Mountain - Plains - Denver Group Ride 09'

Bring extra tubes, as the goat heads are terrible around Golden. I did maybe the same route, Highlands to Lookout the other day and flatted twice.

Lookout-Genesee-Lininger-Cabrini-Lookout via Paradise.

This is the first time that I linked all those hills. Lininger is like riding up a ladder.

This is the route that I wanted to do last week, but I got lost and had to turn back. Is there a way to map this online and I can print it out?

This is the route that I wanted to do last week, but I got lost and had to turn back. Is there a way to map this online and I can print it out?

Funny, I am working on getting it up on my blog right now. I will post to the forum as well.

Ok, I finally got a moment to post my route with Lininger Mt. included. Here is a direct link to the route (http://herodot.us/2009/05/29/extending-lookout-mountain/) on my weblog. This can provide options for Sunday as well, but I would say we should avoid Lininger with non-climbers. Genesee Mt. is probably the best bet for an extension because it is easy and has a nice picnic area on top.

That looks fun. :)
On a related note, someday I would like to try this route in boulder:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/co/boulder/466763419

52 miles with 8300 feet of climbing. :eek:

That looks fun. :)
On a related note, someday I would like to try this route in boulder:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/co/boulder/466763419

52 miles with 8300 feet of climbing. :eek:

I think I'm running a little low on self-loathing right now, that should help. I'm in.

BTW - I can't make it Sunday b/c it's my friend's last day in Boulder and we're going to ride something nasty together.

oh hey guess what? Life happened! I'm out. (turns out I have to be on the bike a lot earlier in the morning to accommodate family schedules....)

until next time....

That looks fun. :)
On a related note, someday I would like to try this route in boulder:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/co/boulder/466763419

52 miles with 8300 feet of climbing. :eek:

Damn, I have done those climbs, but never thought of linking them together. If Golden Gate doesn't kill me tomorrow, I am adding this to the list.

I did golden gate last monday. Not the steepest climb but the dang thing is persistent. Up up and up.

I did golden gate last monday. Not the steepest climb but the dang thing is persistent. Up up and up.

I just got back from Golden Gate with another forum member. If that wasn't steep (second climb), damn, you are a strong climber. I am actually icing my knee and hope to be able to ride tomorrow. Something started clicking in it and it is really sore. Perhaps I am ready for a triple...

BTW, we didn't complete the loop to Wondervu. We got turned back by weather on the last climb up to 119.

Some of it is obnoxious. The grade is not terrible. Just persistent. One little downhill and finally another by the park.
Tomorrows ride is going to be a recovery ride for me. My legs were throbbing when I woke up and I decided on a recovery ride. However, my recovery ride went a little out of whack when I decided that I felt strong and went up flagstaff.
So... 120th and Colo up the full flagstaff and adding in the wall in superior netted me a 90 mile recovery ride. [insert face palm here]

I am not a particularly strong climber. Just slow and stubborn. Also, most of my riding is on flatter terrain.

That is one impressive recovery ride.

I am just in rotten shape this year. Weather and business travel have really put me off my plan. Now I am just hoping a knee injury won't add to that.

Be careful with knee issues. I had troubles with my right knee last year. That hurt like crazy.
Somehow my fit changed after recovering from getting hit by a car. It took me a while to get it adjusted to where my knee was fine. I had to adjust my saddle height, back and forwards position, and a cleat to finally fix things.

Some of it is obnoxious. The grade is not terrible. Just persistent. One little downhill and finally another by the park.
Tomorrows ride is going to be a recovery ride for me. My legs were throbbing when I woke up and I decided on a recovery ride. However, my recovery ride went a little out of whack when I decided that I felt strong and went up flagstaff.
So... 120th and Colo up the full flagstaff and adding in the wall in superior netted me a 90 mile recovery ride. [insert face palm here]

I am not a particularly strong climber. Just slow and stubborn. Also, most of my riding is on flatter terrain.

