April 27th weekend rides

[Crankin]

Eofelis, when we went to the graduation at Mesa State last year, I was one of those people who had never heard of the Colorado National Monument. We only got to do some hiking, but my former exchange student "son" trained there all of the time. We got to see him take team pictures up there one day, when we happened to be driving by and saw him riding toward the monument.
That part in the tunnel looks a little scary, though.

[eofelis]

Eofelis, when we went to the graduation at Mesa State last year, I was one of those people who had never heard of the Colorado National Monument. We only got to do some hiking, but my former exchange student "son" trained there all of the time. We got to see him take team pictures up there one day, when we happened to be driving by and saw him riding toward the monument.
That part in the tunnel looks a little scary, though.

The name "Colorado National Monument" doesn't really give many clues as to what kind of area, magnificent red rock canyons, it really is. Years ago when I first drove through the Grand Junction area on the interstate I saw the signs for it and assumed it was just some sort of roadside marker for the Colorado River, or something like that. Unimpressed, I kept on driving.

Many other people also think this way. There has been some push to rename it to a National Park that might draw in more visitors.


The tunnel on the east side is a long uphill tunnel and it scares me sometimes. Even though we have to have a red blinky tail light on our bikes I don't feel very safe in there. I either wait at the tunnel entrance for a long break in the car traffic and them sprint through the tunnel (going anaerobic!); or on days that there is a lot of car traffic I motion a vehicle to stop and ask them if they will follow me through the tunnel for a bit of protection. People are happy to help me out for a few minutes there. Going the other way, downhill, that tunnel doesn't bother me much. I do get a bit of vertigo cruising along in the dark in there. The west side has two short tunnels and they don't bother me at all, though the pavement in them is quite bumpy.

[Catrin]

I've not been able to ride much at all yet this year, and am looking nervously at the calendar as I've a 100 mile charity event the end of June!!!! I will have 24 hours in which to do it however, so that helps. Am really hoping I can finagle some riding this week, even it is is only for 10 miles - I REALLY want to ride! Heading to a conference next weekend though...

The Colorado National Monument sounds beautiful! Sounds like a good place to ride! That tunnel does sound scary though.

[Norse]

Finally, a weekend where it wasn't snowing, sleeting or freezing rain! Whoo-hoo! The temp skipped past the 50s and 60s and shot up to the 70s this weekend (of course, we have cold temps and rain/snow mix forecasted for later this week ) On Saturday I did the Lake Minnetonka loop which is about 32 miles leaving from home. While the temp was in the low 70s, there was still snow in scattered piles and ice on the lakes.



Yesterday, I headed out to one of my favorite ride areas - the rolling hills, open countryside, wide shoulders and horse country out West. A stiff southerly wind was blowing a constant 20-30 mph, but it was mostly a crosswind and I planned my ride so that the last part home would be a tailwind. The ride totaled about 31 miles.

[SheFly]

This was our anniversary weekend (13 lucky years), so we rode every day. Friday we just did an "easy" lunchtime spin (I say easy -other might not). Saturday though, DH had big plans. We were at our house in ME, and he started planning ride routes. Every time he opened his mouth, it hurt just listening to him . Finally, the route was planned and we were off for what I am calling "The Big Block" - we rode from our house in Bethel to NH, and around Mt Washington, and then back home. This was my longest ride EVER - total was 125 miles, with 6200 ft of climbing in 6:20. I couldn't move when we got home.

Sunday we went out for another ride (Bethel to Rumford Pt and back). It was short, but I had NOTHING to give in the headwind or on the climbs back out.

I have so much respect for those of you doing doubles! Personally, I'm not sure I'm up for that size of a ride ever again... But it makes a terrific story.

SheFly

[MGM]

Finally, the route was planned and we were off for what I am calling "The Big Block" - we rode from our house in Bethel to NH, and around Mt Washington, and then back home. This was my longest ride EVER - total was 125 miles, with 6200 ft of climbing in 6:20. I couldn't move when we got home.

Sunday we went out for another ride (Bethel to Rumford Pt and back). It was short, but I had NOTHING to give in the headwind or on the climbs back out.

I have so much respect for those of you doing doubles! Personally, I'm not sure I'm up for that size of a ride ever again... But it makes a terrific story.
[SheFly

Wow, I've DRIVEN the route from Bethel to Mount Washington. Beautiful country, but what a long ride! I'm impressed...