Back to Gold Hill for more
Temps were on the upswing today after the cold and snow blast we received in the latter part of the week. So what else was there to do than, grab the cross bike and ride up to Gold Hill? Trails aren’t dry enough yet, roads have a little slush in a few spots, so the giant tcx was the tool for the moment. Besides, thoughts are bouncing in my head if I should race the CO State Champs tomorrow?? Seeing as even if everyone fell over before the finish line and I won by some miracle, I can’t hold the title (no ACA license), the plans are to put in a 4 hour endurance ride then go race. Now that sounds like fun!
Sarah and I met at Vic’s and headed out to 4 mile via the Boulder Creek Path. After a bit, it was unmaintained and slushly, snowy and icy. Sarah’s “southern style” skills hadn’t ever seen anything like that before, so we jumped out onto the road and ground out the 9.5 miles to the top.
Roads had some mud, but were pretty firm for the most part
No need for the head gear today!
The roads were drying out quick, I rode most of the climb in just my jersey and even without the gloves.
About 3/4 way to the top and looking back down
Sarah wins the Super Trooper bad-ass award for the day. About 2 miles to go from the top, she snapped her chain (She-Ra like power!) and seeing as I was on the tcx, I had no tools and neither did she. Luckily, her chain had 2 power links in it. We decided to make her bike a singlespeed. It worked and worked pretty well. She grunted out the last 2 miles and entered the mystic realm that is Gold Hill.
We chilled for a bit, grabbing some coffee and discussing the finer points of mountain living with some of the weathered locals. I seriously might be the only person looking forward to being an old geezer who can just sit by the fire, drinking coffee all day and spitting out eclectic tidbits of wisdom. Especially to wide-eyed cyclists who are uncultured in the finer aspects of mt living.
Quick cruise back down the mountain (hey didn’t crash today) and dropped Sarah back off at Vic’s and made the jaunt home. Good fun day of 3.5 hours of riding!
All of today’s pics can be found here
December 7th, 2008 at 3:45 am
Dude, it was fun! Can’t wait to come back and ride with a bit more fitness, for sure. Snow riding takes a skill I don’t possess.