February 15, 2009

• Soderburg with Gale

  We decided to ride with Gale's Posse this Sunday since she was doing a MTB ride.    As usual there weren't a pile of takers.  I'd like to be able to chalk this up to me posting the ride at 10: PM the night before.

  I arrive a bit late to find Ron riding around getting warmed up and a few extra miles in.   Gale arrives shortly after that with an empty car!   Seems that there weren't any takers from her group on this one.  Seems like some of those pure roadies need to get some MTBs and start getting in  some variety and more importantly pure fun.

  Without a plan and with the temps threatening to rise pretty quickly we decide to do the towers road!.    Yes it was covered with snow!   Ron had seen  Sammy N. of the legendary 4:50 & TTH groups already heading up the road and since we hadn't seen him turn back yet, it must be rideable.

  Without much warmup it's hard to get going on this one.  Ron immediately  walks away from Gale and I,  not to be seen for another 1/2 hour or so...   Gale and I spend our time chatting about stuff and enjoying the snowy covering.    The riding is really pretty tough  considering the length.     We were able to ride most of it but those grade changes were really difficult but we managed.

  Finally we see Ron coming down to greet us after he had already ridden that tough grade leads up to the towers.  He rides it again with us!   This was really tough going and I had to stop at least once on this one due to traction issues and that  fire in my quads.    That final push to the Antenna farm was pretty tough and we  had a hill climb contest to see who could make it the  farthest, which Ron won over me by about 15 feet or so.

  At the top we adjust clothing etc.   Did I mention it was 42+ degrees already.  The Temps kept climbing as we did. 

  Now it was time for the descent and we too that trail to the left after descending a bit.    For some reason that trail name escapes me.  In any case it was snow covered and sweet!  We had a good ole time flowing the trials.  It was fun to be able to lock up the tires and not damage any trails.   I wish I had gotten more pictures of this splendor but we were having to much fun riding, plus it was a pain to get at the camera with all that clothing on...

  Ron's bike was really hooking up well and he seemed to be in so much more control than I was a points.   I definitely liked his winter tire choice.   Also, I should mention that this was the 1st time I got a glimpse of Gale's ne Look MTB.  That thing was so sweet.   Gale was pretty brave for bringing that out on a day like today, but I am sure it will get a well deserved bath!... but I digress.

  Finally we make it too Millcreek and the snow is getting thin now, and before long it was gone.  This trail is definitely getting easier for me which translates into me going faster and enjoy it more.   I pretty much cleaned all of the switches.

  Now we are in Lory heading back to the cars and it's kinda sloppy in spot.  I am happy that we got in some quality riding before it got this way.   I am having chainsuck whenever there is a steep grade due to all of the suff that's gotten on the chain and removed the lube... There are some spots of snow and we ride as "clean" as possible.  By the time we are are back at the cars the bikes are muddy. 

  A good time was had by all or ....

  Ron and I are thinking we could get in a bit more riding so. off we go to do Horsetooth.   We took the road over to the main entrance which was good for the tires.   Ron had tweaked his Derailleur somewhere on the trails and was concerned about it, but it proved not to be an issue, so we were good-to-go.

  Into the park and up we go on the service road.    Ron is feeling pretty strong so he checks out again and I get into a reasonable rhythm.     After a bit I start getting chain suck issues, despite cleaning the chain back at Soderberg.  I  have to stop and lube the chain.  While I am doing this Ron comes back to see what happened to me.

  Off we go again and Ron checks out one more time.  My legs are OK, but I don't want to push too hard.  I need to stop before that final push up to the Wathan trail.  I get some Power gel bites and then walk up that last pitch cause I am getting.. well....a bit tired...

  Wathen was alot of fun.     There was good snow up there an the trails were sweet.   I was little concerned that with fatigue setting in that I would be a bit sloppy and make some silly mistake, but there was no reason to worry.  We cleaned  most of the trail which was totally ride able.  We could only see 1 set of traks before us, which was somewhat surprising.

  Nice to finally be done.  Looked like Ron had a lot of  ride still left in him, but I was done.   Now on a scale of   ( ( 1 to Leadville ) I was probably only a 4.    Here's a link to Rons data so you can see what was done today. Which for Ron was about 25 miles and 5000 ft of vert.  I am somewhere close that - some elevation I am sure.

  • 11:29 am
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