Vail Pass

Last week from Tuesday to Monday (7 days) I (Chuck) rode 491k (304mi). I felt good about the total distance. I did two 100k+ rides back to back. The first one went really well. I rode some hills, and rode pretty fast. I was feeling pretty encouraged after that ride. The next day I had planned on riding up to Woodland Park and then up the Rampart Range Road to get some long climbing in. This was Saturday morning, and I thought I would beat the wind and that the Memorial Day traffic would be over. Well, the wind was awful, and the traffic was NOT light. I can deal with cars, but pickups pulling big RVs is another thing. Plus, the wind was in my face, and gusting enough to move me around on the road. I got on highway 24 above Manitou Springs, and decided I wouldn't take my life in my hands so I turned around at the first opportunity.

So, as an alternate, I decide to look for all the hills I could find on the west side of town. I first headed up 26th street to the south. That is actually a long, steady climb which was, of course, into the wind. I got to where it intersected Gold Camp Road and headed up that. A couple of hundred yard further up, I got hit by a gust of wind so strong that I almost lost control. Once again, discretion being the better part of valor, I turned around and went downhill.

My next challenge was to ride up Cheyenne Canyon. This is a beautiful drive, and a steep climb. once again, the wind was either cross or head and it was a tough haul. Close to the top, I got hit by a cross wind so strong that I had a hard time riding a straight line, so downhill I went. I pondered doing that again, but decided that was not smart.

I rode by a local deceased artists house and took this picture. The artist was a retired mining engineer and loved to make wonderful moving sculptures. His neighbors have not been all that excited about it, but I think they are both beautiful and an engineering feat.

Next on my agenda was the ride up to the zoo. This is also a long steady climb from the Broadmoor through the ritzy part of town. Yes, it was into the wind and by now, it was getting pretty hot. But, I made it to the entrance. On the way down I hit a pothole doing about 30. I thought sure both tires would go, but they seem fine. I need to true my front wheel a bit, but I've ridden over 100 miles since then with not issues.

By now, I was pretty fried (both legs and from the heat). I headed back to the East side of town and rode a loop near my house until I got to 110k and quit. Riding a loop in a strong wind works for me since you don't have to fight the wind for many miles. I was spent--bonked a little, and out of fluid even thought I drank about 4 quarts while on the bike.

Finally, to Vail Pass. I had posted on FaceBook my intentions to go to the mountains while my wife is in Ohio so I could ride at higher altitude and try some long climbs (passes). Jeanne, a good friend, saw that and volunteered the last few days of a time share that they were able to use. So, early on Wednesday, I took off for Vail. After I arrived, I headed out towards Vail Pass. Vail is about 8,100 feet; the top of the pass is about 10,600 feet. They have take the old highway for much of the way on the west side of the pass and turned into a bikes only. It was wonderful to ride up. A bit more than halfway, it turned into a well paved bike path. I made it all the way to the top without too much difficulty. Here is a picture from the top.

As you can tell, it was cloudy, and pretty chilly at the top. I got very chilled on the ride down where I averaged well over 25mph.

It was a big confidence builder for me to be able to ride a long pass (the signs on the road on the way down said it was a 7% grade) at high altitude. This was the first time I had ridden over 9,000 feet in my life so I really didn't know how I would react.

Either tomorrow or Friday, I'm planning on attempting Tennessee Pass. We shall see how that goes.