April 26, 2004

  • Well, it was one of those Sunday’s that started out raining.
      Oh well, Might as well try to catch up on some
    sleep. About 15 minutes later, figured that I should take a
    closer look and things didn’t look that bad.  A quick check of the
    email showed that the 8:00 ride was off and that we would try later……
    Now it’s Later 11:30 and looks like it’s gonna just be me and
    Glenn.   We decide to stick with the plan which was to do
    Centennial  Rist and Masonville.  A ride which should get us over
    5000 ft of vertical with about 55 miles.

    So with the Traffic a concern we changed our route and took Horsetooth
    to Lemay and through some neighbor hoods and out to Harmony.  Once
    we got the intersection of Taft and Harmony, who did we see? Kent, out
    for a stroll.   I thought that he acknowledged us but
    perhaps for some reason he didn’t recognize us since he just keep going
    ahead of us up Harmony never to be seen again.  Could be that the
    “Cloaking Device”  on the old trusty torque has finally started
    working.   But enough cars saw us so I don’t think that is
    the case.  I had thought to engage and try and run him down, but
    the light was long and he as a good distance up the road by the time we
    were able to go.

    We see a rider up the road and we run him down  before we get to
    the bottom of the first hogback.  We exchange greetings and we are
    a pack of three for a while.  Shortly thereafter we are joined by
    another older gentleman.  Glenn engages him with the particulars
    of the ride of which he had considered a similar route but was
    concerned about the weather on Rist.  We invited him to join us
    but he didn’t seem interested in our company or route or whatever.

     A short bit later I guess he didn’t like my pace up the 1st
    hogback so he said something to the affect of, “Gotta keep
    spinning”,  Perhaps he only had a double, but in any case I was
    bit insulted that my pace was not acceptable.   I decided
    that I couldn’t just let him go so I began to reel him in slowly and by
    the top we had gotten our Prey.  He then said something to the
    affect of,  “I thought you guys might catch me”.  Hmmm, 
    he seemed like he was more of the loaner type so I didn’t invite him to
    join our band of “outlaws” a we bid each other a fare ride.  Glenn
    menitions that this guy said that was sure that we would drop him by
    the looks of us.  Perhaps he was just testing the waters. 
    Good thing that the “Forward Disrupters” were powered down!
      Just for the record, the first rider we encountered had
    been dispatched early on.

    So now it’s just Glenn and I to climb the Centennial.  It’s
    starting to get hot already and I know that I will need to shed some of
    these clothes soon.  Glenn has the lead here and is moving at a
    good clip.  His pace was good and I was thinking, “Dam, he did 60
    miles yesterday and is riding this strong today!” …  A bit later I
    feel a tap on my back and it’s a racer type just letting me know that
    he was there and bids me a nice ride.   Glenn and I stop at
    the traffic barriers and adjust some clothing.  Ahhh, much better
    as we continue our ascent.

    Before we know it we are at Kent’s favorite little descent towards
    Bingham hill road and Glenn drops back to take it easy and I do my best
    impression of Kent. Without all of the pedaling of course.
      I hit 49.3, probably faster since there is some lag in
    the max feature of the computer but I am satisfied with that. 
    Those 18mm tires make me a bit nervous at high speeds and I can’t wait
    to get ride of them once I have had gotten my $$ worth. Yeah , I know I
    am cheap! 

    On to Bellevue and the beginning of the grueling ascent up Rist
    Canyon….   The pace is easy since we have a long ride ahead
    of us and I am happy for that.  After last weekend's Sufferfest I
    am just content to enjoy being outside and to gradually attain some
    better fitness.   On the way up, 3 sport bikes pass us! And
    for a brief moment I am wishin for the FZR to be underneath me and to
    join these boyz in a much quicker ascent.   Once they are
    out of site, my attention is returned to the road and the long ascent
    ahead.

    Glenn is beginning to show some signs of weakness, or perhaps he is
    just trying to keep his HR in  check.  In any case I get some
    ground on him on some of the minor grade changes.   I like
    this easy pace stuff.  I should do more of this, but when the boyz
    get together well,  the testosterone begins to flow and what can
    you do, but enjoy the mild competitive spirit which is becoming more
    and more present in our rides.

