A Casual Ride Over The Colorado National Monument

Another batch of homemade vanilla yogurt and I now have five hours on my hands while it all coagulates nice and firm like. What To Do??? Evidence shows, will perpetuate a ride. Not really sure which direction to go. Couldn't care as much about where, just knew that I was heading out. Riding the newest section of trail towards the Lunch Loops, about a dozen Harley Riders blew on by. Thankfully, I was flashing the peace sign as they roared on by.

For Ginny

A little breezy and a little chilly, I made my way towards the base of the spectacular Colorado National Monument. Was thinking that it would be a good idea to gradually ride up hill to warm up a bit. That decision turned me towards the East Side Entrance of the Colorado National Monument. Nobody was manning the gate and I figured I would only ride the first few switch backs, break into a solid sweat, and then turn around. What I didn't realize was that the previous night's low of 37F / 2C set a new GJ record. So I simply continued climbing.

12:34 and the 5th of the 6th Month

About the time that I was feeling good and fairly comfortable, the first and only uphill tunnel approached. My bike lights were flashing, legs felt decent, heart rate in check, and uphill I pressed ahead. What happen next took place in about 15 seconds but felt like an eternity. Now, this is roughly a 17% grade during this particular stretch inside the tunnel. I am in my granny gear with both wheels hugging the white line. My sunglasses blocked out almost all visible light and my only reference to space and time was that little white hole at the end of the tunnel. And of course, Murphy's Law, here comes a truck from behind. Well Sh*t Fire

I was spinning in my granny gear, too damn discombobulated to simply let go of the handle grips and shift! My body navigated the bike forwards as if I was three sheets to the wind. I figured it was my time. I wasn't exactly ready to die but knew that I had some Karma Coupons to cash out. Come On Peace And Quiet

The motor was vibrating the tunnel walls, the growl of death was suddenly approaching from behind, my heart was racing with anxiety, my wobbly legs were utterly useless, and I was too damn petrified to just jump off the bike. At that inevitable climax, the trucker passed me leaving tons of room. Super respectful everyday driver passing a scaredy cat cyclist. You have no idea how delighted I was when I broke out the other side alive a kicking. Totally Relieved!! Now, lets climb some more. Little unseen critters scurried around the underbrush, chipmunks and lizards raced across the pavement in front of me, and Big Horn Sheep happily ate away without a disturbance of any kind.

Mother Nature created a wonderfully spirit killing headwind and the "hill" never showed signs of ending anytime soon. Finally, I made my way to the COLD SHIVERS turn out/trailhead. I obviously noticed all the out of town number plates and would continue the ride with them leap frogging me. AZ, Missouri, Oregon, California, Wyoming, Utah, And Alabama were all parked in this turn out. I powered on up the hill as a Texas RV passed and then a Nevada car that passed without much room to spare. But, its the Monument after all. Around this point, I was committed to ride the whole thing even though I was thinking about turning around at any second. Did I have enough H2o, NO. Did I dial in my nutrition for this ride, NO. Am I prepared for this adventure?? Phuc-No. Oh, and the wind was really becoming problematic. I was rolling past the Red Canyon pull out and the cross wind blew me off the white line. If there had been a car passing me, YIKES. Same experience at the Upper Ute Canyon pull off. I Was Literally Getting My A$$ Handed To Me

And then it happened!! A three word text came through. "WHATS GOOD, TRAVIS?" That text so rearranged my mindset. I went from a suffering give up attitude to fully powered and charged up knucklehead. So much good is happening!! Beauty is all around me!! I am on my bike!! I was completely unaware how deep and "dark" I went until that text popped into my reality. I immediately started smashing down those on those cranks from my hips, flashing more peace signs to my leap frog friends, and sailed on past Black Ridge Towers. And just on the other side of that, the Liberty Cap Trailhead turn out, that group of Harley Riders were firing up their iron horse machines. Oh Baby

To give you a little insight, if I was on my road bike, no way would I have done this. Now, I completely aware that there are at least 10,000 or 100,000 world wide cyclist that could out climb me while riding on my GT MTB. But less than 1,000 could descend this bike as well as I. This was the first new mountain bike that I ever bought for myself. It's a GT Ricochet from circa 1995 and am very comfortable and extremely capable in the cockpit. The Race Was On

The first two Harley's passed me as we entered that first curve. I held my own. Only one more passed on the next straight away and together we held our own lines throughout the curve. Its all switchbacks and I hammered like a mad man. I even rolled the thought through my mind that if I go down, I am Phuc-D until late August. But that didn't keep me from touching my brakes. Into another tunnel and I was not backing off. We absolutely flew down that mountain. The gals on the back of those bikes took video, waved, and wondered what the hell was I thinking. One lady rider yelled off the back of the bike," You Are Fucking Amazing!!" Or at least that is what I think she said. Ya, I'll go with that. With about three or four switchbacks to go, the last Harley ripped by me. His tunes were blaring TAKE IT EASY by The Eagles. Too Funny!! Together, we all California stopped at the 340 intersection, they roared their bikes downhill towards Fruita. I on the other hand was realizing that I was out of water and limped my way down towards Fruita.

On a normal day, I can ride to Fruita in an hour and 15 or 20 minutes. Now, I am so screwed. BCV, I would have stopped, refueled somewhere, little hydration fill up, and continued on. But not these days, I just rode east. Coming around the Dairy Queen parking lot, there there were, the Harley group. And did they ever make a scene!! Clapping, yelling, and exhibiting overall jubilation's as I rolled on by. At that point, no worries riding back to GJ. Hungry, YES. Dehydrated, YES. Stoked, Phuc Yes

The whole ride took me 4 hours and 7 minutes, I finished with 47.7 miles/ 76.76 Kilometers, and climbed 2,600+ ft / 793+ meters of elevation. The next day, a stud college gal and her coach did the same exact ride in 3 hours and 2 minutes. However, they beat me by an hour BUT their top speed was 36 mph / 57.9kph and mine was 42.8 mph / 68.8kph. I will venture a guess that they ate more than just one package of Annie's Homegrown Bunny Fruit Snacks during their training ride on efficient roads bikes.

This would normally be the point of inserting my goals here. Instead, I am going to reflect on my last list of goals and how that went. Goal #1 was to read Catcher in the Rye and thats been very entertaining as I lay my head on the pillow. Goal #2 was writing down intentions. HUGE! I lived off my day planner BCV. I had to as I had numerous obligations all day long. For the last few months, nothing to write down. Totally Lame. Its been really good for me mentally to write down what I need or want to accomplish throughout the day. Goal #3 was lifting again. Well, did I ever half A$$ the piss out of that effort. Sure, I lifted but come on. Goal #4 was painting the trim. Not sure why I spaced that chore. Guess I should have written that one down. oops Goal #5 was the never ending therapeutic weeding in the garden. Goal #6 was to ride the Colorado National Monument. YaH00000ooooooo

Until The Next Time, Face Those Fears And Feel Alive,
Cheers