Pedal Paradise

Day One
Colorado National Monument Loop
49 miles
13 June 2010

There. I've showered. I feel better.

Not that I felt bad. I was just tired, sticky and sweaty. The ride up and over picturesque Colorado National Monument wasn't bad at all. For people who left early. We left very early. I wanted to get back in time to clean up and go to church. On my bike!

The riders coming in now are completely coated with mud. We could see the storm building as we headed back to camp, and we were so glad we weren't up on top anymore. Lightning was putting on quite the show, and the clouds were black as coal and heavy as stone.

We bought "grab and go" breakfast at the community tent before our pre-dawn departure. All food here at the ride is a little pricey. But they do have a great selection. I asked for a burrito with no meat, and they cheerfully made it as requested.

The Lizard wanted a yogurt but wasn't about to pay $4 for it. He had a bowl of Raisin Bran instead.

I did a pretty good job of stretching and fueling during today's ride. Today is just a warm-up. We won't have another "easy" ride all week.

I didn't begin feeling out of energy until the homestretch – mostly hot, dusty frontage road with a slight headwind. It dried me out a bit. I popped right back to life after a couple swallows of Hammer gel and some water.

There are fewer rest stops this year, and less food, although today was an anomaly. Vendors are not allowed in the National Monument. The third stop, outside the Monument, had a little of everything, including Enstrom's ice cream and FREE toffee. Yeah, free!!!

Ride the Rockies rest stops on the Monument each had one fruit and animal crackers. I was glad I had food of my own in my pack. What they had would not have been enough. I'm so glad I brought my own food. We almost left it behind because we didn't have room. Now I realize it might make the difference between me making it through this ride or not for the next six days.

I meant to take my finished crocheted sock up into the Monument so I could shoot a picture of it on the red rock, with riders in the background, especially since I forgot to bring a bear. But I forgot to put the sock in my pack. I guess yarn is just not on my brain right now!

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Anticipay...ay...tion

Day Zero
Registration Day
12 June 2010

Just received what probably is our final Ride the Rockies email before we ride… Alison Dunlap is going to be the guest speaker in Durango!!! They're also asking riders not to spend more than 10 minutes at rest stops. They asked riders not to turn 8-hour days into 10-hour days. Ummm, my big mileage days will be longer than that because I'm so slow!!!

Our "Ride the Divide" DVD finally arrived. Perfect timing. The Lizard was so excited, he went digging through my purse to retrieve it so we could watch it before we ride!!!! He's NEVER fished through my purse for anything before!

I cut my bangs because I decided I don't want to deal with them during the ride. I would have cut all my hair off so I don't have to deal with it, but I'm growing it out for Locks for Love, and it's not quite long enough yet. Pulling it back into a ponytail every day isn't going to do much for it, but I'll do the best I can. Some little kid somewhere will be happy to have my hair. Even if it does have a few extra split ends after this week.

I got such a kick out of The Lizard picking out his kits (cycling clothes). Now that he has a European-style jersey with a full zipper, he wants to wear it unzipped, fluttering in the breeze as he climbs the Grand Mesa so he'll look just like the pros on the Tour de France. Oh, how I wish I could ride as fast as him so I could get a picture of that! Maybe I can get him to fake it sometime…

I had to work Friday morning, even though I was supposed to have the day off. Thinking back, I realized I had to work partial days the day I'd planned to leave for both of my previous RtR trips. Maybe this turn of events is my good luck charm. Or tradition.

I got off at noon. Traffic was so horrific, it took more than an hour to get home. Then I spent the next hour moving all my indoor veggies outside, hoping like heck we get at least a bit of rain during the next week, that the sun doesn't fry them and the bunny doesn't eat them.

We had lined up a teenager to take care of the house and garden while we're gone, but he was taking college entrance exams and forgot about us. We couldn't wait any longer, so we locked up the house and hoped for the best.

Rain was really coming down when we left town. I was driving the rental car. Lack of visibility and storm intensity brought on flashbacks of my vehicle rollover back in '96, in similar conditions. I haven't had such flashbacks in years, and now, on the eve of the biggest tour of my life, I was transformed into a bundle of tear-stained nerves. I was on edge driving the rental car because I wasn't familiar with it and didn't know what to expect from it. I gradually gained confidence, and finally the rain let up. I even turned on the radio, and later, I even sang out loud! (Who can resist Doobie Brothers "Listen to the Music"???)

