Ding Dong Avon Calling

AVON, COLORADO

DAY 4 - RIDE THE ROCKIES
 
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS TO AVON

Leaving Steamboat Springs

It was a bit chilly as I rolled out of Steamboat Springs. Then again, these are the mountains and the mornings are cool. I found the bike path and took it to the route. Once one the road, the same as we rode yesterday in our loop, I was enjoying solo time when a massive group rolled by.

Unlike last year, this year's route was not conducive to forming pace lines. Even if one formed I said I wasn't going to ride in one. Then I foolishly jumped in. Included in the group was a Wounded Warrior with no arms and a butt brake. We were rolling. I averaged 1.5 mph faster on the road to Oak Creek - the same place we rode to yesterday. 

Steamboat Springs Visitor Center

This wasn't a true pace line. It was just a large group with the same people pulling and a bunch of wheel suckers. Me. Not knowing the skills of the riders I decided to drop off, did, then soon found myself on the back of the group again. But it broke up completely with a little climb to Oak Creek.

Oak Creek Miners Museum

Miners Wall

Photo: Group M. 11:25

After the first rest station, I met Lisa Smith for the second time in the week. She introduced me to her friends Roger and Jeanie Schultz. I rode for about one minute before dropping for a photo op. After the picture I caught back up to Roger and rode with him and Jeanie to rest stop 2. Roger asked if I was glad to drop and not try to stay with Lisa. He may have been right.

Finger Rock

At Finger Rock I dropped again, only to rejoin and enjoy our conversation. That would last to the next stop and I would not see them again the rest of the day.

And you thought you had a dandelion problem

We had been enjoying the benefits of an awesome tail wind but it turned into a head wind when the road turned. I rode the climb and descent solo, passing many on the descent. I am either a dumb descender or fearless but it is one advantage I seem to have on 95% of the riders here. I go down hills well.

I stopped at the third rest area, ate some grapes, didn't see anyone I knew, and then moved on.

Made me giggle. Probably had said Poor and
someone made an editorial change

I hadn't gone very far when I saw and stopped at a tiny post office and talked with the postmaster. She said things have really gotten bad in the last two years. Glad I left. 

Tiny Post Office
Bond, CO

I saw a bridge ahead and because of the warning sign knew it was State Bridge but was disappointed. I was hoping for something very majestic. It was just a bridge.

State Bridge CO
Colorado River

On the climb up the pass from State Bridge I first was talking to a young lady riding for the Children's Tumor Foundation. She was wearing a riding kit made to look like lingerie. Cute.

Children's Tumor Foundation

I also got a demerit from the Colorado State Police for not riding single file. Oops. I ended up pacing a medic, Lori, up the climb. I met her last year and she remembered me. The policeman simply pointed to climb single file.

Sheep. Lots of sheep.

We had another nice descent to bomb although both had winds around 30 mph making 50 mph impossible. The wind both held me back and made it a bit dangerous trying to control the bike at high speed.

Leaving the fourth rest stop I was again riding alone until four riders passed me. I jumped on their wheels and as we passed a young lady struggling I motioned for her to follow me. She did. When I bailed at a stop light and stopped at a convenience store for a Cliff Bar she said she was really struggling until I invited her to ride along. She was right. The last 10 miles did rise, albeit at 2-3%, it was just enough to drag one down.

Just an entrance to a Golf Club
Eagle Springs Golf Club

At the end we were met by young ladies in baker"s uniforms with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. What a way to end a ride. And I didn't take a picture.

Credit: Ziggy

But Ziggy Emme did.

Eagle River

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Steamboat Loop

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO

DAY 3 - RIDE THE ROCKIES

This was a first for me on a Ride to Rockies trip - two nights in the same town with a loop ride back to start. On paper, this would be the easiest day of all and it looked that way. On paper. No named passes or mountains. But it wasn't that easy.

Near Steamboat Springs

Rolling out of Steamboat Springs the route went through some ranch country. Here "rollers" aren't the ups and downs that they are back east but three to four miles up followed by three to four miles of downs.

Oak Creek CO

At the first stop in Oak Creek, I met an amputee, Mike, who lost his left arm at his shoulder. He was kind enough to show me his bike. One brake level controls both brakes with a device called a problem solver. He has straight handlebars with mountain bike type shifters (levers), He is a strong climber as I found out. And a fearful descender as braking with one hand and not fully being able to balance completely at high speeds, he "creeps" down the mountain no faster than 20 mph.

Mike

I flew by him on a descent and waited at the bottom as he passed by. A climb began immediately. I had to let some other riders pass and then I started the climb. He was perhaps 150 meters in front of me and I thought that I would bring him back. I didn't. He increased that as we climbed. Well done Mike!

My bike started creaking under heavy duress (climbs). Each pedal stroke brought a groan from her and people could hear me pedaling. It was annoying. At the second rest stop I took my bike to Wheat Ridge Cyclery. The mechanic agreed with me it was probably a dirty bottom bracket and spent about 15 minutes cleaning it.

