With the latest snow and cool weather, it seems winter is here to stay. That’s ok with me, with the right riding gear winter riding can make for some adventurous and memorable rides.
A few posts ago, you may remember me talking about the Colorado Trail MTB race. After following the race, reading some CTR blogs and talking to a competitor, I had to see what the Colorado Trail was like first hand.
The entire Colorado Trail is made up of 28 sections; a friend and I were only planning to ride the first three starting in Waterton Canyon and ending 50 miles later in Bailey. Saturday’s forecast was supposed for a great day, so the plan was set to meet on the way to the trail head and be in the saddle by 8:00AM; followed by a shuttle ride back to the truck 5 – 6 hours later. While heading down I25, the truck suddenly switched lanes without any input from me……”good thing mountain bikers don’t care about the wind!” I commented and hoped I packed my wind jacket. As we pulled into the trail head, the hills looked a bit pale; “a bit frosty eh”? “At least the parking lot is empty”, we chuckled to each other.
Layers? Check. Gloves? check…….Oh my, one more layer? Check. Food, water, camera, phone, keys? Double check. A glance at the watch showed us to be five minutes ahead of schedule. Good sign so far, I thought to myself and we were off.
The first part of the trail follows an old rail bed for 6.8 miles paralleling the Platte river and we welcomed the chance for an easy warm up. That changed in a hurry once we turned left onto what was supposed to be single track; however, the 2” of snow showed two distinct tire tracks as we started to climb. If it was not for the snow, the climb would have been very manageable, but 
the first of several switchbacks quickly had our tires spinning and we questioned our ride plans. We decided to press on for lack of anything else better to do that day. With each foot of elevation gained so too did the depth of the snow, and we were soon hiking more than riding. If either one of us had been out there alone, we would have surely turned back at the first switchback but we planned for a full day on the trail and we still had plenty to talk about. Despite the snow, some of the hike a bike sections would still be classified as hike a bike sections and there were plenty of stretches we can’t wait to get back to, minus the snow, and test our technical abilities.
We weren’t the only ones enjoying the snow on the trail however, and Dorothy’s famous line “Lions and tires and bears oh my” took on a whole new meaning. We never saw who beat us to the trail and were glad they had a different agenda to us.
Eventually, the snow began to dissipate and we reached the high point of the climb. From here, 12.6 miles in, the trail becomes an ocean of swells before dropping steadily into Gudy Bridge. We welcomed the first opportunity to let loose. Patches of snow still kept us on our toes but added to the fun. Gudy Bridge is the end of section 1 and a good place to refuel and plan our next move.
Although we were way behind schedule, we decided to continue on up the trail in search of browner pastures and we were not disappointed. Here the trail climbs sharply and the decomposed granite composition of the trail tread made us glad we spent so much time practicing our weight distribution earlier in the snow. If you’ve ever spent any time at Curt Gowdy State Park you know how this part of the trail feels. Not completely rid of the snow, it was now more of a challenge than a hindrance to complete the steeper sections without any dabs. The earlier snow had taken its toll on our chains however and stripped them of all lubrication, the effects of which could be heard and felt for the remaining miles. Again, after paying our dues on the steady climb, or “grind” as described by my partner, we were treated to rolling single track through groves of aspen and pine. This eventually lead us to wide open fields of high speed flowing single track all the way to the end of section 2 just off county road 126 where we decided to call it a day and head to Pine Junction to catch our shuttle.
The time spent in the snow kept us from reaching our original destination of section three but when is mountain biking about the destination anyway? As soon as the snow clears we will surely be back to complete our ride and continue on the following sections of the Colorado Trail.
I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I did. If you’re prepared, winter riding can be just as fun and memorable as a summer’s day, minus the “normal” crowds.
