Ride the Rockies 2002
Background
Doug has a goal to ride through most (all?) of the US states.
He learned of the Ride the Rockies
bicycle tour organized by the Denver Post. This tour chooses a different
route in Colorado each year. It is limited to 2000 bicyclists by a lottery
system. Doug learned that up to ten people could pool their applications
and nine of us from Salem and Bend applied in one packet: Doug, Mel, Ken,
John, Joanne, Alan, Roger, Linda, and I. In March we learned that we had
been selected.
The route looked tough, but we were pretty confident that
we could handle it with some conditioning. As soon as the weather permitted,
Linda and I trained on the local climbs and did the "No Frills Century"
out of Redmond. In spite of our conditioning, we all found the Ride the
Rockies tour to be the hardest bicycle tour we have experienced.
Itinerary
| Day |
Start |
Stop |
Mileage |
Elevation Gain |
| June 16 |
Alamosa, CO |
Pagosa Springs |
99 |
3800 |
| June 17 |
Pagosa Springs |
Durango |
67 |
4100 |
| June 18 |
Durango |
Silverton |
51 |
6200 |
| June 19 |
Silverton |
Montrose |
59 |
2200 |
| June 20 |
Montrose |
Gunnison |
65 |
4900 |
| June 21 |
Gunnison |
Salida |
65 |
3800 |
| June 22 |
Salida |
Alamosa |
83 |
2000 |
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Totals
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489 |
27000 |
Diary
15 June 2002 (Saturday)
Roger and I arrive at Alamosa, Colorado, in the early afternoon, having
spent last night at his friends' home near Montrose and having visited
Gunnison, where he attended graduate school in the 60s, and Moffit, where
he taught high school in the 50s, on the way. Linda and Alan are already
in Alamosa, having driven down from Denver where Linda has visited Marty
and Karl and picked Alan up at the airport. The ride registration process
goes smoothly, the nine of us collect our tents together under the pink
pig, and we park our vehicles in the long term parking. We ride to dinner
at Cole Park. An old climbing friend from Oregon, Pete, recognizes us
at the park. He has retired and moved to Salida and is also on the ride.
Pete is an active Colorado mountain hiker and climber, and enjoys bicycling
and whitewater rafting. This is by far the biggest ride most of us have
participated in. The ride is limited to 2000 bicyclists. Many will be
staying in motels or hotels, many will be camping indoors at local schools,
and the rest will join us camping (mostly on school grounds). Pete plans
an early start to try to beat the headwinds, so we decide to start early
as well.
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View towards Pagosa Springs
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Doug, Pete, Mel, and the
Pink Pig
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16 June (Sunday)
Alan, Linda and I break camp, load our gear on the "Early Truck",
have breakfast at the school cafeteria, and are on our bikes by 6AM. From
Alamosa we head north and west towards Del Norte on pleasant backcountry
roads. We hear a lot of "On your left" signals from the many
stronger bicyclist passing us by. The "Aid Stations" are frequent
and stocked with water and alternate with bananas and sliced oranges.
We eventually join highway 160 and enjoy a nice tailwind through Del Norte
to South Fork. Here the climbing begins. There is some construction and
some heavy, but courteous traffic. Some bicyclists seem inconsiderate
of the traffic, riding two abreast or suddenly moving into the lane to
pass other cyclists. Fortunately we have a police escort that cautions
the motorists and I see no accidents. We arrive in good form to the fifth
aid station, but the next six miles to the top of Wolf Creek Pass is unrelentingly
steep, and is our first experience at bicycling at this altitude. I am
able to summit without stopping by dropping into my lowest "granny"
gear, but feel a little light-headed at the summit and am glad the climb
is over. Linda's right knee is sore and is swelling. We descend toward
Pagosa Springs. We would like to push 50 mph, but the road is rough so
we keep our speed down. We see bicyclists repairing flat tires on the
descent. The rough spots are well marked by the support crew, but at one
particularly bad spot I catch the glimpse of a tire pump in the lane,
two water bottles along the side of the road, and then a bicyclist off
the road looking over his bicycle's front wheel. I alternate gently braking
with each hand to control my speed without overheating the tire rims.
We stop at a hairpin turn and view the smoky valley below, then continue
on several miles to Pagosa Springs in the smoky air. We hear the "Mission
Ridge" forest fire is burning near Durango and may impact tomorow's
route. We retrieve our gear and camp with the rest of our group at Pagosa
Springs High School. We visit downtown, but it is mostly shut down this
late Sunday afternoon.
