Thursday, July 24, 2008

Frisco via Swan Mtn Rd to Loveland Pass

Just did Frisco - Swan Mtn Rd - Keystone - Loveland Pass. Base elevation is at about 8800ft, Loveland Pass 12000ft -- a 9mi steady 6..7% climb at high altitude -- I clocked in about 53mi / 4300ft climbing / 3h20.

A nice ride from the Bike shop in Frisco with the same bike Py had on Sunday. A gentle climb via Swan Mtn road with a great overlook of Lake Dillon. Shooting down to road and gentle up again on a great bike path to Keystone. Then a road sign said 9mi to Loveland Pass, beeing at about 9000ft. Just keeping the pace down and HR at about 165..170.... the only disturbing issue, heave big truck traffic he did not liked so much. Especially the ride down, he got stuck behind a bunch of trucks :-( And had to slow down. However, the first 1/2 of the decent was great.
Back via Swan Rd to Frisco, this time taking one more great bike path to Frisco he missed on the way out.

Great ride and good free afternoon :-)


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Sunday, July 20, 2008

Frisco High Trails to Ute Pass

One more Early Birds replacement ride, a 55mi ride at high altitudes between about 8,300ft and 9,800ft in soaring sun under crystal clear sky in the high 90ties.




See here for details: Frisco to Ute Pass.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Montezuma Loop -- Rough High Altitude Workout

Again off the Island, and playing high up in the Rocky Mountains, starting today in Montezuma, Colorado, close to Keystone.

Ride started at 10,300 ft and peaked at 12,615 ft with a few very very steep up and downs at highest altitude on very coarse rocky jeep trails -- a few section to steep to ride for Py, so a few tough hike the bike sections came up... the downhill was great, even more rough, several water xings and all doable even on the simple hard tail MTB Py rented, as the Fullys were pretty heavy and had not so good components and mechanical badly working brakes only. The K2 did a good job -- no complains for only twenty eight bucks a day.



Simple, hard, efficient - great day.

Later Py figured a place to rent a road bike in Frisco, got some good early dinner to refuel -- Chinese Noodle Chicken in Dillon -- did some shopping.

Topo Map:

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3D view from Google Earth:

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Gold Coast Ride 2008

1st Sunday, back on the Island since a couple of Sundays, PyZahl did skipped the Early Birds again, but he did the annual Gold Coast Ride.

At about 5:30 he rode 15min to M. to carpool out to Greenlawn, Huntigton. They got there quickly at about 6:45, M needed to register, Py just picked up his armband and Teeshirt :-)

At 7:30 some of the birds and other well known riders assembled to a pretty nice big group of about 20..25 or so... Py did not counted 'em all. Here a few shortly before they rolled out -- all together until the "2nd" big water stop -- not counting the very first one where was absolutely no need to stop after just a couple of miles -- only for the leisure rides...



Py did a lot, if not almost all pulling out to this stop over all the rollers... feeling funny little after some more climbing.



Here the 70milers went off back, and Py went with a smaller group of 6..8 for the 100mi and added an extra loop and then they returned to this stop after a couple of extra miles once more... and made there way back after that. The highest elevation Py noticed was just little over 120m.

Statistics:

Good workout today.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Allegheny Reservoir - Kinzua Bay

This long 4th of July Weekend Py went on a long road trip all the way up to the Northern Philadelphia, Allegheny Reservoir and Kinzua Bay, he geared up for some MTB and Camping.



As there was a very heavy rain and flooding on his day of arrival, trails were mostly turned into a sticky muddy mess and due to good trail keeping... they decided to stay on dirt and other back roads. He did not took his road bike, so the big Humwee was the only choice. The weather changed to very nice the next days. The roads would have been great for a road bike ride as well but the Humwee work on road for sure, just a little extra workout! And Py had some fun, giving a couple of roadies on a longer uphill a hard time and finally left them far behind -- on his MTB......... o-)

Here some views to the Big Bend:





And at Rim Rock:



After some good riding on that heavy bike, a little cool down and cross work out:



Still, a little teaser of the trails...

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Review Lincoln East

Here is an article from Bicycle Mag, as Py recently realized they were writing about the Lincoln Gap:


Click for readable size: