wanna ride (let it snow)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.