We arrived in Salida more than half an hour before RtR paid parking was supposed to close. No lot attendant. Lots of riders lingered, wondering what to do. All of us left notes in our windshields, hoping that would suffice.

Hail in Delta forced us to seek shelter for the rental car a couple of times, and rain continued all the way to Grand Junction. The registration desk and official merchandise tent were not open yet when we arrived. So The Lizard scouted out the college where we will be staying for the next two nights for the perfect tent spot and then set up our camp in a downpour. We had planned to take the rental car to the airport together, then ride back to the campus as a final training ride. Because of the weather, The Lizard preferred to return the car on his own while I kept an eye on the tent and bikes. We assumed he would be able to catch a ride or shuttle back to the college, but the rude person at the rental office refused, and The Lizard walked all the way back to campus in the rain.

Meanwhile, I took pictures and got the tent ready. When The Lizard finally returned, we charged the cell phones (although we probably won't have signal the entire tour), wrote in our journals, I finished crocheting one sock, and we ate dinner. When we got back to our tent, some Bozo had locked his bike to the bench next to our tent, completely blocking our entrance into our own tent! We fumed and went for a walk.

On our walk, we found a quiet, vacant grassy spot clear across campus, so we moved the tent.

Primo!

A mother alley cat and her three kittens live near a flower garden just across the walk. We enjoyed watching the kittens chasing butterflies when the rain finally let up.

Michael Martin Murphy was one of the concert headliners. His offerings included, "Wildfire." Boy, did that ever take us back in time!!!

We decided if we like the RtR route next year and get drawn again, we would like to ride to the start and ride home from the finish. Is that an adventure or what?!?

I'm nervous, excited, anxious, exhilarated, worried, giddy, apprehensive, happy… I can't believe the flood of emotions streaming through me right now!

I can't believe RtR is here. I can't believe we start riding tomorrow!

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Friday Funny

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What We Live For

Some of my friends don't comprehend why I'd want to use up my vacation time riding a bicycle. I can't race, and I'm not very good at changing a flat tire, but the exhilaration I feel when watching something like this video is why I ride. Watching is adrenalizing. Riding is even better.

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Wordless Wednesday

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Final Installments

Here are the final two months of my free weekly planner... November and December. Enjoy!

Here's to hoping I am able to do a real, genuine, official version of this calendar in 2011.

Of course, strings are attached... you know, all that legal mumbo jumbo. This calendar is copyrighted and provided by Snowcatcher Photos. You may print the calendar and share the calendar via link back to this site. You may not under any circumstances sell the calendar or any of the images therein. Modification or republication of the calendar or any of the images therein without prior written consent of Snowcatcher is strictly prohibited.

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Snowflake Monday

This isn't the Father's Day flake I had in my head, but I didn't have enough time to finish designing the snowflake I wanted to share. Hopefully this one, Six Ties for Dad, will be just as fun.

Dad can never have too many ties, right?

When I first finished the first attempt at this design, I asked for The Lizard's honest opinion, because, after all, he is a guy. And he liked my flake! I was so excited! So I told him I'd thought about making another one with longer spokes, and tying knots in the spokes to make each look more like a tie.

"Oh, yeah, do that!" he exclaimed. "That will look great! I will really like that one!"

So, I can't promise your dad/husband/brother/significant other is going to love this flake as much as my better half, but here are the two variations for your Third Sunday in June pleasure!

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!

If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Finished Size: 6 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 11 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or foil, cellophane tape, glue, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line


Instructions

Shorter Spokes, Solid Center Snowflake

Make magic ring.

Round 1: 6 sc in ring or in 2nd ch from hook. Pull magic circle tight.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 2: Working in rounds (do not join), 2 sc in each sc around for a total of 12 sc.

Round 3: *2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc; repeat from * around for a total of 18 sc.

Round 4: *Sc in next sc, ch 18; working in back loop of ch for the next 17 stitches, sc in next ch, dc in next ch, 1 tr in each of next 2 ch, 1 dc in each of next 3 ch, 1 hdc in each of next 3 ch, 1 sc in each of next 3 ch, sl st in next ch, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch; skip next sc in flake body and sc in next sc (one Tie for Dad made); repeat from * around 5 more times for a total of Six Ties for Dad; sl st in next sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Longer Spokes, Star Center Snowflake

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in ring or in 2nd ch from hook, *ch 3, 2 dc in ring; repeat from * 4 times for a total of 6 spokes; tr in 3rd ch of starting ch 3. Don't pull magic circle too tight.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 2: * 3 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 25, working in back loop of ch for the next 24 stitches, sc in next ch, dc in next ch, 1 tr in each of next 2 ch, 1 dc in each of next 4 ch, 1 hdc in each of next 4 ch, 1 sc in each of next 12 ch, 3 sc in same ch 3 sp (one Tie for Dad made); repeat from * around 5 more times for a total of Six Ties for Dad; sl st in next sc; bind off. Tie a knot in each spoke, pushing the knot as close to the body of the flake as you can and pulling as tight as you can. Try to do each knot the same way so they will lay flat. Weave in ends.

Note: The centers on these two flakes are interchangeable. Do rounds 1-3 on either flake for a solid center, and round 1 on either flake for a star center.

Finish: Tape wax paper or foil to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or foil.

Mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture. (ANOTHER NOTE: I did NOT glitter my Father's Day Snowflakes, but I'm providing the same old instructions just in case you decide you want a sparkly flake.) Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or foil. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch the snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

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Friday Funny

As I've been preparing to engage in my biggest cycling tour ever, I've been collecting two-wheeled humor wherever I can find it.

I hope you bust a gut on at least one of my finds.

This cycling route makes the Tour de France look like a piece of cake.

If you don't read Twisted Spoke, you must not be into cycling. This is one of the most recent gems. (I'm not taking sides. I just think this is a great read.) Here is another.

Here's a quiz to determine if you are genuine cyclist. I scored 60!

The Lizard and I didn't need one of these. Have I ever leaked that we brought EIGHT bikes into this marriage? We each have a road bike and a mountain bike, he has two retired bikes, and I'm still hanging onto my kids' bikes in the hope some offspring somewhere someday might ride them. Preferably with us.

I once published what I thought was a well-written satirical poem in a newsletter, and that simple attempt to pass on a smile earned me the title of "Anti-Christian." The piece was written in poetic Biblical style, and someone who didn't care for it said it was blasphemous. So now here I go again, risking my reputation, sharing a link I find rolling-on-the-floor funny. I assure you, I am 100% Christian through and through. I believe God has a sense of humor and might even appreciate what I'm about to share. If you are offended by humor written in the form of scripture, please don't read this.

Tailwinds!!!

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Guess Who's Coming for Dinner!

First, we had mice in the bird feeder. Then we had mice in the house. Now we have a young rattler outside the garage.

He can stay. IF...

He eats the mice.

AND...

He doesn't eat us.

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Wordless Wednesday

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Uncompahgre Peak

24 September 2005

We left for the Nelly Creek trailhead 35 minutes late. We made it on one tank of gas. We stopped at a service station near Buena Vista so The Lizard could get a cup of caffeine. I wasn’t going to get anything, but I noticed they had cinnamon tea. I got a cup.

Later in the day, I realized Uncompahgre is, in a way, the conduit for bringing our souls together. It was after my 2003 Uncompahgre trip report that The Lizard became friendly, like a friend, as if we had known each other for years. My solo hikes had caught his attention, and my trip reports with more than just the standard route description and “a fine day was had by all” piqued his interest. But it was my hike up Uncompahgre that got his blood boiling. His description of Cinnamon Pass that followed got my thoughts spinning around him for months to come. He took me up Cinnamon Pass in 2004, and I bought Cinnabon for the occasion, just as we’d discussed the year before. And here I was, sipping cinnamon tea! What a perfect way to complete the full circle!

We arrived about an hour before sunrise. The trailhead bathroom was locked. Too late in the season for forest service maintenance, I suppose. I started up the trail alone while The Lizard got ready because he can always catch me.

I slipped on a wet rock and fell in the river in the first few minutes. No serious damage. But my leg and my arm were wet. Fortunately, it wasn’t that cold.

Soon The Lizard caught me, and the sky began turning colors. He wanted to see how quickly he could get up Uncompahgre, which I now was quite amazed I had mistaken two years ago. How could I ever have mistaken the other mountain for the 14er??? I told The Lizard to go forward with his plan, so we kissed, and he took off. I reached the junction, which I assumed was the same one I’d gotten wrong back in 2003, and I took the left, trying to hurry as much as I could because I had lost my view Uncompahgre. I could see clouds, but not the mountain. Suddenly I spotted a herd of about 12 deer; two of them bucks.

I stopped for just a split second because they were staring at me. I could skip the sunrise, chill out and wait for the deer not to be so alarmed, or I could plow forward and try not to miss the sunrise, which was beginning to look alarmingly too near, and me nowhere near where I needed to be. The deer were still staring at me. I was in a beautiful meadow surrounded on three sides with a headwall I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get up. It would block the view of the mountain. I could race back down to the junction and try to work my way up again as fast as I could, but I estimated less than 60 seconds until pink mountain. I was going to miss it.

I went forward as fast as I could go. The deer bolted up the side of the waterfall, showing me what I assumed would be the only way out of the bowl. I wouldn’t get pictures of the deer at all, but by golly, I was going to try to get that pink mountain.

The speckled clouds glowed pink. If I went into the middle of the meadow instead of trying to race up the near vertical path the deer had escaped, I thought might be able to get the clouds over the shoulder of Uncompahgre and perhaps even see the tip of the mountain turn pink. So I left the trail and went up into the meadow.

I got ONE shot of the clouds. I backed up even further so I could maximize my view of the mountain, and suddenly it turned bright pink. Not the top. Not spilling down the north face. But wholly pink. The entire peak. The clouds on the opposite side of the valley must have blocked the sun and then allowed it to peak through for a couple of seconds. Three shots, and Uncompahgre was in shadows again. I worked my way back across the meadow and stared at the slope where the deer had escaped. I wasn’t sure I could make it up that. I might be better off going back down and getting back on the trail. The “trail” I’d taken wasn’t a trail at all. It just led to the waterfall. Pretty, but totally in shadows.

Suddenly I saw The Lizard up at the top of the slope. He'd waited for me! So I began making my way up. Slowly up. It was steep. A few minutes later, we were exchanging experiences. He’d seen the whole mountain light up, but was more interested in the deer. He wondered why I’d gone the way I did.

I should have gone the other way. I guess if I don’t pull a Silverheels at least once a year, something’s wrong. Actually, I pulled this same move on Uncompahgre before I did it on Silverheels, so I should call it My Uncompahgre BooBoo instead of My Silverheels BooBoo. Or perhaps My Point 12,788 BooBoo? Naaaa. Silverheels has more of a ring to it. Looking at Uncompahgre and my infamous unnamed point now, I realized I had done something pretty spectacular that day, even though I had taken the wrong trail. That was a Herculean task for me! I really did climb two separate peaks in one day! No wonder I was so tired near the top of Uncom!

While The Lizard and I talked, the sun hit Uncompahgre again for less than 30 seconds. This time, I could see the entire mountain, and it was gold instead of pink. So impressive! I wish I could have been closer for the alpen glow, but I’m not disappointed with what I got.

The Lizard took off again to try to make the summit in record time. I plodded along, setting a goal of first one ridge, then another. I kept telling myself I could make it to the next ridge, and I would. Finally I was below the ridge where I’d spotted The Lizard about half an hour earlier, silhouetted against the skyline, and it looked somewhat steep. Still an easy mountain, but with the wind the way it was pounding and my back already sore from my pack, I wasn’t sure I could make the next ridge.

I wanted to. If I got up that high, I would be able to see the view I’d missed two years ago because the summit was socked in by the time I reached it. Today was pretty darned cloudy, but the clouds were moving fast in gale-force winds. I started up the ridge. Soon I was stopping every ten steps or so because it was so difficult for me. The slope wasn’t all that difficult, but the wind was sucking the air right out of me. I was afraid to go near the edge of the ridge once I reached it for fear of being blown off or having my camera ripped right from my hands as I tried to snap photos. So I skirted the ridge on the trail and hoped eventually I’d be sheltered somewhat from the overwhelming force of the wind.

Finally I reached a high point where I could see Pilot Knob, Goldenhorn, Vermillion, the Wilsons and El Diente, Wildhorse, Potosi, Cirque, Teakettle, Sneffels, Wetterhorn, Matterhorn, Coxcomb, Precipice and Dunsanine. !!! Holy cow! I thought I’d see Wetterhorn and Matterhorn! Man, does Uncompahgre ever have a magnificent view! Off in the other direction I could see Red Cloud and Handies, too. Plus another little unnamed point that looked to me like a mini Matterhorn from that angle. My Mistaken Identity Peak looks pretty dramatic from that view, too! Great photo op!

I shot and shot and shot, and then suddenly The Lizard was with me. He’d made the summit in an hour and 15 minutes. We headed down together, then the sun peaked out, lighting up Uncompahgre for the third time of the day.

