Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.oldacura
08-06-07, 12:44 PM
On Saturday, August 4th, Lisa & I rode The Copper Triangle. This is a 78 mile ride in the Colorado Rockies that is run by The Colorado Cyclist. The last 2 years it has been a fundraiser for the Davis Phinney Foundation - raising money for Parkinson's Disease research. About 2900 riders. It goes over Fremont Pass, Tennessee Pass, Battle Mountain & Vail Pass.
After a rest at the aid station at the top of Fremont Pass it was Tandem Time! We began the descent into the headwaters of the Arkansas River & started passing other cyclists like crazy. After a bit, we closed on a pack of 10 - 20 strong riders. Once we got around them, the lead rider tucked in behind us (I could see him in my rearview mirror). We pedaled hard for another 3 - 5 miles. Lisa said "I've never pedaled so hard downhill". We maxed out our 54/11 gears.
When the road began to flatten, the tandem lost its advantage & the lead rider behind us pulled alongside & said "I knew I grabbed the right wheel - I know how those things work". Lisa said something to me but we were going too fast to hear. We couldn't keep up & they dropped us.
Later at a rest stop Lisa said "That was Floyd Landis!" I thought he looked familiar but I had my doubts. At the end of the ride, I said to a staffer "My wife thinks she saw Floyd Landis on the ride". She replied "She probably did - he rode today".
I guess he & Lance are in the area getting ready for the upcoming Leadville 100 - a 100 mile mountain bike race at 10,000' and above.
Our ride stats: Distance = 78 miles; Elevation gain = 5981'; Maximum speed = 54.4 mph; Average speed = 14.7 mph. I think we could have been faster but we had to brake most of the way down Battle Mountain because of vehicle traffic. Also, the descent of Vail Pass was slow because of many tight switchbacks on the bike trail. Our team age hits 100 in 6 days.
Bottom line - WE PULLED FLOYD LANDIS!
After a rest at the aid station at the top of Fremont Pass it was Tandem Time! We began the descent into the headwaters of the Arkansas River & started passing other cyclists like crazy. After a bit, we closed on a pack of 10 - 20 strong riders. Once we got around them, the lead rider tucked in behind us (I could see him in my rearview mirror). We pedaled hard for another 3 - 5 miles. Lisa said "I've never pedaled so hard downhill". We maxed out our 54/11 gears.
When the road began to flatten, the tandem lost its advantage & the lead rider behind us pulled alongside & said "I knew I grabbed the right wheel - I know how those things work". Lisa said something to me but we were going too fast to hear. We couldn't keep up & they dropped us.
Later at a rest stop Lisa said "That was Floyd Landis!" I thought he looked familiar but I had my doubts. At the end of the ride, I said to a staffer "My wife thinks she saw Floyd Landis on the ride". She replied "She probably did - he rode today".
I guess he & Lance are in the area getting ready for the upcoming Leadville 100 - a 100 mile mountain bike race at 10,000' and above.
Our ride stats: Distance = 78 miles; Elevation gain = 5981'; Maximum speed = 54.4 mph; Average speed = 14.7 mph. I think we could have been faster but we had to brake most of the way down Battle Mountain because of vehicle traffic. Also, the descent of Vail Pass was slow because of many tight switchbacks on the bike trail. Our team age hits 100 in 6 days.
Bottom line - WE PULLED FLOYD LANDIS!