What a masochist! After doing the full Flagstaff, I generally take the other way around the MB just to *avoid* The Wall.:eek:

DJ, we are going to have to ride together. My "not too hard because tomorrow I'm going hard ride" ended up being 73 miles up the St. Vrain to the P2P. oops. Not nearly as hard as what you did though. Tomorrow is Boudler - Golden Gate -Ward - Ned -Lyons -Boulder.

What a masochist! After doing the full Flagstaff, I generally take the other way around the MB just to *avoid* The Wall.:eek:

That was actually the easiest time I have ever had riding up the wall even though I was completely exhausted.
I shifted to my lowest gear and spun my way to the top. No energy so I could not haul up it.
After flagstaff the wall is a bit easy. Heck, I did it last year on a fixed gear.

DJ, we are going to have to ride together. My "not too hard because tomorrow I'm going hard ride" ended up being 73 miles up the St. Vrain to the P2P. oops. Not nearly as hard as what you did though. Tomorrow is Boudler - Golden Gate -Ward - Ned -Lyons -Boulder.

I would love to. :)
Next weekend is my weekend with my son. Thus, it would need to be the weekend following it or every other weekend.

However, I expect your climbing abilities are still ahead of mine. I believe the one time we rode together I saw you for 10 minutes on the climbs. :p

Hmmm.... I did weigh around 175lbs that time. Now cruising around 153. That is my excuse why I stunk at climbing and I am sticking to it. :D

I would love to. :)


Hmmm.... I did weigh around 175lbs that time. Now cruising around 153. That is my excuse why I stunk at climbing and I am sticking to it. :D

That should make a huge difference. I was 155 last year, but am 160 now and I swear that is a noticeable part of my lameness this year.

I would love to. :)
Next weekend is my weekend with my son. Thus, it would need to be the weekend following it or every other weekend.

However, I expect your climbing abilities are still ahead of mine. I believe the one time we rode together I saw you for 10 minutes on the climbs. :p

Hmmm.... I did weigh around 175lbs that time. Now cruising around 153. That is my excuse why I stunk at climbing and I am sticking to it. :D

Well, I weigh and climb pretty much exactly the same (that's my story and I'm sticking to it) so we'll probably be equal-er. Not that it matters much. Some of my friends wait for me, I wait for some of them.. it's all good.

But the rides you've been talking about are harder than the one's I've been doing - for some reason I never think of doing those shorter/steeper ones, I always go for Ward or St. Vrain. I hate descending Flagstaff, too.

weekend of 6/13 I'm out of town. Let's keep trying.

We still have the summer. I agree with trying. :)

I did not care much for descending the portion by walker ranch. The road is covered in gravel.
The other part was fun except for getting stuck behind a couple cars. Had to brake so much to keep from running into the car in front of me that my hands were sore afterward.

Hmmm.... I did weigh around 175lbs that time. Now cruising around 153. That is my excuse why I stunk at climbing and I am sticking to it. :D

Skinny b*st*rd. I'm 190 trying to get to 180.:mad:

If it makes you feel better... five years ago I was 210 lbs and 5'9". Same height and I hit my weight goal last fall of 150lbs. It took me over 4 years to drop 60 lbs.
This next fall I will drop into the low to mid 140s while working on toning my upper body. That should be interesting.
I'm the dorky looking bald guy in white.
http://www.clubhypoxia.com/sites/default/files/images/IMG_1787.jpg

Well, I'm 6'1", so I'm not really looking to get down to 150, although I'm sure it would make climbing a h*ll of a lot easier!
Back around 1995 I hit 206, and most of the last 10 years I've been ~197.

Hate to say it, but I am out. My knee is really painful and I don't want to mess with the rest of my training schedule. I hope we have a chance to do this again this summer.

Two thoughts:

Either keep this thread open to organize other rides.

or

Let's make a Denver "Ride Board" where people can post plans and look for others to join. I am often driving out to Golden alone for my afternoon rides and can put a second bike on the car. This could work for big get-togethers as well as small rides.

Have fun, and post pictures

I'm not sure if I am going to make it. I did a workout this morning with lots of squats, lunges and weights and I twisted my knee wrong and it's been really sore all day. I'm not sure climbing will be the best idea - not to mention I think I'd lag so far behind you all it wouldn't even be funny. I literally ride about 5mph up Lookout.

