road

motorists notwithstanding

2012-01-15T09:41:00.000-06:00

When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Here was a machine of precision and balance for the convenience of man. And (unlike subsequent inventions for man's convenience) the more he used it, the fitter his body became. Here, for once, was a product of man's brain that was entirely beneficial to those who used it, and of no harm or irritation to others. Progress should have stopped when man invented the bicycle.

-Elizabeth West

good busy

2012-01-07T12:46:00.001-06:00

I was up early for a long walk with the dogs. After breakfast I did some cleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping. With all that out of the way I enjoyed a brisk (45F) ride south of town (22 miles). Now I'm settling in for the FCS college football championship (go Bison!) followed by KU at Oklahoma in hoops (go Jayhawks!) and a weekend of NFL wildcard games. (go whoever makes it interesting!). Have a good weekend. ( )s rule!

p.s. The Bison won! Woohoo! The Jayhawks rallied to beat Oklahoma, and with apologies to Missouri fans, Kansas State destroyed Mizzou. They CAN'T win the Big 12 in their last season in the Big 12! Pretty good day.

happy new year!

2011-12-31T16:25:00.001-06:00

Here's to more adventures on the bike in 2012! And fondly remembering 2011. I had a lot of great times on the bike this year, but it all led to my latest trip to Colorado.

I was able to add Hoosier Pass to my list of Colorado passes climbed.

I got to ride through the Colorado National Monument again.

I enjoyed doing some climbs I had done before.

I made it up and over on a route that had foiled me before.

And mostly I enjoyed the company and camaraderie of some great folks who enjoy the challenges of riding up mountains as much as I do. I hope all of them, and all of you, have great rides in 2012!

bike tour song

2011-12-10T09:43:00.009-06:00

(To the tune of the Christmas Song)

Pedals turning in the summer sun
Wheels are rolling down the road
You’re shifting down as the road rises up
As you search for the perfect spinning mode
Everybody knows a mountain is a thing to climb
Some say just because it’s there
Who knew that riding could be so much fun
Though altitude does lead to thinner air

You know that when you make the top
You’ll have done it slowly so your ears won’t pop
A super fast descent, you’ve got to try
And if you have the nerve, you can really fly

And so, my wish for you this holiday
Whatever riding that you do
Make a plan, if you can, for a longer ride
Happy bike tour to you

Just think of how you’ll spend your day
With lots of rolling hills and rest stops on the way
And when the day is done, for sure you may be sore
But in the morning you’ll be ready for more

And so, my wish for you this holiday
Whatever riding that you do
Make a plan, if you can, for a longer ride
Happy bike tour to you

And when the day is done, for sure you may be sore
But in the morning you’ll be ready for more

And so, my wish for you this holiday
Whatever riding that you do
Make a plan, if you can, for a longer ride
Happy bike tour to you

race across the sky - leadville trail 100

2011-12-04T09:55:00.002-06:00

It had been a while since I had watched my DVD of Race Across The Sky, so I popped it in when I climbed on my trainer this morning. It's kind of like watching Apollo 13, I know what's going to happen, but I still get caught up in the drama. Having happened onto Leadville as the race was reaching it's crucial 12 hour cut-off one year gave me a small idea of how grueling an event this is.

I've ridden into Leadville in a cold rain at the end of a hundred mile day with lots of climbing. It was hard. But I was on paved roads, and it wasn't a race! I'm in awe of those who ride this race, and while I don't particularly want to do it, would love to see it again.

long way home

2011-11-30T09:46:00.000-06:00

This makes a century ride seem kind of puny.

thankful

2011-11-24T18:22:00.000-06:00

Today I'm thankful for family and friends (and my family includes furry, four-legged members). I'm thankful for green golf courses and pleasant weather, and hitting an occasional good shot to keep me coming back for more. And I'm thankful for roads that go through beautiful places, up mountains and down the other side. I'm thankful that I've gotten to see so many places from the seat of a bicycle.

hold on to your hat

2011-11-20T07:34:00.000-06:00

The temperature was near 70 yesterday. Not bad for late November in Kansas. The sun was shining for the middle hours of the day, and folks were out in shorts and short-sleeves. It would have been a great day for a long ride, except the wind was in the mid-to-upper 20s, with gust in the 40s.

I made it a short ride on the bike path, which offered some trees to block the wind a bit. Still, I had to work like a dog to ride south, and didn't have to pedal at all on the way back home. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but it was really, really windy. Anyway, it felt good to ride outside and work up a good sweat, if only for a short time. The time goes so much faster in the sun than on the trainer.

nilsson schmilsson

2011-11-15T19:52:00.000-06:00

I found a documentary on Netflix last week about the life and work of Harry Nilsson. It was fascinating! His biggest success was in the last 60's and early 70's. Most people fall into one of two categories regarding Nilsson: those who don't remember much about him, and those who loved his work. I fall into the latter group. My roommate had Nilsson Schmilsson when I was in my early twenties, and it was part of the background for many great parties.

Nilsson never toured, and worked on projects that interested him despite being wildly different from what brought him his biggest commercial success. He wrote the song "One", which became a hit for Three Dog Night, but didn't write one of his biggest songs; he won a grammy for "Everybody's Talking", the theme from the 1969 movie "Midnight Cowboy".

He was famous for his partying, and he partied with some big names in the music business, including John Lennon, who called Harry his favorite artist. He died too young, from heart failure at the age of 53 in 1994. I was so enthralled with this movie that I rattled of several pieces of trivia for my wife, who then decided she didn't need to watch the movie for herself. So, thanks for letting me share with you. If you're interested, the documentary was called "Who is Harry Nilsson? (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him). Otherwise, enjoy some of my favorite Nilsson tunes on my Playlist.

picture borrowed from Amazon.com

winter bike

2011-11-13T15:37:00.000-06:00

I haven't been riding a lot lately. A combination of work and weather, and a bout of LAS (lazy ass syndrome) have kept me from more than a few short rides. It's still dry and relatively warm here, but it's starting to feel like winter, so I thought I should have a plan to get myself riding outside as long as I can before I resign myself to the trainer in the basement.

Before the Madone there was the Cross-Check. I had put skinny road tires on it and it had served me well on a Tour de Kota and my first CRMBT including a climb of Independence Pass. In recent years it has been a back-up bike. If the Madone is in the shop, or needs a minor repair that I don't have time for, I take the Cross-Check out for a ride.

Recently I decided to put some wider tires on it, and replace the well-worn Brooks saddle and get it ready for winter. Yesterday I got it ready to go, and this morning I took it for a short ride on the paths through the neighborhood. I even went off-road on some mountain bike trails for a short while. Now I just have to commit to bundling up and riding as long as I can. I need to keep some kind of form through the winter, and even with a dvd playing the trainer is so boring. So, here's to my winter bike!

11/11/11

2011-11-12T07:14:00.000-06:00

Moorhead boy, who lives at 11th Street and 11th Avenue, turns 11 on 11/11/11

Auspicious date also plays part in wedding planning
FARGO – 11/11/11: Good luck or the end of the world? It depends on whom you ask. For 10-year-old Gunner Parr, he’s hoping for the former as he turns 11 on this once-a-century day. By: Wendy Reuer, INFORUM

Gunner Parr not only has a birthday on 11-11-11, but he also lives at the intersection of 11th Street and 11th Avenue North in Moorhead. Dave Wallis / The Forum

FARGO – 11/11/11: Good luck or the end of the world?
It depends on whom you ask.
For 10-year-old Gunner Parr, he’s hoping for the former as he turns 11 on this once-a-century day.
It wasn’t long after Gunner was born that his grandmothers found how special his golden birthday would likely be.
“We were in the hospital, and we said to each other, ‘Oh, my gosh, he’s going to be popular on his 11th birthday,’ ” said great-grandmother Betty Cannon.
His mother, Nichole Parr, said the family is planning a weekend celebration complete with a surprise for Gunner and his fifth-grade class at Robert Asp Elementary School.
Gunner Parr said he thinks the unique birthday has been a sign of good luck – which would make sense.
An old adage says it is good luck to make a wish when clocks read 11:11. The origin and reasoning of the clock-watching command is unclear.

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I wished my brother-in-law Paul a happy birthday yesterday via Facebook, and he wrote that it was too bad he wasn't 11 like the kid in the above article. Turning 11 on 11/11/11? How cool is that? Gunner also has 11 brothers and 11 sisters. Just kidding, I made that up. Anyway, I hope you had a great day, Paul. And if you hear what the surprise was for the 5th graders at Robert Asp Elementary, let me know.

perspective

2011-10-29T08:31:00.000-05:00

I was looking through some pictures from rides through the Colorado Rockies and was struck by how one's perspective changes how you see something. There was a picture of the elevation sign on McClure Pass that read 8755 feet. When you live at something just over 1000 feet that seems like a respectable elevation. And the ride up McClure though short, can be a little steep. I remember on a Bicycle Tour of Colorado a few years ago, seeing folks walking their bikes through the steepest portions. And while I didn't think it was that steep, it was work. So I have a respect for McClure Pass even though it "only" takes you to 8755 feet.

When McClure Pass was announced as part of the Colorado Rocky Mountain Bike Tour for 2011, I looked forward to a short, challenging climb, followed by a pretty amazing descent on the way to Hotchkiss. I wasn't disappointed. The climb features some of the best scenery around, and I took advantage of several photo opportunities. And as is the case with many rides for me, the descent was better than I remembered.

But, the fact that McClure Pass was on the fifth day of riding, and after back-to-back days where we climbed Cottonwood Pass and Independence Pass, 8755 feet seemed a lot less difficult. It's all about perspective, how you look at things. I like the view from a bicycle.

btc

2011-10-05T18:19:00.000-05:00

Late last week, the Bicyle Tour of Colorado announced their route for 2012. The tour runs from June 17-23 and starts and finishes in Fort Collins, CO. I've never ridden in this part of Colorado, so I know nothing about the route except what BTC tells me, and what I can find on the web. Another interesting feature of this route is that one whole day, and parts of two others are spent in Wyoming! I'm sure that those will be beautiful days, so that's not a deal breaker.

This isn't the epic, many hard days with great climbs kind of route that BTC has used in years past. From Fort Collins to Laramie, WY features some climbing, but no high passes. Laramie to Saratoga goes over Snowy Range Pass at 10,840 feet. Before heading back into Colorado riders will climb Battle Pass at 9,955 feet. The day before the rest day in Steamboat Springs features 44 miles and gains only slightly more than 500 feet. From Steamboat Springs riders will tackle Rabbit Ears Pass at 9,426 feet, and the last day features a small climb over Cameron Pass at 10,276 feet before a long downhill into Fort Collins.

colorado bike racing

2011-09-28T16:41:00.000-05:00

My buddy, Clay, got to be in Colorado during the USA Pro Cycling Challenge and posted about it with some great action shots at Clay's Cycling Blog. Go check out the action. I've got to see that myself one of these years.

biking around kansas

2011-09-24T19:53:00.000-05:00

Quite different from Biking Across Kansas. I had a couple hours to ride today and headed for one of my new favorites routes. It's a favorite because it offers bike lanes where the traffic is higher, and gets me to a spot about 10 miles from home in a roundabout fashion. Out and back ends up at a little more than 23 miles, and there are a few opportunities for side loops or figure-eights that can add some scenic miles fro a 25-30 miles loop if you have the time and are in the mood.

