There's a Bear Up the Road

Chuck and I actually had a day off together yesterday, so we planned a big mountain bike ride. We packed our jerseys with food, slathered on the sunscreen, and took off on our adventure. It only took about 30 minutes for our ride to become quite exciting. As we started our climb up Gold Camp Road, a cyclist flew by us in the opposite direction and yelled "There's a bear up the road!"

Um, okay. Wait a minute, what are we supposed to do with that information? A bear? Holy $#%*!!!!!!!!! You can't just say that and offer no more information!! I immediately reduced my pace and looked over at Chuck. This was quite a new situation for us. It wasn't "There's a crazy rabid dog up the road," or "There's a huge pothole up the road," or even "Watch out for the Jehovah's Witness up the road!"

My eyesight suddenly became very keen as I scoped out every shadow. While I recalled that bears can run up to 30 mph, I looked down at my Garmin computer to see that we were going a mere 10 mph up this climb. Chuck told me the bear wouldn't just run out and attack us, but I wasn't so sure.

Of course, being the adventurous types we are, turning around was not an option. We had our route planned out and no stinkin' bear was going to ruin our day. As we kept tentatively riding along, I wasn't sure if I should slow down or speed up. I was thinking very hard about my escape plan if we saw the bear--turn around? Sprint UP the hill? Yell at it at the top of my lungs? Of course, I reallllly wanted a picture of the bear, so I hoped he would just be relaxing in the shade eating some yummy flowers or something.

Well, after all this excitement, do you think we saw the bear? NO. No bear. I was very relieved, and yet, somewhat disappointed. So far in Colorado we have seen tons of mule deer, a fox, millions of bunnies, coyotes, and even mountain goats. I really would have liked adding a bear to our resume..........

So we rode on. The road turned to gravel and kept climbing and climbing. At the end of the day we got in almost 5,000 feet of climbing. Here's a pic of my computer at our turnaround point.

Here is a view of a very tiny Colorado Springs and in the foreground, what looks like the remains of a forest fire.

After almost 2 hours of riding and going through 4 tunnels in the rock, we came upon this collapsed tunnel. Luckily, there was some singletrack off to the left so we could get around it. I wasn't too unhappy to go around, because riding through the tunnels on a bike is creepy. You can't see a thing after you get about 20 feet in. You have to have a lot of faith that you are not riding directly into a black hole of death (I've read too many Steven King books, I know). Luckily by the 4th tunnel, Chuck recommended that I take my sunglasses off. It was much better after that :^)

Here's the final stats on the day.... Almost 4 hours on the mountain bike, 45 miles covered, a crapload of climbing, and a nice high heart rate thrown in. The green line is our elevation and the red line appropriately enough, is my heart rate. Both Chuck and I were pretty wasted by the time we made it home. Time for a recovery drink so we can do it again tomorrow!

Thunderbirds and the Falcon Trail

My favorite trail here is called the Falcon Trail--its on/in the Air Force Academy. It has a little bit of everything: climbing, descending, turning, stream crossing, mule deer, turkeys, snakes, hike a bike, chicken heads, baby heads, goat heads, and roots. Wonderful views if you're not glancing at the HR monitor and staring at the 6 inclined feet in front of your wheel while on a 900 foot climb I have nicknamed “Destroyer”.

Last week here in COS the Academy had graduation and George Bush gave the commencement. The Air Force Thunderbirds were supposed to put on a show and do the fly over during the hat toss. Graduation day was cloudy and the Thunderbirds could only do the flyover for the hat toss….but we were on the Falcon Trail at 2 pm the day they were practicing the air show. As we were attempting to finish our lap a military guy was on the trail instructing us to move 400 yards “that way” because the Thunderbirds were about to begin the practice air show. Ok, fine, so we backtrack to a higher point on the trail to watch the show. We could see and hear the Thunderjets coming from Peterson Air Force base from the east. We lost them in the clouds for a minute, then out of nowhere 6 Thunder jets fly 300 feet directly above us with the smoke on. LOUD! It sounded like they were trying to rip a hole in the sky. As we watched for the next half hour they got close, 300 yards or so a couple more times. From where we were, when the jets would make their pass above the stadium, we could look straight into the cockpit and see the pilot.


















Needless to say--a very cool day.



This is as fast as i could get the camera out.

Mini-Vacation

Just when I thought we were getting used to the elevation here, we decide to go up even higher to Woodland Park. We mountain biked around Rampart Reservoir which is at an elevation of about 9,200 feet. It was incredibly quiet and peaceful because they weren't allowing any boating on the Reservoir. Apparently those stupid zebra mussels are a problem in Colorado and they don't want this body of water to get contaminated. Good for us, bad for boaters.
After growing up on Lake Michigan, it is a bit disconcerting to learn that Colorado Springs water source is this reservoir. I definately do not leave the water running when I brush my teeth.
I am slowly getting used to the fact that most of the trails here are made up of little slippery red gravelly rocks. You really have to control your speed going into the many blind, off camber corners, or you could find yourself with nothin' but air underneath you and your bike. Luckily I have disk brakes and an irrational fear of breaking my collarbone to keep me in check.

Even with a record high in the Springs of 86 degrees, it was at least 15 degrees cooler at the reservoir. We were still suprised to find our trail suddenly turn into ice! Chuck had to show off his bunny hopping skills over the crevasse.

It was so pretty up where we were riding that it was hard to actually get any riding in. We had to stop every 5 minutes to enjoy the view, or play in the snow, or feel how cold the icy mountain water was.

Hopefully you aren't getting sick of seeing pictures of Pikes Peak. This photo is actually the backside of the mountain, looking at it from the West.

Well, time to head out for a little ride before work. I have to go now since there is going to be 40 mph wind gusts starting at 1:00pm and that is NO fun.

