When Previously Hard Things Get Easier

Our first real training ride began on Wednesday, June 4. On that day, Kellie, Suzanne, Manny and I headed up Lee Hill Road early in the morning and rode all the way to Ward. That was my first Ward ride and it felt long and hard. I remember thinking I might never make it. Then on the downhill it started to rain and hail. It was freezing! It took the rest of the day for me to recover from the experience. I had to have a long hot bath and a long nap while my kids watched a movie. I was useless for the rest of the day.

Sunday the six of us, and a couple of Scott's friends, went to Ward again. It was a completely different experience. Yes, still a long hard ride, but when we got to the top I knew that I could keep going if we had the time. The downhill was lovely because the weather was nice and warm. And when I got home, a short shower was all I really needed.

I guess this is when you realize that the training really has paid off. I think I might be as ready as I will ever be for this 4 day ride. I am not saying it will be easy, because I know it won't be. But I am not sure that any more training will really prepare me more. Besides, I am starting to get a little tired of my bike - and I really love my bike. I guess that just shows how much I have been sitting on it. How do those Tour De France riders do it?!

On a final note, I am beginning to feel lonely on my group blog. I am hoping that one or two of my friends will post something soon....:)

Bears and Butterflies

Jason and I set out on Father's Day morning for a Father's Day riding adventure. The kids were delighted to be having breakfast with Pappy and Jason was excited to get a bike ride in after spending all day Saturday having "special boy time." I was thinking that we were going for a little climb up Lee Hill Road and back down Lefthand Canyon and home over Old Stage Road. But when we got to Lefthand Canyon, Jason was up for a little more climbing. We ate our little snack and headed up Lee Hill toward Ward. I figured we would go just a couple miles up and turn around for home. It was warm and beautiful and several colorful butterflies kept following Jason and trying to land on his Sierra Nevada bike jersey. It was lovely.

Then at mile 14.5 I couldn't believe my eyes. Just about 100 feet up the road, a big brown animal ran across the road. What could it be - I thought for a second and then quickly realized - A Bear! Oh my goodness. Unfortunately, Jason was a little behind me and he couldn't see it from his perspective. Needless to say, I pedaled a little faster to make sure Smoky didn't come back out onto the road.

We made it to the top in about 2.5 hours. Since we hadn't planned on riding that far, Jason didn't have enough to eat and he bonked about 1 mile from the top. Being the "man" that he is, he powered his way to the top anyway and we rested for awhile at the top.

One final comment. Ward has to be the funkiest place in Colorado. There is some weird old truck, old shoe trash sculpture at the top across from the General Store where about 20+ bikers hang out every weekend replenishing their strength. And I wonder why the owner of the store hasn't figured out that he could make a fortune if he sold a few more nutritious "athletic" snacks for the hungry cyclists!