mountain biking Golden

The warm winter brought many sweet road rides this year... but I finally fixed up the mountain bike and headed out with my old friend Brian. We lugged along for 18mi into a strong headwind along the Clear Creek Bike Path to reach the bottom of Chimney Gulch trail and began the long climb up to the top of Lookout Mountain. I've climbed the paved road plenty of times and seen this trail along the way; it was rewarding to finally do this climb on the dirt.

After a long slog we topped out Lookout, had a lunch and prepared to bomb right back down our ascent. This trail is surprisingly tight and fun for being so close to town! We ripped it and then soft-pedaled with the wind at our backs to his place in Wheatridge. Post-ride beers and catching up ensued. It was a fantastic Saturday and felt great to be back on the fat tires for the first time since October.

Boulder Indoor Velodrome night, part II

Thanks to my buddy and former coworker Brian, and the good graces of former Motorola Team rider Keith Harper, the dirty Denver messengers got another go around on the velodrome. Thanks, guys! We tore it up for a few hours on Friday night... fun times indeed

Denver > Lookout > Dinosaur Ridge > Bear Creek; 63mi, 3200ft gained

I had larger aspirations for today's ride, but wasn't feeling so hot and bagged my original route. Instead, I knocked off Lookout Mountain outside Golden, then headed south along Dinosaur Ridge and up and over. I eventually ended up near enough Bandimere Speedway dragstrip and listened to some muscle cars rip down the 1/4mi strip but couldn't see much. Despite not getting in my multiple major climbs like I'd intended, it was a good day on the road bike. I feel like I pansy for only pedaling 63mi w/ insignificant climbing, but some days are made for taking it easier.

classic switchbakcs on Lookout Mountain Road

Boulder > 4 Mile Canyon > Gold Hill > Sunshine Canyon: 23mi, 3100ft gained

I had to work in the Boulder office dispatching our bike couriers today so I took the opportunity to get in a quick road bike ride in the mountains after I got out from behind the computer. Started up Boulder Canyon for a few miles, then northwest up 4 Mile Canyon (another classic Boulder area climb.) This area had been devastated by the infamous 4 Mile Fire back in September 2010- burning over 130 homes and making it the most destructive (to man-made structures, anyway) forest fire in Colorado's history. I hadn't been here since the fire occurred and have been wanting to see the aftermath first hand. It's a fun, steep climb located conveniently close to town, gaining about 3000ft in 13mi from Boulder.

The road turns to packed dirt after about 6mi and gets into the thick of the burn area.

Continuing upwards, I reached the historic mining town of Gold Hill at 8100ft. The firefighters luckily saved this little mountain community and its 100+ year old structures from the fire. Just barely, as you'll notice how close the burn came to town. 

Topping out around 8300ft above Gold Hill, it was downhill back into Boulder via Sunshine Canyon. I was glad when the bumpy dirt road turned back into pavement so I could open it up safely for the long twisty descent into town.

backside of the Flatirons on the upper left

2 hours; 23 miles and 3100ft of climbing. Another day at the office.

"powder" day at Loveland Ski Area

The weather forecast called for 50 degrees and rainy in Denver today, worse in the mountains. Not exactly a promising outlook for an epic bike ride. I still had one lift ticket to Loveland to use this season so I drove up for a day on the slopes. Despite our crazy warm winter/spring this season, today could've passed for January- 30 degrees and snowing, with about 6" of new snow last night. The fresh fall covered up the ice and a lot of the rocks; conditions were the best I've skied all season.

When I was here two weeks ago, it could've been June. Today was a whole different world.

top of Lift #9 at 12,700ft

Mitchell Communtiy Garden, opening day 2012

It's April and it's time to start gardening! With our unusually warm spring this year, it's been feasible to get seeds and plants started extra early this season. As "garden leaders," April and I brought out all our new and returning gardeners for a work day to get things in gear for growing tasty food in the community garden. I can't wait to start eating delicious fresh salads from the soil we cultivate!

Soon, oh so soon, we'll be flush with healthy, tasty greenery...

Friday evening half-marathon run

The weather forecast killed my challenge to see how many consecutive century ride weekends I could string together, so I decided to do a long run on Friday instead. I started out aiming for 10mi (I normally do a ~6mi tempo run) but once I got going, figured "what the heck, let's just do a half marathon." And so I pressed on.

I've never been much of a runner, never participated in the Track & Field or Cross Country teams in high school and generally regarded running as slow, boring and hard. Until last year, when I decided I ought to incorporate running into my workout routine as a form of cross training. I also wanted to do some impact exercise, as cyclists are at risk of developing bone density problems later in life because our bones have it so easy on smooth spinning bikes all the time. So I started running once a week and found that I actually enjoy the time a lot- it's a great cardio workout, a nice time to devote to listening to music and my thoughts and the chill redundancy provides a very relaxing yet taxing platform to settle into. I'm still no star runner, but have improved a lot and value my weekly runs on the South Platte River bike path.

I wouldn't have guessed I could've ever run over 13mi in one session, but kept going until I'd done it. I was tired by the end, my calves and feet hurt and my legs were exhausted. I felt great! Not a bad way to spend a few hours after work on a Friday night, yes?

Wednesday evening hike on Indian Creek Trail

My friend Lucy wanted to go for a hike (she's car-less, I provided the transport and she provided the motivation.) T-storms rolled into Denver that afternoon, it hailed briefly, we went anyway. We attempted to get to a trail west of Sedalia (southwest of Denver) she knew that leads to an old fire watchtower... however the access road was closed for forest maintenance. So we continued up HW67 for a minute and found the Indian Creek Trailhead. I'd ridden this same road a couple weeks ago, just before a week before the Lower North Fork forest fire broke out in the area I'd ridden through. Today was a pleasant post-rain hike for a couple of miles through a recently thinned forest... and came to a neat vista in the late evening light.

We'd hit a perfect storm-less window, as Denver was treated to another round of boomers after I got back home. Fantastic to get out of the city and into the woods after a Wednesday workday.

Scrub Oak patch looking south from Indian Creek Trail summit in Jefferson County

Boulder > Lyons > Peak To Peak > Golden > Lookout > Denver: 114mi, 9950ft gained

Hopped on the 8am bus up to Boulder, grabbed a coffee and a couple delicious Santiago's breakfast burritos, then rolled alongside the foothills on HW 36 to Lyons. From town, I headed west up the South St. Vrain River canyon, aka HW 7.

Highway 7 west of Lyons

Eventually I met up with the Peak To Peak Highway after the tiny village of Raymond. This is the fourth time I've ridden the Peak To Peak this year, each time accessing it via a different climb from the Front Range. After today, I've ridden the entire 68mi of high elevation road, save for the very first few miles at the southern end of the highway. (One of these days I'm going to include this entire route in a single day ride... but there are still many more remote roads to explore first.)

looking north from the Peak To Peak Highway near Rollinsville

I turned onto sometimes dirt Gap Road to link into Golden Gate Canyon near the state park. I came across this foreboding signage- luckily (as I expected) this 19% grade was downhill in my direction of travel. Although aiming down a 19% grade on a road bike still feels pretty wild. Perhaps one day I'll come back to ride up it... it'd be a fun challenge to tackle that fairly short section. At this point I had 70mi on my legs for the day and didn't have time to session it today.

Gap Road north of Golden Gate Canyon

After descending to Golden Gate Canyon State Park, I diverted back north on Crawford Gulch Road to try see something new, since I've ridden the canyon several times. Crawford was a beautiful, quiet road that meandered around and connected to Golden Gate much closed to Golden.

Passing through Golden, it was a little after 6pm and I still had some daylight and energy left, so I knocked off Lookout Mountain since I was in the neighborhood. I passed "the pillars" at mile 89 for the day, and got up to the top as the sun was sinking low.

Lookout Mt

I turned around at Buffalo Bill's grave and blasted down the switchbacks I'd just ridden up. This road is usually dense with auto and bike traffic, but on a late Easter Sunday evening it was safe to open it up and really carve the descent. 32min up the climb, 9min back down.

Back through Golden and towards Denver as darkness set in (I bring my lights on all these long rides for just such reasons.) I stopped off at a grocery store to get some goodies for a solo Easter dinner: some cheap ham slices, asparagus and a big potato for baking. It was a delicious meal after 114mi and 9950ft of climbing for the day! I'm bummed to fall just shy of the elusive 10K climb day, but will get it soon. And then some.

skiing at Loveland Resort

Yet another beautiful bluebird day here in Colorado so I woke up early, threw my ski gear in the car and drove up to Loveland. I still have a couple of lift tickets to use up before the snow melts, and that might be sooner than later this lousy snow season. I was still pretty fatigued from yesterday's big ride and spent more time basking in the sun than ripping up the slopes.

Views up at the top of Lift #9 (12,700ft) were great, but the lack of snow is startling.

looking southeast- I70 below and twin 14er peaks of Torrey's (L) and Gray's (R) standing tall and barren

Snow looks a little better off to the northwest, but still nothing like we're used to for April Fools Day

Despite the low snow, the skiing was still fun and the goofball energy that comes with spring skiing is fantastically amusing. Unbeknownst to me, it happened to be 80's Retro Day and lots of fun loving riders broke out their best thrift store skiwear. There was an 80's cover band and a fashion contest. And lots of good cheer in the air.

"Best Dressed" fashion contestants vying for a brand new snowboard