Steve Lacey
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: colorado trail, Colorado trail MTB ride, Colorado Trail section 1, Colorado Trail section 2, Gudy Bridge, Waterton canyon
The bicycle has been around for what… 200 years or so, plus or minus a few depending on what you read? Basically the only thing that has
changed since its original conception is the addition of a propulsion system. It’s so simple; a couple wheels attached to a frame in a way that allows one wheel to steer the bike left or right and one that is connected to a drive train and makes the bike move. Such a simple concept that even a child can make it work and even after years of neglect, a long forgotten owner can throw a leg over it and make it come to life without a second thought. Yet every year, around this time, hundreds of retailers, builders, and inventors come together at INTERBIKE in Las Vegas to show the world they have a better mouse trap. Lance was not there this year but Eddy was there… do you remember Eddy Merckx? Lance Armstrong may have beaten Merckx’s five Tour de France wins but in no way could he claim to dominate the sport like “The Cannibal” did in the 1970’s. Few riders today race more than 100 days a year, Merckx averaged 140 races per year between 1969 and 1973.
The theme of the show is always the same — make bicycling more fun, more safe and more affordable……Ok, the affordable part could be argued – what can’t be argued, is the fact that the bicycle is here to stay and despite a shaky economy, it is rolling straight and true.
Simplicity seems to be the trend for the coming year with a big showing of single speeds and fixed gear bicycles at the show. Put one tick in the plus column for affordable. Tired of the chain marks on your leg or clothes? Belt drives look to be gaining ground and look very promising and worry free. My wife thinks I have enough bikes….But Retrotec showed off their three speed fixie (is that legal??) and if it came in a belt drive model, I might have some ’splaining to do, as Ricky would say.
Clothing. I’m not talking kits, I’m talking ‘clothing to commute to work in’ or ‘ride to town in with shoes to match and actually walk around in instead of skate through the office on’ are also due to be a hit next year. But please keep some quarters around for a shower, just in case. If you are a bike commuter, you’ll also be happy to know there are plenty of racks, paniers and bags to carry anything from a surf board to a laptop to the office, maybe even for the same job.
And how can any bike expo be complete without a showing of the latest space age material molded into something that looks to hover over two wheels and doesn’t need pedals it looks so fast? Yes, there were plenty of those and they certainly deserve their just attention but they are not the only wonders of the expo.
The gadgets and gizmos like Pedros’ multi-tool skewer or King Cages’ top cap mounted bottle cage or even Camelbak’s water bladder in a jersey, are always fun to see. Shoot, I can never find my Allen wrenches on the work bench, I’d hate to lose my skewer too! Catching my eye and attention the most had to be the Bontrager rim clothes hanger. What a great way to recycle those worn out rims! Use them to hang up your worn out clothes/kits!
Don’t worry if you didn’t get to see the Expo in person, all these products will soon be at a local shop near you….OK, maybe not the clothes hanger!
Steve Lacey
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: bontrager, camelbak, eddy merckx, interbike, interbike 2009, interbike 2010, king cages, las vegas, merckx bikes, pedros, retrotec, the cannibal, tour de france
Sometimes a little extra work in the evening isn’t so bad….in fact, it can be a darn good time! One such time is going out for a little 3500 foot moonlit climb up one of Colorado’s most scenic roads. I’m talking about a late night ride up the Old Fall River Road in the Rocky Mountain National Forest. It’s only possible about 4-5 times during the riding season and perhaps the last available option is September 4th, however the 5th was close enough for me and four others to enjoy the moon’s light. 
I wasn’t kidding about the work… Old Fall River Road is, well “old”, as in before pavement, and a mountain bike is the weapon of choice due to some soft spots hidden in the shadows. The fun starts at about 8,500 feet and climbs to 11,800 feet through some grades of 16%. At times, the tree cover casts some pretty good shadows on the road and riding in the dark can tend to flatten some of those grades, but the drops of sweat on the top tube tell the real story. This road is also one way so once you start…….there’s no turning back and the park ranger who asked what we were doing at the Lawn Lake Trailhead at 9:30PM made sure we knew that fact! After arriving at the Alpine Visitors Center, 11 miles away from the car, the way down involves descending Trail Ridge Road, so bring lights and red flashers. Not so fast though! The visitor’s center is at 11,800 feet and Trail Ridge tops off at 2,200 feet, so you have a bit more climbing before breaking out the warm clothes. Yes, 12,000 feet can get mighty chilly so bring a pack with some extra layers!
