Ride the Rockies 2010 - Pete Reed

RTR 2010 - Day 7 - The final day

2010-06-20T22:28:00.001-06:00

Finally the last day of Ride the Rockies 2010. My legs are tired, my butt hurts, and I'm just feeling exhausted overall.

The ride today was 84 miles from Alamosa to the finish at Salida. Dave and I rode out of camp at 5:20 a.m. and into a chilly morning.

The roads around Amalosa are mostly flat which was good, but once we hit the road out of town, we were staring at an impossibly long and straight stretch of road with nothing but fields and the occasional cow on either side.

Dave and I rode in a two-person paceline until we got the Poncha Pass where Dave rode ahead, knowing that I'd probably catch him on the descent.

I stopped for a minute at the top of Poncha Pass to shoot a photo before starting the ride down into Salida.

The ride into town was all downhill and fast (55 MPH again on the descent).

I didn't catch sight of Dave until about 1/4 mile before the finish and crossed the line a few seconds behind him. For the next hour, we kept bumping fists and congratulating each other on an awesome 7 days riding.

After a quick shower, I packed up the car, grabbed a well-earned beer and meatball sub before heading home to see my family, who I was missing like crazy.

Here are the stats for the day:

Total pedal time: 4 hours 35 minutes
Total distance: 85 miles
Average Speed: 18.5 MPH
Max speed: 55.0 MPH

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RTR 2010 - Day 6

2010-06-20T22:03:00.001-06:00

Pagosa Springs to Alamosa over Wolf Creek Pass

Today was a killer day. I got an early start again - mostly because my legs were fried and I am a slow climber. By slow, I mean 4 to 5 miles an hour on climbs over mountain passes.

A bunch of people passed me on the climb today, and there were times when I wanted to stop. But that means starting up again which is never easy.

Climbs are mentally the toughest part of the ride for me. Not only do I have to not worry about ll the people passing me (which is startling if they don't announce themselves), but it's also the fact that there's not much I can do to make myself more comfortable on the climb.

On other parts of the ride, I can sit up straight, go into the drops, stand up out of the saddle and bounce on the pedals for a while. With climbing, there's really nothing that makes the climb more comfortable - especially when you're working your way up 8 miles of 6% - 7% grade.

Here's a photo of me at the first rest stop - 16 miles into the ride (a steady climb of 2% - 3% grade) and before tackling the 8 steepest miles to the summit - that's why I'm still smiling.

To get through tough climbs, I usually get a song in my head that matches my cadence and just grind through it.

There was a guy from Switzerland - Fred - who had an uncanny knack for catching me near the top of a climb and chatting with me over the last 1/2 mile or so. His encouragement and enthusiasm gave me extra energy to get to the summit. Cheers Fred!!!

The ride down the other side of Wolf Creek Pass was a fast one. I hit a new record for my fastest speed descending - 55.2 MPH.

The last 45 miles of the day were flat straight roads leading to Alamosa. Those of us who left early in the day were stuck with a wicked headwind (gusts up to 35 mph) that turned into a wicked crosswind as we approached Alamosa. The final 2 miles, we turned directly into the wind and I could only manage 11 MPH on the flat road into camp.

The first thing I did when I arrived at the camp site was to book a one-hour massage to get the kinks out of my back, neck, shoulders and legs.

Here are my stats for the day:

Total pedal time: 6 hours 15 minutes
Total elapsed time: 7 hours 15 minutes
Total Distance: 93 miles
Average Speed: 14.8 mph
Max speed: 55.2 mph

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RTR 2010 - Day 5 Lessons Learned

2010-06-17T14:43:00.001-06:00

1) Trucks are your friend
Here's what I've been doing when trucks pass me on the road (in addition to hugging the right side of the shoulder).

If the truck is going in the same direction, shift to a higher gear and pedal faster. When the rush of wind from the truck hits you, it will slingshot you forward.

If the truck is going in the opposite direction, keep your pedaling cadence consistent and get in an aero position (lean forward, hands in the drops and keep your head low). The rush of wind from the truck shoul pass right over you. Be patient - it takes a few seconds after the truck passes you for the wind to hit you.

2) Carry your cell phone charger with you at all times. You never know where you'll find an outlet (yesterday, I charged my phone at the Mongolian BBQ while eating lunch after the ride).

3) Thank the volunteers every time you get the chance!! They're giving up a lot of their own time to support the ride and aren't having nearly as much fun as you are.

4) Go back to visit Ouray - it rocks!!!

5) Scope out the camp site each day for the following:
- power outlets
- indoor bathrooms and showers
- a camping spot near a building (the temp near the buildings is about 10 degrees warmer which I nice at night and in the morning)

6) Be generous with sunscreen

7) Be generous with encouragement along the route - there's nothing better than hearing someone tell you that you're doing an awesome job while grinding up a mountain pass at a snails pace.

8) Recommended order of doing things when rolling into the campsite:

1 - ride around and find a good camping spot (somewhere near the baggage trucks so you don't have to haul your bag too far)
2 - mark your spot with your bike and grab your bag from the truck. If they're not finished unloading - give them a hand.

3 - set up your tent and mix/drink your recovery drink.

4 - head to the shower trucks an grab a shower - the sooner, the better. You'll feel like a million bucks after a shower.

5 - re-apply sunscreen

6 - wash out your bottles for the day

7 - grab your cell phone charger and follow your nose to the nearest grill for lunch.

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RTR 2010 - Day 5

2010-06-17T14:08:00.002-06:00

Durango to Pagosa Springs

After yesterday's ride, today felt like a recovery day. I was up early again and rolled out of Durango at 5:15 a.m.

Getting out on the road early makes for a more enjoyable day. It was the perfect thing to do today because the shoulder on the road was non-existent for most of the ride, and I can't imagine how difficult it would have been trying to ride some of those roads with 50-100 other people.

The ride out of Durango was both chilly and calm. There weren't too many other riders or cars on the road which made for a relaxing start to the day.

Most of the day was spent spinning through the backroads surrounding Durango. We didn't have much wind the entire day which helped a lot.

Most of the roads were in good condition except for an 18 mile stretch through the Navajo National Park that was quite bumpy. I stood up out of the saddle for most of that because my butt (sit bones) are really sore.

Short climbs and short descents were the order of the day, and I rolled into Pagosa Springs after 87 miles in the saddle.

I feel a huge sense of accomplishment after today's ride. I thought I'd have a much harder time at this, but so far, I've been able to make it through each day in decent times and feeling pretty good after the ride.

Here are stats from today's ride:

Total ride time: 5 hours 13 minutes
Total elapsed time: 6 hours 15 minutes
Total miles: 87
Average Speed: 16.4 mph
Max speed: 49.4 mph

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RTR 2010 - Day 4

2010-06-17T13:40:00.000-06:00

Ouray to Durango

A grueling 3-pass day, but I was able to get an early start (on the road by 5:30 a.m.).