    We continue and life is not too bad.  It’s beginning to flurry
    lightly and this looks pretty cool since the sun is out.  Kinda
    looks like nuclear fallout, or at least what they show us in the
    movies.   As we get closer to the top,  the roads are
    now beginning to show that there must have been some snow recenltly
    since they are covered with sand in the corners.  Mental
    note,  “No aggressive riding on the way down this
    time.   As we reach the final switchbacks, Glenn falls back a
    bit to take it easy, and since I have only have a 23, I must keep a
    faster cadence to be comfortable so I take off.  

    I arrive at the top a little bit before Glenn.  We chat and decide
    what we should do.  We decide that we should go back down at climb
    Rist again!   So, we put our jackets on and head down.

    The descent is kinda sketchy with the sand but no a real
    problem.    We negotiate the top with some caution but
    then start to let it out on the way down.  We se one of the Rio
    Grande Racer boyz on his way up.  Turns out his name is Davis. Yes
    he was named after Davis Phinny, but more on that later.  We also
    see a couple on a tandem. Takes a real strong marriage to drag your
    honey up Rist!

    So we are having a good time on the way down and see a lone rider in
    the distance.  As we get closer it turns out to be Dave!.
    At this point we are 3 miles from the bottom, but decide to
    ride back up with Dave.   So here we go again! 
      Life is good since Dave is working on his power and has
    abandoned his triple in an attempt to summit without it’s use.  

    The pace is a bit hotter than the 1st time up, but not bad.  
    Glenn, as on the 1st time up, fell back on some of the grade changes
    but is doing just fine.   Lots of pedaling etc…. Once we get
    near the switchbacks,  Glenn takes it easy again and Dave and I
    summit together.   No competition today, just some
    riding.  Dave and I were remarking, “ It has been a while since
    the boyz have ridden together and it will be interesting to see who has
    been doing what.” 

    Once at the summit  we meet Davis.  We do the introduction
    thing and take in some fuel.  We have a nice chat.  
    Davis takes off and we follow in a few minutes.   I stop on
    the way down to put on my jacket.  Dave and Glenn were waiting
    around the switchback, “thanks guyz”   and once I join
    then we are off.  

    Nice descent, and we are having a good time.  Dave and I are
    passing each other and Glenn is hanging back.    At one
    point this Car Trailer combo coming up, speeding pretty good and it’s
    kinda scary with a closure rate of about 80mph, since we were doing
    about 40 and I assume he was too.

    Once at the bottom,  Dave decides to climb it again and Glenn want
    to go up to the point where we met Dave at least so that he can get in
    the double!   I  decide that I need to get home and can
    save the epic double for another day…..Mental Noise,  “Maverick’s
    bugging out and heading home”.

    Life is good and I am happy to not be climbing!  I make it to
    Bellevue and for one insane moment think about doing Centennial. 
    Well, reason quickly snapped me to my senses and I figured that
    Binghamhill road was a better choice.   I see some riders up
    ahead of me and when I reach the top I recognize them as Eric and Katie
    Erslev.   Eric and Katie greet me and Mark  (From Team
    LSR)? Introduces himself.   Seems that they were having a
    discussion about some inter-club issues and I will leave it at
    that.   I am cold and shivering and after Mark leaves, 
    Eric mentions something about some email, so I will have to check it
    when I get home (haven’t done that  yet).

    So I take off and have a more or less un eventul ride down Overland…
    Drake.  Well while on Drake I had to lock up the rear wheel cause
    some car make a left in front of me.  No big deal, but those
    orange tires do leave pretty skid marks!

    With the wind still at my back I arrive home safely and not too
    tired.  I check the stats and it’s about 60 miles with ~4700 ft of
    vertical and 3200 calories burned.  All this in about 4 ½
    hours.  Good clean fun. 

    Dave writes...... After we split, Glenn and I started up Rist, and I noticed that the
    weather was getting ugly. I decided to turn when Glenn did, so he's got
    sole bragging rights to two ascents of Rist at the moment.

    >

    >>Dave