A weekend of passes

Yahoo! I am still alive (not a surprise, I guess, as I am writing this blog)and I managed to complete a weekend of rides which I really was not sure I could do. I am leaving tomorrow for a week on the road, so it is not clear how much biking I'll get, plus the RTR web site suggested this weekend doing two long rides. So, I decided I would bike from Dillon to Vail and back one day, then from Dillon to the top of Loveland Pass the next. Not hugely long (90 total miles), but over 7,000 of vertical feet! On Friday evening I was wondering if I had bitten off more than I could chew, but I did it!

On Saturday I set off about 7:30. Nice enough day, though a bit smoky because of nearby wildfires. It is a nice ride from Dillon across the reservoir then up the Ten Mile Creek recreation pass to Copper Mountain. About 15 miles with a good climb, but gradual. Only problem was that the wind was in mind face the whole way, which was a pain (didn't know at that stage how insignificant the wind was at that stage). Then up the valley on a very lovely bike path to the top of Vail pass, about 6 miles of good climb. Total climb from Dillon to the top about 1,600 feet.

Then a long (11 miles) down hill into Vail. I really did not enjoy this that much. I think I must be one of the few bikers who doesn't like really long, steep downhills. I do not like to go above about 30 mph---when I was a kid, I flew over my handlebars when my front wheel came loose and had to have root canal work on my front teeth, so I have a healthy regard for the damage one can do is something happens if you fall off a speeding bike. Also, my hands get sore from the position they have to hold in order to keep up the needed pressure on the brakes. I think I will probably end up liking the up hills on RTR more than the down hills!

On the way down into Vail I keep wondering if I had made a mistake, for the trail was not only quite long, but had some really steep bits and I just was not sure that after going up the pass one way I could make it the other. The front side of the pass, from Dillon, was only 1,600, whereas the backside, from Vail, is about a 2,500 feet climb. Quite a difference.

In any case, I did make it but it wasn't fun at all. Not only was it long and quite steep in bits, but the #*%)! WIND was in my face the whole way. It was a really strong wind, with regular gusts as fast as any I have ever ridden in. It made the entire climb very hard for me. Even the places where it was relatively flat, I was struggling just to keep going. There was even a downhill bit where I could only get going up to 12 mph with pedaling! I just gritted my teeth, and kept trying to move fast enough not to fall over, and finally made it.

Today was much better. The ride was shorter, but even more of a vertical climb. It is a gentle up hill from Dillon to Keystone, but from there the next eight miles is a very steady climb. No really steep bits; just a constant up hill. Total climb today was almost 3,000 feet and I did it in about 2 1/2 hours. I was very pleased when I got to the top!

The down hill, however, was really not fun at all. First, it was a lot colder today, about 38 degrees in Dillon when I left, so I am not sure what it was at the top. Then, the whole way down there was as strong a headwind as yesterday's (though, I suppose I should be grateful that it wasn't in my face when climbing!). I froze on the way down and was regularly tossed about a bit by gusts. I just wanted it over! When it was, I jumped in the hot tub and am now feeling better.

Now I realize that for many who are doing RTR this probably isn't that big a thing to have done these two rides in two days, but I am really chuffed myself. Not only for a good length, but real climbs to two real mountain passes. While I am down in Denver, I sometimes feel the mountains are laughing at me for my puny climbs, but here I was right in the middle and taking on the mountains themselves. They seemed really friendly (unless they are the ones sending that wind the last two days!) and I now really think I am going to be able to make it on RTR and enjoy it!

When we first moved to Denver about two years ago and drove over the Loveland Pass, I saw some bikers going up and remember remarking that they were nuts and that I would never even consider such a thing. Well, today I did it and it is a testament to what training and will power can do. I am not sure if I will keep my riding up to this degree once I have done RTR, but I am glad I am in the shape I am today and I'm ready for the RIDE!