Introductions - Greetings from Colorado

Just joined the forum...after reading it for some time. I've been a semi-avid moutain bike rider, but have recently switched to road biking and I love it. I just aquired a new Klein Q-Pro Carbon decked out with Ultegra components... boy do I love to ride this bike. My moutain bike is no Huffy, but this road bike is so smooth!

I try to ride into work at least three days a week...striving for more. I'm luck enough to live in a community that is close to the mountains and the plains so depending upon my mood I can ride any type of terrain I want. From mountain passes to flat roads. If I ride to work I usually take the 'long' way back home averaging about 15-20 miles per day commuting. On the weekends I try to do at least one long ride between Saturday and Sunday. If I ride flats its distance I'm looking for...usually around 45-50 miles. If I'm doing hills its time on the bike...usually about 2 hours. I know some of you are snickering at that, but I'm still getting into shape.

I usually do the Elephant Rock ride each year and this will be the first on a road bike. I'm really looking forward to it.

~Steve
aka: Apollo

Welcome from Parker. Hey, 45-50 miles is a GREAT ride. Do you ride up Cache La Poudre, Rist Canyon or where?


I usually do the Elephant Rock ride each year and this will be the first on a road bike. I'm really looking forward to it.

I did the Elephant Rock once, and it was the year that the lady biker got killed between Monument and Palmer Lake. That road is so narrow and the locals are so insensitive to the bikers. However, her accident was caused by a collision with another biker, and, as I remember, compounded by a pot hoe or something like that. I had email correspondence with the person riding behind her.

I thought it was a zoo, and have never ridden it again. But, you, obviously, have had better luck than I. Perhaps they have improved?? 6-7,000 bikers on one century was a bit too much for me.

Welcome Apollo!

I am heading down to Castle Rock this weekend for the ride myself. This will be my first time doing Elephant Rock. I am riding with 2 of my brother-in-laws, one of whom has ridden this for the last 3 years. I am looking forward to the ride, but after reading Dnvrfox's account I will have to see how it goes.

I did Rist Canyon yesterday for the second time. The first time...a few weeks ago I couldn't stay in the bike all the way up...this time I made it without getting off the bike. Going down is sooo much easier. However, stopping could be a problem if you're not carefull.:p

I've never heard about someone getting killed at Elephant Rock...but it doesn't suprise me. I've been 'grazed' three times just communiting to work in the past year and a half. The last time was just a week ago...kinda cool thought. Some lady in a Jeep Cherokee cut me off at an intersection...luck for me I was paying attention...she came up on my left side and crossed over in front of me without signalling...I smacked into her rear passenger side...no damage to my bike or me. In fact I didn't even fall. I just turned with her to avoid a bigger collision. The cool part was a sheriff say the whole thing and pulled her over about 100 yards ahead. I road up to see what happened. The sheriff just asked if I was ok and said he'd take it from there. I should have hung around to see if she got a ticket. All I recall was her raspy voice yelling 'what biker?'

Most people around here keep an eye out for bicyclists and give you plenty of room. I do see drivers and bikers a like doing stupid things. Some of the bicyclists give the rest of us a bad name too. Riding on the wrong side of the street, cutting in front of cars, etc.

I did Rist Canyon yesterday for the second time. The first time...a few weeks ago I couldn't stay in the bike all the way up...this time I made it without getting off the bike. Going down is sooo much easier. However, stopping could be a problem if you're not carefull

I'm impressed. One steep ride.

Welcome to Bikeforums, Apollo!