I snapped a few more photos, then took the Lizard's pack while he took my camera and raced back up to capture the view in full sunlight. The window closed before he could get to the top. I hoped he would wait for the sun to make a return appearance. It was just too darned good a view to let perfect light pass by when we were that close.

I was supposed to wait for the Lizard while he shot, but I thought I could carry his pack for a while, just not on my back. I carried it in front of me for a while, then had to sit down and rest my back for a while. I carried the a little bit more and had to sit down to rest my back again. So I tried carrying it on my shoulder for a while, and I still had to sit down to rest my back again. I carried it in front again and didn’t make it very far before I had to sit down once again. I waited about half an hour for The Lizard to return and take the load from me. Half an hour later, he snatched my pack too because I was limping so gingerly.

The drive out was spectacular. The aspens are peaking. The sky was white, though, so I didn’t take very many pictures. Nevertheless, I always enjoy viewing the gold, even if I can't take physical visions of it home with me.

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Snowflake Monday

In my opinion, this is one ugly flake. Tons of picots down the slip-stitched chains.

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!Finished Size: 7 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 4 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or foil, cellophane tape, glue, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Instructions

Ch 4, sl st into 1st ch OR make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc); 17 more dc in ring; sl st in 3rd ch from hook. Don't pull magic circle too tight.

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in same st and in each of next 3 dc, *ch 20, sl st in 6th ch from hook and in each of the next 14 ch, sc in each of next 3 dc; repeat from * around 5 more times for a total of 6 spokes, ch 20, sl st in 6th ch from hook and in each of the next 14 ch, sl st in starting sc.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 3: *Sc in sc directly below, working up sl st ch, sl st 3 times, ch 3, sl st 3 times, ch 3, sl st 3 times, ch 3, sl st 3 times, ch 6, into ch loop at tip of branch work 1 dc, ch 2 4 times, 1 dc, ch 6, working back down sl st ch on opposite side, sl st 3 times, ch 3, sl st 3 times, ch 3, sl st 3 times, ch 3, sl st 3 times. Adjust as needed so that the picots are directly across from each other. Sc in same sc as spoke, ch 10. Repeat from * around 5 times, but do not ch 10 on final repeat. Instead, ch 6 and trtr (yo 4 times) into 1st sc.

Round 4: Ch 1, sc in loop below, *ch9, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 6, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, 2 sc in ch 6 sp of next petal, ch 3, 2 sc in same ch 6 sp, 2 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 5, 2 sc in same ch 2 sp, in next ch 2 sp work 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1dc, 1 tr, ch 6, sc in 5th ch from hook, ch 5, sl st in sc, ch 5, sl st in sc, in next ch 2 sp work 1 tr, 1dc, 1hdc, 1 sc, 2 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 5, 2 sc in same sp, 2 sc in next ch 6 sp, ch 3, 2 sc in same ch 6 sp, ch 6, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 6, sc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 6, sc in next ch 10 sp; repeat from * around 5 times, but do not sc in ch6/trtr space on final repeat. Instead, sl st in starting ch; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Tape wax paper or foil to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or foil. You can be creative with this flake and shape it differently than the arrow shape I made. Try pulling the picots tight in different directions to see what you like best. And then please share a photo of your flake! I'd love to see the different interpretations crocheters from all over the world come up with using this pattern.

Mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or foil. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch the snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

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Friday Funny

Just too cute!

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Monster Not-Socks

I have been yearning to craft monster socks ever since I first discovered what other fiber artists do with their leftover sock yarn. They pool leftovers into one pair of socks and create Monster Socks, also known as Franken Socks.

I had been using my sock leftovers to create little creatures. I don't necessarily want to stop doing that. But I do want a pair of Monster Socks. Really, really bad!

After last week's Seven Days in the Saddle, I finally got a chance to finish off a pair of socks I'd been working on during my workday train commutes. I knew I would finish them in one train ride, so I grabbed the black fingering yarn I'd picked to use as a base for my very own Monster Socks and stuck it in my commute bag.

About 20 minutes into my first motorized commute in two weeks, I finished the heel on the second sock, and my Monster Sock project was about to blast off!

I eagerly started a new sock with the black yarn. I intended to make the toe, heel and cuff of black, and I'd have stripes of leftover sock yarn in the body of the sock.

