Ride the Rockies 2012

This is a single posting summarizing one of the greatest physical challenges I have undertaken.

Randy and Jim on RTR

Early this year a high school friend, Jim, from Ecuador, asked if I was interested in joining him to Ride the Rockies (RTR), a six day (June 9-15), 442 mile bicycle ride through the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. I accepted and trained for several months by riding, spinning and yoga.

The route started in Gunnison and finished in Ft. Collins, Colorado. I drove to Ft. Collins beginning on Wednesday, June 6 arriving on Thursday, June 7. That gave me a day, Friday, to ride around the Ft. Collins area to get a bit acclimated to the altitude and test my new bike frame.

NOTE: The weekend before RTR I managed to damage my bike frame on my final training ride. So, I had three days to find a new frame. Fortunately Patrick, my friend and spin class trainer found an Orbea frame online that I ordered, shipped overnight and took to Colonel's bike shop to put on the components. It all worked out and I was able to leave for Colorado as planned on Wednesday, June 6.

Friday, June 8 - Rode 31 miles in the Ft. Collins area. A very bike friendly city. Bike lanes everywhere. Route was mostly flat, but did include three 12% grade climbs near Horsetooth Reservoir.

In the afternoon I packed my bike in a box to prepare it for the bus trip to Gunnison from Ft. Collins.

Saturday, June 9 - Drove to the Odell Brewery in Ft. Collins to catch the bus to Gunnison. It was about a five hour ride. Met Jim, who is riding the route on a "folder" bike that he brought from Virginia, where he lives, in a suitcase. The bike is made of steel. Amazing! Completed registration for RTR and secured a spot in the gym to bed down.

RTR Aid Station

Sleeping in a gym is a "special" experience in itself. We slept in school gyms all week. We were in the early group which means lights out at 9:30 PM and lights on at 5:30 AM the next morning. A gym full of sleeping men and women who make many different sleeping sounds in addition to snoring is a real treat. It's like a low roar all night. Ear plugs did help some.

The morning routine consisted of getting in line for the bathroom (portable outdoor toilets), eating an energy bar (breakfast) while waiting in line; dressing in layers for a cold morning ride...full-finger gloves, arm and leg warmers, vest, "do-rag" for the head, ear headband, shoe toe covers and helmet; packing the bag and taking it to luggage truck; filling the Camelback with water; getting the bike out of the "corral" (where it was secure - no rustlers); lining up for access to a pump to inflate the bike tires; and finally...ready to roll...usually between 6:30 and 7:00 AM.

Jim's folder bicycle

Once we got started Jim would ride with me for awhile and take off. He is a really strong rider. It is amazing that he rode on a "folder." And, as the ride progressed his derailler malfunctioned and he couldn't use the few gears available to him since the bike has a single chain ring.

Sunday, June 10 - The first day of riding - Gunnison to Hotchkiss. First climbing test. I did 83 miles in a headwind. One long climb...about 20 miles total with some breaks. I felt pretty good. I did get an altitude headache that evening, but that is the only issue I had with the altitude all week.

I am not going into a daily description of each ride, but will hit the highlights. I did figure out a cadence and rhythm to climbing that worked well for me. I guess you could say it was my "zone." I was certainly not fast...usually 5 - 10 mph on the long climbs. My lowest gear was still higher than many other riders, so I found myself inexorably passing people on the way up. You wouldn't think that dealing with bike "traffic" on the climbs would be an issue, but it was. I found myself getting out of the saddle or pushing hard for a short distance just to get around slow moving groups of cyclists. One guy even paced me for awhile saying that I was like a "metronome." I thought it was hilarious that he was pacing me!

The third day was the toughest. Carbondale to Leadville through Independence Pass, altitude over 12,000 feet. The pass was at the 50 mile mark, but there were 35 more miles to go. 17 miles down...which is soooo cool. But, the last 18 miles were brutal! There was a constant headwind, a 9% grade climb on a dirt road, a butt and balls busting asphalt road with raised seams every 15-20 feet, a long slow climb into Leadville, and then the school was on a hill! Total miles 85; altitude feet gained during the day was more than 7,000 feet. I was actually in the saddle for more than 8 hours. I was wiped out!

The last two days were the best. Granby to Estes Park was through the Rocky Mountain National Park up to Milner Pass (elevation 12,000+ feet). Tough climb, fantastic scenery, absolutely awesome descent. I tried to keep the speed in check, but it was really easy to go over 40 mph.

The last day, Friday, June 15, Estes Park to Ft. Collins we got re-routed as a result of the forest fires. Jim and I rode together. Most of the route was downhill through a couple of scenic canyons. We ended up averaging about 20 mph for the 47 miles traveled. It was the shortest route of the event.

RTR was difficult, but I come away with a good sense of accomplishment. Will I do it again? I don't know, but Jim will ask me again.