merckx89

So I don't have any pictures like brandy as I still don't have a point and shoot digital camera, but I too did an epic memorial day ride. About 20 started, 2 officially finished, but for the last part that most of us could do there were 4 of us.
We started at 6 am at montrose bike shop and proceeded to ride up the crest. Beautiful weather riding up through the fog for the first few hours. Some short regroup points at redbox and newcombs ranch. We continued all the way up to cloudburst summit at 7100 feet and about 45 miles. The first half of the ride. Rode over to the top of the 39 and someones amazing wife was waiting for us with food, water, gatorade, and anything else you can possibly think of for an amazing rest stop. About 1/2 and hour later we started down the 39.
This is where I think most broke off to go home, but a few of us continued on up GMR to GRR to mount baldy with another regroup point there. Now came the fun part, ski lifts. The worst 6 miles of my life and the first time I've ever had to stop on a bike, but we all made it up. 2 of the guys turned just before the top to take a fire/gravel/singletrack road that went all the way up to the TOP of baldy for another 3500 feet and probably another 2-3 hours of riding minimum. The rest of us were content to continue up to ski lifts and turn around there.
Came back down to the lodge and spent about an hour and a half there before continuing down and back to montrose to finish
Ended the day with 140 miles, a little over 14000 feet of climbing, 9 hours of ride time, and some very very sore legs. By far the longest and hardest ride I have ever done, but it was a hell of a lot of fun.

Extort

Wow, that sounds painful!

curiouskid55

So do we now call Jason fantastic or Mr.Fantastic?

merckx89

Definitely Mr Fantastic. I have no idea how they made it all the way up. At that point i was already toast.

jschen

You started in May, and you just finished the ride? That must have been one tough ride!

Anyway, great job!

kmc91011

Yeah, it was actually the Labor Day massacre, but his brain was a little fried by 9 hours in the saddle!

Here's what I had for the whole road loop:

142 miles
14,700+ ft
9+ hours in the saddle.
13 hours total (bad service at the baldy lodge!)
15.3 mph

Jason, Mike, and Cole did the off-road option and got back at 11 pm. Those guys are crazy...

OUC

you guys sat around for 4 hours?

kmc91011

Guess so. Short regroups up the crest, good feed at the 2/39 that took a bit, and lunch was 2+ hours probably. People started hurting a bit so longer wait at the village, then the lifts... Others probably had more saddle time than me.

merckx89

For 3 hours, but yea. About 5 or 6 5 minute regroup stops, the major sag at the top of 39 for about 1/2 an hour, and then dinner at baldy, where we got horrible service and had to wait about an hour and a half. Starts adding up real fast.