17 June (Monday)
Roger, Alan, Linda and I get another early start. Yesterday's smoke has
settled overnight and the air is much clearer and cool. We have a short
climb out of camp, but then enjoy several miles of mostly downhill and
a nice view of Chimney Rock before making an easy climb to Yellow Jacket
Pass. We descend to Bayfield, where today's route is changed to follow
highway 160 to Durango, rather than taking a more northerly route, to
avoid interfering with the firefighting efforts. The air is very smoky
and bicyclists with respiratory ailments are encouraged to ride shuttle
busses into Durando. We continue on in the smoke, heavy traffic, and sometimes
narrow shoulder on highway 160. My derailleur needs adjusting at the last
aid station and the support crew efficiently takes care of it. The road
improves as we drop into Durango and we have a pleasant ride through residential
areas with excellent directions by the support crew to arrive at the Durango
High School. We are the first of our group to arrive, so we find a nice
spot with lush green grass on the football field for our campsite. We
shower and enjoy a late lunch at a local restaurant. Linda gets ice for
her swollen knee and wraps it in place with an elastic bandage. Tomorrow's
route profile is shocking. Yesterday was hard, but I think tomorrow will
be very hard. Doug points out the short "vertical" segment between
the passes on the profile. Linda thinks she may SAG tomorrow to rest her
knee and I am glad she is considering it. We are grateful for the extra
hours of rest at camp today before tomorrow's climb.
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Smoke from Mission Ridge
Fire
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View toward Silverton from
Molas Divide
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18 June (Tuesday)
Linda decides to SAG today, as her knee is still sore and swollen. I'm
glad for her decision. The valley to the north of Durango appears smoky
and the rising sun is red. Roger, Alan, and I start early, but we each
need to find our own pace for today's long climb and we gradually spread
out over the miles. I stop for photos of the smoke clouds to the east.
It is a little smoky on the road and there is a slight headwind as we
approach Hermosa. The first climb begins just after the aid station north
of Hermosa. I quickly drop into my lowest gears and settle in for a long
day of climbing. I wave at the buses as they pass, hoping that Linda will
see me as she rides by. She spots my wave. The route descends a little
after the second aid station and we pass by Purgatory. I enjoy the view
of Engineer Mountain. Then the road suddenly narrows and steepens considerably.
The vehicular traffic is heavy and slow with the thousands of bicyclists
along the narrow, forested road. At one spot I am distracted by a laboring
truck aproaching from behind and I wobble onto the sandy shoulder, then
decide to be safe and stop to let the truck pass before resuming the climb.
Otherwise, I climb without stopping to Cold Bank Pass. I'm tired, but
rest, hydrate, and eat a snack before continuing. I enjoy the descent
on the other side, but then start the long, sustained climb to Molas Divide
on chip seal. It is noon when I arrive at Molas Divide and the sound of
the National Anthem played by the ride's DJ. The air is smoky, but the
views are tremendous and I feel happy to have the day's climbs done. I
hydrate and have lunch while enjoying the view. I spot Alan arriving as
I leave. The fun descent is fast at first (I reach 49 mph, Doug says he
reached 53 mph), but then slows for rough road and curves lower.
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Team Bad Boys at Silverton
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It feels wonderful to arrive in Silverton. Linda has
claimed a nice campsite for our group at the Kendall Mountain Recreation
Area. She has carried over several gear bags and set up our tent. Alan
arrives soon afterwards, and while waiting in line for the shower (a 45-minute
line) I spot Roger arriving. Linda and I enjoy visiting downtown, just
a few blocks from camp. It has been hot in the afternoon, but the sun
has descended behind a ridge and it is cooling off quickly. The music
ends and "Team Bad Boys" line up their heavily laden bikes to
assemble their bar and mix and serve margaritas.
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Climbing to Red Mountain
Pass
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19 June (Wednesday)
It is a cold night. Linda and I put on all our bicycle clothes and shake
the ice off the tent fly in the early morning, then pack and load our
gear on the truck. Breakfast at camp goes a little slow (the breakfast
burritos are good, but labor intensive). The morning ride north out of
town is very cold, but the air is clear and we break into the warm sunshine
at the bottom of the steep climb to Red Moutain Pass. We strip off the
extra clothes and begin the climb. The grade is not as steep as on previous
climbs. There are spots with no shoulder and near-vertical drop offs on
the right, but the support crew and police escort set up one-way vehicular
traffic with lead cars and we enjoy the scenic climb without worrying
about falling off the road. It is nice to get the day's climb finished
so early in the cool morning. Then we begin the long, fun, and exciting
descent to Ouray. The road is in good shape. The descent starts with several
tight turns, then straightens out before entering a steep, narrow canyon.
The vehicular traffic slows in the canyon while trying to get around slower
bicyclists. Some faster bicyclists show poor judgement by passing RVs
on the left, but I give them plenty of braking space. We pause at a view
point, then continue to scenic and quaint Ouray. We find a popular bakery
and treat ourselves to our first lattes of the trip. Roger, Doug, Ken,
and Pete stop by as well. The descent lessens after Ouray. We have a headwind
from Ridgeway Reservoir to Montrose, but the downhill grade makes it easier
to fight. We camp at Columbine Middle School, and enjoy a lunch of fresh
pie and ice cream at the adjacent Rotary Park. Roger leaves to spend the
rest of the day and night with his friends and we expect to see him in
the morning for the ride to Gunnison. But Roger stops by late in the evening
to report his blood chemistry is out of balance due to his recent medication
and the exertion of the ride and that sadly he has to bow out of the rest
of the trip.
