Advanced Ride: July 30th Mt. Evans

Alright, you guys asked for it so you got it! We will give Mt. Evans a go for Saturday's group ride. The weather looks like it should be pretty good with partly sunny skies and a high of 55. There is a chance of thunder storms after 3pm but that shouldn't affect us. I've gotten a couple requests to start earlier so for this ride we will start at 8:30 be ready to roll. Hopefully starting earlier we will be able to avoid some traffic and get to the summit just before noon and get down ahead of the possible afternoon thunder storms.

There is a large park & ride lot just off the Idaho Springs exit right by a Shell gas station where we will all meet & start from. I'd say plan to b there at 8 so we can roll out by 8:30. I've done this ride once before last summer and it took me around 3 hrs to climb and a little over an hour to descend just to give you guys an idea of what you're in for. Get yourself mentally prepared to suffer for at least that amount of time if not longer. This is no joke and is probably one of the hardest things I've done.

With that being said I want to see all you guys succeed so I've decide that I am going to be your personal sag wagon. When I rode it before I did it with 2 bottles & just a little food and I was wasted when got to the top. I wished I had at least 1 to 2 more bottles and definitely more food. It will also be pretty cold on the summit so you'll want to bring arm warmers and or a jacket and possibly even knee warmers. Bring as much food, water and clothing as you'd like because I will carry it for you guys in my car and will follow you guys up there and can give you supplies as you need them or if you don't need some thing you can pass it off to me so you the best possible chance of succeeding. If some one doesn't feel they can make it all the way or doesn't want to do the descent then I can drive you back down in my car. I just wish we had radios so that you guys could tell me if you need some thing or have a problem.

I'd definitely give your bikes a good looking over and tighten all nuts/bolts, check your tires. If they are worn I'd suggest getting new ones, make sure it's shifting ok, chain is clean & lubed. Computer is good and charged if need be.

Things I'd suggest you bring:
2-4 water bottles
Lots of food- chews & other solid food (sandwich, etc.)
Arms warmers, knee warmers, jacket, etc.
Extra tube & Co2 or pump.
Cell phone (may not get reception but good to have just in case)
ID & some cash (need to buy a pass I think its $5-7)
Sunscreen
Inhaler
Bottle of O2... Lol.
Any other things you may possibly want.

If you guys have any questions feel free to give me a call (may not answer but leave a quick message and I'll call you back ASAP) or text me. 415-420-7723. Other wise I'll see you guys at 8 in Idaho Springs at the park-n-ride lot ready to have some fun! :)

Advanced Ride: July 23rd Deer Creek/High Grade

We are back to riding and will start off again with another trip to Deer Creek so we can get some climbing in before we tackle Mt. Evans. I was hoping to maybe ride Evans this weekend but they are having the hill climb there this weekend so maybe next week if the weather is good. Tomorrows weather should be really nice with a high of 92 but when we are climbing it will cool down nicely for us. We'll meet at the shop & head out around 9:30ish... :) see you guys then.

Check out the stats from last time here:
Advanced Ride: Deer Creek by edge705cb at Garmin Connect - Details

RECAP: July 16th Look Out Mtn.

This was some what of an impromptu to Advanced ride out to Look Out Mtn. on Saturday thanks to some good scheduling of other ride leaders.  We had a small group of Adam, Paul and I to start out with but we picked up Solomon and Bridgette later on.  Adam, Paul and I started down the CC trail which was busy with runners, walkers and other cyclist along with debris from the river flooding.  We caught up with the Rec Group at Confluence Park which is where we pick up Bridgette.  From there on we followed the same route that we usually do, 23rd to Quitman, and then to 26th and on to 32nd.  After we arrived in Golden we met Solomon at the Sinclair gas station while we refueled.

Solomon mixing up his secret concoction.  

Once we had fresh bottles and some food in our bellies we headed up Look Out, although this time instead of riding up the front like we usually do we went up the side/back which I feel is a longer climb and more consistent.  Solomon and I lead the group up the climb and half way up we stopped and found some shade while we waited for the others to make their way up.  Paul was the next to arrive and so were the clouds.  The three of us decided to head back down and we picked up Adam along the way.  We stopped one more time at the Sinclair gas station for a quick water bottle filling and then we made our way back to the shop so we could be the rain back.  On our run back home we ended up catching Bridgette who's back was hurting on the climb and also didn't quite have the right cassette for climbing which is why she turned around early.  We made a quick stop at Confluence park to let a few people catch up and Solomon treated himself to a hot dog before getting home.  The rain held off just long enough so we could make it back to the shop dry but very tired.  Thanks to you guys for a nice ride, I look forward to seeing you all next Saturday.

Check out ride stats here:
Advanced Ride: Look Out by edge705cb at Garmin Connect - Details

Check out ride pics here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=bicyclevillageaurora&target=ALBUM&id=5630452182832747601&authkey=Gv1sRgCJ6Slovgz5-vtQE&feat=email

FYI-postpone Advanced Rides

Hey guys, I just wanted to let you know that I may not be having an Advanced Ride for a while, because I will be helping out lead some Intermediate rides to fill Jacquette's shoes due to unfortunate injury. There may be a game time decision if there are other ride leaders to help out. I'll try to add some mileage on to push Inter's and give you guys a good work out or we will due routes that will allow you guys to take off on your own if you feel like it. Thank you for your patients and let's wish Jacquette a speedy recovery!
This Saturday we will head out to the Aurora Res. and I plan to add a few extra miles on to our normal route so you guys will get a good work out.

RECAP: June 11th

This ride was a little unusual as there were only 3 of us for this ride, so we decided just to have some fun and we rode with the Intermediate group again.  We had phenomenal weather with warm temps and sunny skies and little breeze.

Things started off with half of the group going in the wrong direction, but a quick phone call later we got every one regrouped and headed in the right direction.  After going down Yale and making a left on the bike path Cristen had a momentary lapse and had a small run in to the back of Brian's bike.  She made a dive for the grass and only ended up with a little road rash and some ripped bar tape.  We had a quick trip down Dartmouth and then got on the Bear Creek trail.  This trip out to Bear Creek we did things a little differently and rode up Morrison Rd. instead of coming down it.  Our pit stop was at a local Conoco where there was quite a bit of traffic.  

After refueling we continued our ride into the Bear Creek golf course and did a little more climbing and had a few more mis-communications but got regrouped once again for the ride home.  We back tracked our route out but instead of heading home on Yale Gene suggested we return via the DTC.   Every one made it back to the shop ok and we ended up logging 47 miles.  

I look forward to seeing all of you back this Saturday where we will try the Pinery route again.

Check out ride stats here:
Intermediate Ride: Bear Creek by edge705cb at Garmin Connect - Details

Check out ride pics here:

Advanced ride June 11th: Pinery

This week we will head out to the Pinery for some fast flats and a little climbing, a few rollers and descending.
Our ride will start out by riding through the CC res., down Potomac to Broncos Pkwy. Next we will take the 470 trail south down to the Pinery. Once we get to the Pinery we will be treated to a nice little climb followed by some rollers and a descent. We will then return the same way we came out.
Mileage will be around 50 miles and it should be a beautiful day.

Advanced Ride June 4th: Elephant Rock Prep.

Hey guys, this week we will take Saturday off so to speak... There are few of us who are participating in the Elephant Rock 100 on Sunday so we aren't going to have an advanced ride this weekend so we can save our legs for the ride.  Will hang just hang with the Intermediate group this week and ride to Golden with them.