pre work ride

After I dropped Z off at school, I was able to sneak in a little ride before opening the shop. I was hankering for a mellow spin - something easy and scenic. South St Vrain Hwy was just the ticket. I also wanted to ride something that felt like home - the XO was my ticket to comfy and relaxed.

I started on Old South. I ride Old South all the time. It's a good way to get to Hall Ranch for a mountain bike ride, or a good way to get out of town on 7. Old South give me that peaceful easy feelin.
Highway 7 is always good, too. I love me some SSV Canyon.
Turned around to take this shot in the narrows. It's superbly fun rolling back down thru it.
I didn't have a destination in mind really. Just a little river therapy. I hiked out towards a big ol rock in the middle of the stream to sit for a bit. The South St Vrain Creek has always put me in a better place.
Old faithful.
Not too shabby for a 45 minute pre work ride. I definitely arrived back at the shop in a better mood. Great way to start the day.

Washington Road Biking

The family headed back to Washington for Thanksgiving. Used to be, the inlaws had an extra car and I had more free time (no kid), so I'd rent a bike, drive the car out to Capital Forest (super fun) and disappear for an afternoon or two,

Now, the transportation is gone, time is short, but I still need to get away. So, after a very brief deliberation, I shipped the $100 Gt road bike to the inlaws. Tada! Insta-ride from the doorstep. I spent a couple days putting together a nice 20+ mile route, in the rain and 45 degree weather.

It's pretty spectacular road riding. The main road has a 6ft shoulder most of the way, and the neighborhood routes have next to no traffic. Lots of views of the sound between the trees. The side roads and shoulders have a couple interesting factors: wet ground up leaves and moss growing right on the asphalt.








The rest of these are from Steamboat Island, at the end of the road.

wow, lots

Lots of cool things have been a happenin'. Here's a few pics of Andria's Intense 5.5 FRO. This bike turned out super bad. Bad is good, that is.




Black and white. Simple as that.

Custom built DT 240 hubs on tubeless Mavic 819 rims.

The details go down right down to the FRO only head badge.

Completely changing gears, who's up for a trip to the dump?

Ol blue makes a good hauilin' vehicle.

Leverage is our friend. Especially when it comes to old, old, industrial carplet and glue.

Oh, and John's bike is looking pretty blingy lately. Lots of blue highlights, including nipples and Nokon cables. I didn't take closeup pics of the super sweet custom built Hope Pro II hubs and Mavic 819 tubless rims.

I wrapped up the week with a very nice ride. On the roadie no less. I was lucky enough that I had a camera with me when I saw these. It's not often that you see big horn sheep at this low of elevation. At least, not anything that I see often. How many sheep can you see?

I actually like getting out on the road. Especially when there's appealing roads like this.

I stopped at a little pulloff a couple of miles above the narrows. Everything snow in this pic is usually the waters of the S St Vrain.

I tried to stay local and to stay on the fun roads. Not a bad "alternate" view of Steamboat Mountain.

Anyone up for a Tuesday ride? The latest word was South Boulder. How about a roundup at the Marshal Mesa trailhead off of 93, right by the quickie mart on the way to Eldorado Springs. 6pm at the bike shop or 6:30-6:45 at the trailhead.

First Road Ride of 08

And I felt it...too much holiday cheer (specifically "spirits") made my ride up the South St. Vrain Canyon feel like running up Longs Peak. But it was good for my other spirit of choice. I made to the Riverside turnoff before the sky starting spitting and I was coooold. I have the fortunate experience to see Gunn Rita Dahle riding up the canyon on her brand new Merida Mountain Bike. If you don't know who she is, she is probably the best female mountain biker that has ever lived. I honestly don't think she has ever finished 2nd. Check out her diary She has a place in Boulder that she frequents on occasion. All in all it felt good to shake out the cobwebs.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/2007/diaries/gunn-rita/?id=gunn-rita0720