The climb out of Ouray was a brutal 13 miles with a sharp cliff drop off to our right.

It kept me on my toes early in the morning.

The first pass - Red Mountain Pass (11,019 ft) was was cold and windy, so I didn't stay long. The descent into Silverton was smooth and very chilly.
I could barely feel my fingers when I got to the bottom.

The next pass was Molas Pass (approx 10,800 ft) was much nicer. I stayed long enough to munch a fistfull of grapes and fill my bottles with Gatorade, and then I was off again.

Coal Bank Pass (10,500 ft) was the last pass of the day, and I treated myself to a spinach, feta and chicken crepe. Tasty indeed.

The final 36 miles of the day combined rollers with fast descents on our way into Durango.

Everyone we spoke to this afternoon is in the same boat - our butts are sore and our legs are sore, but we're having a hell of a time and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Lessons from Day 4:

1) Waking up and leaving early means you don't have to wait in a line of 35 people to use the bathroom in the morning.

2) it also means you get the freshest grapes, bananas and oranges at the rest stops.

Here are the stats for the day:

Total miles: 75
Average speed: 12.6 mph
Total pedal time: 5 hrs 51 minutes
Total climbing: approx. 5,700 ft

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RTR 2010 - Day 3 Stats

2010-06-17T13:31:00.002-06:00

Total ride time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Total miles: 67
Average speed: 15.5 mph
Max speed: 43.7 mph

Here are some pics from Ouray.

The view from outside my tent.

Lessons from Day 3

1) Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate - I've been drinking a ton of water on all my rides during the tour (approx 1 gallon of fluid while riding) and haven't had any cramps.

2) Don't set up your tent near the kids playground - they'll be screaming till it gets dark.

3) 8 hours of sleep minimum is a good amount each night. Well rested = good riding the next day.

4) Set out everything the night before - vitamins, morning protein drink, sunscreen, clothes for the day, shoes, gloves, etc... Anything you think you might need, make sure it's out and easily accessible.

5) Hang your bike light from overhead in your tent so you can find everything in the morning. It's going to be dark when you wake up.

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RTR 2010 - Day 3

2010-06-15T15:32:00.001-06:00

I never thought that a 67 mile day and 3,500 feet climbing would qualify as an easy day, but somehow it has.

We rolled out of Delta at around 6:15 a.m. this morning. The weather was cool all morning which made the ride very comfortable. There were some rough roads that had me wishing I was on a carbon fiber bike, but from what I hear, everyone got rattled around on that stretch of road.

The ride today was relatively mellow with a few good rollers, gradual climbs and wide open scenery.

Once we started crossing the river, we knew that Ouray was close.

The coolest part about today was seeing the mountains getting bigger and bigger with each passing mile.

We arrived in Ouray shortly after noon and promptly set up camp and headed to the shower truck. It felt good to clean up and relax.

Ouray is one of the most beautiful towns I have ever visited. It's surrounded by dramatic mountains and cliffs and has a lively downtown. If you're in town, stop by Cafe Ouray - they have good sandwiches and wraps as well as ice cream and gelato.

RTR 2010 - Random pics from Delta

2010-06-15T14:53:00.000-06:00

Delta is an odd little town with very welcoming people. I still don't know if they have a downtown area.

Here are some photos:

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RTR 2010 - Day 2

2010-06-15T14:41:00.001-06:00

Grand Mesa kicked my ass today, but I didn't SAG. My slowest speed for the day was 3.4 mph on the climb and my fastest speed on the descent was 45 mph.

I woke up at 4:30 a.m. this morning, packed up my tent and rolled out of town by 5:30 a.m. The first 20 miles were awesome. We rode through orchards and vineyards surrounding Grand Junction before reaching the base of the climb at Grand Mesa.

All of the RTR volunteers have done an amazing job at the aid stations and are a welcome sight during long climbs. Thank you wonderful people!!!

The lower section of Grand Mesa was deceptively easy and once the climb started, it didn't let up until the summit - 20 miles of climbing in total that took me around 5 hours to complete. The ride up was pretty miserable with periods of rain and cold temps.

Once I reached the summit however, conditions worsened and we were treated to temps around 42 degrees and rain, sleet and snow.

Fortunately the descent into Delta was a quick one followed by 12 miles of relatively flat terrain that led us to Delta Middle School - our camping location for the evening.

Stats for the day are:
Total elapsed time: 8 hours 15 minutes
Total Miles: 94
Average Speed: 13.4 mph
Approx Pedal time: 7 hours 15 minutes

Lessons from Day 2:
1) Bring cold weather gear and rain gear because you're going to need it.

2) Ride at your own pace - there will always be people faster than you. Go your own speed and enjoy the ride.

3) People on the side of the road ringing cowbells and cheering you on really do make you go faster. Thanks to all the locals who came out to support the tour.

4) It is totally worth waking up early to get out on the road ahead of the main group of riders - makes for a much more enjoyable start to the day.

5) Pushing yourself past your limits feels really good.

Day 3 - 67 miles to Ouray on a gradual uphill (3,500 feet vertical of climbing).
Onward and upward!! (literally)

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RTR 2010 - Day 1 - Lessons Learned

2010-06-13T20:32:00.002-06:00

Another awesome day...here are some good things to remember.

1) Going your own pace works really well. I got dropped on the climb, and rode a comfortable pace and feel good at the end of the day. It also gave me more opportunities to take photos.

2) Early departure I the way to go. We took off at 6:45 a.m. this morning and rode on uncrowded streets. We also didn't have to wait in line for th showers when we got back to camp.

3) There is great food off campus - well worth the shuttle bus into town.

4) When you think about stopping to take a photo- go ahead and do it, because it's not like you do this every day.

5) When Dave offers you earplugs, gladly accept them because the reggae/SoCal band (as awesome as they are) will be Welcoming you to JamRock well past your bedtime.

94 Miles tomorrow - bring it!!!

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Ride the Rockies - Day 1

2010-06-13T10:48:00.001-06:00

Incredible day riding through Colorado National Monument today.

We left at around 7:00 a.m. this morning and rode from Mesa State College through some of the surrounding neighborhoods and then into Colorado National Monument.

The ride through the monument was breathtaking with the sun breaking through the clouds and the steep walls of the canyon rising up to greet us.

For the first 15 miles we climbed up switchbacks, through a tunnel, up some more switchbacks and finally to the top where the views were incredible.

At the top, I shot a quick self-portrait...

...ate some grapes...

...and paid hommage to my bike -thanks for getting me to the top Cervelo!