Now you’re ready for the fun part. If you’ve ever driven this road during the day you know how much traffic it can see. Descending it at midnight you’ll be lucky to see three vehicles on the way down but be careful when opening her up all the way… Elk are mighty big and don’t use headlights…however, they do have horns! (I know, I know, but antlers didn’t sound right!) The total mileage for this ride is 29.5 miles so that means 16 miles of it is pure adrenalin pumping downhill all the way back to the car.
Visit http://www.mapmyride.com/view_route?r=650125246420066949 for complete ride details.
Another adrenalin filled event this past weekend was the Fort Collins Tour de Fat. Each year I attend this spectacle and each year I am even more amazed at the engineering marvels and costumes that show up better than the year before. The size of the crowds both taking part in the parade and lining the streets are also hard to imagine if you haven’t experienced the event first hand. This year an estimated 10,000 characters took part in the festivities, so you better start thinking now for that original get up for next year. Check out some of the pictures from the day here – > http://www.flickr.com/photos/frenchista/sets/72157622150157735/show/
If you missed the event, or just can’t stand to put the cruiser up just yet, there is still time to sign up for the LEE’s sponsored Tapas ride. Cruise to three of the areas finest destinations for fine food and drink while dressing in your “finest” cruiser garb. Space is limited and there is a fee. Visit LEE’s more more information and registration.
Ok, I admit, I don’t always wear my helmet when riding my bike, but this weekend I witnessed countless numbers of families riding with the kids wearing helmets and parents NOT! Now you may not be riding fast with your kids, but things happen, and if you think it is possible for your child to bang his/her noggin from three feet off the ground there is a good chance mom and dad could do it from six feet of the deck. Just sayin’…..
Enjoy the sunlight while it’s here and get out and ride… just remember to put a lid on it!
Steve Lacey
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: colorado, Colorado scenic roads, elks, fat tire tour, fort collins, fun bikes, helmet, Moonlighting, new belgium brewery, Old Fall River Road, Rocky Mountain National Forest, Tapas, tdf, tour de fat, trail ridge
A few weeks ago you might recall I made a commitment to try and hang with one of the more spirited group rides in the area before Stuart Culp’s return to the peloton. Well, if you’ve seen the updates of Stuart’s recovery you know he’s making gains everyday and I have my work cut out for me! The days of anyone cutting anything for me are long gone and the wind the peloton cuts seems to close faster than a clap of thunder. To hang on in this group you must ride a knife’s edge between LT and AT and a difference of just 4 heart beats per minute can mean making the cut or cutting loose. With each attack, a strand is cut from the rope that ties you to the group and riders in the front seem to have enough rope to pull a cruise ship. Those of us in the back just get faster at tying knots. With each knot that is tied, the rope is shortened just a bit until it’s easier to hang on to the group instead of the rope!
Last night the city council of Fort Collins met and one of the items brought to their attention was the allocation of a $38,000.00 grant from the Colorado Dept. of Transportation for the Safe Routes to School Program. Compared to the $192,500.00 for the FCBikes enrichment program and $100,000.00 for the bike library program, which are both great programs in their own right, this number seems rather small. I must say, however, that I was really delighted to see the support the city council members have for bicycling in our community as a whole, and how they listened to those who spoke on the matter. Thanks to all in attendance.
And now for some karma…Do you believe in karma? Good or bad?…..Well, listen to this. During the silent auction fund raiser for Stuart Culp’s recovery, Feedback Sports donated a mechanic’s bike stand on his behalf. Since I had commandeered my neighbor’s bike stand for way too long, I placed some bids on the stand, only to be outbid in the closing minutes. This past weekend, the Winter Park mountain bike series ended followed by their end of season raffle and….. I am now the lucky owner of a new Feedback Sports mechanics work stand which, by the way, rocks! Thank you very much! By the way, if you need a nice foldable work stand, I suggest you check the models Feedback Sports has to offer!
