State Bridge at the Colorado River

Free afternoon after a few great morning sessions about SPM.



Same bike again, still setup up and ready to roll. Thanks to the shop mech. Conveniently located right inside the meeting complex. Simple route, out and back -- Vail - State Bridge - Vail.

Rolling out same way but this time beyond the Bottom of Beaver Creek towards the junction Colorado 6 and 131 -- filling up water. A scenic bypass over Wolcott Pass. A nice moderate climb with tailwind... and a very fast descent down to State Bridge. Quick stop after passing the bridge over the Colorado River. And just that moment a long cargo train was approaching....
Then returning the same route. Climbing Wolcott Pass on the steep side into a nasty head wind, then descending with a massive need to pedal to keep momentum as bad the head wind was! Back down at the junction, quick rest stop and Cappuccino -- a good one and just 3 bucks -- then heading on back at good speed, feeling great! Nice 65miles done.


 

Beaver Creek Explorations -- Dead End and Gravel Roads

On a busy trip to a conference ICN+T in Vail, CO. Py took the chance to rent a road bike and go for a quick lunch ride to explore Beaver Creek.
Setting up the rental bike with pedals..., a pretty nice (for a rental) aluminium GIANT Defy. Surprisingly light and a nice ride! Quick checking it out around the resort, then heading out on Frontage road heading West next to I-70. A fast run slightly downhill narrowing into a beautiful bike path next to Gore Creek!
For a moment confused at the junction 24/6. Hooking up with two other riders heading towards Beaver Creek for a few miles. Then taking the climb up into Beaver Creek resort. Continuing the road until it's end -- or transition into gravel, not suitable for this ride and not in the mood of experimenting with rental bike. After finishing a banana, returning into town and figuring out how far the other road may go up paved.... same thing, this time ending or transitioning into dirt at the base of a lift service station or such. Asking a local worker about any other eventual paved options -- try "Batchelor Gulch Road" -- so Py did. Very nice little longer climb, virtually zero traffic, nice scenery and vistas. Heading to the end, then trying the "left hand" fork road, actually continuing up to little beyond 2600m over a crest and descending -- should be possible be get to Beaver -- but ending at a closed gate, no time left for more experiments and returning.

Local 200km -- RP 2 OP on most scenic roads

Py needed a longer ride -- so heading all the way to the East End on the North Fork.

A great summer day. For a great ride. Only the wind was not really cooperating, cross head winds out and back as it turned around about all the way out on Py's scenic route not missing any of the back roads. At Orient Beach SP the 1st stop and water top off -- non stop all the way out in about 2h40.
Then quick coffee stop in Greenport at his favorite Coffee shop Aldo's.
Long haul back via Cutchogue [until there Py forgot to restart his Garmin -- so about 10mi / 17km missing in the log below], on best cycling roads including part of EB's North route, Py's RP2IPB.

Hunter Greene Classics

Py last minute sign up for green me classics Road Race. Early Saturday morning driving up to Tannersville.

Long Island City (Queens) to Bear Mountain

2nd edition of the LIC2BM ride.

... after some undecided picking of a parking lot/place ... finally on the road starting pretty much at the Queensborrow bridge, heading via Central park to GW stopping at Strickleys bike shop and continue along the Hudson/Palisades to Bear avoiding 9W as much as possible.

RP2RR -- a unconventional ride + "learn to row day"

Sorry my readers, a little quite here lately -- limiting posts to the more special happenings.

No RP2IPBP but a variant with a new half way change of activity. It's "National learn to row day". So why not try this out?
Initially not really knowing about this at all, it happened to be just that day coming up as Py got interested in a potential new addition of activities for the future... http://www.eastendrowing.com/

Catskills -- Hunter-Greene CAT 3/4

A day trip to race the Hunter-Greene Catskills Spring Classic. Morning up to Tannersville, NY. Foggy. Warm. Sign-in and parking down at the lake with plenty of time. After some time the parking area got a little more utilized and also George and RPC riders showed up. Preparing and getting ready to ride up to the start.

About 5km uphill ride to the start, non ideal as no supplies beyond the race carry on water/food but worked out in reach. A combined 3/4 field of some 80 or more riders staged on top of a local hill what would also be the finish climb. A supposed to neutral start down the hill was a kind of a bumpy ride and let some non Roubaix secured water bottles fly right away. The pace of the 1st lap got pretty heated with several breakaway attempts and catch up events and some drop the 4's games. Fun to meet a FB friend while racing, Keane -- I just figured since when, I took a few pictures of him at ToC 2012. George and Py had some good fun at top ten for quite some time and also been up front a few times -- possible to much fun for Py -- eventually rolling more back hiding into the field what is less fun but possible would have safes enough energy to tackle that one kicker with more reserves to stay in the game for longer -- as soon the pace picked up again a good notch to not allow anyone to ride off for more than a moment. However, 1/2 way around the loop slightly uphill pretty exactly as the forecast was predicting for 2..3pm on the way up on 23 towards Ashland the few drops turned into sustained rain/t-storm with some hail and alike on that side of the mountain and dry roads got flooded with an ugly mix of brown clay and road grime. Some of that mix cause a temporary burning in Py's eye -- whatever that was. Moving along hanging in a field of soaked riders with flooded shoes and getting a dirty farly warm shower from wheels ahead. Great. A sligh chill by evaporating water, added weight and running at and over threashold for about an hour Py had to notice a way too long sustained heartrate of over 178bpm -- that can not go well hitting this brief climb coming up soon -- too short to benefit from his climbing power, but calling for max power for just a few minutes. And there they go... passing by and a gap way too big to catch up at these conditions. A few more droppign off. Looking ahead at the damage looking back to a few riders and a team mate. Deciding no way to catch up and sure not alone but to ease up and team up with George for a good joined work to the finish. The rain eventually eased off but roads stayed soking wet and only seriously offsetting wheels helped to avoid a constant shower. Two more riders joined, eventually helped a here and there briefly. George and Py doing the work for most the time. Few more picked up later... Slowly the 74 miles double lap course with 2.5 mile finishing climb tricked down to 10 miles to go... somewhat working that hard Py noticed his knees a little complaining but a positing change and climbing felt good and eliminated the issue. Just while approaching this finish climb they came up on Rob who just had some fun with a bear like looking dog. Hitting this final steeper part of the climb with 1km to go sign Py put in all left and except 1 rider of the few hanging on dropped them all -- after 1h08 total at or over threshold. 

 

*** And congratulations to RPC Tom for winning the CAT 4 today !!! *** 

Roll down to the car at the lake, a quick bath right in there felt so good to wash of all that dirt! Long boring drive home with stupid traffic and sand still delays before Throggs Neck. A great day of excellent road racing with the team -- let's do more alike! A bit of everything, from a taste of Roubaix with that bumpy initial descent to some brief t-storm with following gritty roads.

Cops who care ride lead

 ** Found **

Before Py left for heading to the ride start he found cute rabbit. It's in a safe place now but needs a home!

Sunday -- special occasion and stepping in for Greg -- leading on behalf of SBRA the 50 mile ride of the "Cops who care" event.
Good ride, fun event.