The downhills were amazing with tight switchbacks and a couple of tunnels thrown in for good measure.

Here are the stats from today's ride:
Total ride time - 2 hours 45 mins
Total miles - 45 miles
Avg speed - 16.5 mph
Max speed - 37.8 mph

Ride the Rockies - Day 0 - Part Two

2010-06-12T22:13:00.001-06:00

After a pretty heavy lunch, Dave (another tech guy from Boulder) and I decided to head out to a local Mexican restaurant for dinner. We weren't disappointed.

It's now a little after 10:00 p.m. and the jazz band has finished their final set and everyone is getting ready to crash - me included.

But first, a few lessons from the day:

1) When blogging save more often than you think you need to.

2) The early bird catches the worm (and the best spot to camp).

3) A packing list and much preparation really pay off.

More to come tomorrow - the first day of riding through Colorado National Monument.

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Ride the Rockies - Day 0 - Part One

2010-06-12T21:59:00.000-06:00

After months of preparation, the day has finally arrived - the beginning of Ride the Rockies.

Before I get too far into the daily blog, I want to thank everyone for their support and encouragement over the past few months. It's been great having so many people behind me.

I woke up early this morning to drive from Colorado Springs (depart 5:45 a.m.) to Salida (arrived 8:15 a.m) which is the finishing town of the tour to drop off my car and catch a bus to Grand Junction.

A cold and cloudy day followed me from Colorado Springs to Salida (where it started raining) and then on to Grand Junction. There were occasional patches of sunshine on the way to Salida, but in the end, the clouds ruled the day.

The bus ride from Salida to Grand Junction was a long 5 hours, but I was lucky enough to sit next to a lady named Jane who has completed several endurance rides. The longest was a ride from Canada to Mexico over 17 days averaging 120 miles a day. Something to shoot for.

Rain greeted us in Grand Junction, so a few of us decided to pitch our tents under the shelter of one of the campus buildings.

This was a decision we felt progressively better about as rain continued to fall throughout the day and late arrivals were forced to pitch their tents on what was fast becoming a cold and soggy field.

Registration was incredibly smooth (hats off to the RTR organizers) and it wasn't long before the bikes arrived on a semi from Salida and we could start putting them back together.

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Training Log: Final Week before the Tour

2010-06-11T08:50:00.000-06:00

Completed some easy spins this week (1-1 1/2 hours) and rested a good amount.

The focus of this week was to pick up final items for the tour (bike box, extra socks, chamois butter, G2 Electrolyte mix, etc...) and double-check my packing list.

Spending this afternoon (Friday) packing and will head out early tomorrow morning to register in Grand Junction.

Here's the route for the week:

Saturday 6/12/2010
Grand Junction - Registration
Mesa State College

Sunday 6/13/2010
Grand Junction - CO National Monument Loop
(8,755 ft.)
46 miles

Monday 6/14/2010
Grand Junction to Delta via Grand Mesa
(10,839 ft.)
90 miles

Tuesday 6/15/2010
Delta to Ouray
67 miles

Wednesday 6/16/2010
Ouray to Durango
Via Red Mntn Pass (11,090 ft.), Molas Divide (10,899 ft.) and Coal Bank Pass (10,640 ft.)
70 miles

Thursday 6/17/2010
Durango to Pagosa Springs
85 miles

Friday 6/18/2010
Pagosa Springs to Alamosa
Via Wolf Creek Pass (10,850 ft.)
90 miles

Saturday 6/19/2010
Alamosa to Salida (FINISH)
Via Poncha Pass (9,019 ft.)
84 miles

Test post from iPhone

2010-06-07T17:46:00.001-06:00

Less than a week to go. Looking forward to RTR 2010

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Location:Whirlwind Dr,Colorado Springs,United States

Where do I find reviews of road cycling gear?

2010-06-03T09:30:00.003-06:00

Here are some good links that I use for researching components and bike parts. These are in addition to the manufacturer websites.

http://www.roadbikereview.com/

http://www.bicycling.com/channel/0,6609,s1-1-0-0-0,00.html

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

2010-06-03T09:18:00.003-06:00

First ride with my new pedals and shoes. These made a HUGE difference and I'd recommend to anyone riding a road bike that they invest in high-quality road shoes and pedals.

Here are the ride details:

Ride time: 1 hour 14 minutes

Distance: 21 miles

Average speed: 16.8 mph

Cycling Lessons From a Newb

2010-06-03T08:29:00.004-06:00

I've been cycling now for 5 months and have learned a huge amount about cycling (which is actually a small fraction of what I have yet to learn), but I wanted to share these tips, best practices and lessons.

1) Fueling - Here's my fueling strategy:

Rides 1-2 hours:

2 x 24 ounce water bottles - one with 2 scoops of HEED mixed with water (by Hammer Nutrition) stands for High Energy Electrolyte Drink, and the other with 1 Camelbak Elixr Electrolyte tablet and water. I also carried one KIND bar.

Rides 2+ Hours:

In Cooler weather (60 degrees and lower) - 2 x 24 ounce water bottles - one with Perpetuem mixed with water (by Hammer Nutrition) - this is an endurance mix that provides a small amount of protein and carbohydrates for longer distance training. It is also possible to mix a "multi-hour" bottle - meaning that if I was riding for 4 hours, I could mix enough for 4 hours of riding and sip a little over the 4 hours to stay fueled.
In Warmer weather (60 degrees and higher) - 2 x 24 ounce water bottles - I don't use Perpetuem as my fueling source - it's too hard to keep cold, and it turn sour after a few hours in warm (80 degrees +) weather. Instead, I mix a 2-hour bottle with HEED and carry 1-2 baggies with HEED powder in it, so I can mix it with water when we stop at gas stations. I also carry PowerBar Energy Gel Blasts for carbohydrates and energy. This works REALLY well.
The other bottle had 1 Camelbak Elixr Electrolyte tablet and water.
For harder rides and climbs, I'll also carry 2 KIND bars and eat them early in the ride (during the first 1-2 hours).

