Sunday’s weather forecast fizzled w/ reality of a great day for riding and I took advantage of it to drive short distance down mountain to Curt Gowdy State Park. I drove into the Aspen TH parking area that slowly filled w/ rigs w/ mountain bikes and riders. The trail system is now an IMBA Epic and it wears its credentials well. Well executed trail map and every intersection was signed and numbered, most hap entire trail map attached. I was never lost, sometimes confused when the maps were posted on the south side of the trail and I needed to go north, just meant that the lead in my pencil didn’t swing to the proper orientation. I rode for 3 1/2 hrs for 21.44 miles and 2962′ elevation gain. Geology is mostly radiused decomposed granite for excellent traction. I made some moves that I had never followed thru in the past. The rock’s rugosity begged apply pedal power. Sunny AM with clouds moving in as the day aged. I encountered the most number of riders anywhere on my travels but never felt crowded. Very well done bike “park”.
Several riders identified me tying me to my monument van. AT the end of the ride a guy nearby greeted me saying he has been reading my blog. I never got his name. To that Guy: I incorrectly wrote the maker of your helmet. Please send the name to me. His helmet offered more lower head coverage. We chatted about places we have ridden comparing notes.
A hiker stop to talk to me about my van conversion as he has a bucket list to do something the same. We chatted a good while. Lief is a teacher @ a local community college and teaches creative writing. he said he is working on a novel about a guy from middle class background that shucks it all and takes off to be what he wants to be. Gee, sound like me?
I paid for camping in the park. I flagged down a law enforcement officer and asked for his camp site recommendation that I accepted. Sunday night in off season meant empty park. Just b4 dinner rain spit on the roof. I put the cover over the bikes. Just b4 I got up rain fell w/ conviction.
Monday was a travel day heading east then down to Denver to visit w/ my cousin Susan and husband Don. This day exhibited the forecast from Sunday: Snow and strong winds warnings @ my backside that sped me along and saved $ on fuel. I stopped @ Sierra Trading Post that sells mostly over stock or out dated soft goods. I wandered around searching for a wool shirt among sensory overload of merchandise. I was overwhelmed and didn’t find what i was looking for. I made eye contact w/ a guy who looked like my kind of people. He navigated his way thru the clothing racks and called me by name. It was Jeremy from State College whom I met in Augusta @ the IMBA World Summit and partied @ his house 1 night @ SC. He and a friend where driving the friend’s converted Van Specialties in Portland, OR Sprinter. They had stopped along the way to ride, one was w/ Don from Galena Lodge back in Sun Valley. The 2 of them were team members on Tim’s Hugh Ass race team. Jeremy said he and Tim and Sue will be visiting Sedona this winter. Cool.
I hit I-25 and headed south into CO. Next stop was PUSH just of teh interstate. I wanted to visit w/ Darren to learn what new suspension tuning he had in the works. Unfortunately he was out of town. I did visit w/ several guys I had talked w/ b4. Rich gave me a ride suggestion of Cheyenne SP outside of Colorado Springs which is where I am.
My travel plan now is thru Salida on rt 50 to Fruita. I will pass thru Gunnison and see Bill and Susan @ Tommechi Cycles. There is a new trail outside Montrose that I will ride.
I called the WA license agency and I will be able to acquire my tabs w/ a little extra snail mail steps. Cool. I will hand in Fruita awaiting the US mail.
After PUSH I drove to Susan & Don’s for an over night visit. Don is a creative artist among other things. Some of his work is with and / or on animal bones. Their coffee table supports 2 newly acquired bleached bull skulls, raw material for future work. Susan is 3 days younger than me as my understanding of our mothers’ history was there was a “race” to drop the first kid. I won by a …. ? She is the only one of my cousins that I have visited.
Sunny day fall colors drive from Denver to CS. In the 50s daytime w/ just below freezing @ night.
Sunday’s ride brought forth the same breathing problems that i thought I had fixed. My lack pain medication didn’t alleviate symptoms.
Off to take care of business.