Ho Hum, More of the Same

Had an opportunity for some more Colorado high-country riding earlier this week. Another day of cool temps, thin air, rain, fast and flowy dirt, rocky and rooty trails, lung-busting climbs, mind-blowing scenery -- who could resist?

This time it was Summit County. I needed to drop the kiddos off in Keystone for their week of parent-free adventure, leaving me with the afternoon for exploring. I was having a hard time narrowing down my list of "must-do" trails, so I attempted to ride them all. (It felt that way, I guess, but I really only scratched the surface). Gold Hill - Peaks - Carter Park - Little French - Colorado Trail. Bit off a little more than I could chew, but c'est la vie.

Transformation of the Colorado landscape. The beetles have changed the forests from green to brown to gray and now (in Summit Co especially) they're logging the dead trees. Makes more room for the wildflowers, I suppose.

A tough week and the culmination of months of bike riding left me feeling a little empty even at the beginning of this ride. Luckily just 90 minutes or so in put me in town where I filled up on some junk food, er, prime endurance fuel, I mean:
Last time I was through these parts I was chasing several hundred other wheels and barely pulled my nose off of the handlebars. So I took a little more time to see the sights this time around:



I didn't bring a watch on this ride, but pretty soon the afternoon showers passed and the sun started sinking low to the west. The nice light brought the camera back out:

This trail has got a section on it like no other I know. Fast, and mostly buttery smooth for miles and miles. A payback for the long climb up the other side. Puts me in an absolutely fantastic frame of mind. Then to slow down and soak in a view like this is icing on the cake.