Early spring riding

Spring is just starting here in Colorado. There are blossom trees out in the city, but on the Cherry Creek bike path (my usual run) there is almost no evidence of blossoms. The animals, though, are coming out. Today there were a couple of deer herds (who watched me go by with definite quizzical looks on their faces) and the first sign of the rabbits that inhabit the ground by the bike path. The lazy prairie dogs are still not coming out by the time I go by, though in my afternoon rides I see them.

The Rockies are always a treat to see when I get up to the Cherry Creek State Park (that is downtown Denver at the right of the photo above). Each day they look different, which is something that was noticed almost 150 years ago by an artist named A.E. Mathews, who produced a book of lithographed views of Colorado (image above is the view of Denver and the mountains in the book). In any case, this is what he had to say about seeing the Rockies from Denver.

"So clear and pure is the air on the plains, that the mountains can be distinctly seen 175 miles off. The Rocky Mountains assume new, peculiar, and beautiful features almost every day and hour, according to the condition of the atmosphere and position of the sun. Sometimes on a bright moonlight night, or just before sunrise, the rocks, canons and trees stand out so distinctly that the mountains appear to be but a mile or two from Denver...When the air is clearer than usual, a most beautiful effect is seen just as the light of the sun has left the western horizon; the horizon is lighted up by a soft, cool, silvery light, caused by the sun shining on the western slow of the snow-covered mountains. The beauty of the sky and clouds in Colorado, especially in summer, rivals that of Italy."

This is very true and it is one of the joys of living in Denver, to look at the magnificent Rocky Mountains each day and get a new, amazing scene. Of course, now that I am training for Ride the Rockies, I look at them and think that soon I will be up in those mountains trying to make my way up and down the passes.... Definite incentive to keep going!

View Standard Loop March 28 in a larger map
I recently downloaded a new app, called "My Tracks" which tracks my rides. The map above is from today's morning ride. This app also puts up a spread sheet with the stats from my rides. Pretty cool!

Two weeks plus...

Start of my third week in training and got a nice, but cold and very windy ride in this morning: when I left it was 32 degrees. Too cold for the prairie dogs to be out, but did get to see a deer herd in the Cherry Creek State Park, along with a very handsome coyote who trotted across my path.

Last week and today was definitely windy, which is the thing I hate most when biking. Even a very steep hill promises the downhill side, but wind just works against you. However, it is good for my training, I guess.

Last week got in some nice days, including in the warm afternoons. Went exploring one day to up my ride to 30 miles (did 80 miles for the week), which was fun. Well ahead of the schedule so far, but with various trips coming up, it will be harder to stay ahead. Last weekend was in Philly, but managed to get an hour & half on an exercise bike, so that was good.

I haven't got up to altitude yet (or at least higher than Denver's 5280'), but it has been fairly warm so the Summit County bike path might be clear soon. I am feeling good about my muscles for the ride, but still apprehensive about my wind...

First week

The first week of training went well. Good weather and a total of 90 miles. The suggested training from the Ride the Rockies folk said to have done 50 miles this week, so ahead of schedule. Of course, there will be hiccups coming up (trips etc) so I need to try to keep ahead.

Thought there are only the faintest signs of spring coming, I am beginning to see signs of wildlife. Saw some deer this week and this morning an otter (beaver?) in Cherry Creek. Also, the prairie dogs are starting to show themselves.

With time leaping forward this weekend, it will be hard to go out as early and it still is quite cold in the morning (in the 30s when I start out), but with the solid sunny weather next week, I should be able to keep up the good work! My only worry is still my wind, which I'll have to work on when I can start working out up in the mountains...

March 6

I can tell I am in training as my bum is really sore! The weather is great today and suspect for tomorrow, so I went out for a second day in a row. This time I did my "usual" full 25 mile loop out to Cherry Creek reservoir and back. Not only was I saddle sore, but my legs felt it as well...I guess all good news.

I didn't enjoy the ride as much today as I did yesterday, until I got up to the reservoir, which is about 300 feet above Denver, where the view of the Rockies was wonderful and inspiring. My competitive nature kicked in on the way back, as I fell in behind a 30-something biker and decided I could keep up with him on the 8 miles back. I did, but definitely felt it! Overall, a good start and now a few days to rest my aches & pains until the next ride, probably Friday.

March 5

Back in Denver so I was able to get out for my first on-the-bike training. My usual ride last summer and fall was a 25 mile loop around Cherry Creek Reservoir, which I was able to complete quite quickly. For my first ride in about 100 days, I figured 20 miles was fine and I managed it slower but in good shape. More importantly, I loved it, realizing how much I enjoy biking. Good thing, as I am going to be spending a lot of time on my bike in the next four months!

March 3-4

Friends in from out of town and we all went up to Summit County, so no biking (the roads and bike paths are still mostly snow covered), but we get out and do some cross-country skiing. Different muscles, but I think my problem on this ride will not be muscles so much as my breathing. The one time I tried to do the 17 mile loop around Lake Dillon, climbing Swam Mountain Road, I thought I was going to die! My legs felt great, but I just couldn’t get any breath. So, I did some “sprinting” (a rather generous terms for the speed I managed) on the skis and really felt it in my breathing. At least a start! Then the next morning another round of x-country skiing. My wind still sucked (in all senses), but at least two days of earnest training!

My Ride the Rockies Blog

On March 2nd, I found out I was one of the lucky 2,000 riders selected for the 2012 Ride the Rockies. In the six days from June 9th to 15th, I will be riding 442 miles, including 24,937 vertical feet! Riding from Gunnison to Fort Collins, I’ll ascend (assuming I survive!) McClure Pass, Independence Pass, Fremont Pass, Ute Pass and Milner Pass, riding through some of the most beautiful country in the world at an average of about 8,000 feet above sea level and peaking at over 12,000!

What has possessed me? I am a fairly typical “old man” (58) in reasonable, but not great shape. I have never done anything this physically hard for this extended a period of time. I did quite a bit of bike riding in my 20s, but not that much since until last year. Still, if you live in Colorado and if you like riding bikes, this is THE ride to do. I am excited, terrified and determined to do it.

I do have a few things going for me. I live in Denver, which is at a mile high, and we have a condo in Dillon, which is at over 9,000 feet elevation, so I will be able to train at altitude. Also, living in Colorado, it is just the norm to be out there doing stuff in the outdoors. After years of not doing much biking, I finally got back into it last summer, and was regularly doing 75 miles a week, with regular weekend jaunts added on. Of course, I am going to have to do a damn sight more this year!

The folk at Ride the Rockies randomly select about 2,000 riders every year and while the majority are young and dedicated bikers, there are plenty of just regular folk, so they are geared up to help people like me. They have a great web site with a suggested training regimen, etc. etc. Their suggested training began on Feb. 29th, but I didn’t really start until this weekend, but I figure if I put my mind to it, I can do the training necessary to not only survive (#1 goal!), but to enjoy the experience.

This blog is supposed to help me keep at it. If I put my training and then ride up on the web for anyone to see, it will be very embarrassing if I fail. I should be able to keep it up even without this, but it never hurts…