After only 5 miles I can stop to admire this girl on her rural oasis in the middle of dozens of new subdivisions. If you're looking for a garage sale or a giant kid, this area is for you. After going west about 4 miles, I spend the next 6 miles going north, then west, then north, then west.....

This guy has startled me before. He's kind of cute, but makes a big noise. He was very cooperative today though, as I tried to get a good picture. Maybe our relationship is growing.

I've driven by the intersection of two highways several times and never knew Honeywell was there, but if you get on the road less traveled, especially on a bike, you get to see so much more.

The roundabout ahead is the point where I turn around and head back the way I came, or take a right, head east, and make it a loop. If I have the time and the weather is good, I throw in one of those loops, and keep on riding. I've also used part of this route to get farther west or south to make it an even longer ride.

seventeen

2011-09-11T15:53:00.000-05:00

Thanks to CRMBT, and a few side trips on my own, I've now climbed the 17 highest paved passes in Colorado. And that's not counting Mt Evans or Cottonwood Pass. I've been checking them off on a list that I printed from here. Half a dozen more and I could have everything over 10,000 feet. I notice that Lizard Head Pass might be on the agenda for CRMBT next year. Hmmm.....

I put a few shots from those 17 passes into a slideshow. Check it out if you're interested:

seventeen

feels like frisco

2011-09-06T05:49:00.002-05:00

Barely into September, and when I went out for a ride yesterday morning, I wore a jacket! It was a cool, crisp autumn kind of morning. I love that kind of weather, except for the fact that it's followed by winter. The cool air reminded me of Frisco, CO and the times I've stayed there, before, during or after a Colorado bike tour. Heading out on the bike paths around town, up to Breckenridge, or over to Copper Mountain usually calls for a light jacket for the cool, and possibly rain protection for the afternoon showers that are common at 9,075 feet, surrounded by mountains.

The ride yesterday was pleasant enough, made all the more so by the memories of the cool, crisp air of Frisco.

crmbt 2012 proposed route

2011-09-04T10:47:00.000-05:00

CRMBT, the Colorado Rocky Mountain Bike Tour has announced their proposed route for August, 2012. After two years that had riders scaling the heights of central Colorado, including Mt Evans and Trail Ridge Road, and riding a route that stretched from the Grand Mesa to Cottonwood Pass and Independence Pass, CRMBT is heading back to the San Juan Mountains in the southwest part of the state. The overnight towns include Pagosa Springs, Creede, Gunnison and Montrose. The rest day would be in the resort town of Telluride before moving on to Mancos, and back to Pagosa Springs.

On a scenic route that was used by BTC in 2006 , the first day will feature a beautiful, but challenging ride over Wolf Creek Pass on the way to Creede. This climb will offer numerous photo opportunities, especially looking back to the west as you near the summit.

After a nice descent, and ride through parts of the beautiful San Juan and Rio Grande National Forests, it's on to Creede. The last time I was in Creede, Slumgullion Pass had just kicked my butt, so my opinion is tarnished. But, I've heard others talk of what a great little town Creede is. The next morning the route would head for Gunnison over Spring Creek Pass and the infamous Slumgullion.

Bicycle Tour of Colorado 2006

The good news is that the elevation of Creede and the elevation of Lake City are roughly the same, almost 8800 feet. And climbing from the south it takes about 40 miles from Creede to reach Slumgullion Pass at 11,530 feet, whereas climbing from Lake City to the summit takes 7 miles. I know that the switchbacks off of Slumgullion into Lake City won't be conducive to great speed, but I also know you won't have to pedal at all!

After a couple small climbs the tour will roll into Gunnison for a cool night in the mountain air. The next day's ride takes you on US 50 to Montrose. The ride would run the entire length of the Blue Mesa Reservoir and through the Curecanti National Recreation Area.

The next day the route takes riders from Montrose to Telluride. From Montrose to Ridgway is high plains desert with mesas all around. But when you turn right at Ridgway, it gets special. You're climbing towards the Sneffels range and the views are spectacular.

When I rode the Dallas Divide out of Ridgway, it was up and back. So I don't know what it's like to go down the other side and wind into Telluride. But I bet it's amazing! Telluride looks like a fantastic palce for a rest day. And the one real climb the following day is Lizard Head Pass. A nice account of that ride can be found here. From Mancos to Pagosa Springs has a little climbing, including Yellow Jacket Pass, which we rode on the way to Durango few years ago. But it should be a relatively easy day, and a very scenic way to finish the tour.

thank you!

2011-08-31T08:29:00.000-05:00

Peter and Hillary, Kevin and Ann, Theo, Scott, The gang from Rocky Mountain Sports Massage, all the volunteers, and all the other riders who made this a great week on the roads of Colorado: Thanks!

It was amazing! Headwinds to Hotchkiss, beautiful Black Canyon on the way to Gunnison, and an epic two days over Cottonwood Pass and Independence Pass before a well deserved rest day were all wonderful.

Norm at the summit of Cottonwood Pass.

It was great day off in Glenwood Springs, a beautiful ride over McClure Pass back to Hotchkiss, and another memorable day over the Grand Mesa back to Grand Junction. A huge thank you to all of you who make it possible for us to do the ride, enjoy almost every mile, and want to come back and do it again! And to all the riders I rode with, ate with, visited with: It was great to meet you, or see you again. What a great group! Let's do it again next year!

crmbr '11 hotchkiss to grand junction

2011-08-29T19:39:00.034-05:00

Saturday, the last day of the Colorado Rocky Mountain Bike Tour, had us going from Hotchkiss back to the starting point at Grand Junction, with a twist. Instead of staying on CO 92 all the way to Delta, where we had gotten off of US 50 a week ago, we hung a right on CO 65 and headed for Cedaredge, and the Grand Mesa beyond it. If you're only going to ride up one mesa, it should be a grand one.

The route for the day would take us over the Grand Mesa, down a great descent, through a stunning canyon, onto the shoulder I-70 for about 5 miles before a long, hot ride through the outskirts of Grand Junction. And, everyone was deciding on what, if anything, they would do about heading for home after the ride. With that in mind I was up early for breakfast and to get packed one last time. I said my goodbyes to Theo, who was going to put our bags on the Penske truck to be picked up at the finish, and Scott, the bike mechanic who had taken care of us all week.

The ride was downhill for the first 20+ miles. Riding with Bud, and Dan and Janie we were making good time. We were working well together and picked up some help along the way. John from Austin, and Paul and Steve from Pittsburgh joined our little paceline, and we made it to our first aid station quickly, without having worked all that hard. Great way to start a long day!

Then, we were climbing. Just going slightly up hill in a straight line at first. Then the road turned and rose, which it would do several more times for about 20 miles. I don't think the pictures can do justice to the breathtaking views. As we rode higher and higher, we could see more and more of the valley below us.

When you get near to the top, the road takes you away from the rim of the mesa and onto rolling hills through forests and over 200 natural lakes. You can't see as far as you could on the climb up, but there's still plenty to see.

When I saw this sign, I knew I was near the high point. Pictures at the top, nice descent, and a long, hot ride to Grand Junction were all that was left.

The descent was longer, faster, and better than I had remembered. With the exception of a couple miles that had been repaired with chip-seal that felt kind of loose, you could get some good speed and maintain it for a long time. Before we knew it we were rolling through the canyon to the last aid station. One more snack and a refill of our water bottles and we were touring once more.

Mercifully, the 5 miles on I-70 is downhill and if you stayed to the right of the rumble strips, not that bad. But, it was still good to get it over with. By the time we hit Grand Junction the remaining water in my bottles was hot, so when Dan suggested stopping at a convenience store for a cold drink, I was on board. Another couple miles to the school and the four of us who rode in asked Hillary to take our picture. Then it was time to clean up, pack up, and hit the road towards Kansas. Another great CRMBT in the books.

crmbt '11 glenwood springs to hotchkiss

2011-08-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

Friday's route was 80 miles over McClure Pass at 8,755 feet. It's a ride I've done before , from both sides, but I was looking for ward to it anyway, because it's beautiful. I was up at 6:00am, and after breakfast and a little organization was on my way.

We got back on the bike path parallel to CO 82, with a terrific view of Mt Sopris on the horizon. When we reached Carbondale, we headed in a southwesterly direction on CO 133 towards McClure Pass, Paonia, and Hotchkiss.

We were riding through the Crystal River Canyon and the river ran alongside the road for a while. The road doesn't have a very wide shoulder, but the traffic's not too bad. And the scenery is postcard worthy.

As we climbed towards McClure Pass the views back at the road we were on, and the valley below, were spectacular! And I find that a climb is easier if you stop for pictures once in a while. This climb is not long, but it gets just a little bit steep near the top.

Mt Sopris had been with us all morning. It's a twin summit mountain named after a former mayor of Denver. It's 2 peaks are 1/2 mile apart and are both 12,953 feet above sea level.

Then, we're at the top and the second aid station. Time for pictures of my two favorite signs: summit elevation, and steep grades ahead. Fill the water bottles, have a snack and head on down.

From the summit of McClure Pass to Hotchkiss is roughly 43 miles and 3400+ feet of elevation loss. It's a nice descent with wide sweeping turns that allow you go as fast as you can. You can really fly almost all the way to the Paonia Sate Park and reservoir. Even after the real descent you're still trending downhill and can make pretty good time.

As you near the reservoir you know you're getting closer to the valley below. It's soon going to be hotter, dryer, and a lot less alpine looking, so enjoy the green views while you can. There's one aid station left before the last 22 mile leg to Hotchkiss, and the terrain will reflect the mining, farming and ranching that takes place there. You'll also pass some vineyards and wineries.

The area around Hotchkiss has it's own distinct kind of beauty. As the sun was setting the moon was already in the sky and this was the view from where we were camped at the high school. Everyone found a bit of shade to escape the heat, and then it was early to bed because we had another 100 mile day, and the Grand Mesa to look forward to tomorrow. Some were planning on spending the night in Grand Jumction before heading home, while others of us were planning to get some miles in towards home after the ride. Either way, it would be a long day. But, a good day!

crmbt '11 rest day in glenwood springs

2011-08-24T05:44:00.000-05:00

It was a beautiful morning in the canyon when we woke in Glenwood Springs. There were tandem para-gliders floating off the ridge to our west. Once the sun was over the ridge to the east it warmed up nicely and made the shade a good place to hang out.

The sag van was at rest for the day, though there were riders who went for an easy ride up the canyon on the bike path, or back to Carbondale, which we had rolled through on our way into town. Many of us were happy for a day off the bike.

Glenwood Springs had a beautiful, relatively new high school for us to call home for a day, and a couple nights. We had a nice piece of lawn for all the campers, including Theo's SherpaVille. And we weren't too far a walk from the charming downtown.

When I checked in with Theo in Grand Junction, he told me I was in tent B2 for the week. Remembering the bingo games we used to play with my nieces and nephews at family reunions, and how my family is easily amused, I pulled out an old joke: B2 or not B2 ( that is the question?). Theo just deadpanned, "No, it's B2".

I was prepared for a day sitting in the shade with a book, and loving it, but Paul and Steve from Pittsburgh had signed up for a whitewater raft/ inflatable kayak excursion with the Glenwood Adventure Co., and asked if I would like to join them. I was so glad I did because it was awesome! The guide steered from the back while 8 of us paddled on the sides through Shoshone and it's class III rapids. When they were a little tamer, several of us got into inflatable kayaks called duckys. It was a great way to see some of that stretch of the Colorado River up close.

