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.jbhowat
10-16-04, 02:41 PM
I decided to go on a ride yesterday.... I went to the CSU outdoor place to check out a map to see the route I would need. The very helpful man there commented that if I went on the loop clockwise one whole every large section (the road is called 52E, Rist Valley Road or something like that) would be downhill all the way. Seemed like a nice way to end a 50mi ride, so I went clockwise around the Horsetooth Reservoir. It was about 55 when I left. I had plenty of layers, and stayed fairly warm. Up in the mountains it basically started snowing and sleeting at the farthest point from home, I could have turned back, but the prospect of the wonderful downhill I was told about kept us grinding up the hills in the rain and sleet. After about 50mi (guy said it was going to be a 45mi ride, roundtrip, turned out to be nearly 60) all of the food was gone. I had eaten several Rice Crispies, an Apple, a Ham Sandwich, and two chocolate chip cookies. My legs felt pretty good, and I had drank LOTs of water despite not sweating as much from the temperature. Saw about 2 dozen beautiful deer along the way up to this point, and a lot of cows and horses. As I said my legs were doing good, but I was slowing down a bit and feeling somwhat fatigued. I was looking forward to the downhill. Finally, after 50mi I see the sign for 52E. I make a right... it looks flat, and I see that the road ahead disappears in the fog between two mountains. I wonder where the downhill part actually starts. I truck along and suddenly I see it. the road goes straigh UP into the fog. Oh god, I think. I chunk it down into the small chainring, which I hadn't used all day, but because of the fog I cannot see the top, so I didn't want to cook my legs too early. Yeah. It was hell. I had no idea where the top of the hill was, but end the end it was nearly 5 mi straight up. It was horrible. I plugged along, incredibly. Maybe the fog helped because I thought the top was always just barely hidden by the fog. Surely I would have given up had i been able to see the entire road rising straight up the mountain. I got to the top, and stopped for a big drink. My legs were cooked for sure, even using the granny ring (I was doing this ride on a 35lb Giant Rincon ATB with road bars, btw...). Boy I was ready for the downhill. I plunged down the first hill, going about 45mph. Then about halfway down, I realized how cold it was going that fast. Long story short, the awesome downhil I had been looking forward too all day was kept to about 25mph so i could keep from freezing my balls off. (On the first run, some rain water stuck on my watch froze into solid droplets in about 5 minutes of descending....). I got back just before dark. My legs were gone, no riding today. I did love every minute of it though, just some more than others. I have some nice pictures taken with a disposable camera. I have a couple extra pics left, them I'm going to get it developed onto a CD, I'll post some pictures of what my rides are like then. Amazing scenery, just beautiful and inspiring - way better than Jersey.... Discuss, and/or post your hell but lovin' it stories.