oops, I did it again

It should come as no surprise to anyone who has ever visited this blog that I have registered to ride the Colorado Rocky Mountain Bike Tour once again this August. I know I've said that I would like to ride tours in other places. I really mean it! The scenery in Oregon or California, Michigan or Wisconsin, or several other places is surely beautiful. But come on, it's Colorado and the Rocky Mountains! And I've done this tour four years in a row. I know that besides the scenery there will be volunteers, organizers, and other riders who will make it a pleasure to be in their company. So, Colorado, here I come.

 I have my eye on a couple climbs of that are on my way to Pagosa Springs, where riders will gather on the 4th of August to check in and prepare for the week ahead.

The first two days of this tour will be old and new, in that I've ridden over these passes, but going the other direction. My memory tells me that while the climb over Wolf Creek Pass on day one will be a bit more challenging going this direction, the climb over Slumgullion Pass will be considerably easier.

I think every Colorado tour but one has had me visiting Gunnison, and this tour again will have me spending the night in Davied Wiens' hometown. The ride between Gunnison and Montrose is one I've done multiple times in both directions, and while not "epic", it's a beautiful stretch of mesas and reservoirs with a nice long downhill at the end of the day.

Leaving Montrose, the first part of the day will go through the high plains desert before heading toward the Sneffels Range over Dallas Divide. I think this is one of the prettiest climbs in Colorado, especially for the unobstructed views for miles around.

 After cresting Dallas Divide the tour will be on roads that are new to me as we "head on down the other side" and into Telluride. After a rest day there, it's south to Mancos before the final day heading back to Pagosa Springs. I'm still contemplating another tour earlier in the summer, which I'm sure will be great fun too. And having CRMBT to look forward to will give me lots of motivation to keep piling up the miles all summer long!