2) Best improvements you can make to your bike

I made 5 improvements to my bike that have really helped my performance:

Bicycle Fitting: Got to a qualified professional and get fitted on your bike - these guys measure all angles (knee bend, elbow bend, back bend, reach) to make sure you are positioned correctly on the bike. They also make sure your pedals and cleats are positioned properly for maximum power transfer and to reduce injuries. If you have excessive numbness in your hands (on 1-2 hour rides), a sore back, sore knees while pedaling, or achy shoulders - a good bicycle fit can go a long way to eliminating these issues.
Cycling Speed and Cadence Computer: I use a CatEye computer that measures Speed, Average Speed, Current Ride Miles, Odometer, Current Ride Time, Current Time, and Cadence. This helped me know key information like speed and average speed and ride time, and inspired me to go longer and faster by knowing the stats of each ride. NEXT STEP is to pick up a Garmin Edge 704 (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=160&pID=10885) maps your ride, provides grade %, total elevation, total descent, a google map of your ride, heart rate and more.
Handlebars: I changed out the standard FSA aluminum handlebars to the FSA K-Wing Carbon bars - these bars are shaped with flat areas for your hands and grooves for when you're riding the hoods. This really helped me stay comfortable on longer rides and allowed me to focus on things like pedaling and cadence instead of numbness in my hands.
Pedals: This is one lesson that took me 5 months to learn - I started out on the Shimano SPD pedals and mountain bike shoes. I wouldn't recommend this. I just got Road Cycling shoes (Lake CX401) and pedals (Look KEO Max2) and it makes a world of difference. I'd say the difference is as big as when you go from toe clips to clip-in pedals. I can feel the power transfer to the pedals and feels like my feet are part of the bike. Again - it's one less thing I need to think about while riding, and my pedal stroke feels much more natural.
Tires: It's worth investing in new tires that are at least $65 or more - these tires generally have a higher thread count (which means you can run them at a higher pressure), less rolling resistance (=faster) and better overall performance. I started with Specialized Armadillo on the rear wheel and Gator Skins on the front. I switched to Vredestein Fortezza Tri-Comp and noticed a HUGE difference in handling and speed.

Lastly - I want to share some good links that I use to buy products off the Internet. There are some items that I will buy at my local bike shop (bike, shoes, and cheaper items like tubes, canisters, bottles, etc..), but for things like handlebars, pedals, tires, saddles, etc...I search the Internet for the best prices. Here are some of the links:

http://bike.jaxed.com/cgi-bin/bike.cgi

This search allows you to search nationwide Craigslist, eBay and Kijiji listings for bike parts - very useful.

http://www.qbike.com/

This site searches sale items across many websites on the Internet and returns product prices and discounts - you can find some incredible deals on this site.

http://www.coloradocyclist.com/

These guys have an excellent selection of high-end products and have some really good sales on clearance items. I got my Lake CX 401 shoes for $189 (orig. $489)

Ride on!

Training Log: Saturday 29 & Sun May 30th

2010-06-03T08:12:00.004-06:00

Saturday, I did the shop ride with the Bicycle Village Performance group - it killed me, but was excellent to ride with more skilled/faster/stronger riders - pushed me to my limits.

Saturday

35 miles

15.7 MPH Average

2 hours 12 minutes

On Sunday, I drove

out to Buena Vista to do

Cottonwood Pass

and get one really good climb in before Ride the Rockies. I rode from 306 & Hwy 24 to the

summit of Cottonwood Pass and back - there are no traffic lights and the road has very few cars - a perfect ride.

Sunday - Cottonwood Pass

40 Miles

Total Climbing: ~4,900 ft.
High Point: 12,126 ft.
Max Grade: 10%
Avg. Grade: 4.1%

12.2 MPH average speed

3 hours 30 mins

Training Log: Wednesday, May 26, 2010

2010-05-26T20:44:00.002-06:00

Only a few weeks left before Ride the Rockies.

Went for a short ride this morning at Garden of the Gods. It was mellow, challenging, and fun. I should ride there more.

Ride Time: 45 minutes
Total Miles: 11.6 Miles
Average Speed: 15.2 MPH

Training Log: Sunday, May 23, 2010

2010-05-24T13:48:00.002-06:00

Spent a good day in the mountains riding the Peak to Peak highway. I started at Black Hawk and climbed the first 5 miles from 8,000 ft. to 9,400 feet. The next 12 miles or so was mostly rollers into Nederland, and then another climb out of Nederland from 8,200 ft. to 9,200 ft towards Ward. I rode a few miles past Ward and turned around at 31 miles to head back to Black Hawk.

It was an excellent day riding - lots of challenging climbs (approx. 4,000 feet climbing over the ride). I definitely need to work on climbing - that's the part of the ride where I lose most of my time.

Total Time: 4 hours 52 minutes (over 6 elapsed hours)
Total Miles: 62.25 Miles
Average Speed: 12.7 MPH
Max Speed: 50.3 MPH

Training Log: Saturday May 22, 2010

2010-05-23T06:54:00.004-06:00

First longer ride in 2 weeks. started with the shop ride (25 miles) and then did another climbing route(Bicycle Village down Dublin to Woodmen, Under I-25, then right onto Woodmen, up the Woodmen climb, down Centennial, Right onto Fling W Ranch, up the Flying W Ranch hill, then the reverse route back to the shop). It was REALLY windy (30 MPH gusting to 45). The entire Woodmen Hill climb and Flying W Ranch climb were into the wind.

Total Ride Time: 3 hours 45 mins
Average Speed: 13.6 MPH
Total Miles 51.5

Thinking about hitting the Nederland Scenic Byway on Sunday...should be good.

Training Log: Tuesday, May 18, 2010

2010-05-18T22:01:00.002-06:00

Good short quick ride today...was able to finish before the sun went down.

Ride Time: 44 mins 30 secs
Avg. Speed: 17.5 MPH
Total Distance: 13.1 miles

Training Log: Monday, May 17, 2010

2010-05-18T10:34:00.002-06:00

Back in the saddle after a week off while on vacation.

Rode out at the Air Force Academy and tested out new handlebars (FSA K-Wing Carbon). They are awesome - very comfortable hand positions and no numbness at all.

Total Ride Time: 1 hour 33 mins
Average Speed: 15.9 MPH
Total Miles: 24.55 Miles

I'll be riding a lot this week and resting on Friday - then going to do a pass climb or the Peak to Peak Historic ByWay - it'll be an all-day ride on Sunday.

Training Log: Saturday, May 8, 2010

2010-05-08T15:05:00.002-06:00

Good quick training ride today - rode with the shop group again up to Back Forest and back.

Total Ride Time: 2 hours 4 minutes
Average Speed: 16.2 MPH
Total Miles: 33.6 miles

Need to hit the gym in Baltimore tomorrow to finish out the week.

Training Log: Thursday, May 6, 2010

2010-05-06T21:32:00.002-06:00

I braved the cold weather today (this afternoon) and rode 12 miles at slow cadence and harder gears. Speed was slower, but I felt it in my legs a bit more.

1 hour
Avg Speed: 12 MPH
Total Miles 12 miles.

Planning to rest tomorrow and then ride early at the AF Academy and then more with the guys from the shop - shooting for another 50-60-miles on Saturday.

Training Log: Wednesday, May 5, 2010

2010-05-05T22:14:00.002-06:00

Another day full of meetings and another day at the gym on the Spinner. It's better to get a ride in than skip it due to time constraints.

