Day 5: Preparation T
Pictures: Troy and Steve do pre-Triple ride to Jamestown. Troy 1/6 of the way done at top of Squaw Pass. Pete, Troy and Todd sport the stripes at 1st break area. Pete and Troy celebrate the successful ascent up Loveland.
Friday was our meeting and shuttling vehicle day. Troy, Steve and El Guapo connect at the local cyclist’s fav coffee shop Amante’s. It also happened to be first mountain day of the Tour, so we reveled in the Versus coverage. Amante’s was chuck full of cycle fans.
After the exciting finish, we sally forth for a quick “get acclimated” ride for Troy. Head north of Boulder and veer off into mountains on Left Hand Road. We complete a circuit back to the coffee shop that included Lee Hill Road and a huge descent. I actually record the speediest descent of the week here, just nudging past 50 mph. Not to worry, I’ll have other chances to break my personal best (or worst, if you’re a worrier) time of 55.3 mph.
After lunch, all three of us drive separately to Avon, where we drop Steve’s pickup and Troy’s SUV. Then back to Boulder. Troy and Pete chow down on the perfect pre-120 mile ride fuel….Indian food. We prep the Jeep for the early morning journey to the start line by attaching our two-wheeled sleds and all the gear we would need that evening. Early start anticipated.
Day 6: The Main Event
Up at 3:09 AM, decide that an extra 45 minute of sleep was OK. Promptly dreamed that Troy and I overslept. Woke with a start and leaped out of bed at 3:51. Like good Scouts, we’re prepared, so all we have to do is nuke ourselves with industrial strength java and inhale donuts. Just as we get the Jeep on the main drag, we found a Volvo XC 70 with a road bike stapled to the back. Use Sherlock-like deductive powers and conclude this crazy was heading to the same place as us. No other whackos out at 4 AM ‘cept us loons. Arrive at Evergreen. We luck out. Spot semi-legal parking spot open. Doe-eye the volunteer guarding entrance to parking lot. She swoons and lets us pass. Complete the obligatory pre-ride rituals of sunscreen, gear check and port-a-potty visit.
Official start time of 5:55. Up, up and away thru the goons at the wristband check on the way to Juniper pass. Troy is so excited, but that soon passes. Eventually I hear a "what have you got me into" statement. Anyway, we slog our way the 20+ miles to first break station. Spot Betty and her posse, as well as teammate Todd striped out in his Velo gear, along with his pops, Terry.
Ready for 1st descent. Betty launches first, followed by her crazy 88s. Troy and I bomb the downhill shortly thereafter. Right in front of us, we witness a sweet sliding wipeout into guard rail after some dude’s tire blows on the corner. I bark the mandatory “are you OK?” on the way by at 40 mph, but never heard the response so figure that means I don’t have to stop. Surely some good Samaritan behind me actually stops and helps. Dude didn’t even have time to bleed by the time I was on him.
My primary mission is to find and flame the hard charging Betty. Eventually, I spot her in the purple HHH jersey. Superior body mass and Eurus wheels rule the day and I torch her on the right side at about 45 mph. We all know Campy rules, right Betty? That and superior body mass, so mix in a buffet or two.
We regroup at Ranger station in Idaho Springs. Start the group Bataan death march from Idaho to Loveland, including 6 miles on I-70 shoulder. Chow down on PB & J fuel at Loveland ski area. Now the fun begins with Loveland ascent. I take no prisoners and scream up the slope at a steady 9.5 mph, with a leech sticking on my rear wheel. I couldn’t shake him, but he compliments me for a “great pull” as we reach the summit. Break out the cold weather gear and settle in for a while until Troy summits. We do the obligatory photo ops at the 11, 990 sign. Then hurtle down the sweet descent to Copper.
Now the weather turns to crud. Spit, spat and sput on us the whole way up to Vail Pass. We earn the jersey the hard way, but freezing our buns off on final 1/3 of ride. No drafting unless you wanna choke on lead rider’s rear wheel turkey tail of road grime and goo. Power in to finish line to cheering throngs.
Congrats to Troy for nutting up and finishing under Xtreme duress. Troy goes his own way and I hitch ride back to Evergreen with Steve and Chuck. Figure this is my last hurrah swan song for the Triple. Don’t anyone ask me to go next year! Got other nasty rides to try. Can you say California’s Death Ride? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
Friday was our meeting and shuttling vehicle day. Troy, Steve and El Guapo connect at the local cyclist’s fav coffee shop Amante’s. It also happened to be first mountain day of the Tour, so we reveled in the Versus coverage. Amante’s was chuck full of cycle fans.
