Startdate 2016.145

Gimme an S...

This past weekend Snowcatcher and I ventured out to the Chatfield Reservoir area to enjoy the spring-like weather blanketing the Denver Metro. For a change of pace, I decided to ride my steel-tubed Serotta. The last time I threw a leg over her probably was back in 2002. I purchased the bike on 06 February 1996. Hence, it would be a 20th anniversary ride as well. Most components are original; however, the carbon fiber forks are not original and have a story themselves. That being, I crashed into a rock retaining wall on Colorado National Monument after losing front traction on icy hard-packed snow. The crash results included backward bent (destroyed) original forks. About a year ago, I performed a lube, bearing, cable and anything else requiring some maintenance go-over on the Serotta. See overhaul Part I and overhaul Part II. It was due time for a ride.



Steel is real! A quality steel frameset feels the road working its way through the tubing. It's something you feel as part of the bike. Difficult to describe, it has a silent, soft "buzz" to it. When the road surface changes, the "buzz" also takes on a new element. On the other hand, steel can be a bit corpulent by current standards. Scaled, the Serotta weighs in at 21.5 pounds (considered a tad heavy). The carbon fiber bike I normally ride weighs in at 16.5 pounds. Albeit super light, carbon fiber just doesn't have the road feel steel offers. Carbon is highly muted with the occasional pothole thud. The Serotta still has "man gearing" from when I was a bit younger and stronger. I give solid Uhg to climbing with the 53/39 front and 8-speed 12/23 rear gearing. I've become weak pedaling around on compact 50/34 front and 10-speed 12/28 rear gearing. I attribute the latter gearing to mountain riding. However, I know better than to cop out.



The fastest speed I've attained by bicycle is 63 miles per hour with the help of the steep, north dam road below Horsetooth Reservoir, just west of Fort Collins, Colorado. The descent was comfortable on the Serotta. However, I would not be comfortable at that speed on my carbon fiber bike. I've had my carbon bikes into the 50-mile-per-hour range, and it was not comfortable; albeit very exciting. Following are some additional pics from our ride. Let's continue with a nice active beaver pond in the Chatfield area. Enjoy!




A cozy beaver lodge.




It was a big sky day at Chatfield.




A good ride usually includes several miles of gravel grinding.




More snow is forecast for the coming week. We enjoyed the temperate calm while we had it!

Adios

Stardate 2015.521

MS 150

Thank you MS 150 donators! You're all awesome!

Each year Snowcatcher and I receive very generous amounts of money for Multiple Sclerosis. A large portion of the money comes from blog readers. The donations allow us to take part in a fundraiser bike ride known as the MS 150. The bike ride is an overnight out and back from the asphalt and concrete of Denver suburb Westminster, through rolling farmlands, ending for the evening at Colorado State University in Fort Collins – my undergrad alma mater. The following Sunday, we ride back to the Denver metro area.

This year's ride was hot and dry. I especially enjoyed the steep grades around Horsetooth Reservoir, just west of Fort Collins. As a student, I logged many miles on these roads, and I always enjoy visiting them for another ride.



Saturday's water stop just before tackling the hills around Horsetooth Reservoir. At this point, ambient Fahrenheits were getting excited as well.



Horsetooth Reservoir



Horsetooth Reservoir sits between a hogback and the foothills of the Front Range. It took 4-earthen dams to build the reservoir. Above is the southernmost dam. You also can see the road ramp-up 12 to 15 percent. The road onto each dam is similar. The steep grades are not overly long. Yet, when you already have 70-miles on your legs for the day, the climbs kind of hurt. Back in the late 90s, I set the fastest speed I've ever attained on a bike down the northernmost dam. I clocked 63 miles per hour.



The Colorado State University campus is center to left center of the photo.



The MS 150 bike corral is for parking bikes overnight. Supposedly, they're babysat throughout the evening. However, when we arrived early Sunday morning, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Sorry, I couldn't resist.



It's been another busy spring and summer for my steed. Over the last handful of years, she's logged 16,265 miles.



Sunday's lunch stop provided a short respite from the sun. At the height of the day's ride, this stop will be standing room only.



Colorado's northern Front Range rises high above a small sampling of America's breadbasket.



How about one more hill, just for fun?



How about one more downhill, just for fun? This little coast deposited us at the finish line.

That's it for now. I think I'll put the road bike out to pasture for awhile and saddle up the mountain bike. Alpine flowers will be coming on shortly; there's a hint of down the road.

Thanks again to all of you who contributed to our cause!

Later gator!

Adios