Did someone say foldable?……take a look at this new concept foldable bike. It doesn’t quite have all the stop and go problems solved, but it looks to be on the right track and sports 26″ tires to boot. Awesome! Watch the video.
OK, time for this week’s tip. When riding in a group, avoid sudden changes in speed or direction to help the group stay together. Any actions at the front of the group get magnified by the time they reach the back. It’s a little like a ripple effect, or chaos theory, which ever you prefer to think about!
So remember to watch out for cyclists and they’ll watch out for you!
Steve Lacey
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: best bike stand, bicycle stand, city council, colorado, Dominic Hargreaves, fcbikes, Feedback Sports, foldable bike, fort collins, fort collins colorado, Karma, mechanics bike stand, Safe Routes to School, stuart culp
…..Got my girl by my side. Even though 38 Special didn’t have bicycling in mind when singing these lyrics, I don’t mind using them while out on a ride with my wife. In seasons past, bicycling around my house was more like uni-cycling; me, by myself, going out for training rides or meeting the group at the trail head. This most recent summer has sure changed that and I’m sure glad I don’t have to pay royalties for each time I’ve sung 38 Special’s melody. It started off innocently enough – a cruise out to the end of the Poudre Trail, a ride out around the Budweiser Event Center… then “Hey! how about we do the Elephant Rock Centuries?” “Sure, that would be a great goal for the summer”, I said. Goal? Heck! Since that weekend, I had better set aside 4-5 hours for a “little” ride on the weekend with the girl by my side or I’m in trouble!
The days of a solo training ride in the morning and a leisurly ride on the bike trail later in the day together are long gone. Used to be that if a leaf happened to finally lose its grip and fall to the ground, it was too windy for a ride; now, riding the Masonville loop into a stiff head wind doesn’t raise a whimper. Used to be that if the temperature was warm enough to require shorts and single digit SPF, that the bike stayed in the cool garage; now it’s SPF 50, an extra water bottle and a trip up Centennial Drive, waving to the boats on the lake. And it didn’t stop there, oh no! A new mountain bike and a couple rides of through Pineridge and Lory and someone thinks they’re ready for the Antenna Hill!
WHAT HAVE I DONE?! This is MY turf… MY thing…MY time…and that’s MY bike’s parking spot in the garage! What do you mean I can cut the lawn tomorrow because it’s a nice day for a ride? What do you mean there’s a nice place we can stay in Frisco and go on some nice rides? WHAT…HAVE…..I…..DONE???? I’ve worn out a song by 38 Special, that’s what! Cruisin’ down the…….Can’t wait for the next ride!
Tip of the week? No wait, I mean the tip of the CENTURY( get it? century?). Do whatever it takes to get your spouse, girl friend, boyfriend or significant other out with you on some rides. Forget training for a while. Forget about your average speed or catching the guy down the road. Find a song, wear it out and start riding again.
If you’re looking for a perfect stage for your first recital, check out the Fort Collins Bicycle Festival’s Oscar Blues Cruiser Bike Tour, Friday the 28th. Cruise the streets of Old Town and tour the local bike shops. And don’t forget to cap it off with some refreshments and good company at LEE’S North Store on Laurel St!
Oh yeah, there is also a free concert and raffles after the ride as well. The fun doesn’t stop there either; there are rides and events throughout the weekend for everyone. For more information Call Joe or Ainslie at 970-667-3800 or visit http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090821/CONNECTIONS02/908210341/Cycling+festival+Aug.+28-29++Free+concert++bike+cruise+and+Rist+Canyon+ride
Don’t forget about the Tour De Fat September 5th. Volunteers are still needed to pull this off and yes you can still ride and partake in all the fun while volunteering. Visit the following sites if you would like to volunteer.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8FRvH3Q0VXSSd9fn_2b2fbxw_3d_3d
http://bikefortcollins.org/clubportal/ClubStatic.cfm?clubID=1895&pubmenuoptID=22930
http://www.overlandmtb.org/TDF2009/
Both a little anxious…ooo, good luck in the raffles.
