2 more days of riding!

Day 19 Poncho Springs, CO to Canon City, CO

Distance 103
Saddle Time 3:35
Avg speed 28.3
Max speed 64.4
Total ascent 428
Total descent 982
My magnet slipped on my spokes today so some of these stats might be slightly off (I’ve estimated using the #s I had and the numbers from a friend’s computer).

I feel like twice a week I’ll say, “This is my favourite day so far.”  But, THIS was definitely my favourite day so far!  So many things happened!  When we started out, we took an alternate route from the highway so that we could go through Salida – a gorgeous mountain town.  We sort of toodled around the downtown and hung out by the river before heading out towards Canon City.  What a beautiful route!!!  The first 80 km were an amazing downhill (1-3% grade) winding along a river through an absolutely stunning canyon.  Every time we rounded a curve, I felt like my jaw dropped with the beauty of it!  At about 50 km, there was a little town where we stopped for bacon/eggs/tea.  A most excellent mid-morning snack.  I initially was riding with Alexa, Malori, Katie, Wayne and Eric, but after our stop, Katie and I sort of took off.  It was hard to ride anything except flat out on this amazing, windy downhill.  It just compelled you to go FAST!! Katie and I are really well matched as riders.  She’s slightly faster than me (which I like in a riding buddy – the better to push you with) and we have similar styles.  It was a super fun riding day.  As we reached the top of our climb for the day (a 8 km hill that started out at 6-7% for 3-4 km before flattening into 1-2%), we saw a sign for a river rafting company that said “walk-in’s welcome.”  We had seen lots of rafting groups on the river as we cycled and it was only 1130, so Katie said, “Do you want to check it out?” 

We went in and found out they could accommodate some of us for a rafting trip at 130, so we busted it for the last 15 km, got to camp, found a ride back up to the rafting shop (thanks, Mom!!!), and rounded up 5 other riders (there were 7 spots in the van total).  We had an amazing afternoon rafting Class 3 and 4 rapids down the Royal Gorge (on the Arkansas river).  What a total blast.  My abs hurt both from paddling and from giggling.  Tomorrow is not too many km (I think about 90), but pretty hilly, but I feel good about one last climbing day before our amazing downhill week that starts on Monday!

Day 20 Canon City, CO to Colorado Springs, CO

Distance 81 km
Saddle time 3:34
Avg speed 22.6
Max speed 64.4
Total ascent 883m
Total descent 555m

Another great day riding.  It’s crazy to think that 3 weeks are already gone and we are a third of the way!  It was a climby day today – lots of uphill, and I was with 2 faster riders, but they were very patient with me and waited at the tops of the hills, so it was great!  Once in Colorado Springs, I dropped the bike at the bike shop to get the free hub assembly replaced on my wheel and then bummed around camp, had a nap and am hoping to do some laundry – should be a pretty wild Saturday night! J