May 3, 2004

  • Update (Here are some pics from this Epic).

    Well it’s time for the epic ride to Estes Park.  The sun is
    shining and the weather could only be better if the temps were warm
    enough not to have extra clothing for the early journey  I arrive
    to find Geoff in the FCHS and we are shortly joined by Dave and
    Peter.   We wait a bit for Eushin but we don’t see him and
    it’s time to leave.  Little did we know that he was in the West
    Parking lot and did not see us.

    So we are off to meet the rest of the crew at JJ’s.   I guess
    I should mention that Peter too the top spot in a 4K the day before and
    his daughter did also in the women’s division…. Well done.
      So we need to stop at the blockbuster so that Peter can
    return a video.  We make quick work of that and we soon find Wayne
    waiting at JJ’s.  Paul is on is way for the second time since he
    went back to get some h20 bottles for Wayne who in haste left them at
    home.   While we wait I see that I got a message from
    Eushin.  For some reason I couldn’t figure out my voice mail and I
    just end up leaving him a message that we are at JJ’s.

    With some minor clothing adjustments etc. we are off to the 1st
    hogback.  Geoff has the lead and is setting a relatively civil
    pace.  When we are almost to the elbow on the hogback,  
    Wayne asserts himself and takes the lead.  Paul gives chase and
    Peter engages in 3rd and they finish in that order.  Perhaps Peter
    is restudying his Prey, but this is the first time that I can remember
    Peter taking such a passive role.  At this point that pace was not
    that hot but I figured as I am sure that Dave and Geoff did too, that
    it was too early for all of this stuff and are content with being also
    ran’s.  besides we really could only hope for a 3rd summit a best.

    As we reach Centennial we see Ramon coming up the road.  Guess we
    were a bit later than he expected.  We quickly regroup and are on
    our way.   Peter leads the way up the next Hog back and I
    don’t remember what the order was, but I think Wayne was the man here
    too.    Paul was also looking strong and I wondered
    whether he was going to hard too early.   

    On to the last Hogback and I was waaay in the back and could see Peter
    and Wayne in the distance up the road.  It was good to see that
    Peter had a playmate as I am sure that he must get board knowing that
    he could smoke any of us at will on the climbs.

    We are a well oiled machine as we descend into Masonville.  Yeah
    there are a few gaps but we are descending and having a good
    time.  Geoff is doing a lot of work here and with so many
    big dogs in the pack I would have just been letting them do the work
    cause when we get to the real™ climbing we will all pay for their
    freshness.

    As we head towards 34 we are a smooth machine.  I am sure that if
    we all had matching jerseys that we would have looked as good as Lance
    and his posties.   The pace line is very smooth, and my only
    comment here is that the pulls are a wee bit long.  Given the
    length of the ride this is not so bad, but it seems like forever until
    I get my turn at the front.   At some point I should speak to
    the boyz about the finer points of deciding how long to pull when speed
    counts but for the tourist thing that we do it’s all good.

    We reach 34 and make the left only to stop and adjust some clothing
    etc.  A quick stop and we are going again.  I remark to Dave
    and any in earshot, that I hate this part of 34 since it’s deceptively
    hilly and my brain can’t stand working that hard and going that
    slowly.  Not to long into this Wayne gets a flat which was
    repaired in a few minutes.  As we start the climb,  Dave
    see’s a knife and sword shop since we come to find out that he collects
    such things.  As a result there is a gap with Paul and Dave
    rejoining the group shortly with of course Peter’s kindness in not
    cranking up the pace.

    We make the descent towards the Dam store and the pace is OK.  The
    first part of the ascent is sweet since we have speed and the grade is
    like 2% and very scenic.  With the group in formation we begin the
    ascent.  This is where the suffering is about to begin. 
    Seems that some of us begin to warmup the pace and I can feel the
    discomfort in my legs.   Seems like when we get to the front
    we forget that climbing is more like setting tempo than pulling and the
    stronger boyz were making us hurt.   Guess Paul was the 1st
    one that made me look up the road to see who the deliverer of the pain
    was, following shortly enough by Wayne, Peter and Ramon, each cracking
    the whip!

    The result of some of this was we did get some good gaps, but we did
    regroup in a timely fashion.  I must admit that I was surprised
    that Dave was back there suffering with me since he was so so strong on
    the past two consecutive weekend jaunts.  Turns out that  he
    was saving himself due to our perhaps slightly exaggerated 
    description of the Glenn Haven ascent.