Steve Lacey
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: bike shop, Cruisin down the motorway, Cruisin', fat tire festival, fort collins, Fort Collins Bike Festival, Lee's, Oscar Blues Cruiser Bike Tour, tdf, tour de fat
To all those who bought or donated items for Stuart’s auction I give you my sincere thanks……Thanks for showing me that the cycling family is strong and supportive of those in need. I don’t know the exact numbers of the money raised as of yet but I can tell you quite a few of the items got more attention than a teenager’s cell phone, and the bids were changing faster than the ink could dry from the previous ones. In the end, it didn’t matter so much what was bid on and won, as much as who won.
Speaking of winning, did you happen to see the results of the Leadville 100 which took place last Saturday as well? It seems the Tour de France is the perfect training event for the race across the sky as none other than Lance crushed the field and the course record while beating last year’s winner, Dave Wiens, by about a half an hour. Oh yeah, and if you think you could slow him down by letting some of the air out of his tires, think again; with about ten miles to go, he got a flat rear tire and without the aid of his team car, quickly realized he rides better than he wrenches, and finished with the same flat tire.
Photo by Bruce Turner
Another winner you might not have heard about is a guy by the name of Owen Murphy…..Who? O-W-E-N M-U-R-P-H-Y! He finished the Colorado Trail Race in 4 days, 3 hours and change, beating the old record by about a day. That’s 470 miles, Denver to Durango, on a mountain bike without feed zones, domestiques or room service. Only about ten yahoos completed the entire course and to the winner goes……..well, his name is Owen and he is most likely faster than you on a bike!
News from my side….the time finally came…the old Specialized Enduro got replaced. Yep, she was a good ride alright and we had a lot of good times together, but the rough miles, hard landings and fast descents were getting to be a bit too much for the old girl. It was time to upgrade to a new model; better built, firmer shocks, anxious to try new obstacles….The Trek Remedy. Like the Enduro, the Remedy is more of an all mountain bike, meaning it’ll go anywhere and tackle just about anything….Or as much as I can throw at her anyway. With a bit more travel and refined suspension, the Remedy gives the trails a brand new feeling and I can’t wait for the Fall trip to Moab and Grand Junction. We’re still getting acquainted and figuring air pressures and settings, but so far, it’s a keeper. One thing I just couldn’t part with was my old seat, torn up as it is, some things just feel right.
Ah yes, the Fall trip! Is it that time of year already??……Well, no, but planning is key and if you’re planning to ride this winter, might I suggest keeping your eye out for some inexpensive closeout shoes a couple sizes too big to allow room for a thicker pair or two of wool socks and a little wiggle room? You know, just in case you get a snow day!
Finally, don’t forget your summer time goals either just because Fall is on her way…. there’s still plenty of time to reach them!
Steve Lacey
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: Colorado Trail Race, cycling, denver to durango, durango colorado, enduro, fall ride, grand junction, Lance Armstrong, le tour, leadville 100, leadville mtb 100, leadville trail, leadville trail 100, moab, new bike, Owen Murphy, Remedy, Silent Auction, specialized, stuart culp, tour de france, trek, Trek Remedy
This Saturday, August 15th, a silent auction will be held to come to the aid of a huge member of our bicycling community. Although Stuart Culp is well on his road to recovery, he still has a long journey ahead of him until he’s back on the pedals again; and a journey like this can put a tremendous strain on a family’s finances. Driving to Denver, take out dinners and family visits from out of state are just some of the expenses the Culps are enduring during his recovery and they could sure use our help. We would like to encourage you to participate in a silent auction for the Culps at the Peloton Cycles bike shop in Fort Collins from 5:30 – 10:00pm on August 15. Donations from a number of bicycling establishments have been received to be auctioned off on Stuart’s behalf. For more information or if you’d like to donate items for the auction, please contact Dustin at Peloton Cycles.
Dustin Folger
Event Coordinator
Peloton Cycles
970-449-5595
We hope to see you at Peloton on Saturday!
Another way you can help the Culps is to purchase gift cards for them for any of the following establishments and mail them to Dan Porter and he’ll pass them onto the Culps.
