Brent and Rod: Bicycle Tour of Colorado (June 23-29, 2013)

 

Author:   Brent Moody

440 miles with over 37,000 feet climbing, and camping every night outside.  This was the obstacle that haunted Rod and I in our sleep for a few months. We climb that much around Washington State, but looking at the elevation map, Colorado Mountains, and the altitude; I think we were both shaking a little wondering what we got ourselves into.

The day finally arrived, and we were ready for our long drive from Puyallup/Buckley Washington to Canon City, Colorado, where the start of the tour would begin. We took off about 6pm on a Thursday night, thinking we would drive until we were tired… Never happened, as we switched up driving responsibilities and made it to Canon City in about 22 hours nonstop! With our legs tired from driving, we thought we would go get a nice easy 20 mile or so spin in. We took off about 5pm, and soon after we were riding in the smoke bank from the fires at the Royal Gorge. Made it real tough to breathe, hacking and coughing, but Rod and I were able to have some friendly hill climbing fun and start the week of smack talk right away. Here’s a great picture near Salida, Colorado so you can see how smokey it was in the afternoon.

Next day, we decided to get a 2^nd warm-up in of 40 miles, started early, encountered no smoke, great ride! We were ready to go for Sunday am start.

Day 1:

Sunday am had finally arrived, up at 4:30 for a 6 am start. We started with a group of friends of mine from Colorado. The first climb came pretty quickly, and let the work begin! Right as we were at the top of the first climb, giant dead rattlesnake on the side of the road! That gave us some quick adrenaline. The next 20 miles or so was rolling hills and then dropping into a valley with a great tail wind. We hooked up with a cyclist, Mike from New Mexico and worked the rest of the 40 miles together.  Saw many antelope along the route. After the 3^rd sag stop, it was a turn into the wind, boy was it a wind. We would have taken any climb over that head and side wind. The final climb over Trout Creek Pass, 9346’, was a great ride. All downhill into Buena Vista from there.  88 miles and about 6000' climbing that day. First Day I think I was adjusting to the altitude, felt quick sick, but Rod said he was feeling great. WE arrived, showered up, and toured the towns locally tap house and distillery. Felt much better after that!

Day 1 photos:  Rod, Brent

Day 2:

Day 2 was another big day 93 miles and about 6500’ climbing, with Independence Pass in the distance at 12,095’. Rod was going to head out and I decided to hang back with the pack, enjoy the ride and take a lot of pics. I knew Independence Pass would be epic!  Nice gradual climb out of Buena Vista for about 20 miles along the Arkansas River and Twin Lakes. Gorgeous country, I kept stopping to take pictures as this felt like heaven.  Here’s a great picture of the start of the climb.
The climb up Independence was challenging, lots of switchbacks, but surprisingly similar to many of the climbs we ride in Washington, except for the altitude. Finally at the top, Independence Pass was above the tree line, windy, and quite cooler.



Love that Cyclopath jersey!!

 After a brief stop and refuel at the top, it was time for about 30 miles all downhill. I think Rod and I both reached speeds above 45 mph, drafting behind cars and motorcycles when we could. At the bottom of the mountain, flattened out a little as we rode thru Aspen, what a beautiful town! When we hit Aspen, route turned into a bike path, which was about 5-6 miles of gravel. One of the guys in our group, we learned later, went down on the gravel path, but was ok. The last 15 miles seemed to drag on, a paved bike path all the way to Carbondale. Thought we might see a Lance Armstrong siting, since this is his home turf, but no such thing.  Carbondale was a great town, as a group, we took over the local tap house for great beer and burgers.

Day 3:

A little bit of a break this day, as a 57 mile ride of McClure Pass, 8763’. Still over 4000 feet climbing that day. Beautiful day out. Rod got another early start at 6am; I decided to start with the group around 8am. Still adjusting to the altitude, but feeling much better. Another memorable gradual climb to the pass, riding along the Roaring Fork River. We quickly formed a great pace line with about 8 of us, making it to the start of the climb pretty quickly. We broke up from there and the last 3 miles to the top were about 8-11% grades, so pretty good hikes!

After a quick stop at the top, it was another downhill jaunt, 34 miles into Paonia, CO. I joined up with 2 others in our group and pace lined in down for 20 miles, cruising about 30 mph average. It was getting pretty hot by then, and we stop at the last sag before the final 15 to Paonia. The sags were well stocked with sandwiches, fruit, crackers, water and smoothies! We were about to head out, when we saw the state patrol stopping all cyclists and traffic. We had learned that a rider and swerved over into oncoming traffic, hit by a truck… Not good. We were there for about an hour as we saw the Helicopter come into pick the cyclist up. We decided to hit the river while we waited so not to stiffen up.

We later learned this cyclist didn’t make it, died a few days later. Very sad… After all of us were released to resume, they let us go in 2 bunches of about 100 each. They were pretty strict on last 15 miles of riding single file. Finally arriving in Paonia, 90+ degrees at 2pm.

