Ride the Rockies! Days 1 and 2 (and likely the only update till the end…)

I’m not sure what sort of seriously disturbed parents gets their child a 380 mile bike ride for her birthday.  Unless perhaps they’re trying to kill said child… Nonetheless, I was given the opportunity to “Ride the Rockies” this year, my first, despite having lived in Colorado most of my life.  The tour this year started in Glenwood and makes a loop down to Gunnison and up towards Leadville (over the 12000 foot Independence Pass) and towards Aspen, before heading back towards Glenwood.

So, Saturday morning, I packed up *almost* everything I owned (noteable exclusions include one bike and Baxter) threw it into my car, and hit the road.  We (meaning myself and two dogs) made it to Glenwood Springs late afternoon and met up with the parents.  After a terrifically indulgent dinner, I hit the sack early and tried not to be scared for the surely inevitable pain that would bestow me the upcoming week.

From the second I turned on the radio while driving over to the start, I knew my first day would be plagued by the most annoying song every permitted to breach the airwaves.  While no one ever seemed to know what a “brimful of asher” was in fact, but it’s obnoxiously catchy lyrics insures that it’s stuck in your head until you can find something catchier to take its place.  Thus, the first 65 or so miles were a forced repeat of this horrible song.  I actually relished the possibility of listening to some Bar lectures just to get the song out of mind.  The ride itself was really quite pleasant, notwithstanding the climb up McClure Pass.  The weather, despite the tornados in eastern Colorado was terrific, with one 20 minute wind and rain threat.

Upon reaching Hotchkiss, our first destination, I, as any RTR newbie would be, was concerned with where to set up my camp.  I found a rather undesirable tent site and begrudgingly set up shop.  However, after exploring around the school that was housing us for the evening, I decided to just move my air-mattress inside and sleep in one of the (seemingly) quiet hallways.  I set everything up, then set out on the town to look for some well deserved food.  I returned with a sandwich covered in sour cream and cucumbers (awe, my favorites *sarcasm*) and found my secluded hallway turned into a busy evening hotspot.  Thankfully, the combination of fatty food and extreme exhaustion lead me to pass out on my mattress.  And by pass out I mean it in the most literal sense.  It was 8:30 at night, in a fully lit and busy, noisy hallway and I was completely and soundly asleep in the middle of it all.

For those of you who know me, I have a persistent ability to sleep in *almost* any situation (the notable exception, of course being any and all moving vehicles).  And last night was no exception. I did not wake up for any of the noise that had transpired throughout the evening, but immediately jolted to alertness upon hearing someone proclaim (at 5:15 am) that “We’re out of coffee”!  I woke up, stumbled to the cafeteria, grasped a cup blindly and filled it to the brim with coffee.  I must have looked rough, because the woman working the coffee station even stirred my coffee after I drowned it in sugar.   After just  small amount of the wonderful life-blood, I was ready to rock, got my shit together, and hit the road.

Today was also a nice day, other than the 40 miles of uphill and headwind.  I made it to Gunnison on a tailwind and  way too many Gu’s.  I’m staying with Brit, a friend from high school and will likely pass out at 8 pm once again.  Thanks for tuning in… more later.

Parting thought: Does paying more and putting an Arxtery’x logo on your fanny pack make it cool?