Colorado National Monument
45 miles
I think I started out this way two years ago...
You can count on it like clockwork. I always forget something when I travel. Usually I'm lucky enough that I can pick up a new toothbrush or deodorant stick at any grocery or convenience store. But sometimes I mess up really bad and forget camera batteries or film or flash, and I end up missing some phenomenal picture. Or I end up sleeping on the floor of the tent or in the back of my car because I forgot my sleeping bag.
This time, I kind of took the cake. On the bright side, I did bring my bike. Oh, and my camera. The most important ingredients!
I was so worried I might forget my helmet, I left my shoes behind. I could have picked up a new helmet for $20 bucks or so. Yeah, it wouldn't have been as good as the one I'm using. But holy cow!!! Shoes, cleats, and the heartache (and footache and bodyache) of getting the cleats adjusted all over again... Oh, man! Do you have any idea how much biking shoes cost??? Now I'm going to be the Imelda Marcos of cycling.
The trip to Grand Junction was uneventful. I had planned to leave Thursday night so I could hike in Colorado National Monument before the ride began. But I had to make an unexpected stop to visit a certain juvenile delinquent semi-dependent, and I didn't feel like driving until 2 a.m. afterward. So I left Friday morning instead.
We stashed Brett's truck in Breckenridge so we wouldn't have to ride back to our respective homes at the end, luggage in tow. :) Breckenridge turned out to be a good reason NOT to have left a day earlier, as we had to purchase our parking permit from the Town of Breckenridge, offices that would have been closed and locked tight by the time I arrived had I left Thursday. The Tailings Lot also was the scene of a comedy of errors, so to speak. The first person we talked to said we didn't need a permit. (We knew better.) The second person told us it would be $5 per night. (Ouch.) The third person charged us the previously announced $15. Because we were the fourth car on the designated lot, we got our choice of spaces. That was nice.
A few miles later, we passed the official RTR porta potties en route to Grand Junction. Now that's a treat none of the bus riders got to see!
We reported to the registration tent first thing Saturday morning and didn't have to wait in line. We were worried this year's jersey might be really ugly because neither of us cared for the logo. But they did a good job with the lame design. I like the jersey so much, I bought the matching shorts. :)
On Sunday morning, I left a couple hours earlier than Brett in the hopes I might be able to finish the ride in time to make the final church service of the day at 1 p.m. I rode with none other than Larry Green for a while, and I stopped to help a riding medic whose chain derailed when she began the day's climb. I stopped a couple more times before reaching the top of the climb, just to stretch and make sure I wasn't pushing too hard, saving my strength and endurance for tomorrow's challenge.
The most amazing thing of the day was watching people's reactions as they rounded the bend of the Grand View overlook. Two by two I watched eyeballs nearly pop from heads at the stunning scenery. Got asked to snap a photo more than once. Happy to oblige!
I trained on this leg of the ride three times during the preseason. The first trip was six hours. The second trip was five hours. The third trip got cut short because I got stuck in my cleats.
Although my average speed was only 11.2, according to my trip computer, I did today's ride in 4 hours and 2 minutes! I got back in time to shower and attend the 11 a.m. church service!!! I was so excited! My fastest speed during the descent was 31.5. I used the brakes a lot. But I don't have to replace them. Yet...
36 miles of screaming downhill tomorrow. If I can finish the grueling climb...
bikemaster: jrnylst at att dot net
