Incredible ride in the Mtns w/ pics
04-20-09, 11:43 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 1,739
Bikes: 2009 BMC SLX01/2016 Santa Cruz Bronson
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
1 Post
Incredible ride in the Mtns w/ pics
I was in Colorado this weekend, I did a 75 mile mile ride with my brother-in-law. Of the 75 miles 40 miles were 4000 ft of climbing. We rode from Fort Collins up to Glen Haven. The scenary was incredible and the hills seemed endless. The descents were incredibly fast reaching speeds of nearly 60mph. I got a demo bike from a store in Fort Collins thecycologist.com for $50.00 the manager took my measurements and had the bike fitting perfectly. The ride took about 7 hours, I think it may have been the most physically challenging thing i've done in my life.
We started down by that building, my sis lives just a mile or so away. This was the start of the foothills.
Some more pics of the foothills.
After climbing about 1000ft we ended up in Thompson river canyon. The road has huge cliffs on both sides that are incredible.
My brother-in-law, not a clyde and an amazing cyclist.
A cool dirt road short cut that he took me on, reminded me of stuff you see in Spain. Little scarey because the right side of the road is a straight drop down.
A pic off the side of the dirt road, hard to tell how high it really is from this pic.
The absolute killer on this ride a 2 mile stretch of road that is 20% grade, this part of the ride I had two stop a couple times to keep my heart from exploding.
The view at the top was worth every drop of sweat.
Me at the top, barely able to stand. Representing the clydes with my fatcyclist jersey.
We started down by that building, my sis lives just a mile or so away. This was the start of the foothills.
Some more pics of the foothills.
After climbing about 1000ft we ended up in Thompson river canyon. The road has huge cliffs on both sides that are incredible.
My brother-in-law, not a clyde and an amazing cyclist.
A cool dirt road short cut that he took me on, reminded me of stuff you see in Spain. Little scarey because the right side of the road is a straight drop down.
A pic off the side of the dirt road, hard to tell how high it really is from this pic.
The absolute killer on this ride a 2 mile stretch of road that is 20% grade, this part of the ride I had two stop a couple times to keep my heart from exploding.
The view at the top was worth every drop of sweat.
Me at the top, barely able to stand. Representing the clydes with my fatcyclist jersey.
04-21-09, 01:41 AM
#2
Bikezilla
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Flori-Duh
Posts: 881
Bikes: Co-Motion Mazama
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Quite a departure from Miami, eh? A little different than your Everglades ride?
Now go out and have a Fat Tire Ale.
Now go out and have a Fat Tire Ale.
04-21-09, 07:26 AM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 1,739
Bikes: 2009 BMC SLX01/2016 Santa Cruz Bronson
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
1 Post
It was an incredible experience, i'm never gonna look at riding in Miami the same. I will push harder now than I ever did before knowing the pain that I can endure.
04-21-09, 08:02 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Hollister, CA
Posts: 3,957
Bikes: Volagi, daVinci Joint Venture
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
Fabulous pictures. You've done something of which you can be very proud. Now that you're hooked on hills you'll have to get out of Miami more often.
04-21-09, 08:06 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: MS formerly Okie
Posts: 87
Bikes: 97' Specialized Rockhopper, 04' Jamis XLT3, 05' Burley Runabout
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for posting such beautiful pics! My wife and I visited Ft. Collins last year and loved all the biking around the area. It was great waking up, eating breakfast then riding out from the hotel towards the mountains, past the mountain bike skills area to the trail by the Rams football stadium. Then afterwards riding to New Belgium to get my free samples of beer then to Ft Collins brewery and then to the other brewery..... geez maybe I'm a lush
. Oh well, it was our vacation!!!
. Oh well, it was our vacation!!!
04-21-09, 09:59 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Spokane/Tri-Cities WA
Posts: 1,385
Bikes: mountain bike, road bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
thanks for posting. Great job!