That night several of us went out for Italian at another restaurant. Good people, good conversation, and good food made it a wonderful evening. After the walk back to the school, I pulled out my victory cigar, deciding I wouldn't want to hang around Grand Junction to smoke it on Saturday. That was going to be a long day! The rest day in Glenwood Springs was just right.

crmbt '11 buena vista to glenwood springs

2011-08-21T18:11:00.000-05:00

The thing about a century ride (100 miles) is that it takes a while, even under the best conditions. On this particular morning we had a 104 mile route with 12,095 foot Independence Pass somewhere in the middle of it. Knowing that taking a lot of pictures, and, oh yes, the ride, would take me a good part of the day, I was up early eating breakfast in the dark, and on the road by 6:00am. Even after the sun was up, it was behind a ridge, and the road was in the shadows for the first hour. It was also cold, uphill, and into a headwind. Other than that, it was perfect. Mt Yale, Mt Oxford, and the rest of the Collegiate Peaks range were our companions all morning.

After the first 20 miles we had an aid station just before we turned off of US 24 and onto CO 82 toward Twin Lakes. I met up with Bud, Dan and Janie and we road west with the sun on our backs. We had another 10 miles of gradual uphill before the real climbing began. The scenery was awesome and unlike the last time I rode through Twin Lakes, it wasn't in a pouring rain.

I was passed by a lot of riders intent on getting to the summit as fast as possible, and I was trying to make sure I could get off the pass before afternoon storms rolled in, but I still stopped for pictures because the surroundings were breathtaking.

After the second aid station we only had about 5 miles to reach the summit, but still almost 2800 feet of elevation to gain. You have to earn the summit, but the views of the road below as you go through the switchbacks let you know you're making progress, and it's worth it. On the final switchback we were reminded that the pros would follow us on these same roads in a couple weeks as Cadel, Frank, and Andy had their names painted onto the blacktop. Pretty cool.

Finally, about 6 hours after my ride had begun, I made it out of the last switchback and to the top of Independence Pass. We took pictures in front of the elevation sign, and walked out to the overlook for more photo opportunities, visiting with other tourists, who were a little in awe of anyone who could get to that point on a bike, even if it took me all morning.

Rough roads and subsequent road repairs slowed our descent off the mountain, but gave us time to stop for a picture of the ghost town of Independence for which the pass is named. Then it was on down and into Aspen, where we stopped for a snack, and to visit the John Denver Sanctuary before the last leg of our ride.

Most of the last leg was on the bike path between Aspen and Glenwood Springs. Part of it was dirt, which was kind of dicey when I went around a corner too fast and couldn't stay on the path. Running through a few feet of grass and weeds before jumping onto the road gave me a new appreciation for some of Lance's moves. Back on the trail we took advantage of trending downhill to keep our speed near 20 mph without working too hard, anxious to get to camp and out of the hot afternoon sun. I still had water in my bottles from the last aid station 30 miles from the finish, but it was the temperature of hot tea. A convenience store 1/2 mile from the school offered a cold drink and a snack before we rolled in with 106 miles on the computer. The four of us who rode together most of the day walked downtown for dinner at the Italian Underground. It was a good dinner with great people, an appropriate ending to a spectacular day!

crmbt '11 gunnison to buena vista

2011-08-20T07:53:00.002-05:00

On Tap for Tuesday was climbing. From Gunnison to the summit of Cottonwood Pass we would gain almost 4500 feet in elevation. And about 3000 of those feet would be in the last 13 miles between the second and third aid stations.

This is a ride that I tried to do, two years ago in June on Bicycle Tour of Colorado. That year, by the time I reached Taylor Park Reservoir I was already drenched by a cold rain, leaving me with no desire to climb the unpaved side of this pass. And at the top the fog had moved in, reducing visibility to a few hundred feet. So, I didn't even get to enjoy a descent. That day was a bust.

Wanting to give myself every opportunity of a successful day this time, I was up by 5:30am , hoping to be o the road by 6:30am, even though the total mileage for the day was only 69 miles. A quick breakfast and on the bike, only to discover my front tire was flat! I took off the wheel and prepared to change the tube, but in the 40 degree Gunnison morning I could barely feel my fingers. I asked Scott, the bike mechanic if he would mind helping, and he changed the tube and found a tiny piece of wire from a retread tire that had caused the flat, one of about five in camp that morning. I tipped him, including a 6-pack of Fat Tire Blue Moon later, and I was on my way.

I remembered it as being a beautiful ride through the canyon from Almont to the reservoir, and I wasn't wrong. Campgrounds and ranches, rivers and trails, fairly quiet road and lots of sunshine made it a great morning.

We made the turn onto Cottonwood Pass Road and were on the dirt. For the most part it wasn't as bad as you might think. If you could find a hard packed rut to ride in it was almost as good as blacktop, even if it was on the wrong side of the road. But every so often you would hit washboard, or a soft spot, and they made it a little jarring.

The scenery didn't disappoint, though. Before the climb, Norm, who at 74 has done every CRMBT and four Ride The Rockies before that, and had done this climb, told me to be sure to stop and look back as I climbed. The views of the valley and the reservoir were stunning. Thanks, Norm!

Everything about this day was better than two years ago, and after some hard work to reach the summit, I was taking pictures at 12, 126 feet. And the visibility could be measured in miles rather than feet. We had earned what promised to be a great descent, downhill almost all the way into Buena Vista, twenty miles and 4200 feet down the road.

On a long straight stretch with 10% grades I got up to about 50 mph, and had to slow down when I caught a pickup truck! I heard later of others familiar with the road reaching speeds well into the 60's! Really, though 50 is fast enough. A little scary, but a little scary is okay. I actually had to hit the brakes to stop and get the shot of the Buena Vista city limit sign. I knew my way to the high school, so I detoured a block out of the way to K's Dairy Delite for a cheeseburger and chocolate shake. The register prints the name of someone famous on your receipt, and that's the name they call when your order's ready. My receipt read Mario Andretti. Nice!

I also got a picture of the Penske truck used to transport bags from one stop to the next. The last time I attempted Cottonwood Pass I rode into Buena Vista in the back of one of these! That made for a good story, but it was much more enjoyable on my bike. Dinner later with Tom, Bill, Denny, and Bud at a decent Mexican place made this a pretty good day!

p.s. Look for a preview of the US Pro Cycling Challenge tomorrow afternoon on Versus. Today's climb and tomorrow's will be part of the race which will feature Tour de France winner Cadel Evans, and runners-up Andy and Frank Schleck.

crmbt '11 hotchkiss to gunnison

2011-08-19T18:56:00.000-05:00

Monday we had a ride of 78 miles through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River to look forward to. The morning would feature climbing from Hotchkiss at 5331 feet to a high point of 9232 feet near the rim of the canyon. We would give some of that back on a nice descent to the Blue Mesa Reservoir. Then slightly uphill into Gunnison at 7700 feet.

I was up shortly after 5:00am. It was a little chilly, may be 10 degrees cooler than the previous night in Grand Junction, and 30 degrees cooler than several recent nights in eastern Kansas. I had breakfast and hit the road solo, knowing that I would be slow on the climb, and that I would be compelled to stop for pictures often. I rode through the Black Canyon going the other direction on my first bike tour in Colorado and remembered it being simply spectacular.

I didn't think I would need rain gear today, but wore my rain coat, with the vents open, just to stay warm until the sun came up over the ridge. It was warming nicely as I rolled through Crawford and down a nice long hill out of town. I was glad to see riders ahead of me because I didn't want to ride back up that hill if I had missed a turn.

I ended up riding most of the day with Bud, Dan and Janie. A few miles after the summit we had an aid station at Hemit's Rest. A little more up and down with some great views of the canyon and river below led to a great descent. It was tempered by about 8 miles of loose gravel, but still nice. Then it was a long, hot, but very scenic ride past the Blue Mesa Reservoir and into Gunnison.

A hot afternoon led to a pleasant evening, and a seriously cool night. We're getting closer some serious elevation.

crmbt '11 grand junction to hotchkiss

2011-08-18T06:14:00.000-05:00

Sunday wasn't a spectacular day, but it wasn't a bad way to start either. We gained about 2470 feet over 75 miles of rolling hills through the high desert of western Colorado. We rode southeast on US 50 until we reached Delta, where we headed east on CO 92 to Hotchkiss. The Grand Mesa would be to our left all day long, but we were more concerned with traffic, and where the next aid station was located. But, we would be back.

I rode by myself for most of the morning, passing some, getting passed by some. Everyone had a greeting for fellow riders, glad to be underway despite the headwinds that made it a harder day than expected. And everyone was excited about the adventures in store for them over the next several days. I think we were all glad to reach Hotchkiss, though.

The only problem I had the first day was that I was expecting to stay at the high school I had stayed at before. A City Market right across the street and a few restaurants within a few blocks would make a snack or dinner really easy. But we were at the new high school a couple miles out of town. It was near the new activity center and swimming pool, so I just visited the snack bar there and made do. I found a couple spots in the shade during the rest of the afternoon and evening, and visited with some new friends. Overall, not a bad day. And we had some days ahead of us that I knew would have the chance to be really memorable.

head for the hills

2011-08-16T19:13:00.000-05:00

On Thursday, August 4, I drove to Colorado for another Colorado Rocky Mountain Bike Tour. As long as I was in the neighborhood, I thought I would do a short ride up the last one of the seventeen highest paved passes in Colorado that I had not yet done, Hoosier Pass, south of Breckenridge. I had planned to ride up the south side, but after driving it I thought that the climb looked more interesting from the north. And once at the top, you could still enjoy the views of Park County to the south. So after spending the night in Frisco, I drove to south of Blue River, found a place to park, and headed for 11,539 feet.

After the short climb and nice descent I was on my way to Grand Junction. I pitched my tent in the James R Robb Colorado River Sate Park in Fruita, just a couple miles from the west entrance to the Colorado National Monument. You could see the monument from my campsite.

I got a call that afternoon from Bud from Bluefield, West Virginia, who also wanted to ride in the monument on Saturday morning. We met at the west entrance and rode about 20 miles of the 23 mile-long Rim Rock Drive. In order for Bud to make his late checkout, we then turned around and rode back the way we came.

It was only about 50+ miles of riding the first couple days, but after the ride we went to check in with the tour, and over the next several days we would average more than 80 miles a day, and get in plenty of climbing. Plenty of climbing! I could hardly wait.

that was awesome!

2011-08-15T18:28:00.001-05:00

I returned yesterday from the 2011 version of CRMBT. As usual, it was outstanding riding, scenery, and most of all, people. I rode every one of the 493 miles advertised, and then some. I did a short ride up Hoosier Pass on Friday morning.

After camping near the Colorado River in Grand Junction, I rode the Colorado National Monument on Saturday morning before checking in with the tour.

Then, on Sunday the tour kicked off. We rode some rollers (and headwind) to Hotchkiss.

We climbed a little to Hermit's Summit in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River.

We climbed a lot on an unpaved climb up Cottonwood Pass.

We climbed some more up Independence Pass.

We had a nice rest day in Glenwood Springs.

Then on Friday, you guessed it, we climbed some more. This time it was a beautiful ride up McClure Pass on our way back to Hotchkiss.

Then on our last day together, we climbed the Grand Mesa. All morning for some of us.

