Long Ride to Top of Hardscrabble Pass and Back

April 8th, 2006

I rode a little this morning and then met up with a fairly large group of Pikes Peak Velo teammates. It was 26 degrees when I rolled out which isn’t that bad but the forecast was for it to hit the mid-60s so I underdressed a bit so I wouldn’t have too much stuff too carry. My legs were still complaining about my interval workout on Thursday. My friend Larry that is training for the Leadville Trail 100 Leadman competition also was along and continued on with me when everyone else turned around in Penrose around mile 30 for them. He finished all but the Silver Rush last year and that was because he had to go to Germany.

Larry and I were actually planning of going all the way to Westcliffe but got worried we might not be back by dark. I think we would have been but better to be safe. I always forget how long the Hardscrabble Pass climb is. In the middle there is a 2 mile section at 8% grade. I felt great until it got steep but then started looking for a missing gear. The rewarding thing about climbing Hardscrabble is you get an awesome view of the Sangre de Cristo mountains when you get near the top. I had debated about taking the camera but didn’t. I wished I had because the mountains had fresh snow from yesterday’s storm system. They were so pretty! They include the fourteeners Crestone Peak, Crestone Needle, Kit Carson, and Humboldt.

I got in 172 miles with 10,220 feet of climbing with an on bike average speed of 16.7 mph. Tomorrow’s ride will be a little shorter but still long with lots of climbing. I took Monday off work and plan to do a long, flat ride to work on staying in the aerobars more.

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More Hell Week Pictures

March 24th, 2006

Nick Martin, a local photographer in Fredericksburg, took lots of pictures of us riding at Hell Week. He gave the pictures to Nick and Nick put them on his Zoto site. I looked through them and found some good pictures of me. It’s amazing with all the pictures there are only a handful of riders that I recognize. I guess that’s because I was doing the A ride or brevets every day.

You can also see my Texas Hellweek pictures (nothing new since I first posted them)

I’m late putting up this list but here’s a list of other blogger’s that were at Hell Week.
Annie
Eclectchick
Sascha
The S.S Blog
Recreational Reading


Somewhere on the LBJ Ramble.


Waiting to start the 200k brevet.


Rolling out at the start of the 200k brevet.


Time trialing up to catch Nick and Paul on the 200k brevet after hanging back and debating whether to go that hard.


Riding with Nick and Paul on the 200k brevet. My mountain biking is showing in how I have my knee out to make an upcoming turn.

Salomon X Alp Mid LTR GTX Hiking Boots
Salomon X Alp Mid LTR GTX Hiking Boots
Price: $219.95
 
Salomon X Alp Pro GTX Hiking Boots
Salomon X Alp Pro GTX Hiking Boots
Regular Price: $280.00
$209.95 on sale
 
Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo Hiking Boots
Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo Hiking Boots
Price: $268.44
 


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