After finishing the first row of my precious, long-awaited initial Monster Sock, I realized the fingering yarn I'd picked for the project was too thick. I still had 15 more minutes of commute, and no project on which to work!

I stared at the black yarn for a few minutes, trying to give it a chance to tell me what it wants to be when it grows up. It whispered, "Purse." I didn't want to make a purse, but I do agree with what many knitters and crocheters are beginning to say: whimsical and clever yarn should not be limited to feet projects, where they might not even be seen. Luscious sock yarn should be used for whatever project the fiber artist can dream up.

I asked the skein of black fingering yarn if it would like to be a scarf with artistic, lacey stripes of all different colors, and it insisted, "No. I want to be a purse. A purse with eye-catching stripes of many hues and stitch varieties. And other embellishments, too, if you like."

So, not what I'd planned, but fresh out of my head, I began making a Monster Purse, making up the pattern as I went. (All in one piece, I might add!) Monster Socks will have to wait until after Ride the Rockies. Although I do plan to take along a skein (or two) of sock yarn during my weeklong bicycle tour so I can work on yet another pair (or two) of socks (also known as 2010 Christmas presents) in the evenings in my tent. If I feel like it. If I can keep my eyes open.

Sock yarn doesn't weigh much, and it won't take up too much space in my overnight bag (not to be confused with my pack, which will be on my back and loaded with rain gear, first aid kit and camera). Crocheting socks is a very relaxing pastime for me. I might need a little relaxation after pedaling up to 90 miles each day!

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Wordless Wednesday

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WV

Some non-bloggers are intimidated by word verification and the whole "sign-in" concept. I have always believed signing in to comment on a blog is no different than signing in to participate in a forum. Word verification, I could take or leave. I'm not intimidated by the requirement, and it won't prevent me from leaving a comment.

Some very popular bloggers say comment moderation can become a chore when there are more than 20 or so comments per day every day. If I ever reach that point, I may have to look at the time I put into maintaining my blog. But for now, my comments are manageable. That is, when my comments come from people who actually take the time to read.

In an effort to be just a little more non-blogger user-friendly, I turned off my word verification. Then something happened. Being discovered can be such an exhilarating thing!

It appears I have been discovered by mass spammers, and it's not an honor for which I sought or one I would recommend to anyone.

At first, the spam was just slightly annoying. Then it began to increase. Then it began getting dirty. Then it went international. And then it got really dirty. Now it multiplies and replenishes my screen deep in the middle of the night while my virus scanning program is running.

So, I apologize for requiring anyone who wants to comment to go through the WV (word verification) steps, especially if readers find that process intimidating or time-consumming. But at this point, I don't have a choice.

I want to maintain a family-oriented blog that is safe for all eyes, regardless of the time of day or night, and I don't wish to be innundated with useless, unwanted, truly offensive spam when life is already quite full enough.

Pretty sad when you run a foreign language comment through a freebie translator to find out what it says, and then wish you hadn't because you had no clue anyone could be so vile, and for no reason!

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Un-Vail-ed

I haven't done Ride the Rockies since 2005. I haven't ridden Vail Pass since 2008. Either I didn't learn the mandatory lessons from those rides, or I'm getting old. I forgot some fairly important strategies!

I've been fueling for the flats. I've been riding in non-stop mode. Gotta keep going so I can get to work on time. Or get home before dark.

I learned a huge lesson on Vail Pass over the weekend, one I already should have known well. Elevation and climbing require a different mode of fueling than the flats, and I can stop when I need to when I'm doing Ride the Rockies. I do NOT have to ride straight through each day.

During my first climb of Vail Pass in nearly two years, I was doing fine until I hit a short but steep little hill with what The Lizard said probably is a 15% grade. That grade killed me. It absolutely killed me.

When I came around the bend and saw that hill leering at me, my heart skipped a beat or two. Or three. Hundred. It's a lot longer hill than the 12% grade I have to climb to get home in the evenings when I bike home from work. I was already feeling tired, and I wasn't sure I could get up the hill. Initially, I attacked it the way I try to attack the final two hills on the way home from work. I went full force. I made it only halfway up the hill. I pulled over to suck in air. Thank heavens no other bikes were around in either direction. That would have magnified the utter humiliation.

I was too tired to eat or drink. I slumped over the handlebars and cried. " I can't do Ride the Rockies!" I wailed. "I have only two weeks left, and I can't climb!"