Food options…
Panda Express
Papa Johns
Qdoba
Red Robin
Wok & Roll
Supper Solutions
Safeway
etc …………………
Vehicle Maintenance and Gas
Conoco
Diamond Shamrock
Jiffy Lube
Grease Monkey
etc….
Send the gift cards or drop them by Dan Porter (Your Group Ride) at 5220 Boardwalk Dr. Unit C11, Fort Collins, CO 80525!
Tour De Fat
OK, looking at the calendar, it looks like there are only about 3 weeks until this year’s Tour de Fat to be held on September 5th, 9:00AM – 4:00PM at New Belgium Brewery, just off Linden St. in Old Town. Imagine Saturday Night Fever, Saturday Night Live, Monster Garage, Myth Busters, and a little Twilight Zone all coming together for the wildest parade to ever test your sense of reality, followed by a party to celebrate the “cycle” of life! WILD! The best part of it is, everyone can be a part of the show. Break out your finest polyester, your favorite two wheeled contraption and maybe your ID and follow your folly to the Tour De Fat! All proceeds from the event go to local organizations and there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer for the event as well. Visit http://overlandmtb.org for more information on where your talents could be used best.
Speaking of IDs, a while back I asked everyone who rides to get some form of ID to carry on themselves in case of emergency. Well, I decided to take Bobke’s advice and order one of the Road ID bands on line and here it is. After a few rides it’s starting to get broken in and hopefully I’m the only one to ever read it. I know it’s a bit gimmicky, but after spending the $20.00, I now make sure I wear it.
Finally, whether on the road or dirt, this week’s tip may help you stay out of trouble. While approaching debris or obstructions on the trail or road, do not focus your attention on the obstacle. Instead, focus on the route past the obstacle and keep the obstacle in your peripheral vision. Chances are, if your looking at the obstacle, your bike will follow (and that may not be a good thing!).
Again, I hope to see you at Peloton on Saturday, but if not, I hope you’re enjoying the day on your bike!
Thank you Frenchista for the pix
Steve Lacey
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: Austin, Boise, Chicago, conoco, diamond shamrock, donations, fat tire festival, fort collins, grease monkey, jiffy lube, nbb, new belgium brewery, Overland Mountain Bike Club, panda express, papa johns, peloton cycles, Peloton silent Auction, Portland, qdoba, red robin, Road ID, safeway, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Silent Auction, stuart culp, Stuart Culp auction, supper solutions, Tempe, tour de fat, wok roll, yourgroupride
On Wednesday, August 5 2009, Colorado joins 14 other states with bills which require a distance of three feet when passing a cyclist. Burt Reynolds could not be happier about gaining three feet (1 yard). The bill, 148, also gives motorists the right to safely cross the center line whilst passing cyclists…I could joke about motorists crossing the line but I won’t. Riding as far right as deemed safe is also a right of the cyclist now which means you are legally allowed to “take the lane” without impeding the flow of traffic. This is where it gets a bit grey and common sense needs to be called in.
On a four lane road with no shoulder such as Horsetooth, near College Ave, or Riverside, cyclists are allowed and encouraged, for safety sake, to ride in the right lane. I hope you’ve noticed the “share the road” signs posted in these areas. They’re there for just this purpose! On a two lane lane road with no bike lane, this also means a cyclist can ride in the lane, but it does not mean we can hold up a car from passing in a reasonable amount of time (impeding traffic)….how long is ‘ a reasonable amount of time’ you ask? As soon is it is safe for you to move over. The reason you ride in the lane is to ensure vehicles see you and make a conscious effort to pass safely. I call it a little take and give; take the lane and then give it when it’s safe. Riding in the far right or in the gutter on such roads encourages and forces drivers to violate the three foot LAW (doesn’t that have a nice ring to it?) when there is oncoming traffic or on curvy roads.
As for two a-breast riding… cyclists can ride side by side but must move to single file to allow vehicles to pass. Now I’m not saying moving to single file in the gutter – remember, the law says as far right as deemed safe by the cyclist. The moving to single file is more a means for cyclists to let vehicles know they are cognizant of them and thus expect the same in return.