Going to play it by ear.

Ok, I finally got a moment to post my route with Lininger Mt. included. Here is a direct link to the route (http://herodot.us/2009/05/29/extending-lookout-mountain/) on my weblog. This can provide options for Sunday as well, but I would say we should avoid Lininger with non-climbers. Genesee Mt. is probably the best bet for an extension because it is easy and has a nice picnic area on top.

Was on you blog checking out the route and I followed links....cause that's what I do. One of your neighbors in the party pics is a friend of mine.

Hmm, such a decrepit crowd with bad knees. Maybe we should just meet at a bar...

Seriously though, 5 MPH is just fine up Lookout. I am a little faster, but not much.

I literally ride about 5mph up Lookout.

Hey, I climb Lookout at 6 mph.
I was hoping to have *someone* slower than me.:(

Everyone is dropping like flies. Must be my deodorant. I had a two hr walk in downtown tonight. My legs have now recovered. It's on! ....not
Perhaps I will start organizing a ride in June after this one is complete.

Just had plans canceled... going to try to make it tomorrow.

See you all there! (hopefully!)

hi foos, my legs are feeling pretty craptastic after my training yesterday, so I'm thinking I'm out :(

Everyone... Come on .... HTFU!

"Summer's here, and the time is right, for riding in the streets, boy...."
(My apologies, Mick)

Seriously, isn't pain one of the reasons we all suffer for our game?

Erg - my knee just popped, big, in a way that I'm not OK with...out again.

Everyone... Come on .... HTFU!

"Summer's here, and the time is right, for riding in the streets, boy...."
(My apologies, Mick)

Seriously, isn't pain one of the reasons we all suffer for our game?

Muscle pain, yes. Knee pain, not so much.

My legs are now officially dead.
(Group ride = recovery ride ) <> true

It was wonderful meeting everyone.

Sometime next week I may start planning a ride.

Muscle pain, yes. Knee pain, not so much.

+1

Knee pain is very bad and can ruin most of a season easily. I fought it quite a bit last year.

My legs are now officially dead.
(Group ride = recovery ride ) <> true

It was wonderful meeting everyone.

I couldn't agree more. Thank you all for the good company.

I had a great time... so good that even getting hit by a truck on the way back didn't really phase me. ;)

Watch out for those SUV's! Especially the one with a bike-shaped dent in its passenger door.

good god, seriously? hit by a truck?

So what did you all ride once you got to Golden?

I spent my afternoon chowing some pho down on S. Federal.

We rode lookout and back down 40. I started in Thornton but my computer is in the shop. Mapmyride says my it was about 75 miles.

I only rode about halfway up Lookout... then turned around and explored Golden. Had a great ride, found some cool stuff, and made it back home in (mostly) one piece.

I would have been dying if I'd gone down the back and around on 40... Did about 60 miles today.

I had a great time... so good that even getting hit by a truck on the way back didn't really phase me. ;)

Watch out for those SUV's! Especially the one with a bike-shaped dent in its passenger door.

Tank > SUV. Sorry to hear about that, but it sounds like you're in decent spirits, so I'm going to presume that you're in one, healthy piece.

I would've loved to join, but I'm one of the walking wounded as well. Hope to make the next one.

Yeah, great ride today. It has been about 5 years since my last paceline ride. Ooooh I love the speed part, even when my legs are on fire, so much fun. I need to start doing that regularly. Any rides out of Thornton or north areas on a regular schedule that don't mind a rookie?

Besides bike shop weekend rides RMCC runs rides up north semi regularly. Club Hypoxia does as well on an irregular basis. Your best bet may be to head to Boulder or Denver.

Yep. RMCC does elevation on Saturdays, and "flat" rides on Sundays. Be aware, flat rides may include Horsetooth, and/or Carter Lake type stuff. Check out their schedule to see if anything suits your schedule.

http://www.rmccrides.com/

glad you guys had fun! wish i could have gone- but from the sounds of it, definitely would not have made it. took a 15 mile flat recovery ride, and that was even slow-going.

At this rate you are going to be back in MN without having met any of us. Jeeze.... ;)