M
Mattb
Guest
Well, still no ridable dirt here (Hey Salida guys - how's it
look on that side?) so I have to make do. I got out on a
couple of road rides and some alpine skiing over the
weekend, so it was far from a total loss! Friday I cut out
of work at 3:00 and did a relatively flat out and back on
the road bike. I had a meeting spot picked to meet my boss
and ride part of the ride together. He mis-calculated his
fitness (lack of) level and distances and was 15 Minutes
late. I just rode up and down a hill nearby to keep warm
until he showed. Then we rode abut 6 or 7 Miles together
with me doubling back to catch him up every mile or so. He's
planning on doing a big road tour this summer. He needs to
get his ass in shape before that! Saturday I hung with my
son for the morning while MrsB got out on her road bike. She
had some mechanical issues (luckily before leaving) that
ended up making her ride go a little long. JrB is cranky
right now because he's getting a bunch of teeth at the same
time. We all suffer together. I ended up getting out at
about 3:00 again and wanted to go for a little more of a
ride than Friday's leisurely 28 (or so) Miler. I decided to
head West and ride Nine Mile Hill. As the name implies, it's
a big ol' hill (~1500' climb starting just South of Blue
Mesa heading for Lake City for those familiar with the
area). I fought head winds through the Gunnison River Canyon
on the way out and though about how nice it will be when
they are tail winds on the way home. I climbed the hill with
as much determination as I could muster. Not quite the same
as a tough MTB climb and I would find my mind wandering. I
guess the good part is I don't usually have to dab to
recover from a break in concentration. I finally reached the
summit and looked at the time 5:15. Ooh. I need to high-tail
it home as I was going to be making dinner. I pushed back
down the hill as fast as I could. My hands and feet getting
numb as the sun gets obscured. After hitting Hwy 50 and
heading into the canyon again I realized the wind had
shifted and I had even more of a headwind than I did coming
out. I pushed on and hit town about
6:30 in time to see MrsB starting out in the car to look for
me. I guess she called but I didn't hear it over the wind.
Oops. I busted out a fast Pesto (a house specialty) while
the noodles cooked and we managed to get dinner going in
record time. It was delicious and I scarfed a big ol' pile
(never really had lunch that day either). Sunday I hung
with JrB again in the morning while MrsB rode and then got
out at about noon and skied until closing at Crested
Butte. My legs were feeling the ride from the day before
and the snow was just so-so. It was still nice to be out,
and nice to be alpining as I've been on tele gear for much
of the winter this year. All too quickly it's Monday again
and I'm sitting at work wrangling 1's and 0's. If I can
tolerate the roadie thing until the dirt comes, I should
be in reasonable shape for it. Then I'll happily hang up
the road bike until the trails are saturated again, which
will hopefully not happen until late fall.
--
Matt
"Gravity. It's not just a good idea, it's the law!"
look on that side?) so I have to make do. I got out on a
couple of road rides and some alpine skiing over the
weekend, so it was far from a total loss! Friday I cut out
of work at 3:00 and did a relatively flat out and back on
the road bike. I had a meeting spot picked to meet my boss
and ride part of the ride together. He mis-calculated his
fitness (lack of) level and distances and was 15 Minutes
late. I just rode up and down a hill nearby to keep warm
until he showed. Then we rode abut 6 or 7 Miles together
with me doubling back to catch him up every mile or so. He's
planning on doing a big road tour this summer. He needs to
get his ass in shape before that! Saturday I hung with my
son for the morning while MrsB got out on her road bike. She
had some mechanical issues (luckily before leaving) that
ended up making her ride go a little long. JrB is cranky
right now because he's getting a bunch of teeth at the same
time. We all suffer together. I ended up getting out at
about 3:00 again and wanted to go for a little more of a
ride than Friday's leisurely 28 (or so) Miler. I decided to
head West and ride Nine Mile Hill. As the name implies, it's
a big ol' hill (~1500' climb starting just South of Blue
Mesa heading for Lake City for those familiar with the
area). I fought head winds through the Gunnison River Canyon
on the way out and though about how nice it will be when
they are tail winds on the way home. I climbed the hill with
as much determination as I could muster. Not quite the same
as a tough MTB climb and I would find my mind wandering. I
guess the good part is I don't usually have to dab to
recover from a break in concentration. I finally reached the
summit and looked at the time 5:15. Ooh. I need to high-tail
it home as I was going to be making dinner. I pushed back
down the hill as fast as I could. My hands and feet getting
numb as the sun gets obscured. After hitting Hwy 50 and
heading into the canyon again I realized the wind had
shifted and I had even more of a headwind than I did coming
out. I pushed on and hit town about
6:30 in time to see MrsB starting out in the car to look for
me. I guess she called but I didn't hear it over the wind.
Oops. I busted out a fast Pesto (a house specialty) while
the noodles cooked and we managed to get dinner going in
record time. It was delicious and I scarfed a big ol' pile
(never really had lunch that day either). Sunday I hung
with JrB again in the morning while MrsB rode and then got
out at about noon and skied until closing at Crested
Butte. My legs were feeling the ride from the day before
and the snow was just so-so. It was still nice to be out,
and nice to be alpining as I've been on tele gear for much
of the winter this year. All too quickly it's Monday again
and I'm sitting at work wrangling 1's and 0's. If I can
tolerate the roadie thing until the dirt comes, I should
be in reasonable shape for it. Then I'll happily hang up
the road bike until the trails are saturated again, which
will hopefully not happen until late fall.
--
Matt
"Gravity. It's not just a good idea, it's the law!"