I have a lot more details to share, and tons of pictures. But I wanted to express my gratitude to those who made this so enjoyable and memorable. Peter and Hillary, Kevin and Ann, and all the volunteers make this a fun, challenging, ride that I want to keep coming back to. Theo makes Sherpa Village a great place to meet your neighbors and enjoy the coming and going as much as possible. Scott, the bike mechanic, was always there to help with problems big or small. The Rocky Mountain Sports Massage team helped us recover and prepare to do it all again. And I've never met so many great people to ride with, eat with, or just hang with. I hope everyone made it home safe and sound. And I hope everyone will check in with me over the next couple weeks as I recount my trip to Colorado and the best tour around, CRMBT.

several thousand words

2011-08-02T19:21:00.000-05:00

thursday

friday

saturday

sunday

monday

tuesday

wednesday

thursday

friday

saturday

sunday

two weeks

2011-07-25T18:31:00.000-05:00

I just got back last night from a mini family reunion outside of Aberdeen, SD. The get-together was great, if short, but the drive was painful. Because of flooding on the Missouri River in Iowa and Missouri, I-29 was closed in two different places! Which meant two detours, several miles out of the way, adding about an hour and a half to a nine hour drive. Brutal.

But, in two weeks I'll be in the middle of another CRMBT. I'm looking forward to cooler weather, seeing old friends, and enjoying some fantastic scenery. I'm also excited that some of the routes we'll ride this year will be featured a couple weeks later as part of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

We'll ride over Cottonwood Pass, climbing the unpaved side before descending into Buena Vista. The next day we'll head north and west and climb over Independence Pass, down into Aspen, and on the bike path to Glenwood Springs.

Before those high-altitude days we'll ride through the beautiful Black Canyon of the Gunnison River, and the end of the week will feature McClure Pass and the Grand Mesa.

I'm aiming for several 20-30 mile rides over the next 10 days, and maybe a longer ride on the weekend. I've also begun drinking more water to help acclimate to the higher altitude. All that's left is to organize and pack, and finalize my itinerary. I'm hoping to ride Hoosier Pass on Friday before heading to Grand Junction. And as long as we'll be so close to the Colorado National Monument at our starting point, several folks are planning to ride Rim Rock Drive and Monument Road on Saturday morning before checking in with the tour.

I hope to have several pictures and some good stories to share by the time I return home. Stay tuned.

keep turning the pedals

2011-07-09T18:21:00.000-05:00

I was out the door by 6:00am today. I stopped back for a snack at 8:30. When I got home for good at 2:00pm, this is what my computer read:

I wanted to get a long ride in. I didn't plan for a century, but the weather was cool for the first few hours, and not too miserable after that. I reached a convenience store where I refilled water and ate some ice cream, and figured out that if I headed straight home I would have 76 miles in, or if I put in 12 miles south to Louisburg and back, it would get me to 100 miles. While I had the time, the weather was cooperating, and I felt pretty good, I thought I would go for it. I was sure glad to see home when it was over, but I was also glad to show that I'm not so far off being ready for Colorado next month.

Being on the road so early let me see this:

I saw a balloon floating through the cool morning air.

I took this picture to show that not all parts of Kansas are flat.

And I took some pictures of livestock I passed along the way, but I didn't get one of the donkey that brayed at me so loudly that I was convinced the farmer had an air-horn to blow at passing cyclists.

Notice the shy one hiding behind the tail in the last shot.

ride the rockies recap

2011-07-07T17:14:00.000-05:00

My buddy Clay, who has done several Colorado tours, including several CRMBT rides, completed the Ride The Rockies bike tour recently. He's blogging about the tour and sharing some great pictures of some amazing scenery. If you'd like to see what Ride The Rockies is all about, check out Clay's Cyling Blog. He's new to the world of blogging so I'm sure he would like to see some comments on his recap. Enjoy!

where's the weather?

2011-07-03T18:23:00.000-05:00

My ride was cut short today due to rain, thunder and the threat of lightning. I almost used what my buddy Paul calls the SRS (spousal retrieval system). But I ducked under the overhang of an office building and waited for the rain to let up a little. I made it home on wet roads, but avoided any further heavy rain.

I suffered a flat, but as luck would have it, I was right in front of my neighbor's house. I pulled a small piece of glass out of the tire which left a nice little hole in a Michelin Krylion Carbon road tire. I was thinking I should get a new set before my Colorado trip anyway.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July, and I hope you get to enjoy some time outside.

jurassic ride

2011-07-02T12:06:00.000-05:00

I was out the door by 6:30 this morning to get some riding in while the temperatures were still in the 70's. That didn't last long, but I managed 51 miles and made it home to catch the last half hour of live Tour de France coverage. I didn't see anything amazing today, but I saw lots of people on lots of different kinds of bikes. And I stopped to take some pictures of these "rusted dinosaurs".

early sunday morning

2011-06-26T15:44:00.000-05:00

It is hot! But it's beautiful. I got out early and got 63 miles in before I was cooked. I rode familiar roads, but also took some detours to check out some parks and trails that I've ridden by but never visited.

Mize Lake is a nice little fishing lake with a path around it. Maybe a half mile extra to my ride, but a feeling that I was out in the country, even though there's a huge housing development on the other side of the street. And Lake Lenexa had trails for miles, lots of fishing spots, and places that looked perfect for putting in a kayak or canoe. I had no idea!

I headed back east on Prairie Star Parkway, which reminds me of the name of a Native American-owned casino, but I saw no slot machines. The "parkway" is well deserved though. I passed several parks, large and small, minimally developed and otherwise.

Heading back to Olathe I passed this vineyard right in the middle of town. I looked for some ideas of how to prop up the grape vine in my own backyard.

And, as I passed south of town I took a couple pictures of the Ensor Park & Museum. I never knew this existed until a week ago when I was riding a road that has been widened with a nice bike lane and I rode until I ran out of road and had to turn east to stay on pavement. I've been by this a mile to the north and a mile to the south, but never down this road before. I might need to check it out someday.

The route back home took my on a bike path by a local golf course. I always like to stop and enjoy a bit of shade, and admire this short par 3 hole. I always par this hole in my mind, maybe a birdie or two.

I was glad to be done as the temperature was in the mid-eighties, and the heat index even higher, by the time I finished. But, thinking ahead to my next bike tour I ask myself, "That was tough, but are you ready to get up and do it again tomorrow?" If I didn't have to go to work tomorrow, you bet!

the music

2011-06-24T19:52:00.000-05:00

For the last couple weeks if a person wanted to hear the music from my Playlist in the sidebar on my blog, he or she would have to click to start the music. Something happened with Playlist, or Blogger, or both. Whatever. It was way above my pay-grade. It was disappointing to me because I amuse myself by finding a song that's a great complement to my post. I certainly understand if anyone clicks to turn off the tunes, but hope that maybe they got a small kick out of the song that accompanied that post.

One hundred and thirty-five miles in for the week, with six weeks more before my next trip to Colorado. Stay tuned for details.

fifty!

2011-06-22T13:31:00.001-05:00

I rode 50 miles on Saturday. When I got home, my wife asked how far I had gone. I told her I had rideen 50 miles! 50! 50 miles! It was an homage to Molly Shannon's Sally O'Malley. She looked at me like I wasn't as funny as I thought I was. Oh well.
Saturday Night Live - Rockette's Open Audition - Video - NBC.com

things you see from a bike

2011-06-19T19:16:00.000-05:00

We've had some crazy weather lately. Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain for several nights. But the days have been mostly sunny and warm. But they've started out kind of cool if you could get out to ride by 7:00am. I got a couple nice rides in over the weekend, including 50 miles on Saturday. I toured parts of Olathe, Lenexa, Stillwell and Overland Park.

During the last third of my ride I was on a country road with little traffic. As I neared a stop sign for a busier road I noticed an eagle climbing straight up with a smaller black bird darting around trying to get, or get back a thin, but long, snake. A couple weeks ago I was riding on a quiet Sunday morning and near the edge of town saw a bull walking down the sidewalk. It's owner was in a pickup right behind, pulling out to guide him towards the gate if he veered toward the street. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera along for either ride.

I've got great memories from things I've seen while riding tours in South Dakota, Kansas, or Colorado. But anytime you get on your bike and ride, if you're aware of the scenery, you might see something cool. And if you ride like me, you'll be going slow enough to appreciate it.

summer tours

2011-06-15T13:41:00.000-05:00

The summer bicycle tour is in full swing. The Tour de Kota and Biking Across Kansas just finished their 2011 versions last weekend. You can check the websites for more information on these tours. Or, if you would like a feel for what these tours are like, because you've ridden other tours, or because you think you might like to ride a tour, here are a couple other sites you may find interesting:

Gene, over at Biking Bis made his way from the Pacific Northwest with his son to take part in BAK. Check out his blog for stories and pictures from a week spent pedalling from Colorado to Missouri.

And for an account of what it's like to ride around the eastern part of South Dakota, check out Peter Harriman. The Tour de Kota is sponsored by the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls. Peter is a columnist with that newspaper who has ridden and reported on all seven editions of that tour. Each morning cyclists can pickup a complimentary copy of the newspaper and read Peter's account of the previous day.

I got to meet Peter on one of my tours (de Kota) when Patrick and I were among a handful or riders dumb enough, I mean brave enough, to take the Century loop detour on a day that featured one of the most energy-sapping headwinds I've ever ridden in. Peter interviewed us to hear our account of the day. Or maybe just to determine if we were a threat to others.

A little more than seven weeks until:

what's the deal with ovaltine?

2011-06-04T18:49:00.000-05:00

That's an obscure Seinfeld reference, about guys who do "observational" comedy. Part of this post is at least observational. We were in Fargo last weekend to celebrate my niece's graduation. Talking with her Dad, my brother-in-law, I told him how early in the riding season when I'm not feeling very strong or fast it leads to certain choices. He could relate.

Several weeks ago, my wife knew I had been out for a ride, and seeing my flat-green Surly CrossCheck in the garage, asked if that was my "good bike". Now, all my bikes are "good", but she was asking if that was my Chi Red Madone. I told her I couldn't ride that yet. I needed to get some good rides in, get back closer to the form, such as it is, that lets me ride across Kansas or South Dakota, or climb mountains in Colorado. Then I could ride the "good bike".

I went on to tell her that I can't wear flashy jerseys early on either. I start out with solid color jerseys, as if I'm trying not to draw too much attention to myself. I can't wear those with advertising, and especially those I've collected from bike tours. No way can I wear a CRMBT jersey while I'm struggling to climb an overpass. I have to "earn" the right to ride the "good bike" or wear the most cherished jerseys.

Well. I'm getting closer. Today was hot. The kind of day when it's all but impossible to keep the water in your bottles cold. You can only hope it stays wet. But the sky was blue, the winds not too bad, and I had some time to ride. So, I got out and rode a loop that I haven't done since last year. Ended up with 42 miles, and the feeling that I could get the "good bike" out of the basement, and the "good" jerseys out of the closet.

take two?

2011-05-26T06:22:00.000-05:00

I mentioned last post that we're nearing the running of Ride The Rockies. While I'm not going to be going to Colorado until August for the CRMBT, if one were going to do RTR, why not stay around for a week and ride the Bicycle Tour of Colorado?

BTC is a loop tour that starts and ends in Central City. The location is kind of ironic because Central City is just north of Black Hawk, CO, which enacted a bicycle ban on city streets in January of 2010. I hope cyclist don't have to go through there to get back to where they parked.

I think every tour in Colorado offers at least some spectacular days on the bike, and this tour is full of those days. Day one has riders on the beautiful and challenging Peak-to-Peak Highway to Estes Park.

Day two offers the chance of a lifetime kind of ride through Rocky Mountain National Park of Trail Ridge Road. I've heard many riders state that this ride is one of the best days they ever spent on a bike.