5280-6450

5280 is a popular number around these parts. Is the adopted pet name of Denver (mile high) 5280 feet? You can get 5280 coffee 5280 angle offers advice on living in Denver. There is a 5280-bike team also.
Here in the springs Our apartment is a 6450 feet above sea level. Coming from 814 above sea level feet in Grand Rapids that is a difference of 5538 feet elevation. Here are a few things I have observed.
1. Yes, there is less oxygen here, consequently I see more (old) people with portable oxygen tanks.
2. The high altitude directions on baking mixes are there for a reason. It takes longer to cook stuff in general.
3. The jets flying overhead seem larger and seem to move faster.
4. There are fewer opportunities for clouds to form impenetrable barriers for the sun.
5. Sunscreen and sunglasses and necessities rather than novelties.
6. A Suzuki GSXR 600 will only do 146 mph rather than a claimed 156 mph as claimed in their literature.
7. Sound travels farther, faster, louder. Thunder is LOUD Here!
8. Less moisture in the air (I think this helps #7)
9. Wild life is everywhere. I look out the window right now I see 5 mule deer in the green space across the road eating breakfast. I saw a coyote on the way to work yesterday. Juli saw some 6-foot snakes on the bike trail the other day.
10. You can go to REI, buy things like rock climbing harness thing, carabineers, rock climbing shoes and rope and a book that gives you climbing routs, and use them 5 minutes away.


Later

Happiness is........

Outriding scary thunder clouds dumping rain and hail.....






Being able to admire your dog's gorgeous leg muscles.

Avoiding very prickly cacti while flying through singletrack.

Enjoying a free tour of the Air Force Academy a la road bike. Check out the B-52 Bomber--very sweet.

Trusting knobbies. Trusting them a lot.

Checking out the view as I ride by Garden of the Gods and admiring the ever-present Pikes Peak.

Riding!!! Riding here!!! Being in oxygen debt!!!

Hasta la Vista, Michigan

Everything happened so fast when we decided that Chuck should accept his job offer and we were moving to Colorado. We barely had time to say goodbye to all the important people in our lives. Luckily we were able to get together and have a couple of beers with our buddies before we left. All we did was pack and party for weeks!

There's Chuck with his good friend Craig.

And here is Danielle with her greyhound, Naomi. I miss Danielle very much because she is the only girl I know who rides bikes more than me. She is also the only person that could haul me on a 6 1/2 hour road ride and make it fun. (Rock Star and smoothie stops help!) I am extremely excited for July, because Danielle is coming for a visit. I need to start training like a crazy person so I can keep up with her on my mountain bike.

Ahhhh, my teammates. We got to hang out at Founders the night before I left for Colorado. That's Amy and Mackenzie, crazy fast bike racers. After racing with us in Michigan for a few years, Mackenzie now gets to race with Tina Pic. Yes--the one and only---the National Criterium Champion--on her team. I am so happy for her, but I am pretty sure she is going to have to come to Colorado Springs to get some good training in.

Saying goodbye to the family was not easy. I am the pround Aunt of 4 of the cutest nephews in the universe: Noah, Simon, Charlie, and Sawyer. They are smart, energetic, and amazing and I miss them very much!

Goodbye house. Okay, its just a house, but it was Chuck's and my first house. I will miss grilling out on the deck. I will miss hearing the fireworks from the White Caps Stadium on Saturday nights. I will miss our favorite neighbor, Cheryl. I will miss seeing Tia sprint in the tiniest circles ever in the backyard.

Hello, Colorado! I still can't believe we live here. Its a good thing it is so amazing here, because it was really difficult leaving everything we knew and everyone we cared about behind. I feel like this blog is a bit of an advertisement to try and lure my friends out here so I can see them!

The First Blog is the Hardest

Welcome to the Allaire’s Colorado adventure blog.

















Is it possible to have blogger's block before you have even begun your first entry? For some reason I feel a lot of pressure (self induced) to create the most entertaining and humorous, yet gritty and real blog ever! There are so many great blogs out there and with my competitive nature and all, I must create the best blog ever!! Hence the writer's block.

I guess I will take the easy way out and insert some pictures. They probably tell the story better than I could anyhow. Plus as you can see, Colorado is gorgeous (come and visit). Any blog with a picture of Pikes Peak is a sure winner.

So, Chuck arrived safe and sound in early February with a few bikes in tow. That tiny 14,115 foot mountain in the background is Pikes Peak.

Meanwhile, I had to stay back in Michigan to tie up some loose ends.... That's just everything we own getting loaded up on the semi. I felt pretty good about handing over all of our stuff to the moving guy, especially after he told me the story about how he busted some ladies cement steps with his forklift earlier that week. Notice all the snow--it seems like a prerequisite for us to be able to move.

Tia is relaxing in the empty house the morning of my departure. By the way I have a word of warning--if you have house plants and are planning on taking them with you when you move across the country--don't bother. I think they will be fine as far as Iowa, but Nebraska pretty much will do them in. Or maybe it just had to do with being crammed between the dog and pillows and the television and all my snacks?

So blog numero uno is in the books. There is so much exploring and so many adventures to be had here in Colorado that there's no way we can run out of ideas for our blog. Plus you will want to follow my reentry back into the bike racing world after being semi-retired. I need to wake up my weak sprinting legs because there is a velodrome here. What could be more fun than learning how to ride a single speed, fixed gear bike with no brakes on a 33% embankment?

Be sure to stay tuned for the next blog when I have to say goodbye to my friends, my family, my coworkers, my teammates, my first house, my first dog, and to the place I have lived for the last 34 years of my life. Don't worry, the reading will be light and whimsical and verrrry entertaining.