Wicked hard intervals today left me with no gas in the tank at the end of a 1-hour ride.

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Avg. Speed: 16-18 MPH
Total Miles: 18 Miles

Tomorrow I'm riding outside - getting ready for my Saturday ride - up Monarch Pass or Cotonwood Pass.

Training Log: Tuesday, May 4, 2010

2010-05-05T22:12:00.001-06:00

Spinning at the gym due to a day chock full of meetings.

Total Time: 1 hour
Avg. Speed: 16-18 MPH
Miles: 16 Miles

Training Log: Sunday, May 2, 2010

2010-05-02T20:51:00.002-06:00

147.5 miles this weekend - good 2 days of riding. Crappy weather outside again today, but I needed to test myself with the back to back LONG rides - so I loaded up the trainer with my bike and rode indoors.

During the ride today, I focused on hand position, different pedal strokes to rest muscle groups and also changed up gearing and cadence to simulate climbs and speed flats.

Here are the details:

Total time in the saddle: 5 hours
Total ride time with breaks: 6 hours
Average Speed: 17 MPH
Total Miles: 85.42 Miles

I also tested out my fueling, hydration, and electrolyte plan for the longer riding days - I'll post separately what I've been eating/drinking during the ride - but I have it dialed.

Looking forward to my rest day tomorrow.

Training Log: Saturday, May 1, 2010

2010-05-01T18:48:00.002-06:00

Great day riding today. Started at Bicycle VIllage and did the shop ride with 4 other guys up to Black Forest and back. After that ride (2 hours 20 minutes) I went to the Air Force Academy to finish out my ride. Good fast cadence, good amount of time in the saddle. I didn't drink quite as much as usual and mixed a 4-hour bottle of Perpetuem which kept me fueled for the whole ride.

Here are the details:

Total Ride Time: 4 hours 22 minutes
Average Speed: 14.2 MPH
Total Miles: 62.25

I have another long day of riding tomorrow (approx. 5 hours)

Training Log: Friday, April 30th

2010-04-30T22:18:00.002-06:00

Last day of April...just over 1 month to go until the tour starts.

Wasn't able to get much riding in this week - went to San Francisco Monday and came home Thursday.

Rode at the gym today - weather here is still lousy (i.e. low 40's and windy with imminent rain and thunderstorms). It's the gnarliest Springs we've had in a while, or maybe I'm just noticing it more because I need to be outside logging hours in the saddle.

Here's my stats from the gym today:

1 hour 5 minutes
Avg. Speed 16-18 MPH
Total Miles: 18 Miles

Long rides this weekend - 4 hours Saturday and 5 hours Sunday. It's going to be cold, so I've already put my toe caps on my shoes....garrrrrrrr.

Training Log: Tuesday, April 27, 2010

2010-04-27T22:39:00.003-06:00

Rode at the gym at the hotel in San Francisco. Not a great bike, but was able to get a good hour of climbing in.

Time: 1 hour
Average Speed: 14 MPH
Total Miles: 14 Miles

Looking forward to riding again outside at home.

Training Log: Sunday, April 25, 2010

2010-04-25T17:12:00.003-06:00

My legs are toast. Back to back 4 hour rides this weekend. 64 miles Saturday and 56 miles today.

I worked on climbing mostly today. Tough given the wind (15-20 mph gusting to 30 mph), but it was good. I'm glad I went out and rode.

Good week riding altogether - total 217.5 miles.

4/25/2010
Airforce Academy Loop
70% Climbing
4 Hours 10 Minutes
56.36 Miles
Avg. Speed 13.5 MPH

Training Log: Saturday, April 24, 2010

2010-04-24T21:36:00.003-06:00

Good day of spinning - I had planned to ride outside, but the weather this morning was 45 degrees with an 18 MPH wind (that steadily climbed to 28 mph throughout the day) and rain/snow mix. Not a good day to ride outside.

So...I went to the gym and rode on a spinning bike for 4 hours.

The first hour was mixed drills with fast cadence (95-105 BPM), power climbs (level 7 @ 75-80 BPM) and running climbs (Level 8-10 @ 45-75 BPM).
The second hour consisted of mostly power climbs and running climbs.
The third hour was all about speed drills. I completed 4 "Lance Cadence Drills" (Level 2/3 @ 115-120 BPM) with regular cadence (95 BPM) and power climbs in between.
The fourth hour was a mix again, much like the first hour, but with a little less climbing and easier levels (mostly level 3-7).

All in all, it was a solid ride. Tomorrow I can look forward to 5 hours outside on my bike - looking forward to it.

Here's the summary for today:

Total ride time: 4 hours
Average speed: 16 MPH
Total Miles: 64 miles

Training Log: Thursday, April 22, 2010

2010-04-23T09:09:00.003-06:00

Conference calls all day - so went to the gym to ride.

It should be illegal for Spinning Instructors to keep pedaling on an easy gear during class and demand that we sprint on a level 10.

I did a spinning class for 1 hour and then rode by myself for 45 minutes. The spinning class was OK - interval sprints, climbs, and some isolation. I spent most of the 45 minutes doing hard climbs (15 minutes at a time with 1-2 minutes easy spinning in between).

Summary:

1 hour 45 minutes spinning fast/power cadence (85 Climb to 120 Sprint)
Speed: Approx. 16-18 MPH
28 miles

Training Log: Wednesday, April 21, 2010

2010-04-23T09:07:00.003-06:00

Cross training day - played 18 holes of golf. Shot 89 and lost a few balls - felt good on the back to swing.

More riding tomorrow.

Training Log: Tuesday, April, 20, 2010

2010-04-20T20:12:00.003-06:00

Another really good day riding outside. Renewed focus on cadence and different pedal techniques to use different muscles.

Average speed is increasing.

2 loops of the Airforce Academy
Time: 1 hour 42 minutes
Total Miles: 26.5
Average Speed: 15.6 MPH

Training Log: Monday, April 19, 2010

2010-04-19T21:31:00.003-06:00

Good day riding - I rode 3 1/4 loops of the Airforce Academy. The first two loops (25 miles) I was able to maintain 15 mph average - it's the last loop that got me.

I need to work on longer rides (70-90 miles) and more climbs. Might tackle Monarch Pass or Cottonwood Pass this coming weekend. My training schedule calls for 4 hours on Saturday and 5 hours on Sunday.

Here's my ride for this afternoon:

Airforce Academy Loop
3 hours
43 Miles
Avg. Speed 14.2 MPH

Training Log: Sat. April 17, 2010

2010-04-17T18:29:00.003-06:00

Once again, mother nature decided to throw a curve ball today. I woke up to 39 degrees, thick fog, and drizzle - not good riding weather. So...it was another day a the gym doing a coupe of spin classes.