 

Day 4:

The day that Rod and I were looking forward too. 47 miles of mostly dirt road from Paonia to Crested Butte, CO. About 5000’ climbing of Kebler Pass, at 8885’. Rod and I decided to hit it early, skip the dust from the road and make it into Crested Butte so we could check it out. It was pretty chilly that morning and we worked the road together, into the brisk wind, for the first 15 miles. After the first checkpoint, it was dirt time baby and the start of the climb! Not knowing what to expect, road was in great shape, hard packed and they spray magnesium chloride on it I guess? Grade on this was probably 7% and just winding up the side of the mountain. Here’s a great picture of Rod and I almost at the 2^nd sag stop.

 

After leaving this sag stop, we thought we were at the top, but nope… Had a much bigger climb coming. I did manage to see an Elk in the valley, but too fast and couldn’t get a great picture of the cow. The final climb was paved, and feeling good. We knew that once at the top of the final climb, only 8 miles downhill, all dirt again, into Crested Butte. This was my favorite ride of the tour, really beautiful!

Day 5:

Day off in Crested Butte. We enjoyed the local food, beers and distillery. We hooked up with another buddy of ours riding, Joe Reese, and decided to get some beers and spend the 90 degree day at the river! Had a great time and Rod came into rare form that day, deciding he was invincible, of course with a little coaching from Joe and I. Rod earned his new nickname that day… “Kneivel” (after Evil Kneivel). We ended the day with a group BBQ at our friends, who had rented a house in Crested Butte. Couldn’t believe on our walk back to the tents that night, how big the sky was and how bright the stars were. Amazing!

Day 6:

Big day!!! 99 miles, and over Cottonwood Pass, at 12,126’. I started off with Rod at 6am, nice brisk pace around 27 mph. After mile 15, it was a un announced detour, some hill climbing and dirt roads. I was quickly heated up, as temp first thing was in 40’s. I stopped to peel, and Rod took off with a brisk pace. We each had some minor bike issues that week with wheels, hubs being loose. Not sure if those gravel roads did its number on them or not. First climb, for a warm up before Cottonwood, was thru a Canyon along a river up to a reservoir. After Sag stop 2, it was climb time. 14 miles and all dirt road to the top of Cottonwood. I was expecting huge climbs, but ended up not being so! It was 5-6% grade all the way up, with a couple of short 10%, but pretty manageable. We really enjoyed this ride as

well! After a nice enjoyable climb to the top, sag stop 3, and picture time! Check

out our friend Joe Reese and me at the top!

 After a brief stop, time to layer up and prepare of 18 miles downhill, steep and lots of hair turns! I wanted to really bust it out fast, but decided to play it safe at less than 45 mph, due to the loose hub on my rear wheel. Rod and our friend Charlie were the ones left duking it out for fastest speed. I believe Rod won the downhill at 51.4, Charlie had 51.3! I was in the lead up to the last day 50.1, bow down to the downhill Gods! Those 18 miles went REALLY fast rolling back into Buena Vista for a quick re grouping! The last 20 miles were pretty flat into Salida, with a head wind though and some heat.  This day, 99 miles and over 6500 feet climbing, seemed pretty easy. I think we were finally acclimated! We did learn, after arriving into Paonia, that there was another cycling accident coming down Cottonwood. A cyclist didn’t make one of the hair pin turns, and hit the wall, catapulting over the edge. We did hear though that this cyclist was badly hurt, but recovering...

After arriving in Paonia, we decided to hit the town and check it out! Beer and margaritas sounded so good, we found the hot spot, Boathouse Cantina on the river’s edge. What a beautiful restaurant. After a recovery here, it was time to check out a few more spots. We found a great local bike shop, and Rod and Joe decided to try out the tandem bike… LOL. Great video!

After that quick Nascar Sprint, it was time to hit the tap house, order a few pizzas and beer to go, then bedtime! Joe and Rod (Kneivel) decided to once again play superman, it was time to jump in the river to cool off! Pretty Funny.

Day 7:

Final day!! I think we were all itching for finish and homebound. Started off about 6:30, Rod, Joe and I quickly pace lined out and down the canyon we went, averaging 24 mph over the final 58! We had a few stragglers latch on that didn’t want to do any work, but what the heck, finish line was in sight. WE had 1 final last climb up the Royal Gorge before the finish. Rods last words, I’m going to take this easy and spin it… until he realized this was a Strava climb. Before I knew it, Rod was riding in the distance. After pondering in my mind, I was

thinking no way is he going to get that far ahead… and the chase was on! After the climb, only about 15 miles to go, was pretty quick, and no smoke as forest fires were contained! Finish!

We finished about 9:30am, and decided we would bust it back to Washington nonstop, after a brief visit with some other buddies of mine in Ft. Collins, Co. Most of my buddies I met last year at BRAN (Bike Ride Across Nebraska), such great friends you meet on these rides!

 

The drive back was very memorable with lots of new scenery. What an experience!! If you have ever thought about riding one of these tours, I would highly recommend it! Very addicting.

To see the picture album for this trip, click on the following hyperlink:  https://picasaweb.google.com/103821724300588557330/2013_06_23To29BrentRodBicycleTourOfColorado#slideshow/5896932107584710306