Stardate 2016.822

Carbon Dating
Early this past riding season, I decided to take a reprieve from road riding. According to my fun meter, I enjoy off-road riding a tad more than road riding. However, I participate in many road events, and over the past handful of years, I've spent more time on the road bike. Excessive road riding finally caught up to me, and last spring I found myself in a quandary.




Yes, I was burned out on road riding. I took several little rides in July when surrounds were green, as below, but that's about it for road riding over the summer.



Except for mid-September, when Snowcatcher and I ventured to the Pacific Northwest to visit friends and ride the MS-150 Deception Pass Classic; it has been all mountain bike. In mid-October, something came over me as I sat in the living room eating Little Debbie brownies while getting ready for a mountain bike ride. Perhaps it was the carbon weave of the cranks. Perhaps it was the paper-thin carbon-layering of Trek's OCLV black carbon fiber reflecting in the sun. Perhaps the svelte lines of the frame, symbolic of speed, like the Enterprise accelerating to light speed. (Yes some of us have warp capabilities.) Or, perhaps it's the only mistress my wife will welcome into our home...

...it was time to brave the asphalt, yet again. Following are some autumn pics acquired while on two different carbon dates. At 6,200 feet of elevation, Lower Deer Creek Canyon was fast shedding its leaves.




It's been very warm and hard to accept winter is right around the corner.



Turn-around and/or rest stop at "the top" at about 8,500 feet of elevation! During the warm months this place is nothing but bikes and roadies. We all chip in on occasion as part of an honor system because locals maintain a rest stop with coolers full of Gatorade, water, homemade cookies and a blue room (bathroom).



Some fun history exists here too. The old school house was built in 1894 and may be rented for events. The structure also functioned as a grange at some point. After a snack-filled rest stop, it was time for me to continue riding. With 20 less Fahrenheits bouncing about and a stiff breeze, there was more of an autumn feel. I was happy to have brought along a jacket for the fast descent.




Highgrade Road winds its way deep into the foothills of the Front Range.




Highgrade Road is steep in places. Albeit hard to tell, the segment from me to the turn is about a 12- to 15-percent pitch.




Soon I was back down on the flats. Carbon dating mission accomplished.
More autumn road riding to come... Stay tuned!

Adios

Stardate 2015.104

Top O' The Day To Ya!

Spring-like temperatures adorn this region again. It's time to pull on some SHORTS and take a bike for a roll. I pointed the bike toward Deer Creek Canyon for a nice little climb. Icy conditions are abating and most of the road is dry of runoff. No cold, wet butt cheeks today.



I stopped toward the top of High Grade Road to shoot a photo. In four more turns, I will be in the small hamlet of Critchell. Good, my legs could use a short breather. However, I still have several miles to the top. Yes, I stopped on a hill, but only for some blog fodder — seriously!



Despite clouds drifting in, it is very warm for February, even at an elevation of 8,500 feet. On top, the snow is rapidly melting.



The descent requires a little care. There is a lot of sand on the road, and the curves are kind of exciting.



I ease up on the gas while descending the steepest part of High Grade Road. Once again, lots of sand lions hanging about. This short segment is probably 12- to 15-percent grade.



It is a delightful cruise down Deer Creek, especially since the sun is shooing away the clouds.



When I reached the bottom and shed a layer, I took this photo of the hogback portal onto the plains.



This is my favorite cottonwood tree on this route. In the summer, its shade is very inviting.


That's it for now. See ya soon!

Adios

Stardate 2015.077

What Happened To Winter?

The last several weeks have been very, very, mild. Sub-zero temps in November have slowly given way to upper 50s and 60s. I don't particularly like this because I'm convinced we'll pay for it this spring. Nonetheless, Snowcatcher and I have been trying to take advantage of the situation the best we can. Following are some photos from the fourth week of January. I spent several rides playing in Deer Creek Canyon, and in SHORTS mind you.


Above is the portal to Deer Creek Canyon. Easy riding ends here. Beyond lies several climb options. Day one will be a 2,925-foot climb to the Pleasant Valley Grange.



The canyon bottom was still in winter mode.



The climb went fairly well. I didn't have any cramps, an empirical indicator of my current conditioning. The grange sits at an elevation of 8,450 feet. Pleasant Park Grange (old school house) is the usual rest stop following the climb up out of Deer Creek Canyon.



There are lots of nice homes buried away up here.



The above shot is the approximate middle of High Grade Road. Lots of loose sand to watch for. At this point, slope is about 6 or 7 percent. Right behind me it ramps up to 12 to 15 percent for a way. You're not going fast to begin with, yet it's still like hitting a wall.



Deer Creek Canyon opens up to the Great Plains.



The second day, Wednesday, was National Wind Day. Can you say horrific wind? I can - horrific wind! Aeolus was working overtime trying to knock me off the bike. Between the sand and ice, the odds were in favor of Aeolus.



Time to make a decision. Take a left and you have about 3 miles of sustained 10 percent grade climbing. Head behind me and you have about 7.5 miles of variable climbing, including short segments of 12 and 15 percent grade. At this intersection, you've already been climbing for 6 miles. By the way, the lower sign used to say High Grade Road. They're always trying to confuse me.



Back into the ice box. In one day, the road had actually dried a lot from the previous day.



My favorite curves enjoying the sun. A whole handful of sharp curves precede these. Yet, at 35 mph, they just have the right feel to them.



Despite gobs and gobs of loose sand and wet asphalt, the descent eventually entered perpetual sun. Another ride come and gone.

Adios