I started with a 45 minute warmup before class started - mostly fast cadence 100-110 RPM spin and slower 85 RPM power climbs. Then the Pro class started - 1 hour and 15 minutes of hard riding, but I learned a lot. Specifically how to surge out of a group, and then interval sprint to widen the gap - good stuff to know. Definitely kills your legs, but if you're able to stick with it, it'll pay off.
After the Pro Class, I stayed for the group spin (1 hour) to round out my ride for the day. Lots of standing running intervals and long grinding climbs - good way to finish.

I had 3 hours on the schedule for riding today, and managed to get it all in.

3 Hours Fast Cadence Spinning indoors.
Avg Speed. 16-18 MPH
Total Miles: 48 miles

Tomorrow's weather: Sunny and a high of 66 degrees. Thunderstorms expected in the afternoon. I'll be riding outside - for the first time this week.

Training Log: Thursday, April 15, 2010

2010-04-15T19:56:00.003-06:00

One more day in the gym spinning. We had isolated thunder storms all afternoon and the thought of riding in the lightning and rain wasn't too appealing.

Indoor Spinning - extended climbs, sprint intervals
1 hour fast cadence
16 mph est.
Total Miles: 16 miles

Weekend outlook not good - I'll probably end up riding in the rain.

Training Log: Wednesday, April 14, 2010

2010-04-14T21:10:00.002-06:00

Another full day of meetings and another day at the gym spinning.

Good series of intervals and hard climbs.

1 hour
Average 16 MPH
Distance: 16 miles

Tomorrow - outside for sure.

Training Log: Tuesday, April 13, 2010

2010-04-13T21:44:00.002-06:00

Another crazy windy day - sustained winds of 32 MPH and gusts up to 45 MPH - not a good day to ride outside. Now, I'm not opposed to riding in the wind, it just gets a bit ridiculous when it's really windy outside.

I went to the gym today and did 1 1/2 hours of spinning (1 hour class and an additional 30 minutes). The spinning class focused on sprints, intervals of standing and sitting, and isolation drills. Ouch!

1 hour 30 minutes spinning
Fast cadence (16 MPH average)
Total 24 miles.

It'll be nice out tomorrow - looking forward to doing loops at the Airforce Academy.

Training Log: Sun. April 11, 2010

2010-04-11T19:21:00.003-06:00

I decided to ride a pass today to get some practice on long climbs- and started out with a pretty mellow one - it's an 18-mile climb, but not too steep.

I started at Bailey, CO (7,750 ft) and rode south on 285 to the summit of Kenosha Pass (10,000 ft), and then back down to Bailey.

After my ride yesterday, I could really feel my hamstrings on the climb, but was able to pedal through it.

Here are the details:

Wind from SW 14 MPH Gusting to 20 MPH
Mostly Sunny 65 degrees.
Ride time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Distance: 37 Miles
Avg. Speed 13.5 MPH

Climbing time: 2 hours 5 minutes
Descending time: 40 minutes

Training Log: Sat. April 10, 2010

2010-04-10T13:40:00.002-06:00

Awesome ride today - went out with the guys from Bicycle Village. We rode two loops of the Airforce Academy, and then I rode the Hospital Hill shorter loop and then back to the bomber. These guys were all really nice and I learned a TON about riding in a group,drafting, how much distance to leave between you and the rider in front.

The pace was faster today than when I ride by myself - it was good to have the group push you a bit. I was really impressed with the fitness level of the group - got smoked by all of them and was one of the youngest riders.

Weather was really nice - 50-60 degrees
Wind: From S at 18mph gusting to 25mph

Time: 2 hours 23 minutes
Average Speed: 15.5 Miles Per Hour
Total Miles: 37.15

Key Lessons: I stayed hydrated with 2 water bottles that included a mix of Electrolytes, Carbs and Protein.
I stayed fueled with Roctane Gel, shot blocks and a Pro Bar.
For climbs, I do better pulling on the pedals than I do pushing (thank you hamstrings). I also found that when I am riding in the line and I need to catch up (i.e. if I drop back 4-5 feet from the group, I can crank through 4-5 quick pedal strokes pulling on each one and catch up.

All in all, an AWESOME day riding.

Training Log: Thursday, April 8, 2010

2010-04-08T15:00:00.002-06:00

Went for a ride today during lunch to test out the new bike - it was awesome. The weather has improved a bit, but is still really windy. I rode the 13 mile loop around the Airforce Academy and really like how the bike felt.

55° F
Wind: From S at 16mph gusting to 24mph - feels like you are dragging a car tire behind you

13 miles
53 minutes
Average Speed 14.7 miles per hour

I can definitely feel the difference when a gust of wind hits the side of the bike, but I can also feel the difference when I'm hauling down a hill.

Equipment: The Bike

2010-04-08T08:57:00.003-06:00

Just drafted an email to a good friend that talks a bit about why I went with the Cervelo S1 with some additional information about why I think it's a good bike for Ride the Rockies.

What do you want to pay for a bike?

I did a TON of research, and found that for and level under PRO, the Ultegra component set is more than adequate. Also, at the $2200 price point, I could get a superlight Aluminium (which I got in the Cervelo) or a Carbon frame.

The guys at the bike shop put it this way: When you compare a $900 bike to a $2500 bike, the major benefits are performance and overall weight. Meaning that the component set goes from a Tiagra/Sora mix to Ultegra, which is a noticeable increase in performance, and you get the lighter frame (either Carbon or Light Aluminium).

When you go from a $2500 bike to a $5000 bike, the major benefit is weight and high-level performance (stiffness). Meaning you'll save approx. 1 pound off the overall weight of the bike, and the Carbon you get is a higher quality, stiffer and more responsive ride. So for me, it was smarter to stop at the $2500 level.

What other components did I add to the bike?

The other 2 things I changed on the bike were the pedals (Crank Brothers Eggbeaters SL: http://www.crankbrothers.com/eggbeater_sl.php) and the saddle (Selle SMP Glider: http://www.sellesmp.com/en/glider.htm).

How will it do for Ride the Rockies?

I think it will do well. It has a good stiff bottom bracket, it's very responsive and the energy you put into pedaling feels like it's all going directly to the tires and the road. Riding this bike feels like there is no energy wasted - it's all used to move you forward. It's a unique feeling. My only slight concern is the gearing - I'm on a 34 (front) - 25 (rear) - so I'll really need to work on my climbing - but it's a compact crankset, so that makes a difference.

Training is a blast - looking forward to warmer weather and longer rides.

Training Log: Wednesday, April 7, 2010

2010-04-07T22:58:00.002-06:00

Exciting day...I went to pick up my bike today. I also got Crank Brothers Eggbeater pedals - yes...they look exactly like egg beaters. Might go out on an early morning ride tomorrow - will see what the weather looks like. It'll be chilly (40 degrees), but worth taking a spin on the new bike.

