, which turned out to be an excellent decision. Warm food, dry clothes, and a sense of accomplishment are hard to beat.
The next morning, I woke early and checked out. The staff retrieved my bike, and I rolled the few blocks to the Sedalia train station I’d spotted days earlier. With time to spare, I stopped for coffee and a pastry—because no good train ride should begin without one.
Back at the station, the train arrived right on time. A rail worker waved me toward the correct car, helped lift my bike onboard, and once again I secured it in its space. I took my seat beside it, leaned back, and enjoyed the ride back to Kansas City.
As the countryside rolled by, I reflected on the trip: trains that welcomed bikes, trails that followed rivers, towns full of character, and just enough rain and mechanical drama to make it a true adventure.
All in all, it was exactly the kind of journey that reminds you why mixing bicycles, trains, and a sense of humor is always a good idea.
Loaded touring bikes have a good chance of falling over. This can result in a broken brake lever.
It is advisable to NOT attach the brake lever too tight to the handlebar. Tighten it so the lever can be moved/twister slightly by hand. If and when the bicycle falls and lands on the brake lever, the lever will just twist and will not break and need to be replaced.
You can then just twist it back into the proper position.
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note: I also did this adjustment years ago when mountain biking after breaking a brake lever or two.
Another benefit, from this: I often slightly twist/adjust the brake levers to change the resting place of my fingers. The position change help the 'blood flow' to the hands.
Every year, November seems to try to make up its mind. Gray and grumpy one day, bright and generous the next.The operation of the inflator.
This is a must have to carry with you on your bicycle.
Out of the box, it is set-up for Presta valves. But can be adapted for Schrader valves. The days of carrying hand pumps is over. This little small hand held device easily fits into a bike bag of jersey pocket. It charges with a USB cord.
I hated getting flats on the road having to use those little hand pumps that took forever to inflate the tire. Always wearing your hands out and bumping your knuckles into the spokes.
I pack the RockBros Tire Inflator & cord in my front handlebar tool bag. I also carry a small battery charging unit that is used to charge up devices. (Garmin, Varia, phone, and now pump)