    In no time we are in Drake.  We stop for some more clothing
    adjustment food etc.   We see a lone rider heading up the
    road and he looks to be a racer type, lean, fit and wearing
    colors.  Perhaps this spurred us on since we now had Prey to
    chase.  Well, bummer he pulled off for a bio break and we are left
    to do our own pace making.  Since I just had a bit of powerbar, I
    was feeling not to bad and figured I would set off to set the
    pace.   The group was content to take it easy for a bit as I
    enjoyed my time up in front.  Soon I was joined by Peter, Wayne
    and Paul and we took turns doing the pace making.  We had a huge
    gap on the group but the plan was to wait in Glenn Haven and then make
    the ascent together.  I was looking forward to seeing the battle
    between Peter and Wayne, and hoping that I had enough fare for a front
    row seat.

    Pissssssst! And it looks like Paul has a flat.   We stop
    and check it out.  A short bit later, the Racer boy comes by and I
    suggest that Peter and Wayne go and defend our honor and I will wait
    with Paul.  While we are fixing the flat,  the rest of the
    Posse pass by and we are no where near the completed repair.  Well
    this turned out to be  a good thing since while we were there,
    Eushin rolls up.   We are just about done with repair and
    we are soon on the road.  Our pace is easy since we expect that
    the boyz will be waiting in Glenn Haven.   I was quite a bit
    of road ahead of us when we get to Glenn Haven.  When we arrive
    there is not a bike in site!  The boyz had gone ahead!  Well,
    I was really disappointed at this cause I thought we had agreed to meet
    there and more important I missed the Peter, Wayne showdown. 

    So with my sprits somewhat low we continue on.  In not too long we
    see Wayne and Peter coming to join us for the second time up.  The
    turn around and go up again.  Peter takes the lead and Paul,
    Myself and Wayne follows.  I had thought to go with Peter, but I
    figure what’s the point of trying to hang with someone’s second trip up
    and I loose motivation to suffer.  Paul has a small gap on me with
    Wayne on my wheel.  At some point Paul I caught and passed Paul
    and Wayne was no longer on my wheel.  Looking at my heartrate
    monitor I could tell that I have gone harder climbing with  Juan
    and Eushin in the past and new with lack of motivation that I wasn’t
    going want to  suffer. Oh well,  next time.

    When I arrive at the top Dave is taking some photos.  When we are
    all together we head into town.  On the way down, Dave spots some
    beasts that he wants to photograph so he stops to take advantage of
    this opportunity while the rest of us go off for food.   I
    guess I should mention that Peter had gone ahead and w as going to meet
    in the area of the Deli.  

    Food time and Wayne, Eushin, Geoff and myself opt for Mickey
    Dees.  Dave joins us and brings down the food that he purchased at
    the subway.  With our meals about complete we are joined by the
    rest of the posse.  After some banter we are on the road
    again.  Paul suggested that we go back through Glenn Haven and the
    group agrees. I take on some extra liquid and we are good to go.

    My legs are soo stiff and my right knee is a bit sore.  The pace
    is pretty hot with Dave, Wayne, Peter and myself up front and a gap is
    created.  I decided that the pace is too hot for me to survive and
    I disengage.  The pace slows a bit up front and we group at the
    summit of the Glenn Haven Climb.  I guess I didn’t describe this
    route but for those who are not familiar with this climb it’s fairly
    steep in sections and there are some nasty switch backs that were
    pretty sandy.

    So we are off.  I have the lead and am quickly passed by
    Wayne.  Since this is second time down he knows what to expect so
    I key off of him.  I am quite a bit back but mange to join him on
    the straight section.  We are shortly joined by Geoff.  
    Now the fun really begins.  We are flying down the road taking
    turns at the front.  Wayne is a madman and goes into these
    hairpins at speeds that are questionable.  I wish I had a camera
    so he could see how far that bike was leaned over.  In one
    particularly hairy corner my front wheel hit a rock while I was leaned
    over!   The wheel hopped a bit and so did my heart. 
    Not that my skills weren’t there but on those 18mm tires I wasn’t that
    confident.

    So we are still flying down the road with a posted limit of 25 and we
    are doing 30+ .   So there are some cares behind us and I am
    in the road following the right tire track.  My thinking is that
    if I am doing the speed limit + then I am entitled to take the
    road.  We had a discussion about this later and not everyone
    shared my opinion, but I digress.   So Wayne and Geoff and I
    make it too 34 without being caught!   Peter is there shortly
    followed by the crew.

