Sunday, September 11, 2011

Go Fish

Okay.

Sky Pond (RMNP)


Lake Isabelle connecting stream (RMNP)


Lake Isabelle


Below Lake Isabelle


Below Cascade Falls

Below Cascade Falls


Ouzel Lake

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Riding Crested Butte

It's been awhile since I rode my mountain bike 3 days in a row.  Pay to play ... and yes, I paid.  27 miles into a 50 mile weekend of riding - I burnt my last match.  Out of gas.  Done.  Wasted.  Laying all over my bike.  Dehydrated.  Over Honey Stingers.  Wishing mountain lions would eat me.  Dropping bombs (yes, the bad ones). 

Christin: I'm soooooooo sorry!  I thought you'd think this ride is fun.
Me:  This ride IS fun ... I'm just not HAVING fun.

Retrospectively, this weekend was amazing and I did have a wonderful time.  Ahhhhhhh, wish I could be there again .... $5.50 showers, 40 degree nights, wild flower mania, Crested Butte .... 

Day 1: Doctor's Park 











Day 2:
Reno/Flag/Bear/Deadmans






Day 3:  Upper/Lower











Sunday, July 10, 2011

Colorado's Triple Bypass

Posted October 4th 2009
Colorado to do list:
Summit Longs Peak
Summit Mount of the Holy Cross
Denver Broncos game
Hut trip
Colorado's Triple Bypass
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic
Concert at Red Rocks



Triple Bypass - DONE
Avon to Evergreen
120 miles
10,000'+ elevation gain


This has been on my "to do" list since I moved to Colorado and now its done ;)


I'm an endurance junkie, so for me, a supported 120 mile ride at a leisurely pace is actually a pleasure.  We trained very hard for this event and I'm so proud of Deb for finishing.  I was cruising along until mile 92 before I started to fatigue at all.  Then, the endurance racing memory cells in my body suddenly reactivated.  I felt like I could have ridden to Utah.  Hmmmm, there might be a 24 Hour race out there calling my name (and Christin's).


The weather was a potential party spoiler.  However, it ended up being an incredibly beautiful day.  Deb and I rode in a rain storm from Vail to Beaver Creek (14 miles), but in reality it was kinda cool and I enjoyed it.  Who knew the bike path from Copper to Vail was so amazing????  Wow.  


Early morning - Squaw Pass




Contessa

Lake Dillon





Christin, me, Deb

Rule #5 - Harden the %$#@ up.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Happy Independence Day

Rule #20 - THERE ARE ONLY THREE REMEDIES FOR PAIN.

These are:
  • If your quads start to burn, shift forward to use your hamstrings and calves, or
  • If your calves or hamstrings start to burn, shift back to use your quads, or
  • If you feel wimpy and weak, mediate on Rule #5 and train more!

Steamboat Springs (CR14)



Steamboat Springs (Elk River Road)


Steamboat - Training Ride
Deb & Christin


Storm Meadows


Happy 4th of July!




Thursday, June 30, 2011

The Velominati Speaks

Rule #6 - Free your mind and your legs will follow.

Your mind is your worst enemy.  Do all your thinking before you start riding your bike.  Once the pedals start to turn, wrap yourself in the sensations of the ride - the smell of the air, the sound of the tires, the feeling of flight as the bicycle rolls over the road.



Squaw Pass - Training Ride

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Bucket List Items CAN Be Fun

Posted October 4th 2009
Colorado to do list:
Summit Longs Peak
Summit Mount of the Holy Cross
Denver Broncos game
Hut trip
Colorado's Triple Bypass
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic
Concert at Red Rocks



One of the sweetest items on my Bucket List.  The next one won't be as much fun! 


Thank you Deb for the tickets.


6/17/11
Ray LaMontagne
Brandi Carlile
Red Rocks, CO












Thursday, June 9, 2011

Colorado's Triple Bypass




The color red gives me anxiety.  I think I finally figured out why.

Googling images for "Triple Bypass" sent me to a link for "The 20 Hardest Endurance Races of the World".  WORLD.  The Tour de France was 7th on the list and The Triple Bypass was 17.  I read somewhere that 90% of the riders are men.  I heard from a person at the top of Squaw Pass that it was a blizzard for the 2008 Triple and people suffered from hypothermia.  Hmmmmmmmmm.  I should probably be outside riding my bike, huh ... instead of blathering on a blog.  As a matter of fact, I should PROBABLY use my bike as my only mode of transportation until ride day.  I did my first century ride this past weekend.  103 miles actually.  I thought it was a hundred mile ride and I wanted to just pull off the road at 100 and collapse on the sidewalk.  I was done.  There was probably only 2000 feet of climbing that day (for reference ... TB = 11,000' ... ORAMM = 10,000').  My first century ride was flat as a bumpy pancake and it still hurt (hurts ;).  Time to get serious!  I'm serious.  I'm so serious I'm going to ride my bike on my lunch break tomorrow.  

One month from TODAY.

Triple Bypass
Bucket List
Stretch Goal
7/9/11

http://www.audiofuel.org/our/files/category-ultra-marathons.php

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Fruita Fat Tire Festival















The Fruita Fat Tire Festival is a famous event.  I have spied it in the back of Dirt Rag Magazine for years and FINALLY I get to ride into town for one.  Wow.  I'd say it's worth the hype.