What else does this bill mean for cyclists? It means that we cyclists must watch our ‘Ps and Qs’ even more so until the bill is understood and accepted by everyone. If we’re going to demand adherence to the new bill, we must also follow the rules of the road…..Three feet pertains to us as well and squeezing between cars and the gutter at intersections violates this law as well. Move in with traffic in these situations.
In related news, I came across a good idea for license plates while visiting the http://www.3feet2pass.com/ site. It’s a license plate dedicated to the three feet to pass law and a local rider’s foundation. In Tennessee they need 1000 people signed up before they will print them and donations go to http://jeffrothcyclingfoundation.org/. Might be something to check out!
Now for this week’s tip – I’d like every cyclist to learn, practice and preach the rules of the road to other cyclists. Remember – 3 feet, no gutters, right lane and single file when necessary!
That’s it for now! This weekend, forget mowing the lawn and enjoy your real back “yard”…..go ride!
Steve Lacey
tour de fat colorado state university
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: 3 feet, 3feet2pass, bicycle safety, bike safety, bike shop fort collins, bill 148, college ave, colorado, colorado safety bill 148, craigslist fort collins, fort collins, miramont fort collins, Ps and Qs, tennessee, three feet to pass, tour de fat
So you have a week’s worth of vacation saved up at work, you’ve been kicking some butt on the trails this summer and feeling strong, you’ve done the Laramie Enduro, Leadville 100, a few centuries around the area…..and now what? Well…….How about a little mountain bike race from Denver to Durango to test your endurance and psyche? It’s just a mere 500 miles along the Colorado Trail, 65,000 feet of climbing, 300+ miles of single track, totally unsupported, no prizes, no entry fee, no sag wagon. No big deal, right? I found out about this race way too late to think of entering it myself but as soon as I heard about it from a coworker I’ve been eagerly awaiting its start next year….
The race starts at 6:00 AM on Sunday, August 2 at the Waterton Canyon trail head in Denver. Racers are given a route description and a Spot GPS unit with their personal profile entered in it. From here, racers are on their own to carry their own food, water, shelter and bear repellent. What! I’m sure after the first day of 16 hours or more on the bike, my clothes would be repellent enough! It is also legal for racers to use post offices to pick up care packages they’ve sent to themselves anywhere along the route, but they must return to the same point on the course where they exited and are responsible for all the time wasted in line! It is also perfectly fine to stop in any fast food joint and eat to your heart’s content – however, racers are also required to pack “it” out. Hmmmm….
The race ends in Durango at the Junction Creek Trail head. If you’re good, five days in the saddle is the fee for a soft bed and a shower. If you’re not, a call to your boss for an extra day or two of vacation may be in order. With this year’s weather patterns, I’m guessing the racers will be in for a little moisture out on the trail. Speaking of “out on the trail”, the Spot GPS units also allow real time viewing of the CTR leader board for those who wish to follow the action from the couch. Ready to join or watch the fun?……Go check out the CTR website.
If the CTR is a little much, how about something a little closer to home for a great cause? The Pedal to the Point Bike Tour was created to help at risk youth in Northern Colorado. Three fully supported routes of 24, 52 and 72 miles take off from Waverly, Sunday, August 9 at 7:00AM and return to an after ride BBQ. 100% of the entry fee is donated to Turning Point. Visit Turningpnt.org for registration and more information.
Now, this is all exciting news and stuff, but remember, before going out on any of these rides, don’t forget to lube your chain…..and here’s a little tip – lubrication does nothing on the outside of your chain except collect dirt and give you a nice black chain ring tattoo on your calf. After lubing your chain, take a rag and wipe off the excess lube from the sides of your chain to keep it from gathering dust and grime. You’ll thank me for it!
Last but not least, don’t forget your helmet!
Steve Lacey
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: colorado state university, colorado trail, colorado trail map, Colorado Trail Race, csu, ctr website, denver, Durango, durango colorado, fort collins, fort collins colorado, going back to school, gps, junction creek trail, laramie enduro, leadville 100, mountain bike, Pedal to the Point, racing, road bike, Turning Point, Waterton canyon