The next couple days go from Granby to Steamboat Springs over Muddy Pass, 8772 feet, and Rabbit Ears Pass, 9426 feet. And Steamboat Springs to Glenwood Springs for a much deserved rest day. Then it's back on the road heading east to one of my favorite places, Frisco. This day has riders gaining about 2000 feet in elevation over the first 70 miles, and another couple thousand in the next 10 miles as they climb Vail Pass at 10,662 feet. I love the climb up the west side, even though it's tough, but I don't like the descent. It's largely on a steep, twisting bike path. I've done it during the Copper Triangle and it's not fun with 2000 riders. But, once you get to Copper Mountain you can practically coast the last 10 miles into Frisco.

From Frisco riders have a relatively short 65 miles back to Central City, but there is the matter of getting over Loveland Pass first. At 11,990 feet Loveland is the third highest paved pass in the state. The good news is that the descent is about three times as long as the climb. And one little 10 mile climb at the end gets you back to where you started.

So, if on June 17, the 412 miles you just rode with Ride The Rockies doesn't seem like enough, you've got a whole day to rest up, a short drive, and you could be on your way to another 463 miles with Bicycle Tour of Colorado.

get the party started

2011-05-21T07:57:00.001-05:00

We're just a few weeks from the first big Colorado bike tour, the Denver Post's Ride The Rockies. I'm looking forward to a recap from Clay at Clay's Cycling Blog. I'm not crazy about a non-loop tour. More logistics to figure out getting vehicles to the finish or bikes to the start. But I am curious about a tour in it's twenty-sixth year riding some of the best routes in Colorado.

The tour kicks off on June 12 in Crested Butte, heading south to Almont, and east/northeast over Cottonwood Pass on the way to Buena Vista.

I love the route on the second day for several reasons. North from Buena Vista takes you along the Collegiate Range with several of Colorado's "14ers" on your left.

You climb slowly all morning on the way to Leadville, but it makes the afternoon so worth it. After a short climb up Tennessee Pass you're rewarded with a great descent. Another short climb over Battle Mountain Summit leads to one more great descent and it's downhill almost all the way to Edwards.

The Leadville to Edwards portion makes up almost a third of the famous Copper Triangle, and the whole day offers spectacular scenery.

The next couple days head to Steamboat Springs and passes that are unfamiliar to me. But the last day is back in the higher elevations with a ride from Granby to Georgetown over Berthoud Pass.

Here's to hoping Clay and 1999 of his friends have a safe, fun ride, and take lots of pictures to share with us, as well as stories from Ride The Rockies 2011.

colorado dreamin'

2011-05-08T11:35:00.000-05:00

I'll get on my bike, and I'll ride away
I'll take lots of pictures, along the way
Though I'll see some sights, I know I cannot stay
Colorado dreamin' on such a summer day

I'll climb a lot of passes, and make them all, I pray
If I can get up and off of them early in the day
We climb them 'cause they're there, at least that's what we say
Colorado dreamin' on such a summer day

Goin' up and over, the Rocky Mountain way
Riding up is hard, down the easy way
Such a special place, to ride the day away
Colorado dreamin' on such a summer day

nice day

2011-05-07T14:21:00.000-05:00

This is more like it. I've only been able to make it out on a couple short rides the last few weeks, and it's been cool and windy. Today the temperature has risen into the upper 70s, and the wind is relatively calm. So, I took a couple hours and headed off on a loop I haven't done since last summer.

There are five of these roundabouts in a one mile stretch. They make me think of the Tour de France. I always imagine myself in the peloton flying through these.

Only about 25 miles today, but it felt good to hit some hills that I had to really work to get up. I have a long way to go to be ready for Cottonwood Pass, but I still have a few months. Here's to summer!

maddie r.i.p.

2011-04-27T08:54:00.000-05:00

Our family is smaller today. We had to say goodbye to Maddie, who spent twelve-plus of her fifteen years as a loyal, exuberant and joyful member of our pack. She was a good sister to four different brothers, including Button, the newest and smallest with her below.

My heart aches from the loss, but is full with memories and gratitude for my golden girl's companionship, love, and unending faith that something good could happen at any time. Maddie, I love you, I miss you, and I'll never forget you. You're a good girl.

Another Mile Giveaway

2011-04-03T18:31:00.000-05:00

For a chance to win a Sony W-Series Walkman, check out this blog Another Mile. I don't like listening to music while riding for some of the same reasons Jeff doesn't while running, but it does look like a pretty cool product.

i'm in

2011-03-26T19:28:00.002-05:00

I finally got around to officially registering for the CRMBT. It will be my fifth Colorado bike tour, and my fourth with this tour. I consider any day riding a bike in Colorado to be a good day, but there are some things I'm looking forward to. The ride through the Black Canyon will be great. I've done it from the other direction, but it's such a spectacular place, and it was my first day riding in the mountains.

I'm looking forward to riding over Cottonwood Pass on my bike instead of in the back of a Ryder truck, as on the 2009 Bicycle Tour of Colorado.

I've ridden out of Buena Vista along the Collegiate Range, but riding over Independence Pass from the east side will be new for me.

After a rest day in Glenwood Springs there's a nice ride up and over McClure Pass. Short, but steep, and beautiful, especially north to south.

I'm looking for ward to the chance to ride over the Grand Mesa again, even though I know from experience that it's long and it's tough. It's also very rewarding. And it's awesome to look over the valley towards Grand Junction.

And with the tour beginning and ending in Grand Junction, I'm looking forward to getting there a little early and riding through Colorado National Monument again. Maybe camping there the night before the tour as well. I feel so lucky to be able to go ride in a place I've fallen in love with. Some new rides, some familiar, all spectacular, on my favorite tour, Colorado Rocky Mountain Bike Tour.

2011 colorado bike tours

2011-03-22T17:33:00.002-05:00

There are 3 week-long bike tours through the mountains of Colorado scheduled for this summer. Ride the Rockies runs from June 12-17, Bicycle Tour of Colorado the following week, June 19-25, and August 7-13 brings the Colorado Rocky Mountain Bike Tour. RtR starts in Crested Butte and finishes in Georgetown. BTC is a loop beginning and ending in the Gilpin County town of Central City. CRMBT is also a loop with Grand Junction as the start and finish.

Ride The Rockies encompasses 412 miles over 6 consecutive days and from Crested Butte overnights in Buena Vista, Edwards, Steamboat Springs, and Granby before pulling into Georgetown. The high points of this tour come on the first and last days, with an ascent of Cottonwood Pass on the way to Buena Vista, and Berthoud Pass on the way to the finish line in Georgetown. Lower elevation passes like Yellow Jacket and Rabbit Ears bookend a day riding a loop in the Steamboat Springs area. But one of my favorite days on this tour would be the second day. Heading north out of Buena Vista the route parallels the Collegiate Range on the way to Leadville, then heads over Tennessee Pass and Battle Mountain Summit on the way to Edwards.

The Bicycle Tour of Colorado runs 463 miles from Central City with overnight stops in Estes Park, Granby, Steamboat Springs and Glenwood Springs for a rest day, before stopping in Frisco and back to Central City. The best part of this tour comes early. The first day is a tough ride over the stunning Peak-to-Peak Highway to Estes Park. Then it's through Rocky Mountain National Park on the way to Granby. Glenwood Springs is a great place for a rest day, and the ride to Frisco should be interesting; barely climbing for about 70 miles before Vail Pass hits you in the face. The last day is no piece of cake, with Loveland Pass sitting between you and Central City.

The Colorado Rocky Mountain Bike Tour offers 493 miles from Grand Junction with stops in Hotchkiss, Gunnison, Buena Vista and a rest day in Glenwood Springs. The first day is kind of a warm-up, but the rest offer spectacular scenery, serious climbing, and usually both. Highlights include riding through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River, Cottonwood Pass, Independence Pass, McClure Pass, and on the last day the opportunity to climb the Grand Mesa. Its starting point begs for a ride through the Colorado National Monument before the tour starts.

The scenery doesn't get any better, and the roads don't go any higher than in Colorado. If you like to ride, and especially if you like to climb, get to Colorado and go.

robert trent jones golf trail

2011-03-17T07:42:00.000-05:00

I got back last week from a few days with golfing buddies in Alabama on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. The trail was built in the early '90's by the Retirement Systems of Alabama as an investment for the pension fund of more than 300,000 members. The $150 million project had the renowned course designer Robert Trent Jones placing 26 courses in 11 different locations throughout the state for a total of 468 holes. From Muscle Shoals to Mobile and almost all points in between, the public can enjoy top quality golf courses and club facilities at very reasonable rates.

Tom decided to fly into Montgomery to save his back, while Damon and I drove more than 12 hours from KC to the state capitol of Montgomery for our golf vacation. We played Monday at Grand National in Auburn/Opelika at the Lake Course in the morning, and the Links Course in the afternoon. I probably would have had better luck on the Short Course, but it was fun despite the challenge.

On Tuesday we had a short drive to Prattville to play The Judge and The Senator. We missed the course called The Legislator, but had plenty of challenges. The morning at The Judge had tons of trees and water to try to avoid. The afternoon on The Senator had more of a links feel, with lots of pot bunkers. There were rolling hills and punishing rough all day if you missed the fairway. Later we drove through the campus of Auburn University and were all impressed with the charm of this college town.

Wednesday we were up early driving north to Birmingham in a torrential downpour to play The Ridge and The Valley at Oxmoor Valley. As we neared the clubhouse the rain was letting up, but we saw water standing in the fairways on some of the lower holes, and the creeks were running high and fast. The attendant in the pro shop informed us that The Valley course was unplayable, but The Ridge drained really well, and if we waited a bit, we could play that course twice if we desired. We had breakfast in the clubhouse and before long were able to get on the course. The elevation changes, rivers and rocks were amazing. This would be a spectacular place if it was sunny and dry.

We ended up playing the front nine again after lunch before running out of time. Still got in 99 holes of golf in 3 days. And if I figured the cost of this trip on how many strokes I took, it was a bargain! The worst part of the trip was the drive home when detours turned a 12+ hour tip into almost 14 hours. And I had to get up and go to work the next day. But overall it was a great time, and it made me long for some of the easier courses we play. If you golf, and you're ever in Alabama, check out "The Trail".

rock chalk jayhawk!

2011-03-13T19:36:00.000-05:00

It's been kind of busy since I returned from a golf trip to Alabama. I have some pictures and a few stories, but they'll have to wait until later in the week. I just wanted to say that I'm sitting here with my bracket trying to predict all the winners of the NCAA tournament, with my Kansas Jayhawks as the eventual champions. I love March.

So, who's going to win it all?

ennui

2011-03-02T10:38:00.000-06:00

ennui–noun

a feeling of utter weariness and discontent resulting from satiety or lack of interest; boredom: The endless lecture produced an unbearable ennui. Dictionary.com

Maybe I should say the endless winter has produced an unbearable ennui. It's been the worst we've seen in KS for some time. And I hate riding the trainer, so I've only done that a few times. I really need to get back on the road. I should be able to soon. Hopefully I'll find my cycling mojo, and that always inspires me to blog.

In the meantime, all the tours are announcing their routes, and I'm planning on doing a comparison of CRMBT, BTC, and RTR. And I'm driving 12 hours to Alabama next week to play golf with a couple buddies on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. I'm sure I'll have some stories to tell, and the scenery looks amazing, so I'll have some pictures to share. Ride the Rockies route pictured below.

