Fifty Plus (50+) - Nice Short Video of Independence Pass on RtR

Didn't spot any 50+ riders in the video but brought back great memories of this year's ride. You can see that the weather was about as good as it gets that day. Enjoy.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S1JYV80yjo&feature=youtu.be

I've been to Colorado's Wemenuche Wilderness for week long backpacking trips. John Denver's Rocky Mountain High song very accurately depicts the feeling of those mountains as does your video. Thanks.

Thanks for posting. It was a thrilling day for me until I got to Twin Lakes.

As always thanks jppe.

What happened at Twin Lakes Greg?

At Twin Lakes we encountered a head wind combined with a 16 mi climb to Leadville. This 16 mi included gravel and rough roads. It was also more difficult because we had used a lot of energy climbing Independence Pass. When I was at the top of Independence Pass I felt euphoric and looked forward to the descent. I hadn't realized the last 16 mi would be difficult.

wow beautiful. looks like you need to be a well conditioned rider for that route.

Remarkable absence of suffering depicted there.... what fun is that? :)

Remarkable absence of suffering depicted there.... what fun is that? :)
+1! Those of us who enjoy suffering want to see and hear suffering. No music, lots of pain! :D

the way i remember climbing indy pass on 2007 RTR is closer to this video (from 2007) than the above

and yes that year also twin lakes to Leadville there was a headwind for the climb


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9QLN3Dnv9k

the way i remember climbing indy pass on 2007 RTR is closer to this video (from 2007) than the above

and yes that year also twin lakes to Leadville there was a headwind for the climb


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9QLN3Dnv9k
That's what I'm talking about! :thumb: I like videos like that. Simple, rough around the edges, and it shows just how tough that ride really was.

I've never ridden RTR, but that video gives you a pretty good idea of what you're in for if you do. ;)

Has anyone here done RtR while you are in your 50s? Looks like a great ride. I was in Telluride and was out of breath just walking up the ski area. How fast do you get used to the altitude?

Has anyone here done the ride from Dorango to Silverton? How do you train for something like that living in Cleveland Ohio?

You can't train for altitude. I've gone from sea level Rhode Island to the Rockies in Colorado. I would spend two nights in Durango and go for a hike to 10k feet between those sleep sessions, on one of the many trails just outside of town. It will take a week or more to become moderately used to some altitude but the short hike will help and reduce danger of altitude sickness for those who acclimatize poorly or not at all.

On our first backpacking trip to Colorado, my hiking partners Ind I spent our first night at a campground just outside of Durango. The next day we took the Duango to Siverton narrow gauge steam train to begin our hiking. That next night we slept at about 10,000 ft and all four of us had altitude induced head aches. Within a few days, we were at 12,000 feet and moving fast with with only relatively minor discomfort.

Has anyone here done RtR while you are in your 50s? Looks like a great ride. I was in Telluride and was out of breath just walking up the ski area. How fast do you get used to the altitude?

Has anyone here done the ride from Dorango to Silverton? How do you train for something like that living in Cleveland Ohio?

Three if us on the 50+ Forum did RtR this year which included both Independence Pass and Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park.

I've done RtR for 3 years in a row and live at 700' above sea level. I fly out the day before the ride starts and hit the climbs the next day. I've never had any acclimation issues. I just try and get in as good a riding shape as I can and ride at a pace I'm comfortable with in Colorado.

I did Ouray to Durango 3 years ago which included Silverton and Million Dollar Highway. Oh my!! pretty windy day too.

Here are the pics from this year:



http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/a...view=slideshow

You can't train for altitude.

And what an eye opener. You can only train for altitude when at altitude.

I've elk hunted at 10,500 and that was work.

I was one of the three that jppe mentioned. I live in Houston at sea level. Houston is not near hills. I am 63.