We woke up to a sunny but cool day. It was a bit frosty in Winter Park--but the snow had disappeared with only the slightly flocked trees up high on the mountain showed of the previous day's surprise blizzard. I decided that I'd better ride earlier--because of what happened to me yesterday.
So after a quick stop at the Safeway for breakfast--I headed out. We went up a bit and skipped the county rd 5 part and I started out with a small climb and then a nice little downhill. Ohhh...it was cold. Everyone was dressed warmly and wore long fingered gloves. It felt great to be riding first thing in the morning--but not as early as I used to make myself start. (5:30 or 6:00 am)
It was a nice rolling hills that we went over, into Granby, through Hot Sulphur springs and Byers Canyon and on to Kremmling. I rode the whole way to there--and felt good getting about 30 miles. Then my friend Janis rode on up to Muddy Pass. It also was steep short climbs and fun downhills. I wasn't sure I was going to ride any more but Janis said it was great weather to try and at least get part of Rabbit Ears. I drove up part of the pass--I'd forgotten what a nice pass it is to ride. I stopped after the east side so I could ride the West summit and to the screaming downhill.
It was still pleasantly cool. That's why I like the northern route vs. the southern. I cranked away. Adaptive from Crested Butte has lots of vets with them this year. I ran into a few of them as I was riding. I also so my good friend Jose from a few years ago. They had 5 hand cyclists with them.
Once I got to what I thought was the top--it wasn't. It climbed a few more times before we got our pay off. It was a pretty fast 7 mile descent. I did use my break some--but as my hand got tired....I just let it go. It wasn't too crowded yet so I didn't' have to worry about too many people. It was an awesome ride down, although I saw quite a few off to the side with blown tires.
It was a great day compared to yesterday. I got a decent amount of miles in and am feeling stronger as I ride more--what a great way to get into shape.
Keeping the rubber side down!! We get a second day here in Steamboat.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Ride the Rockies 2014--Day 1: Fun climbing in the Snow!
Well, I had to pull out last year do to medical issues so I was raring to go on this ride. Janis and I couldn't find a 3rd lady to share the ride so we are doing it ourselves. She is the sometimes sag--and I am for her. I wasn't able to ride very much to get in decent shape for this--but it's never stopped me before! I was more worried since I didn't get to ski (cross country) but once at the end of the season due to some surgery I had.
The ride started in Boulder--it went up boulder canyon into Nederland. I let Janis do this part as there were no sag vehicles allowed and I wasn't sure I could do 15 miles of climbing right off the bat. I wanted to summit Berthoud Pass--which was steep--and a screaming downhill on the other side. After Janis made it Nederland we headed up to Idaho Springs--but took some strange dirt roads to get there. It was still climbing as the riders came from Nederland to Idaho Spgs through Black Hawk. I couldn't believe they would do that on the first day--75 miles and 10,000 ft elevation gain. It was not for the faint of heart--and I'm not sure that a lot of them finished the whole thing.
I unloaded about the foot of Berthoud. It had been raining and I wanted to see if it would blow over. It seemed to so I saddled up and began the climb. It was pretty grueling but I was holding a 2 mile an hour pace--and there were a few times it was 0--but I was still moving. I stopped for some short little rests to try and get acclimated. It wasn't very long and the snow began to fly. At first I just thought it was rain--but saw the little snow crystals on my arm before the melted. It wasn't very bad. Janis came up and asked if I wanted to sag. I hadn't gone very far up--only 2 and a half miles and wanted to go further. So she game me a jacket and on I went. The snow got heavier--but I was still okay. When I wasn't okay is when the wind began to blow in my face with the snow with it. My glasses got fogged and wet and I could barely see the while line of the shoulder to keep me out of the road. Janis was back but on the opposite side of the road--3 lanes of traffic on blind hills. I wasn't crazy about crossing and the longer I sat there the colder I got. So I went on and she went down the hill and then back up--only I didn't see her when she passed by. I finally got so cold I was shaking and my hands were freezing as was my face.
