2011 CU Boulder Short Track #6

Suffering. ..  Photo:  Kelly Feagans

I kicked it up a notch this week and took on the Men's A race at the CU Cycling Short Track Series. There weren't too many people so the race was pretty thin and went about how I expected it to go... with me straight off the back from the start riding solo most of the race.  It was fun to mix it up with the top-level riders in the area and push limits though.  The thing I like most about these races is the transparency. There is no where to hide.  Unlike the longer endurance races where riders are seen at the start and then 4-10 hours later at the finish, with STXC, failures and successes are played over lap after lap. Everyone watching can mark your progress, see you suffer, and cheer you on even if you are one the the last guys to cross the line.

Punchy course either kept you on the brakes or the gas.

pain-o-meter. 15 min longer than my past B races.

When I arrived in Boulder and found out all of the races were about 15-min behind, I decided to take a quick spin up to the Valmont Bike Park about 3 miles away from CU. This place is pretty sweet and has terrain for just about every rider.  I went ahead and pulled a 360 of the XL on my way back to the race.

Valmont Bike Park, Boulder

July 4th

I hope your 4th was as good as mine.  I love this country!

Riding Mt Evans from Idaho Springs

Top of Mt Evans

I took a spin to the top of Mt Evans today with my neighbor Roger Stones.  I've had this ride in mind for a while but haven't made time for it.  One of the things about Colorado that made me fall in love with it are the big mountains.  We have a bunch of peaks over 14,000 feet (50+) and all of them are accessible by hiking trail.  Mt Evans and Pikes Peak are the only two that have roads to the top as far as I know.  These roads are handy if one were to be training for say the Breckenridge 100 in July or the Colorado Trail Race in August as both of these races jump over 12,000 feet.  With Colorado still under lingering snow pack on many of the high trails, paved roads to the top of 14ers are a good alternative for elevation riding.

Chillin' with a PB&J checking out the wildlife and the route from whence we came.

The route looking north.  Idaho Springs is at the top and Evans at the bottom.

Distance: 55.55mi, Elevation Gain: 7,202ft, Round-trip time: 4:16

As is the norm for me, we started pre-dawn.

Cockpit view: Ergon Grips & Gloves and Radical Lights on board.

Roger around 13,000 feet

2011 CU Boulder Short Track #5

Back at it again after missing a week for the Hundo. I think I took 4th or 5th this week. I may try to move up to the big boy race next week.

Front wheelie on the last lap.

Skyward Push

Distance: 35mi, Time: 3:42:00, Elevation: 6713ft

It is time to start getting serious about my biggest challenge this year the Breckenridge 100 taking place July 16th. The Bailey Hundo was a good start. And last weekend I did the old out N' back shown above. This weekend I hope to get up into some elevation with a possible Mt Evans ride following up with either Winter Park Valley Point-to-Point or Forty In The Fort to top off the training the following weekend.  It's clear that the local trails by my house, although they have served me well thus far, will be wholly inadequate in my preparations for the task that awaits next month.