After the exciting finish, we sally forth for a quick “get acclimated” ride for Troy. Head north of Boulder and veer off into mountains on Left Hand Road. We complete a circuit back to the coffee shop that included Lee Hill Road and a huge descent. I actually record the speediest descent of the week here, just nudging past 50 mph. Not to worry, I’ll have other chances to break my personal best (or worst, if you’re a worrier) time of 55.3 mph.
After lunch, all three of us drive separately to Avon, where we drop Steve’s pickup and Troy’s SUV. Then back to Boulder. Troy and Pete chow down on the perfect pre-120 mile ride fuel….Indian food. We prep the Jeep for the early morning journey to the start line by attaching our two-wheeled sleds and all the gear we would need that evening. Early start anticipated.
Day 6: The Main Event
Up at 3:09 AM, decide that an extra 45 minute of sleep was OK. Promptly dreamed that Troy and I overslept. Woke with a start and leaped out of bed at 3:51. Like good Scouts, we’re prepared, so all we have to do is nuke ourselves with industrial strength java and inhale donuts. Just as we get the Jeep on the main drag, we found a Volvo XC 70 with a road bike stapled to the back. Use Sherlock-like deductive powers and conclude this crazy was heading to the same place as us. No other whackos out at 4 AM ‘cept us loons. Arrive at Evergreen. We luck out. Spot semi-legal parking spot open. Doe-eye the volunteer guarding entrance to parking lot. She swoons and lets us pass. Complete the obligatory pre-ride rituals of sunscreen, gear check and port-a-potty visit.
Official start time of 5:55. Up, up and away thru the goons at the wristband check on the way to Juniper pass. Troy is so excited, but that soon passes. Eventually I hear a "what have you got me into" statement. Anyway, we slog our way the 20+ miles to first break station. Spot Betty and her posse, as well as teammate Todd striped out in his Velo gear, along with his pops, Terry.
Ready for 1st descent. Betty launches first, followed by her crazy 88s. Troy and I bomb the downhill shortly thereafter. Right in front of us, we witness a sweet sliding wipeout into guard rail after some dude’s tire blows on the corner. I bark the mandatory “are you OK?” on the way by at 40 mph, but never heard the response so figure that means I don’t have to stop. Surely some good Samaritan behind me actually stops and helps. Dude didn’t even have time to bleed by the time I was on him.
My primary mission is to find and flame the hard charging Betty. Eventually, I spot her in the purple HHH jersey. Superior body mass and Eurus wheels rule the day and I torch her on the right side at about 45 mph. We all know Campy rules, right Betty? That and superior body mass, so mix in a buffet or two.
We regroup at Ranger station in Idaho Springs. Start the group Bataan death march from Idaho to Loveland, including 6 miles on I-70 shoulder. Chow down on PB & J fuel at Loveland ski area. Now the fun begins with Loveland ascent. I take no prisoners and scream up the slope at a steady 9.5 mph, with a leech sticking on my rear wheel. I couldn’t shake him, but he compliments me for a “great pull” as we reach the summit. Break out the cold weather gear and settle in for a while until Troy summits. We do the obligatory photo ops at the 11, 990 sign. Then hurtle down the sweet descent to Copper.
Now the weather turns to crud. Spit, spat and sput on us the whole way up to Vail Pass. We earn the jersey the hard way, but freezing our buns off on final 1/3 of ride. No drafting unless you wanna choke on lead rider’s rear wheel turkey tail of road grime and goo. Power in to finish line to cheering throngs.
Congrats to Troy for nutting up and finishing under Xtreme duress. Troy goes his own way and I hitch ride back to Evergreen with Steve and Chuck. Figure this is my last hurrah swan song for the Triple. Don’t anyone ask me to go next year! Got other nasty rides to try. Can you say California’s Death Ride? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
1 comment:
Peeeeeeeete!
Wonderful day was had by Chuck (the Barbarian) and myself. We saw Betty, Alan, and Bill on the way to the first aid station. After that we didn't look back. By the end of the day we were approx an hour ahead so we missed most of the rain on the descent from Vail pass. 9.5 mph up Loveland pass? Youdaman! Me? a mere 6.5; I used to feel proud about it, too.
Next time you're out here we'll head up to Ward & beyond.
Steve
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