By the time we're back home it's almost the middle of March. And while most of my free time will be devoted to March Madness, the NCAA Tournament, and rooting for my KS Jayhawks, if the roads are dry and the temperature high, I'll get my butt out the door and down the road.

crmbt 2011 - grand mesa

2011-02-22T20:20:00.000-06:00

We can do this the easy way, or we can do it the hard way. And the fun way! The route on the final day of CRMBT for 2011 is 62 miles from Hotchkiss back to Grand Junction. The exact same route as the first day, in reverse. Or, when you get to Austin, CO you can cut over to CO 65 and head north. By the time you reach Cedaredge you'll have ridden 25 miles and gained a couple thousand feet. Now the real fun starts.

You will already be at about 6,000 feet, leaving only a little less than 5,000 feet to the high point of the Grand Mesa. Oh yeah, you'll be climbing for the next 20 miles! The grades are often in the 3% range, occasionally ramping up to 6-7%, but you're climbing for 20 miles! And it's awesome! You ride out of the desert to an alpine flat-top mountain, the largest in the world. You will be treated to views of the valley below as you make your way up.

As you near the high point the views aren't the same because of the forest, but the lakes and aspens and pines seem endless and the scenery is still beautiful. After 20 miles and a few hours one of the most beautiful sights is the elevation marker at the top.

There are still some awesome views as you head off the mesa, but before long you'll be treated to a great descent. Twenty-plus miles of downhill on good roads is your reward for one of the toughest climbs in Colorado. Make sure your bottles are full. When the grades back off you still have 25-30 miles to get into Grand Junction. And in August it will be hot. You'll end up with your second century of the week, and will be able to add Independence Pass and Cottonwood Pass, as well as Grand Mesa to your cycling resume.Every cyclist should ride the Grand Mesa once. Maybe twice.

bouse

2011-02-20T10:07:00.000-06:00

I just got back from a few days in Arizona with my parents, and both sisters. We were visiting my brother and my nephew and his wife who live in Phoenix. On Saturday we made a pilgrimage, one we've made for the last five or six years.

Several years ago, I joined my folks while they were visiting my brother, and we took a side-trip to San Diego. On the way we stopped in Chiriaco Summit, CA to visit the General George S Patton Memorial Museum. My father had trained under Patton during WWII. Patton oversaw a large area including parts of CA, NV, and AZ. Dad had trained in the desert outside of Bouse, AZ with 9th and 10th Armored Tank Group.

Twenty miles east of Bouse in the remote Butler Valley, a group of young men trained in secrecy with a new weapon planned for use in North Africa. They trained in secret, mainly at night, on the Canal Defense Light Project. This tank had a bright light with enormous candlepower to temporarily blind the enemy. When the war in Africa was over before the affectionately called "gizmo" was ready, it was rarely used in the terrain of Europe.

A few years ago my Dad, brother, nephew and I drove to Bouse, and out into the desert to look for remnants of the base. While in Bouse we visited the small museum, where they were thrilled to be able to ask questions of one of the soldiers who had trained there. They also informed us of an annual dedication ceremony in Bouse's "monument row". We've gone back with Dad every year to visit the museum, the monuments, and take part in the ceremony honoring veterans, specifically WWII veterans, and especially those who trained at Camp Bouse.

I love that this little town, in the middle of nowhere, realizes the importance of preserving our history, and remembering the young men who came here "where heroes trained", and saying thank you.

crmbt - glenwood springs to hotchkiss

2011-02-08T06:24:00.000-06:00

Today you'll ride out of Glenwood Springs to Carbondale where you'll head south on CO 133, the northern leg of the West Elk Loop. It's a scenic 80 miles today with a short, but steep climb over McClure Pass roughly half way. But, before you get there, enjoy some spectacular scenery along the way.

You could stop for a visit in Redstone, or check out the coke ovens near Cardiff. At the very least, take some time to admire the Crystal River and the canyon it flows through as you make your way towards the summit.

Once the real climbing starts the grades can hit 9%, but the climb is less than four miles, and the altitude is nothing for Colorado at 8755 feet.

The grades aren't quite as steep on the other side, but it's still a nice descent. And the scenery as you pass Paonia Reservoir and Paonia State Park is beautiful.

As you ride on towards Hotchkiss, the scenery changes from alpine to high desert. You're definitely on the western slope. You'll ride past ranches and mines, farms and vineyards. Chances are it will be hot later in the day, so a cool drink will really hit the spot when you roll into town. There's a descent barbecue place not far from the high school called Zack's, but get there early to beat the crowd. And get to bed early for a big final day tomorrow.

glenwood springs

2011-02-05T07:59:00.000-06:00

Ready for a rest day? This is a good place for it. Glenwood Springs sits at 5761 feet at the confluence of the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers. Established in 1883 it was originally known as Defiance, CO. It is home to the Yampah Hot Springs vapor caves, underground steam baths used by the Ute tribe more than 100 years ago for their healing properties.

photo by DesignSwan

Relax in the mineral caves, swim in the pool, or if you still have some energy you could check out the hiking and biking trails around town. You can check out Glenwood Canyon on paved trails, or get on the dirt and hike up to Hanging Lake . Enjoy a little of what Colorado has to offer. Tomorrow it's back on the bike and some more beautiful riding.

crmbt century - buena vista to glenwood springs

2011-01-29T08:50:00.000-06:00

This morning you'll ride north out of Buena Vista on US 24 with the Arkansas River on your right and the Collegiate Peaks Range on your left. Mt Yale, Mt Oxford, and Mt Harvard are all visible as you ride toward Granite, where you'll join CO 82 west toward Twin Lakes and on to Independence Pass.

When you turn onto CO 92 you will have climbed to over 9000 feet. You'll have 24 miles and more than 3000 feet to get to the top of Independence Pass. About 12 miles west of Twin Lakes the real climbing will begin. Grades approach 7% at the steepest and you'll climb for about 7 miles before you're above the treeline and at the summit.

Independence Pass, at 12,095 feet is along the summit of the Sawatch Range between Aspen and Leadville in the White River National Forest. The only paved, through-road in the state at a higher elevation is Trail Ridge Road. It's closed every winter and some snow usually remains year-round. The name of the pass was changed after the town of Independence, three miles west of the summit, became a ghost town.

A couple thousand hardy souls inhabited Independence between 1880 and 1883. Drawn by mining opportunities, the harsh winters and gold boom bust doomed the town. In part because of the bust, the road over Independence Pass wasn't improved until 1927, and not paved until 1967. The ride from the east takes you from forests and streams to above treeline and the tundra. It passes several peaks including the highest in the state, Mt Elbert 14,433 feet.

You'll want to be off the mountain before the afternoon storms roll in, and there are too many great photo opportunities to pass up. So this will be a morning to get an early start.

The descent is long and steep, but it's not one where you'll be able to let loose. The road down into Aspen is too narrow and too busy. Take it easy, enjoy the scenery when you can, and get down in one piece. If you want you can spend some time checking out Aspen. You still have about 40 miles to go to Glenwood Springs, but it's almost entirely on the bike path, and though grades never exceed 1-2%, it's downhill all the way.

The bike path parallels Co 82 and it's a nice way to finish a long ride while giving you the chance to enjoy the scenery and maybe spot some wildlife. You'll finish the day with 103 miles, more or less, and will be ready for a well-deserved rest day in the summer resort town of Glenwood Springs.

crmbt - gunnison to buena vista

2011-01-26T10:43:00.001-06:00

Today is going to be fun. Your ride takes you north out of Gunnison on CO 135 alongside the Taylor River.

But instead of a nice ride to Crested Butte, when you get to Almont you'll take County Road 742 and follow the river northeast all the way to Taylor Park Reservoir. It's a beautiful ride past ranches and campgrounds and trout fishing spots that will make you want to come back.

When you reach the east side of the reservoir you'll turn east onto County Road 209, also known as Cottonwood Pass Road. This stretch of road on the west side of Cottonwood Pass is not paved. So, the first 35 miles you will have gained about 1700 feet on a paved 2-lane road. Now you have 13 miles on a dirt road to gain 2758 feet to the top of the pass. When you get to the top you'll be in the rarified air of the Collegiate Peaks Range. Roughly between Mt Yale and Mt Princeton, two of Colorado's "14ers", more than 50 peaks of more than 14,000 feet. If you're climb to 12,126 feet isn't enough for you, come back and hike up some of these climbs.

On the east side of Cottonwood Pass you'll be on County Road 306, which is paved, and which loses 4180 feet in elevation over 20 miles. Should make for a great descent. If the weather gods can grant you one day of dry, mild conditions, this would be the day. The unpaved portion on the climb won't be bad if it's dry, and the descent will be so much more fun.

The end of your 69 miles will bring you into Buena Vista, in the high mountain desert of the Upper Arkansas River Valley. Grab a sandwich and shake at K's Dairy Delite and lounge along Cottonwood Creek in McPhelemy Park. You'll have earned a good night's rest, and you'll need it for a big century day tomorrow.

hotchkiss to gunnison

2011-01-22T18:10:00.000-06:00

Today you'll head out of Hotchkiss at 5331 feet on CO 92 and head south through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River on the West Elk Loop. With several beautiful climbs and descents in between, the day's ride ends in Gunnison at 7700 feet. You'll pass through Crawford and the Crawford State Park, as well as the small towns of Maher and Sapinero before passing the Blue Mesa Reservoir and the Curecanti National Recreation Area. But the highlight of the day will undoubtedly be the Black Canyon.

These pictures were taken on a ride through the canyon in 2008, and believe me they don't do it justice. I remember going around a bend on a long climb and hearing water. Looking to my right there was a waterfall right there in the rocks! You would never notice that in a car.

When you get out of the canyon and near the reservoir you'll be back on US 50 to Gunnison. Most of the climbing for the day will be done, but the road rises slightly to your destination. Riding along the water, which used to be the southern end of the canyon prior to the dams being built, offers some great views of the mesas rising out of the lake.

And after a good day on the bike you'll be ready for a good night's sleep in the cool mountain air of Gunnison. You'll want to be well rested for tomorrow, it's gonna be big.

grand junction to hotchkiss

2011-01-19T08:18:00.000-06:00

Sometimes on a multi-day bike tour there is a day which simply gets you from one place to another. That is, there's no special scenery or huge climb along the way. CRMBT has done a fantastic job of avoiding those days.The first day of this year's tour is as close to one of those days as you'll get with this tour. However, that's not to say it's not interesting.

Grand Junction to Hotchkiss covers 62 miles over rolling hills of the western slope of Colorado. The first nearly 2/3 of the day are on US 50, a mostly 4-lane, divided highway that is a major route through southwest Colorado. The area is sparsely populated with a high desert climate. A pleasant enough place for a ride, but some would say boring in comparison to much of the alpine scenery on tap for the rest of the week. But, there is something that makes it special.

From Grand Junction you ride southeast toward Delta, where you head east on CO 92 toward Hotchkiss. As you ride through the Grand Valley, off to the east, looking over your shoulder the whole morning, is the Grand Mesa. Rising more than 5000 feet out of the valley is the world's largest flat-top mountain. It's hard to appreciate the enormity of the mesa from a distance, but by the end of the week you will have had a chance to climb over it from the other side.And you'll realize that it's big. Really big! Even grand.

colorado national monument - tour of the moon

2011-01-15T09:36:00.000-06:00

The Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction, CO was featured in the 1985 Kevin Costner film, American Flyers. It was the setting for the Stage of the Coors Classic Bicycle Race called the Tour of the Moon.

