Jeff - longing for Colorado (guest post)

Having done several MS150s, self-supported Katy Tail trip, a couple of Tour de Kota rides around eastern South Dakota, and thousands of miles around the country roads of eastern Kansas, last summer I found what road biking can be at it’s most spectacular. My bother-in-law from SD and I rode the 2nd annual Colorado Rocky Mountain Bicycle Tour. It was a loop from Gunnison to Hotchkiss to Glenwwod Springs to Leadville to Frisco for a rest day. Then on to Salida and back to Gunnison. The route included all the passes form the Copper Triangle, Monarch Pass, the Black Canyon, and Independence Pass, 12,095 feet. We camped in the cool mountain air, revelled in awe-inspiring scenery every day, and climbed more than a midwesterner might think possible.

  I’m hooked. This summer I’m in for the CRMBT again, including the Copper Triangle on the day before. And instead of doing a Kansas ride which I was debating, either BAK or Border Raiders (both of which sound like a load of fun), I took the plunge and signed up for the Tour of Colorado. This tour is celebrating their 15th year with a route of 555 miles and 40,000+ feet of climbing. I’m intent on losing a few pounds from the holidays, I’ve got a new bike ordered from Trek project one, and just to make it even more interesting, I’m looking at one more huge challenge for an old guy from low elevation. The plan at this point is to drive to Echo Lake Campground near Idaho Springs, CO a couple days before BTC, and riding to the top of Mt. Evans. It’s the highest paved road in the U.S. at over 14,000 feet. It’s not a pass, it’s up and back, but it’s there, and it’s calling my name.

See more at http://jeff-road.blogspot.com/

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