20 June (Thursday)
We are warned not to leave early because of the morning winds coming down
from Cerro Summit, but it is deceptively calm at camp and Linda and I
are eager to get started about 6:30AM. The day's profile does not look
so intimidating, but the total reported elevation gain is the second most
of the trip. As soon as the route joins highway 50 the headwind starts
and blows all the way to the top of Cerro Summit. At one point the steep
grade and strong headwind combine to make my pedaling the hardest of the
tour. We enjoy the descent to Pleasant Valley in spite of the headwind
and then begin the next climb to Blue Mesa Summit in headwind and road
construction with some narrow shoulders. The headwind and climbs are taking
a toll on Linda's knees. We have just one more climb after a quick descent
through a narrow canyon and then enjoy a long downhill to Sapinero along
the Blue Mesa Reservoir. We discover that Alan is riding a van since the
first aid station -- he is suffering from a stomach ailment and the wind
and climbing was too much this morning. The headwind has diminished considerably
as we ride along the reservoir. Linda is running out of energy as we approach
the last aid station and is staggering a bit when we arrive. A very helpful
food vendor offers her a place to rest and gives her some watermelon which
revives her energy and appetite. After a quick lunch we are revived and
enjoy the ride along the Gunnison River into Gunnison to our camp at the
Gunnison Community School. Alan has found our group a nice campside along
the edge of a grassy field with a view to the west. Mel also SAGed today,
and Doug and Ken arrive later, having waited until 9AM before starting
but discovered that the headwind still had not died down even then. John
and Joanne are riding a tandem, and the steep climbs have not allowed
them to take best advantage of their bike. It is quite smoky in Gunnison
and we hear that a new fire is burning to the south. Linda and I have
a quick supper at Jorgensen Park and return to camp for a good rest. Linda
has iced up her right knee again.
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Highest Point of the Ride
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21 June (Friday)
Linda, Alan, and I stop at a coffee shop in Gunnison before leaving town
in the morning and enjoy our second lattes of the ride. Roger and I had
stopped there on the drive through the previous weekend and we miss Roger.
There is a slight headwind as we ride east on highway 50 but it is very
scenic and we enjoy the ride. Linda's knees are sore and I am relieved
that Linda decides to save them for our future bike rides this summer.
She finds room in a nearly full van at the aid station at Sargents for
the ride up to Monarch Pass. Alan is still a little queasy with his stomach
ailment, but decides to give Monarch Pass a try. I hydrate and enjoy several
sliced oranges and a snack bar, then leave for the climb. Fortunately,
the grade is not too steep and I find a comfortable pace for the scenic
climb in my lowest gears. The sun is hot and I need to stop at one point
to wipe the perspiration from my eyes and sunglasses, but otherwise I
enjoy the long pull to the summit. This is our highest pass of the tour,
slightly higher than the summit of Mt Hood, the highest peak in our home
state of Oregon. It is also the last big climb of the tour. I visit with
Doug, Mel, and Ken at the summit, but leave for the descent before seeing
Alan. I enjoy a fast descent on good pavement and easy turns, but am spooked
in one narrow canyon when a crosswind hammers my bike. The descent continues
all the way into Salida. Linda has again found a nice campsite for our
group, and has collected our bags and set up our tent. Eventually everyone
arrives and after showering and resting most of us share the community
pasta dinner at the school. The servings are generous, but Alan's ailment
is at its worst and he is unable to eat. The weather pattern is changing,
with thunderstorms building in the mountains around us and a strong wind
coming from the south. Linda and Alan decide to ride the bus tomorrow
to avoid the long, boring ride and headwind to Alamosa and to get a head
start back to Denver. It thunderstorms in the early evening and showers
in camp.
22 June (Saturday)
In spite of the showers overnight, the tent is dry in the morning when
we break camp. Linda and Alan wait for a bus and I say goodbye to Linda,
expecting to see her next at home. The climb to Poncha Pass essentially
begins right out of camp as we retrace our route back to Poncha Springs,
then turn onto highway 285 south. The headwind gets strong but the grade
is variable with only one stretch near the summit noticably steep. I make
the fist aid station a quick stop and descend towards Villa Grove. The
headwind is relatively mild as I enter Villa Grove. I wave at a bus as
I approach the aid station, then the bus stops there for a bicyclist wanting
to get on, and Alan steps off to greet me. I get to see Linda one more
time before the bus continues on to Alamosa. I ride hard to Moffat, fighting
a strengthening headwind, but overdo it and suddenly begin to falter as
I arrive in Moffat. I leave Moffat at a much slower pace and only gradually
and slightly pick up my pace as I ride to Hooper. Each leg of the day's
ride seems to have a stronger headwind and my speed decreases. I see many
SAG vans loaded with bicycles pass by. Finally, about five miles out of
Alamosa I hop on the end of a pace line that slowly passes me and I am
able to cruise into Alamosa and across the finish line. Linda and Alan
have left for Denver, but she left me a nice note. I collect my gear and
load my truck, take a quick shower, and start home. I take the shortcut
to Gunnison over North Cochetopa Pass from Saguache and enjoy the beautiful
scenery along Cochtopa Creek on the other side. Then I have to quickly
stop for at least nine Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep on the road. Continuing
on, I pick up Roger in Montrose and we head for home.