The Lizard had ridden ahead; he's training for the Triple Bypass and the Mount Evans Hillclimb in addition to Ride the Rockies. I didn't have anyone to tell me to keep going, assuring me I could make it, or praising my effort on my first really challenging climb of the season.

I took a swig of my Hammer gel and washed it down with a couple of swallows of water. I stared up at the remainder of the hill for what felt like forever. I was approaching the portion of the Vail Trail that skirts the interstate, and I knew the wind was about to get worse and the highway fumes were about to do me in. I decided I was done.

But I couldn't quit in the middle of the hill. So I decided to go to the top, and then I'd turn around.

I had to stop again before I got to the top! I almost couldn't get started up the hill from either stop because it was THAT steep. My thighs were burning, and my lungs were gasping for air that just doesn't exist at about 10,000 feet. I couldn't get the bike to move faster than 3.2 mph. I can walk faster than that! I was demoralized.

I remembered what I'd done on the hill on my way home from work Wednesday night, Day 6. I told myself to stop saying, "I can't" and start saying, "I will." I started up the hill again, chanting "Up, up, up, up!" like the Europeans do during international stage races.

When I finally reached the top of the hill and the highway-paralleling section, I kept going because I was sort of in autopilot. It wasn't because I wanted to. I think I had bonked, and I wasn't thinking clearly. My legs just took over and kept going.

The next time I stopped to rest, I ate some more, and I realized I felt better. I realized I also felt stronger because I didn't wait as long to stop to eat. The wind was really hammering me, but I felt I could keep going for at least a while longer because my energy was replenishing.

A while later, on another steep section, The Lizard appeared at the top. He waved and continued his swift descent. I was still on autopilot, and I knew if I stopped in the middle of another hill, I wouldn't be able to get going again. So I just kept pedaling. I knew The Lizard probably would go back down to that really fatal climb and ascend it again at his top speed and still catch me, so I just kept going. The plan at that point was to turn around when he caught me.

I had to stop again before he returned. When The Lizard finally reached me, we both pulled over. He could see I was gone. He asked if I wanted to keep going. "Not really," I told him.

He said I'd finished the most difficult part and that the wind would be really bad for the next half-mile or so because of the change in contour, and that about did it for me. I had no desire to battle more wind.

The Lizard said I was almost there. In fact, I think he kept saying it. So I started up again, not knowing how far I could go. I had swallowed some more gel, and my strength was beginning to make a faint reappearance. I do not like the highway section of the trail at all, but the further I went, the more I wanted to try to accomplish my original goal… to make it to the pass. Finish the climb.

The steepness begins to melt at Black Lakes, and then we passed a waterfall. I asked The Lizard if I could take a picture of him riding by the waterfall, and he actually agreed. I squatted to get just the right angle, snapped a few photos, and my spirit was recharged! Actually, I think the stretching and just being off the bike helped, too. I ate some more, and I didn't have any more motivation problems the rest of the day. I made it to the top, where we downed our respective yummy bars. I decided I was still hungry and still recovering, so I downed a packet of almond butter, too, and boy, was that ever good. It felt like I was filling my tank.

Of course, it was mostly downhill back to the car, so I knew I wouldn't have to work as hard. Or so I thought.

How can you possibly have a headwind in both directions?!? I have never understood that. There were times when I couldn't get the bike over 11 mph, thanks to the wind. I was forced to pedal hard downhill!

We decided to do Vail Pass again the following day because the weather forecast for that area was better than Independence Pass and Mount Evans. We also wouldn't have to contend with traffic. Well, except for that portion of the trail that goes along the interstate. This also would be a big test for me to see if I'd learned from the previous day's ride.

I stopped to stretch and eat every 15 minutes. I stopped before the killer hill. I didn't stop again for another full 16 minutes! I wondered if I could ride all the way to Copper Mountain and then back up. I haven't done the double climb since before back surgery in 2004.

I didn't tell The Lizard what I wanted to do until I reached the top of Vail Pass. I didn't want to get our hopes up and then back out. I still wasn't sure I could do it when I reached the top, but I could visualize myself doing it better than the day before.

So I tried it. And I did it.

The day before, my average speed at the end of the ride was 6.1 mph. That includes the downhill, which of course, was severely suppressed by wind. The second day, my average speed was 8.9 mph when I got back to the car. The wind wasn't as strong, so it wasn't as mighty a factor, but I also did better going up. The daily mph averages tell quite a story!

I did things right the second day, but it also is true what they say about things like this being 90% mental. Attitude makes all the difference in the world.

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