June 15, 2009

  • Mt Evans or Bust

    It's Sunday, the 14th, and we had scheduled the Mt. Evans ride for a while now.   It's rare for us to do such and  there were a bunch of folks initially interested.    As the day grew closers only a few  brave souls committed.   There were some concerns about the weather which is what scared off most folks.   The  Brave few that did show up were,  Dave M,  Chris J, and Ron.

     Ron drove us down there and  I was pretty sure it would be "game on" for this one.  Chris stated that he was going for a PR and  Dave had a new bike,  Scot CR1 all tricked out! and well, Ron is Ron .... 

    We get down to Idaho Springs, park and there are quite a few  riders heading up the road.    We make ready and off we go!   Chris checks out immediately and  Ron and Dave hang back for a mile or 2 until they are warmed up.  I don't even entertain the though of going with them as my legs are OK, but not good enough to  be  hammering for  3 hours!

    Before long I can't see  Chris, Ron or Dave.    Ron and Dave were together and were evenly matched.    I settle into a rhythm and am enjoying the scenery and solitude.  It's nice not to be chasing.   Mile after mile pass and I see a few riders coming down.   I didn't see any until I got to Echo Lake where,  Ron, Dave and Chris were waiting.

    We pay the $3 fee and off we go.  Chris checks out again and I try and stay with Dave and Ron for a bit.  I fumble to get some gels and  get dropped.   I am able to claw my way back for a bit, but  I can't recover from that effort so I just settle in again.

    The weather was great at the bottom  but looking up it's getting worse.   I am sure I will summit before anything hits.  Those switch backs are mentally draining, and as I look up I realize  the summit is always further than I thought.  I am about 8 minutes away or so, when I see Chris, Ron, Dave coming down.  Chris was getting too cold to wait for me any longer...

    At last I am at the top and time to get some more rabbit food and prepare for the descent.  Some folks ask me to take their pics and I chat with some others whom are very impressed that someone would ride there bike up there.    Time's a wasting and I need to get down.

    I head down and  the wind chill is fierce.  It's about 41 degrees, but it feels colder when moving.   I would have enjoyed the early  switchbacks but the frost heave has made the descent really quite unpleasant.   Hmmm,  I might want to do this on a FS MTB next time and see if that's any better.... like how could it not be...

    I stop a few times on the way down to get some pics.  I can see the weather moving in!.  I get caught in a tiny bit of hail which turns to rain as I get closer to Echo Lake.  The roads are quite wet and I and  concerned about any road oil!    I stop to put on the rain pants which really helped.  When I reach Echo Lake,  Ron, Dave and Chris are waiting.

    We take off and it' raining.    I an starting to get chilled a bit since I haven't really pedaled hard in a while.  With the high speeds and slick roads I am concerned about my steering inputs as I am shivering every so often.   Nothing worse than destabilizing the bike at 30+ mph while in a high speed turn.   Ron and Dave, check out as  Chris and I were a bit more cautious.  A few miles into this the roads dry up and  it's only the gusty winds that are of a concern.

    Finally we make it to the car.   A good time was had by all.   I think Chris did set a PR.