I rode inside again today at the gym on the spinner. Good fast cadence today and standing sprints.

Inside Spinning fast cadence (16-18 MPH)

1 hour

APPROX. 16 miles

Training Log: Tuesday, April 6, 2010

2010-04-06T23:27:00.002-06:00

Another full day of meetings and MORE WIND. It's been windy for the past 7 days - every day. It's the 30 MPH wind with gusts to 50 MPH...

I went to the gym this evening and worked on a high-cadence spin and climb.

1 hour 20 minutes

Est. 16-18 MPH

Approx. 25 Miles

My new bike should arrive tomorrow - can't wait. Fingers crossed for a sunny calm day...

Something to live up to...

2010-04-05T20:42:00.002-06:00

In January when I started training for Ride the Rockies, I was on a friend's old (1994) Fuji. The bike weighed 24 pounds, the frame was steel and it was a dog to ride.

In Feb. I went to Bicycle Village in Colorado Springs and bought a good beginner bike (Trek 1.5). Overall, it is a good bike if you're starting out, but as my riding volume increased (started at 30 miles per wee and am now up to 150 miles per week), I quickly ran into things I wanted to change on the bike to improve ride quality, comfort, responsiveness and performance. Of course, this meant repeated trips to the bike store to give the guys updates, and buy a series of new components (Headset, Saddle, Rear Cassette, etc...) and adjust the fit and riding position.

Last week, as I was getting the rear-derailleur tweaked for buttery smooth shifting, the Gm of the store was incredibly kind and offered to credit me the cost of my Trek 1.5 and apply it towards the purchase of a higher-quality bike. This is a standard 30-day satisfaction guarantee that they offer, which they extended by a few weeks. Something I appreciate more than words can say.

So...today, I test rode a few models (Cervelo S1, Specialized Tarmac, Scott C1, Gary Fisher) and decided on the Cervelo - it's an incredible bike. It's fast, responsive, solid at speed, - everything I was looking for, and something I'll surely need to live up to. Kind of like purchasing a Ferrari and needing to increase your driving skills to be able to get the most out of the car.

I'll be picking it up on Tuesday/Wednesday of this week.

Training Log: Monday, April 5, 2010

2010-04-05T20:36:00.002-06:00

Back in the saddle after delicious Peking Duck over Easter.

I rode hard today - but inside at spinning class. It's still super windy outside (30 MPH with gusts 50 MPH) so it's just plain dangerous to ride outside.

Here are details for today:

Group Spin followed by Pro Spin back to back

2 hours riding

Avg. 16 MPH

32 Miles

Training Log: April 1, 2010

2010-04-01T18:16:00.003-06:00

Another day of spinning - because if I had ventured outside to ride, I would have been blown away - literally. The wind was 30 MPH today with gusts of 50 MPH. As a tail-wind, it would have been really good, but I don't think I could have handled the head wind.

Spinning Solo

1 hour at Fast Cadence - focus on climbing and intervals

Est. 16 MPH

Total: 16 miles

I might have to wait until the weekend to ride outside, it's going to be chilly and windy tomorrow.

Training Log: March 31, 2010

2010-03-31T22:14:00.002-06:00

I was flooded with Conference Calls today, so I did a spinning class at the gym this evening. I really enjoyed it - we worked on Cadence drills, break-aways, long climbs, sprints and progressive up and downs.

Spinning Class

1 Hour Fast Cadence

Approx. 16 miles

The funniest part...I was speaking with the instructor after class and we were talking about one of the shop rides here in town. I mentioned that the average speed was 15 MPH, to which she replied - that's slow - I usually average 20-25 MPH. Now, she was referring to a much flatter ride at sea-level (she's from Houston), but still - something to work towards.

Training Log: Tuesday March 30, 2010

2010-03-30T17:46:00.002-06:00

Beautiful day outside today - 75 degrees and sunny - and windy - 20 MPH sustained and gusting to 28 MPH. When you hit one of these gusts, feels like you're hitting a wall - but a good opportunity to practice your aero-dynamic riding position.

Ride: Airforce Academy Loop

Time: 1 Hr. 42 Mins

Distance: 25 miles

Avg. Speed: 14.7 MPH

Good day riding - felt strong and maintained a good cadence.

Riding Lesson #274

2010-03-29T20:46:00.002-06:00

I'd rather ride with a Camel Back and not look cool than find myself dehydrated in the middle of nowhere

- In addition to two bottles (32 oz each) in the traditional cage positions on my bike frame, I also carry 80 oz water in a Camel Back. On a four-hour ride, I go through both bottles and approx. 60 ounces of the water in my Camel Back - that's a total of 124 ounces. Staying hydrated keeps my muscles happy and my energy level consistent.

Training Log: March 27th & 28th

2010-03-28T19:55:00.004-06:00

March 28th, 2010 - Good weekend of rides. Earlier this week it snowed and yesterday, the wind was blowing 25-35 MPH all day with a high of 38 degrees - not good riding weather. I was able to train inside on my trainer (you lock in the rear axle and ride against a flywheel that simulates a flat road).

Here are my rides from this weekend:

Sat, March 27th

Indoor trainer

3 hours @ 16 MPH

48 Miles total distance

Sun, March 28th

Ride CO 115 from the Giant Insect Museum to Penrose and back.

3 hours 53 minutes @ 13.9 MPH

54.2 Miles total distance.

April's Training Plan

2010-03-28T19:55:00.001-06:00

April's Training Plan

Week-6 (10hrs)	M-Day off T-1hr W-1.5hrs R-1hr F-Very easy 30min	SAT-2.5hrs SUN-3.5hrs @ 95% of goal pace
Week-7 (11hrs)	M-Day off T-1.5hrs W-1hr R-1hr F-Very easy 30min	SAT-3hrs SUN-4hrs @ 95% of goal pace
Week-8 (12hrs)	M-Day off T-1.5hrs W-1.5hrs R-1hr F-Very easy 30min	SAT-3.5hrs SUN-4hrs @ 100% of goal pace
Week-9 (13hrs)	M-Day off T-1hr W-1.5hrs R-1hr F-Very easy 30min	SAT-4hrs SUN-5hrs @ 100% of goal pace

Time To Buckle Down And Train Hard

2010-03-28T19:39:00.002-06:00

March 6, 2010 - RTR has an excellent website (http://www.ridetherockies.com) and provide excellent resources relating to training, nutrition, equipment, and safety.