In 2011 "The Monument" celebrates it's 100th year. With the CRMBT starting and ending in Grand Junction, it's a great time for anyone riding the tour to get there a little early and take a ride on Rim Rock Drive. This would take you on a 23 mile ride through the park, gaining more than 2300 feet, and by adding a few roads outside the park, you could make it a 33 mile loop.

Grand Junction sits at 4597 feet on Colorado's high desert. Arriving early for the CRMBT will let you adjust to the altitude. The ride through the park will let you get a little climbing in. And the first day of the tour is only 62 miles with only a small gain in elevation. All the climbing will come from gentle rollers. So, if you're coming to ride in August, plan on a pre-ride ride on Friday or Saturday morning. You won't regret it.

colorado rocky mountain bike tour

2011-01-12T10:48:00.001-06:00

If one were to go west for the 2011 Colorado Rocky Mountain Bike Tour, one might stop for the night at say, Frisco, or Breckenridge. Then perhaps a side trip on one's bicycle over Hoosier Pass?

I borrowed this photo from Wikipedia. As I've mentioned here before, after last summer's CRMBT I had climbed 16 of the 17 highest pave passes in Colorado. The only one I'm missing is Hoosier Pass. It would probably be an out and back from Breckenridge on the north, or Fairplay on the south.

And, this year's tour would not only have me revisiting Independence Pass at 12095 feet, but crossing Cottonwood Pass at 12126 feet. Cottonwood is only paved on one side, so the climb would be up hard-packed dirt on the west, and a long, fast, paved descent on the east.

Getting to Colorado a day or two before the tour starts is always nice anyway. It gives you a little time to adjust to the altitude and see just a little more of this place I've come to love. And, with this year's ride starting and ending in Grand Junction, I think that anyone who hasn't ridden through the Colorado National Monument would want to get there early enough to do that before CRMBT starts. And anyone who has ridden Rim Rock Drive will want to do it again.

I love researching, planning, and dreaming about places I'm going to ride. So I'm going to find out all (almost all?) I can about the route for this year's CRMBT, and share my findings here over the next few weeks. Then all that will be left is for me to get myself back into shape to do it.

share the road......or, bike path

2011-01-09T10:15:00.001-06:00

I found this video on the Pedal Power Cycling Team's blog.

hope it was a good one!

2010-12-26T06:47:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. I was lucky enough to receive several cycling-related gifts. Spokelit lights for my wheels and a long-sleeve Pearl Izumi jersey are two less excuses for not getting out and riding when it's cold.

And I got the DVD of Race Across The Sky. I hadn't seen the movie yet and was really intrigued. Though I'm not much of a mountain biker, my Colorado bike tours have taken me through Leadville on a bike about half a dozen times. And I've driven there several times and been around Turquoise Lake, so I'm familiar with part of the course for the Leadville Trail 100. And the first time I ever heard of the race I just happened to be in Leadville that evening on my way back to Frisco, and saw riders crossing the finish line in just under 12 hours. I learned later that the year prior Dave Wiens of Gunnison, CO, had defeated Floyd Landis to win his 4th straight LT100. And the next year he would beat Lance Armstrong for his 6th straight win. Of course the movie is filmed the year after that, with Lance returning to win this race, with Wiens coming in second. The scenery is amazing, and it's a little emotional to watch riders finish 5 hours after Lance, but still under the 12 hour time required to earn the belt buckle. These men and women were obviously tired, cold, hurting, and so proud of what they just accomplished. A good story that anyone would enjoy watching, and a must-see for cyclists.

merry christmas to all!

2010-12-22T09:29:00.000-06:00

ready to roll

2010-12-15T14:56:00.000-06:00

I'm longing for an adventure. Over the years I've been lucky enough to see some pretty cool places. We got to go to Hawaii several years ago. My wife had a conference in Honolulu. On the last night they had a buffet in the park right on Waikiki beach, and the entertainment was Kenny Loggins. The we flew to Kauai for a few days and took a helicopter ride along Na Pali coast. It was a spectacular place that I've long dreamed of returning to, maybe hiking along the cliffs and camping in paradise.

We've vacationed in some great cities, and driven through several states. Any time I'm near the ocean is special, and driving from San Francisco down the Pacific Coast Highway to Cambria was as good as it gets. I would love to get back and spend some time at Big Sur. Another place I'd like to see again is the Grand Canyon. I saw it from the rim on a trip with my family when I was in high school. But I got to see it up close when I spent a week on the river and hiked out on Bright Angel trail. I would love to go back, hike into the canyon and explore.

One evening I was reading an old Outdoors magazine with an article about adventures you should have in your life. One of them was a Colorado River trip through the Grand Canyon. There was a picture from above the Nankoweap campsites. I walked down the hall and found a photo I had taken and showed my wife the two side by side. I had been there!

Borrowed from Pike's Peak River Runners.

Lately all my adventures have been the two-wheeled kind. I have loved riding through South Dakota, Kansas, and most of all Colorado. I love the speed of bicycle touring; seeing things you would miss in a car. And I love that you have to work hard to get the payoff of seeing the summit of a mountain pass. I don't know what my next adventure will be, but it can't come soon enough.

wanna ride (let it snow)

2010-11-27T10:45:00.001-06:00

Though the weather outside is rotten

Good rides are not forgotten

Can’t wait to get back outside

Wanna ride, wanna ride, wanna ride

I’m throwing coins into fountains

Wishing to return to the mountains

Over alpine roads I’ll glide

Wanna ride, wanna ride, wanna ride

In the meantime I’ll have to train

But outside it’s so hard to stay warm

And the rollers are such a pain

It’s hard to get back into form

As the bright winter suns are shining

For the mountains I’ll be pining

And for roads paved smooth and wide

Wanna ride, wanna ride, wanna ride

colorado scenic byways

2010-11-24T08:42:00.000-06:00

I've fallen in love with Colorado over the last few years. Cycling over some of the most beautiful routes you can imagine have given me a whole new appreciation for the mountains, the valleys, the rivers and high deserts. The state is home to 11 nationally designated byways, and 14 scenic and historic byways recognized by Colorado for their historic, cultural and scenic value. Between a turn on the Bicycle Tour of Colorado, and three wonderful tours with CRMBT, I have had the pleasure of riding parts of eleven of these byways.

From the West Elk Loop to the San Juan Skyway, the Top of the Rockies to the Collegiate Peaks, Mount Evans Road, Peak-to-Peak Highway, and Trail Ridge Road have all given me some of the most wonderful days on a bike that I could have possibly imagined. When the idea of going to CO to ride a tour was first suggested by my brother-in-law I thought it was beyond my capabilities. But, I've learned that with preparation, determination, and persistence, I can do more than I thought possible.

In my mind a tour through the mountains is not a race, unless that is against the weather. I ride as good a pace as I can, stop to rest when needed, and go slow enough to take lots of pictures and enjoy the grandeur around me. I think everyone should add Colorado to their list of places to visit. A drive to the top of Mt Evans, through Rocky Mountain National Park, or over the Million Dollar Highway would offer views you would never forget. But if you really want to see it close up......bring your bike!

tour de kota 2011

2010-11-14T17:42:00.000-06:00

The Tour de Kota announced their route for 2011 recently. Their website is largely under construction as of now, but the mapped route and overnight towns are available.

I like the fact that it's a loop; no logistical concerns getting your car to the finish and your bike and yourself to the start. I also like the that next year's tour has a theme; Class is in Session. What's being called the College Campus Cruise will overnight at several area schools including Augustana College, the University of Sioux Falls, Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota, and South Dakota State University. For a small fee riders will be able to reserve dorm rooms for overnight stays in the college towns.

On my two previous TdKs I visited all of the host towns except for Madison, and though we rode through Vermillion it wasn't an overnight stay back in 2006. It would be fun to visit the campuses of these colleges, and though Freeman is not a college town, I remember how friendly the people were in welcoming riders to their town. The Tour de Kota 2011 runs from Sunday to Friday, June 5-10, and covers 430 miles through the rolling hills of eastern South Dakota.

hug a veteran

2010-11-10T16:13:00.000-06:00

When he was 16 he joined the CCC. When I was 16 I was trying to grow my hair as long as I could.
When I was 23 I was trying to "find myself". When he was 23 he found himself on the beach at Normandy. I don't think I'll ever be as much of a man as my Dad. But, he gave me a great example of what it means to be a man. If I even come close, that's pretty good.

Happy Veterans Day and Thank You to my Dad, and all veterans!

quiznos pro challenge update

2010-11-08T08:42:00.000-06:00

In my last post, I wrote: " The next stage is from Gunnison to Aspen. If it goes through the Black Canyon, it will feature some of the best scenery ever featured in professional cycling. And McClure Pass is a short steep climb before a pretty ride into Aspen."

I've read some comments from those apparently in the know in Colorado that suggests instead of the charming Black Canyon, McClure pass route to Aspen, the race may go in a whole other direction. If they are correct the Quiznos Pro Challenge would go north out of Gunnison towards Crested Butte again, only this time turning at Almont and riding up to the Taylor Park Reservoir. Then they would head up the UN-PAVED side of Cottonwood Pass.

Which would lead to an incredible descent down to Buena Vista. (I suggest riders stop for a musette at K's Dairy-Delite) Then it's up US 24 along the Collegiate Peaks, west on CO 82, up over Independence Pass, followed by a fast technical descent into Aspen.

If this indeed is the route, this stage will be more than 130 miles and feature two climbs to more than 12,000 feet! One on dirt! Epic.

quiznos pro challenge

2010-11-06T19:26:00.000-05:00

I read over at Biking Bis that the host cities have been announced for next year's inaugural Quiznos Pro Challenge bike race. Denver based Quiznos picked up the ball dropped when government officials in Missouri failed to commit to support for the Tour of Missouri. Lance Armstrong got involved and Colorado's governor joined him....and here we go! The 560 mile race, next August 22-28, will begin with a prologue time-trial in Colorado Springs. They haven't laid out the exact route, but I'm guessing it will be.....spectacular!

The first stage will go from Salida to a mountain finish outside of Crested Butte. Monarch Pass will be a great first test to separate the climbers from the rest of the peloton. The ride into Crested Butte is very scenic, with the mountains just inviting you to come and play.

The next stage is from Gunnison to Aspen. If it goes through the Black Canyon, it will feature some of the best scenery ever featured in professional cycling. And McClure Pass is a short steep climb before a pretty ride into Aspen.

The next stage is a time-trial in Vail. I don't think of Vail as being a very large area, so I don't know where they would ride, but I know that the whole area is beautiful.

Next, the riders will head from Avon, just to the west of Vail, north to Steamboat Springs. I've not ridden in this area before, except for the stretch on CO-131 that brought us back to Edwards from Granby on the final day of this year's CRMBT.

The next stage will take riders from Steamboat Springs to Breckenridge. I think the whole area around Frisco and Breckenridge is one of the nicest places in Colorado.

And finally, the tour will conclude with a stage from Golden to Denver. Wherever the route takes riders through the streets of Denver, the mountains will be visible to the west, a reminder of the grueling week they've had, and waiting to welcome them back again.

If you've thought about riding in Colorado, watching this will give you a great idea of how spectacular it can be. And if you ride like I do, you'll have much more time to soak it all in than these guys will.

colorado, we have a problem

2010-11-03T19:20:00.000-05:00

Hi! I'm Jeff, and I'm a Colorado-holic. I'm addicted to cycling in the mountains. Now, I love cycling anywhere, and I've had great times doing multi-day tours in South Dakota and Kansas. I know I would enjoy doing a tour in any state, and I know that there are scenic rides in Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada. But I have a Colorado monkey on my back. I blame CRMBT.