04-21-09, 10:13 AM
#9
Have bike, will travel
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 12,284
Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 910 Post(s)
Liked 288 Times
in
158 Posts
Awesome, thanks
__________________
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
04-21-09, 10:25 AM
#11
Vorsprung durch Technik
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Fairmont, WV
Posts: 310
Bikes: 2007 Specialized Crossroads, 1985 Raleigh Sportif
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Great pics, good to know you can ride past what you thought were limits
04-21-09, 03:01 PM
#13
Senior Member
Lovely and well done, I especially like the pic of Thomson Canyon? Looks fantastic and of course the view at the top is not too shabby either
04-21-09, 04:29 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Lebanon/Ukraine
Posts: 195
Bikes: Giant CRS 2 (2009)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Great Pics, and very interesting captions! Thanks for sharing. 
PS: The pic of your brother-in-law isn't there. You attached the Thompson river canyon photo twice.
PS: The pic of your brother-in-law isn't there. You attached the Thompson river canyon photo twice.
04-21-09, 07:06 PM
#15
half fast
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Western Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 196
Bikes: Catrike Trail (fixed frame) tadpole trike recumbent
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
jesspal -
Nice pics, I've ridden Ft. Collins up the Thompson to Estes Park many years ago on only 10 speeds. I recall about 6 hours with my shirt off, and no sunblock. Once you get into a groove, you just crank and crank.
I worked in RMNP one summer, and regularly rode the loop between Estes Park, north entrance, Horseshoe Park, back down the south entrance. I've been as high as Many Parks Curve, but never did Trail Ridge. Set that one as a goal.
Nice pics, I've ridden Ft. Collins up the Thompson to Estes Park many years ago on only 10 speeds.
I recall about 6 hours with my shirt off, and no sunblock. Once you get into a groove, you just crank and crank.I worked in RMNP one summer, and regularly rode the loop between Estes Park, north entrance, Horseshoe Park, back down the south entrance. I've been as high as Many Parks Curve, but never did Trail Ridge. Set that one as a goal.
04-21-09, 07:12 PM
#17
Super Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Greenwood Indiana
Posts: 2,805
Bikes: Surly Crosscheck
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1542 Post(s)
Liked 868 Times
in
521 Posts
IT was only 50 bucks cause it has pink tape.
__________________
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
04-22-09, 04:19 AM
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 1,739
Bikes: 2009 BMC SLX01/2016 Santa Cruz Bronson
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
1 Post
You can see the bike here, it is no POS. A Serrotta Ottrott with DA 7800
The bar tape does loook pink in the photo, however I assure you it is red LOL. My wife said the same thing.
04-22-09, 07:33 AM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Southern Illinois
Posts: 778
Bikes: Giant "Rainier"
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
An amazing contrast to your gator rides at home. Thank you for sharing the pics. So......who is jealous
04-22-09, 05:49 PM
#22
Getaway Rider
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 64
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Nice work!! I rode almost exactly the same route, but on my motorcycle instead of my bicycle. We took pics from almost the same spots! Glen Haven is just incredible, isn't it? I love living in Fort Collins.
I may ride the Horsetooth / Masonville run this weekend on my bicycle, you've inspired me!
I may ride the Horsetooth / Masonville run this weekend on my bicycle, you've inspired me!
Last edited by VolksDragon; 04-22-09 at 06:13 PM.
04-22-09, 05:59 PM
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 1,739
Bikes: 2009 BMC SLX01/2016 Santa Cruz Bronson
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
1 Post
Yeah looks like you took the exact same route. The ride around Horsetooth alone is a tough ride. Lots of hills there, I'll be back in July and will try Trail Ridge. It was closed when I went but I hear that is really the pinnacle of the hills there.
04-22-09, 09:15 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Toronto (again) Ontario, Canada
Posts: 6,931
Bikes: Old Bike: 1975 Raleigh Delta, New Bike: 2004 Norco Bushpilot
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
I was in Colorado this weekend, I did a 75 mile mile ride with my brother-in-law. Of the 75 miles 40 miles were 4000 ft of climbing. We rode from Fort Collins up to Glen Haven. The scenary was incredible and the hills seemed endless. The descents were incredibly fast reaching speeds of nearly 60mph. I got a demo bike from a store in Fort Collins thecycologist.com for $50.00 the manager took my measurements and had the bike fitting perfectly. The ride took about 7 hours, I think it may have been the most physically challenging thing i've done in my life.
After climbing about 1000ft we ended up in Thompson river canyon. The road has huge cliffs on both sides that are incredible.
After climbing about 1000ft we ended up in Thompson river canyon. The road has huge cliffs on both sides that are incredible.
