RAVEL COLORADO

I’M hurtling down a mountain on a bike and I’m hanging on for dear life.

Up until this point my only cycling experiences involved casual commutes to work along flat city streets.

Now I’m going headfirst at what seems like 100mph down steep terrain.

And I’m hoping not to fall off to avoid a) injury and b) looking a fool in front of my particularly attractive guide.

It turns out I’m not the first to have such concerns.

That’s because the breathtaking peaks of Crested Butte in Colorado are said to be the birthplace of mountain biking.

Legend has it that it was devised by a bunch of lads hoping to impress girls.

Guys from the town would use modified paperboys’ bikes they called klunkers to ride across the mountains to Aspen to meet ladies.

It spawned a new breed of bike and a whole new sport.

I’m relieved to get to the bottom of the trail unscathed and I’ve impressed myself. What a thrill! (bike.skicb.com, half-day rental about £55pp.)

It’s only then that I look around and drink in the spectacular views.

During the winter Crested Butte is a haven for skiers, but in the summer it is the perfect destination for both hiking and biking.

Back on two feet, I get my heart rate down with a stroll along downtown’s Elk Avenue – its charming and colourful wooden buildings looking like something out of a Western.

And it’s filled with great little shops, bars and restaurants.

I had some world-beating pizza at Secret Stash for lunch. For dinner I ate Mexican delights at Bonez – whose tagline is Margaritas, Mariachis, Mayhem. It’s well worth a visit.

After a few too many margaritas I got my head down at The Grand Lodge, a comfortable and welcoming hotel in the heart of everything.

Next stop on my Colorado odyssey was the gorgeous mountain town of Telluride.

The place is picture-postcard perfect, with its long main street framing the Rocky Mountains in the background.

And don’t take my word for it. Chatshow queen Oprah Winfrey, movie director Oliver Stone and Hollywood megastar Tom Cruise love the place so much they have homes in the area. The town oozes cool. It has become famous for its annual film and bluegrass music festivals and the biggest bands in the world stop by to play at its outdoor arena. I catch a folk band at the stunning and historic Sheridan Opera House.

As at Crested Butte, daytime during the summer months is for long hikes or various mountain activities.

I joined a group for a treacherous drive in a Jeep up the mountain to see the remnants of the mines, which once saw the town thriving in the Old West. But hang on to your belongings – my new phone came out second best when it flew out of the car and down a ravine.

At night the town comes alive with bars buzzing with people and live music.

I had a pleasing pan-seared Colorado striped bass and crab dish at La Marmotte before hitting the bars.

Live music is a feature at the exquisite Hotel Telluride, where local musicians with cowboy hats entertain in the foyer.

When in the area I recommend a stopoff at the little town of Fairplay, said to be the inspiration for the cartoon hit South

Park. It’s also worth the drive to the Colorado National Monument to marvel at the sheer-walled canyons.

My amazing trip was bookended by a couple of nights spent in Denver, the Colorado capital.

The city is booming. Its restaurant scene is one of the hottest in the US and if you love craft beer, it’s the place for you. With more than 100 breweries, you will not have far to look for a tasty beer.

The state has also legalised cannabis, so many tourists head there for a smoke,