As I rolled out of the rest stop we began an immediate and serious climb. And it creaked even louder. I made it to the summit of the first climb, hit another awesome descent then began the big climb. This had sections of 11-12% grade and put many riders in difficulty. Most were used to the constant 6-7% grades but not something this steep.

White Horse on the range

I pulled over and thought maybe the noise wasn't from the bottom bracket but from the rear wheel. I took it off, put it back on with force, and the creaking went away for the rest of the day. At least I got my bottom bracket cleaned.

Beautiful bike path along and in the Yampa River in Steamboat Springs

Descending into Steamboat Springs we rode along a beautiful but flooded Yampa River Core Trail. Passing through downtown, just as we were to return to the main RTR area, the winds kicked up and it looked like a storm was brewing. I opted to head back to the hotel but not before a quick stop at Wendy's. 

F. M. Light and Sons
You see signs for this all the way here

There I met a 70 year-old man who came to Ride the Rockies from Gallup, New Mexico. By bike. Quite impressive. I had seen him last year and wondered if he was part of RTR. He was.

70 years old and still pedaling strong

It was a day that many riders opted to use as a rest day. I was here to ride and so was this 70 year-old.

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Farther Than I Thought

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO

DAY 2 - RIDE THE ROCKIES

There is no entry for Day 1 because for this traveler it was a day spent flying between D.C. and Denver, then renting a car and driving in snow (yes) over to Winter Park.

Bike path in Winter Park

There was a Day 1 for most riders, it was just shortened. A nice day turned miserable with cold, rain, and then snow. Most riders were suffering from hypothermia and it was too dangerous to descend the mountain to Winter Park.  RTR wisely closed the course and shuttled all riders.

A little ice on the water
Near Winter Park

I had some food on the airplane and thought I'd grab something on the way to Winter Park, or upon reaching Winter Park. I did neither.

Snow capped peaks

I thought we had a complimentary breakfast. We did not.

Froggymobile snow and ice covered

Checking the weather it was 29 degrees. And I did not bring winter riding clothes. No head covering. No leg warmers or tights. No winter jacket. I did have knee warmers and a light jacket. That would have to do.

Snow in Winter Park

I rolled out of Winter Park to find the Ride the Rockies registration. When I reached the rec center in town I found they had already packed up and moved on for the day. So I jumped in with all the other riders, following the signs and wheels. And not otherwise knowing where I was going.

Winter Park, Colorado

I could see snow capped mountains but had no idea of today's route. Leaving rest stop #1 I saw the sign - Steamboat Springs 78. Oops. It's going to be a much longer day than I anticipated.

Steamboat Springs - Just 78 more miles

It's hard to describe the topography of the day. I'll let the photos do that. One of my favorites was probably only a three mile ride through Beyers Canyon, a narrow fit of road without shoulders, the Colorado River, and a train track. It was gorgeous.

Beyers Canyon and Colorado River

It was here I was passed, we all were passed, by Lisa Smith. Her cadence must have been 160-180 rpm. I thought she was gone forever but eventually the road turned more favorable to my liking or less to hers and we were side by side for a while talking about France and Italy.

Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's 

I stopped at Rest Stop #2 and saw my friends from the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinsons. I would love to ride with them but am so vested in the cancer fight I don't know that I have the resources to support them as well.

Rest Stop #1 in Grandy

Granby CO

We climbed up Muddy Pass (8,772') and went through Rabbit Ears Pass (9,426') where we crossed the Continental Divide. The climb was sort of long. I had a guy my age sit on my wheel the entire way - overlapped my wheel actually.

Actually, this guy was on my wheel the entire climb. I really didn't mind except he kept overlapping my wheel. And my climbing style is occasionally popping out of the saddle. I tried never to create a hesitation when standing. Then about a mile from the summit we were passed by a young lady and I was able to hold her wheel to the summit. So I got a free pull too. And I thanked her for it when she kept going.

Windy Gap Reservoir
Colorado River

Continental Divide

Over the top there was an awesome no-brakes seven mile 7% grade descent. Even in a tuck, pedaling at times, and riding in the right travel lane where it was a little smoother, I could only hit 42.5 mph. I was going into a pretty strong head wind. In fact that head wind was present all day and made riding tough.

"Homeless" Rider headed the other direction
on Rabbit Ears Pass

Top of Rabbit Ears

Beginning Descent to Steamboat Springs

My Kind of Hill

At the bottom of the mountain was still a four mile run in into our destination. Here I rode with a guy from Austin who does training rides for the Texas 4000. He was fun to talk with. He did say their weather had been so crappy that he didn't get out his year to meet the riders.

Rest Stop on Rabbit Ears Pass

In the end the day turned out to be more than 100 miles. I should have eaten more. Getting to the hotel I was too tired to go out. Pizza delivery anyone?

Notes. 101.38 miles

Photo: Group G. 1:20 PM


Answer: Yes

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