I visit the Riders Area and click on the link for OptimizeEndurance.com to see what their training plans look like: http://www.optimizeendurance.com/training-plans-colorado/2010_ride-the-rockies-colorado-training-plans.htm

There's a Beginner plan and an Advanced plan - naturally (for those who know me) I click on the advanced plan which calls for 10-14 hours a week training. Here's what my new riding plan looks like:

March

Week-1(8hrs) M-Day off T-1hr W-1.5hrs R-1hr F-Very easy 30min SAT-2hrs SUN-2hrs @ 70% of goal pace

Week-2 (9.5hrs) M-Day off T-1hr W-1.5hrs R-1hr F-Very easy 30min SAT-2.5hrs SUN-3hrs @ 75% of goal pace

Week-3(10.5hrs) M-Day off T-1.5hrs W-1hr R-1hr F-Very easy 30min SAT-3hrs SUN-3.5hrs @ 80% of goal pace

Week-4 (11hrs) M-Day off T-1.5hrs W-1hr R-1hr F-Very easy 30min SAT-3hrs SUN-4hrs @ 85% of goal pace

Week-5 (9hrs) M-Day off T-1hr W-30min R-1hr F-Very easy 30min SAT-3hr SUN-3hrs @ 90% of goal pace

Did I Get In?

2010-03-28T19:33:00.002-06:00

March 5th, 2010 - Pins and needles, butterflies in the stomach, waiting waiting waiting for that magic email telling me that I've been selected in the lottery.

I check the Ride the Rockies Facebook page first thing in the morning to see if there's any news of when people will find out if they were selected. About 30 other anxious RTR potential riders are also wondering. There's a rumor that your credit card will be charged the entry fee before you get the official email.

8:43 a.m. - the email notification from MarathonGuide.com comes through letting me know that my credit card has been charged! I don't think I've ever been so happy learning that $370 got charged to my card!!

========= GENERAL INFORMATION =========

Merchant : MARATHONGUIDE COM / Web Marketing Associates
Date/Time : 05-Mar-2010 09:43:39 AM
Transaction ID : 2877190738

========= ORDER INFORMATION =========
Invoice Number : RTRk109602
Description : Ride The Rockies Accepted Registrant Registration - Peter
Reed

It's official!! I'm in!!

Registration Day Is Here!

2010-03-28T19:30:00.002-06:00

Feb 7, 2010 - It's registration day! As soon as I wake up, I'm on the internet to register...and get the following email:

This email is to confirm that your application for the 2010 Denver Post Ride The Rockies Bicycle Tour was received.

All applicants will be notified of their standing on Friday, March 5th.

And now the waiting game starts. I have no idea how many people will sign up for the lottery or what my chances are of actually getting in - but I keep on training.

Fingers Crossed!!

Time To Start Training

2010-03-28T19:25:00.002-06:00

January 10, 2010 - Ride the Rockies provides a basic training plan to get ready for the event. Exactly what I need. It's starts slow and then gradually increases in both mileage and duration up until the event. With a few modifications, here's the training schedule that I put together:

WEEK (START ON SAT.)	TOTAL MILES	# WEEKEND RIDES/TOTAL MILES FOR RIDES	#WEEKDAY RIDES/TOTAL MILES FOR RIDES
January 11	20	1/10	1/10
January 18	30	1/10	2/20
January 25	30	1/10	2/20
February 1	30	1/10	2/20
February 8	40	1/15	2/25
February 15	40	1/15	2/25
February 22	40	1/15	2/25
March 1	50	1/20	2/30
March 8	50	1/20	2/30
March 15	60	1/20	3/40
March 22	70	1/20	3/50
March 29	70	1/20	3/50
April 5	80	1/30	3/50
April 12	80	1/30	3/50
April 19	90	1/35	3/55
April 26	90	1/35	3/55
May 3	100	1/40	3/60
May 10	125	2/65	3/60
May 17	140	2/80	3/60
May 24	160	2/95	3/65
May 31	185	2/140 *	2/45
June 7	90	2/55	2/35 **

What Is Ride The Rockies Anyway?

2010-03-28T19:24:00.001-06:00

January 2010 - Time to jump on the Internet and figure out exactly what I will be getting myself into...

Oh Boy...I find out that this year is the 25th Anniversary of Ride the Rockies. Here's what I'm in for:

The Denver Post Ride The Rockies is an annual bicycle tour that takes 2,000 cyclists, assisted by more than 100 volunteers, on a 7 day ride on paved roads through Colorado's Rocky Mountains each June.

In celebration of 25 years, RTR patrons will be treated to a seven-day, 532-mile trek, ascending four of Colorado's most scenic mountain passes including Red Mountain, Coal Bank, Wolf Creek and Poncha. Cyclists will also travel Molas Divide and experience two natural wonders in the Colorado National Monument and the Grand Mesa.

OK...so that's a bit more than I thought - but I' still up for the challenge. So where do I sign up?

I check the Registration Page - and learn that registration opens up on Saturday, Feb. 6th., AND that it's a lottery. OK...so I'll add an appointment to my calendar to register and start training - just in case.

Who's Idea Was This Anyway?

2010-03-28T18:59:00.004-06:00

June 2009 - At a bar in San Francisco, over a few beers, two work colleagues discuss the idea of doing Ride the Rockies. At the time, it's a general suggestion, not a solid plan, an idea planted in my sub-conscious that sits dormant for months to come, until...

October 2009 - I pick up the book No Opportunity Wasted (NOW) and start reading it. Here's a description of the book:

Written by Phil Keoghan and Warren Berger, No Opportunity Wasted (Rodale Press) aims to inspire people to break through their boundaries, challenge themselves, and live a fuller life.

Though Phil is known as an outdoor adventurer this book is not just about climbing mountains or skydiving - it's about seeking out opportunities to keep learning, exposing oneself to new cultural influences and fresh experiences, looking at life from new angles, and finding ways to enrich the lives of others around you.

NOW combines the appeal of an inspirational book with the adrenaline-rush of a thriller. Phil shares his dynamic philosophy, as he takes readers along routes leading from the Yucatan Jungle to the depths of an underwater cave to the top of an erupting volcano. Along the way, you'll meet fascinating people facing their greatest life challenges from the soldier in Iraq to the Hollywood film actor. Stories include a mailman who takes a shot at pro hockey, a nun trying for a triathlon record, an 89-year-old barefoot water skier, a young surfer who won't let paralysis keep him off the board, and a husband who helps his musician wife to finally shine in the spotlight.

This is no armchair adventure book. It is an urgent and inspiring call to action. Phil provides a clear, step-by-step guide to help you create a personalized "List for Life". Packed with practical suggestions and examples, and driven by Phil Keoghan's fresh, compelling 'NOW' philosophy, this is a book that will help us all seize everything our lives have to offer.

While reading the chapter "Test Your Limits", the Ride the Rockies event immediately comes to mind - and I add it to my "life list".