I know I'm going to be begging my wife to let me go just once more. I can stop any time I want. I just need a fix right now. I'll probably be on the street, selling old bike jerseys and doing favors for tour organizers.

Some would say that cold turkey is the only way to beat an addiction like this. But I think it would be safer to give it up a little at a time. Maybe a shorter tour or two, followed by a few single day events. Maybe ride away from the mountains over the high plains on my way back to Kansas.

If you see or hear about someone riding around Kansas with a Colorado patch on his arm, that would be me.

c.r.m.b.t.

2010-10-25T16:35:00.000-05:00

The first multi-day bike tour I did was the Tour de Kota around the eastern half of South Dakota. When my brother-in-law, Bruce, started talking about going to Colorado to do a tour, I was intrigued. Kind of the way I feel as the roller-coaster slowly climbs that first section; scared, but pretty sure it'll be fun. We tried unsucessfully to get into Ride the Rockies, and were lucky enough to discover the Colorado Rocky Mountain Bike Tour. CRMBT had it's inaugural running in August of 2007. So, late in the summer of '08 we headed for Gunnison, and had the hardest, best week on a bike you can imagine. We got a couple buddies to join us in Montrose to start the '09 tour. And this August I went on my own to kick off CRMBT 2010 in Edwards, CO. I owe a debt of gratitude to the organizers and volunteers who make this tour so special. Thanks to them I've come to think of Colorado as a part of me. I've experienced:

C Cerro Summit, Coal Bank Pass, and every mile of the Copper Triangle

R Redstone and Red Mountain Pass

M Monarch Pass, Molas Pass, McClure Pass and Mount Evans

B Black Canyon and Battle Hill Summit

T Tennessee Pass and Trail Ridge Road

Thanks! Let's do it again!

16 of 17

2010-10-17T16:27:00.006-05:00

By the time I returned from Colorado in August I had climbed 16 of the 17 highest paved passes in the state. Hoosier Pass on CO 9 between Breckenridge and Fairplay, 11,539 feet, has eluded me to this point. If I can get to Colorado again in the near future I'll try to make a point of completing this climb. If I get to ride the CRMBT next summer I would also add Cottonwood Pass, west of Buena Vista, 12,126 feet. Cottonwood is only paved on the east side, but it sounds as if the climb on hard-packed dirt up the west side would make for a great descent into Buena Vista.

There are other mountains to climb, passes to ride, and tours I would like to try, but I wouldn't mind revisiting some of the places I've been. There is a loop from Durango to Ouray to Telluride to Cortez to Durango which would be part old, part new, and all spectacular. If I can find the time and the money, I'm full of ideas.

In order of elevation, these are the passes I've ridden to date:

Trail Ridge Road- 12,180 feet

Independence Pass- 12,095 feet

Loveland Pass- 11,990 feet

Slumgullion Pass- 11,530 feet

Fremont Pass- 11,318 feet

Berthoud Pass- 11,307 feet

Monarch Pass- 11,312 feet

Juniper Pass- 11,160 feet

Red Mountain Pass- 11,018 feet

Spring Creek Pass- 10,898 feet

Molas Pass- 10,910 feet

Wolf Creek Pass- 10,850 feet

Grand Mesa- 10,839 feet

Coal Bank Summit- 10,640 feet

Vail Pass- 10,554 feet

Tennessee Pass- 10,424 feet

ennui off the mountain

2010-10-11T08:46:00.001-05:00

I can feel winter
Though the skies outside are blue
Discontent is near

cycling/ not cycling

2010-09-28T14:56:00.000-05:00

I love to ride, but I haven't been riding much lately. I'm on vacation this week, and the weather is fantastic, so I plan on getting in at least a couple of decent rides. But I also have projects to work on in the yard, and of course, I need to go golfing.

Golf is a wonderful, terrible game. I started playing when I was about 20 years old, and I've gotten better, but I'm still not good. If you play golf you probably hit a lot of bad shots, but when you do hit a good one it makes you want to come back and try again.

It really is an addictive game. A couple weeks ago I was joining a couple buddies to play a course southeast of Kansas City called Hoot's Hollow. It's not fancy, kind of out on the prairie, but in pretty good shape, and never too busy. They also let you play as much as you want for one price. If you use a cart you pay a little extra to take the cart for more than 18 holes, but it's still a good deal. If the weather looks good we like to make a day of it and play 36 holes.

Well, as we got to the course the fog hadn't lifted, and the 30% chance of rain looked like it might be more than that shortly. In the pro shop they had the weather on their computer screen, and it didn't look like it would get better any time soon. While we were there, lightning and thunder came up and caused them to blow the horn and get golfers off the course. We were really disappointed that we weren't going to get our game in that day.

One of my buddies got out his phone and started checking weather, calling courses around town to see if it might be any better if we headed south or west, but it looked bad all over. Then he called a course that he had played with his brother who lives acouple hours south of town in Joplin, MO. He proposed a 2.5 hour trip.....to OKLAHOMA! We had planned on spending the day golfing anyway, so we figured less time golfing and more time driving wouldn't be that much different.

A few hours later we were teeing off at Peoria Ridge in Miami, OK. Sunshine and warmth felt great, and we got to check out a new course. Our wives thought we were all crazy, but I think they knew that already.

Tomorrow were heading to Manhattan, KS for a round at Colbert Hills. It's a planned road trip that we've done each of the last few years to play a great course in a beautiful place. There are some elevated tee boxes that have to be close to the highest point in Kansas. Today I went to the driving range to hit some balls, and I cleaned my clubs so I'm ready to go. I hope to play well, but I know that even if I don't, I'll enjoy a nice day in a beautiful setting with good friends. And I'll probably hit at least a few good shots that will make me want to come back and try again.

crmbt 2011

2010-09-18T10:26:00.003-05:00

The Colorado Rocky Mountain Bike Tour just announced their route for August 7-13, 2011. The tour begins in Grand Junction, and I would encourage anyone who does the tour to arrange to be there early enough to ride through the Colorado National Monument.

Three or four hours would give you ample time to appreciate the setting of the "Tour of the Moon" stage of the Coors Classic bike race. It would also be a good warm-up for what's to come.

Sunday brings 62 miles of rollers through the desert-like western slope as the tour makes it's way to the first of two overnight stops in Hotchkiss. This will not be filled with the alpine scenery you will see for much of the rest of the week, but this part of Colorado possesses it's own unique beauty.

Monday morning the tour heads south from Hotchkiss through Crawford and on to the Black Canyon. My first Colorado climbs ever were through the Black Canyon, and it is still one of the most enjoyable days I ever spent on a bike. I was slow enough that Peter must have assumed I was having trouble, but I just didn't want the day to end. Seventy-nine miles will get you to Gunnison .

Tuesday the tour heads north from Gunnison towards Crested Butte, turning east at Almont for a spectacularly scenic ride up to the Taylor Park Reservoir.

On the eastern side of the reservoir you get on Cottonwood Pass Road, which is not paved on the west side, but everything I've read about it leads me to believe that riding on the hard packed dirt is a small price to pay for the beauty and challenge that this pass has to offer. It also takes you to 12,126 feet! And the end to this 69-mile day throws you down the paved east side, losing more than 4000 feet in less than 20 miles as you roll into Buena Vista.

Wednesday has the tour heading north from Buena Vista on US 24 with the Collegiate Peaks Range on your left. Turning west at Twin Lakes it heads up the eastern approach to Independence Pass.

After topping out at 12,095 feet you'll have a steep twisting descent down the west side into Aspen. The last 40 miles of this century day are on the bike path to Glenwood Springs. Only 2-3% grades, but downhill all the way! You'll be ready for a well-deserved rest day.

Friday features 80 miles from Glenwood Springs back to Hotchkiss over McClure Pass. Stop at Redstone to check out the coke ovens.

The ride over McClure Pass is not long but steep enough to be a good challenge. The ride repays you for your hard work by taking you through some beautiful canyons and past the Paonia Reservoir before a nice descent back down to mining and farming country. This area is also home to several wineries.

Saturday gives riders a choice. You can back-track the 62 miles you rode the first day to Grand Junction, or you can live a little, and sweat a lot! A right turn onto CO 65 will take you up and over the Grand Mesa, the world's largest flat-top mountain. Choose the Grand Mesa! You won't be sorry. The grades are never too severe, but you are climbing for the better part of 20 miles! As you go up you can get some great views of where you were a few hours ago.

Once across the Mesa, you'll have another nice descent, followed by a hot ride to the end. Another near century day will bring you back to Grand Junction. I know some will wish for a shorter day to finish the tour and get on the road towards home, but the tour's not over 'til it's over, and the Grand Mesa is something you won't want to miss. Great route, great tour! I sure hope I'm one of the lucky riders of CRMBT 2011.

end of the road

2010-08-25T17:50:00.000-05:00

I was on the road by 6:00am on Saturday. I had a century ride ahead of me, losing about 700 feet in elevation from Granby back to Edwards. But, there was a 2200 foot climb of Gore Pass slightly less than halfway through the ride. And, before it was over, I would learn that CO 131 Summit, about 80 miles into the ride and 8,250 feet, was nothing to sneeze at, especially 80 miles into the ride.

The temperature was 40 degrees when I started out in the morning. A blue sky and slightly downhill grade made for an enjoyable ride to the aid station in Kremling. The road turned upward for the next 8 miles, then the climbing really started. The grades weren't bad, but it was a steady climb for 7 or 8 miles. It was a pretty ride, but the views were mostly of the trees we rode through.

Aid station 2 was at the summit of Gore Pass. Still early in the day, less than 60 miles to go, and all the big climbs were done. The "wrenches" had their tent set up to aid with any mechanical difficulty riders might be having. Luckily, they were not needed by too many this morning.

The next few hours were fast, short descents, followed by a couple of short climbs. Overall the descents were much longer than the climbs. I love a ride like that, but eventually in cycling, what goes down, must come back up.

We passed through some pretty, red-rock hills, and over the Colorado River not too far from it's beginning. The temperature had climbed into the 70's, I was making good time, and it had been a pretty good day.

Then CO 131 Summit reared it's ugly head. It was warm, steep, and long enough to hurt after 80 miles in the saddle. I had lost count of how many times during the week I had to think "just keep turning the peddles". This was another one of those times. I stopped to rest and have some water, of which I only had a little left, where a group of riders was just getting back on their bikes. One of them told me they thought it was less than 2 miles to the top. I said " If it's longer than that, tell my wife I love her". When I saw the final aid station at the summit, it could have been a mirage. I was so glad to see the volunteers, like Misty and her people. This is one of the few pictures you would see of Misty without her tennis ball. I also met Paul at the top and we rode down together.

After a rest, snack and full water bottles we had about 16 miles down to Edwards. I got everything into my car, grabbed a towel and a quick shower, and was on the road by 3:30pm. I drove more than halfway back to Olathe, getting to Oakley, KS by 10:30pm. That left a more manageable 5 hours to get home Sunday morning.
I rode 432 miles in 6 days on the tour, and 20 miles doing Berthoud Pass on my own. I was tired and sore, but very grateful to have completed so many great rides. Loveland Pass, Mt Evans, and Trail Ridge Road were all highlights, but the whole week was spectacular. I love Colorado, and hope to be able to go back again. And I really need to check out some other states too.