    Once regrouped we are going down 34 and it’s a terrible headwind. 
    The saving grace is that with a nice group we can move fairly
    well.   Now, this is where I was having some difficulty in
    the paceline. At times the wheel that I was following was sitting off
    the right of the wheel in front of him. This kinda left me in the wind
    some times and I didn’t want to follow directly the wheel in front of
    me since, due to a difference in opinion of where to ride when on the
    road.  Some of the shoulders IMHO are not the best place to be
    since at times it’s full of sand etc.  I prefer to ride where it
    gives the riders in my wake, lots of room to the left and right. 
    But I digress…

    We make it down 34 without incident.  When the party is over we
    need to climb and Wayne and Dave get up the road.  Dave wanted to
    get off 34 ASAP and was moving well.  We were able to run them
    down and life is good.   Now this was a good example of
    riding philosophy between Dave and Wayne.  Wayne likes to ride in
    the road (As do I) and Dave likes the shoulder.  This was clearly
    evident with the rumble strips where Dave when to the right on the
    shoulder and Wayne choose the road stage left.  Just thought I
    would point this out since I am sure others wonder why some folks ride
    where they do, and I guess I comes down to a matter of safety and
    comfort with being in traffic.  Me coming from NJ, I say out here,
    What traffic?
    But I digress again…

    So we get off 34 and are heading towards the hogbacks.   Once
    again, some of the Strong men, hotup the pace and so there is a
    split.  They wait at route 38 and we regroup.  At this point
    we are all pretty tired so we just want to get home.  I must say
    that this is an easier ride than the windy Carter Lake jaunt 2 weeks
    ago so I feel OK.  Peter and Wayne need to get back so they don’t
    plan to make any of the stops.

    Paul has the lead since he wants to find a rest room and Dave and I are
    not too far behind.  Before long we have dropped Paul.  Peter
    and Wayne come fling by us and I decide to jump on before I realize
    that my legs are too tired to hold their pace, which really wasn’t to
    bad.  I drop back to join Dave and can’t hold his wheel. To my
    surprise he his making ground on Peter and Wayne and almost gets them
    at the summit.   Peter and Wayne keep going….

    Dave waits at Horsetooth Park and Paul finds the needed rest room.
    Ramon is home and his happy that the ride is over and is dreading the
    hike he signed up for later in the day.  I should mention that
    Dave did a 4 hour hike the Day before and Geoff already had about 150+
    miles in his legs before this ride during the week. …

    Once regrouped we take the next hogback.  Dave has the lead and I
    decide to attack it just to see what my legs have.  They didn’t
    feel great but I did get a gap on the crew, and no one wanted to go
    with me. …

    On to the last easy grade and Dave has the lead we are moving well and
    I decide to go to the front to insure that the pace remains high and to
    purge the last bit of glycogen from the legs.  Dave is able to
    hold my wheel and goes by me, I think at the designated yellow sign
    sprint point.  Well Done!.

    On to the final Descent and Geoff comes blowing by us. He’s gonna be
    really tough with fresh legs. Paul peels off for home, shortly followed
    by Eushin.  Dave and  Geoff want to get in the full century
    and keep going when I head for home.

    A good time was had by all.  Man this was a long
    report!   I may have to keep these only to the highlights for
    these long ones.  Anyway I got in 95 miles at 16.5 avg. with about
    5500+ ft of vertical and I don’t feel to bad afterward.

    Now back to that digression about taking the
    road. In looking in the Colorado bicycle hand book here are some
    relavant sections.Page 4. "When to take a lane" (Please find a copy and
    readthe entire paragraph for your selves). I found this relavant
    sentence,You should take the lane when you're traveling at the same
    speed as traffic. Also relavant as Ramon & Dave pointed out in the
    section"Ride on the Right" page 3. Ride as close to the right side of
    the right laneas safe and practical when being overtaken by another
    vehicle. Rideon a pave shoulder whenever a paved shoulder suitable for
    bicycleriding is present." Under the Tip Section here and I
    quote,"Riding on the right doesn't mean hugging the curb or edge of the
    road. This is not the best palce to ride because if you hit the curb or
    edge of the pavement, you might lose your balanceand fall into
    traffic."Now there are tons of other relavant parts to this topic andI
    would urge all of you to get the CO bike manual. We maywant to chat
    about this before or after a ride sometime, perhapsover meal. After all the goal here is to be safe, andthat to me means safe from road/surface hazards as well as other motorists.

    FYI