Luckily a motorcycle policeman came by to ask me if I was alright--and I said no. He stayed with me awhile while I waited for Janis to come by. (I didn't know she was about a mile up waiting there. He let me wear his gloves to try and warm up. Then an empty sag wagon pulled over across the road. The police officer went over and tole him I needed to ride. The picked me up off my bike and put me in the warm van. It wasn't toasty warm but compared to what I was just in it was. The sag quickly filled up. I called Janis and she said she was ahead of me. I told her I got in a sag. Those sag people are so awesome. They figure out ways to get a hand cycle on top of their vans using bunji cords. Janis followed the van to the top--and it wasn't very far. I got in my van and cranked the heat. I'm still shivering as I write this--even after a hot shower and snuggling on the couch with lots of blankets. Even though I didn't go that far--it was a steep vertical climb. I was exhausted.
We head to Steamnboat tomorrow for a 95 mile day--I won't be doing nearly that much, But I think I'll ride earlier in case of bad weather again. That was a bummer. Even the people who toughed it out and made it to the top at that time had to be sagged down. There was too much snow and poor visibility due to fog. That was a great way to scare away any newbies to the ride!! Signing off to go to bed!
The ride started in Boulder--it went up boulder canyon into Nederland. I let Janis do this part as there were no sag vehicles allowed and I wasn't sure I could do 15 miles of climbing right off the bat. I wanted to summit Berthoud Pass--which was steep--and a screaming downhill on the other side. After Janis made it Nederland we headed up to Idaho Springs--but took some strange dirt roads to get there. It was still climbing as the riders came from Nederland to Idaho Spgs through Black Hawk. I couldn't believe they would do that on the first day--75 miles and 10,000 ft elevation gain. It was not for the faint of heart--and I'm not sure that a lot of them finished the whole thing.
I unloaded about the foot of Berthoud. It had been raining and I wanted to see if it would blow over. It seemed to so I saddled up and began the climb. It was pretty grueling but I was holding a 2 mile an hour pace--and there were a few times it was 0--but I was still moving. I stopped for some short little rests to try and get acclimated. It wasn't very long and the snow began to fly. At first I just thought it was rain--but saw the little snow crystals on my arm before the melted. It wasn't very bad. Janis came up and asked if I wanted to sag. I hadn't gone very far up--only 2 and a half miles and wanted to go further. So she game me a jacket and on I went. The snow got heavier--but I was still okay. When I wasn't okay is when the wind began to blow in my face with the snow with it. My glasses got fogged and wet and I could barely see the while line of the shoulder to keep me out of the road. Janis was back but on the opposite side of the road--3 lanes of traffic on blind hills. I wasn't crazy about crossing and the longer I sat there the colder I got. So I went on and she went down the hill and then back up--only I didn't see her when she passed by. I finally got so cold I was shaking and my hands were freezing as was my face.
Luckily a motorcycle policeman came by to ask me if I was alright--and I said no. He stayed with me awhile while I waited for Janis to come by. (I didn't know she was about a mile up waiting there. He let me wear his gloves to try and warm up. Then an empty sag wagon pulled over across the road. The police officer went over and tole him I needed to ride. The picked me up off my bike and put me in the warm van. It wasn't toasty warm but compared to what I was just in it was. The sag quickly filled up. I called Janis and she said she was ahead of me. I told her I got in a sag. Those sag people are so awesome. They figure out ways to get a hand cycle on top of their vans using bunji cords. Janis followed the van to the top--and it wasn't very far. I got in my van and cranked the heat. I'm still shivering as I write this--even after a hot shower and snuggling on the couch with lots of blankets. Even though I didn't go that far--it was a steep vertical climb. I was exhausted.
We head to Steamnboat tomorrow for a 95 mile day--I won't be doing nearly that much, But I think I'll ride earlier in case of bad weather again. That was a bummer. Even the people who toughed it out and made it to the top at that time had to be sagged down. There was too much snow and poor visibility due to fog. That was a great way to scare away any newbies to the ride!! Signing off to go to bed!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)