one more time

I'm as ready as I'm gonna be. Tomorrow I'll drive to Colorado Springs and spend the night at an elevation almost a mile higher than here in eastern Kansas. Check-in with CRMBT is Saturday afternoon, a chance to see some organizers, volunteers, and riders who have given me so much joy over the last several years. Then Sunday morning we'll be on our way.

 My plan is to post a few pics to facebook throughout the week, but wait until I'm home to put together the first of several blog posts about my adventure. I am taking my GoPro in the hopes of capturing some nice descents on Cottonwood Pass and Pikes Peak. But, I decided that last year I spent too much time trying to capture each day in pictures or videos with the GoPro, and didn't take enough good shots with my trusty Canon. So look for lots of pictures.

There's been a little Pikes Peak mania on the forums and facebook groups associated with the tour. I haven't been immune. I want so badly to do that climb, and I'm trying to use my fear? apprehension? excitement? as motivation. But, I also will remember to enjoy the whole ride. Great people, great scenery, and a whole week where I only need to know 1. where to ride, and 2. what to eat. Good times!

time to taper?

It's one week until we'll be in Colorado Springs, checking in for the 2014 edition of the Colorado Rocky Mountain Bike Tour. Some would say this is the week to taper off from the hard training, and I suppose they would be right. But it doesn't feel like I've done enough to prepare myself. I think I've done a lot, but there are many missed opportunities caused by life getting in the way. Oh well.

I did get in a ride this morning with my buddy, Roger. He had some time constraints, so we did a brisk loop and got him home with 50 miles. I jumped on the trail and rode to the end of it, turned around and came home with 72.5 miles. Then I did a little grocery shopping (most of that falls to me now that I'm vegan), and some laundry; bike clothes I want to pack for my trip.

Besides having some mountains in our way, days on CRMBT won't be much longer than today. And one of the things I love about doing a bike tour, is that all you need to think about is: what do I eat? And, where do I ride? So, I think I'm good. I'm shooting for another ride tomorrow, then a couple of short, easy spins during the week. Friday is the manageable drive to COS. And if all goes as planned, 2 weeks from today I'll be posting pictures on facebook of the view from Pikes Peak.

And whatever happens, I'll have lots of pictures, and lots of stories to tell on this blog when I'm back at home.

colorado roads

Click on the black bars in the sidebar under "road tunes" to hear the music with the video.

Can you tell that I'm excited to get back there?

vegan is the new black