Not sure how anybody else is on this forum but I hate it when something beats me on the bike. The Colorado trip didn't go as planned. I had a buddy out in Colorado that I rode with in 2008 look up on you tube Zman on top of the world as we climbed Mt. Evans together. The climb wasn't too bad as we had a rider from NY that had just quit smoking 3 packs of cigarettes a day and so he had to stop every mile or so to catch his breath. He set up a Facebook account and listed it as Pikes Peak or bust. We had planned the ride for over 2 years. About 2 weeks before the ride him and his wife was out riding one of the bike trails around Auora CO. Cherry Creek area and a snake came out across the road. She braked hard he ran over top of her and crashed hard messing his ribs up and lots of bruises He was now out of the ride. I had already bought my plane ticket. The plan was go into Leadville get use to elevation and then do the Pikes Peak ride. I get elevation sickness real easy and get a nasty headache the 1st time I try climbing over 8000 ft. Arriving at Leadville I had some trouble breathing the 1st day and a slight headache. I think I did the Mineral Belt Trail the 1st day and came back into town with them having a street festival. Nuthin like free food aka burgers and a bake potato and lemonade after a ride. The next day Sunday I did the Tennessee Pass climb out of Leadville. Monday I did the Freemont Pass climb. Nothing like getting humbled while out riding. I came across a guy pulling a bob with his 3-4 year daughter in it and he was climbing the Pass with all that weight behind him. He had his wife for support leap frogging him. Tuesday I decided to get up and do a leisurely ride since thed Pikes was the Weds. ride. I was doing it in reverse order when my buddy texted me around 10 AM and said a guy had taken over the ride and had cancelled the ride for Weds. due to heavy rains. He later then rode the ride the top 1/2 on Weds. and then posted on FB where was everybody what a jerk.

At my end I checked out of the Motel real fast and broke all speed records common to man to get to the Manitou Springs hotel I was staying at. I left my stuff in a side room threw on my cycling clothes and made my way to the entrance to Pikes Peak. I started at noon which I knew was a very late start and risky. I had to stop a few times the first couple of miles to get my heart rate under 160 bpm from the excitement along with the elevation and the climbing. I finally did get that under control and made it to the 10 mile marker in 2 hrs. I looked up the mt. and saw a nasty storm blowing in. I knew I didn't want to get stuck on the mt. with no support as I have already had hypothermia 3 times from cycling in the summer time. I made a quick descent off the mt. as my computer said I average the max car speed off the mt. @ 35 mph average. When I hit the parking lot the storm dumped and I just made it there in time. They were nice enough to me at the entrance to give me a pass for my car and bike for the bike price. I then drove up to the top to see what the top looked like. Truth be told I probably wasn't in shape to make it to the top of the mt. that day anyways as the last 10 miles really looks rough. My new goal is to go back when I am 70 and finish unfinished business. My buddy is happy because he has 2 years to get ready for it.

Zman