Colorado - Sept. 2011 - A Simple Bike Ride

We've toted our bicycles with us on most of the trips we've taken since we've been "on the road" this past year.  And most of  those, they stayed on the bike rack for one reason or another or didn't clock many miles.  Well, we are in the land of bike trails and we did tote them once again, knowing this. This area and Colorado in general seem to be very biker friendly with paved trails around and through town, along with off road.  Our campground, Heaton Bay, is right on the trail that surrounds Lake Dillon.  We've walked the dogs a mile or so in both directions and what we've seen as we drive around seemed very mild...gentle ups and downs.  We decided today was the day to circumnavigate Lake Dillon.  It seems like everyone else in town does, as busy as the trail is.


The last few mornings the temperature has been 35 degrees when Miki rolls out of bed.  Me, I wait until my body tells me it is time, which is usually around 7 (8 or 9).  With our acclimation to the altitude getting better each day, we felt good that we weren't breathing heavy after climbing the steps into the trailer.  We start to get ready around 10 (now 50 degrees).  Should we wear shorts, fleece, wind breaker, etc...  We lie to the dogs and tell them we will be back in a minute, lock up the doghouse, and check the air in our tires.  A conversation strikes up with our neighbors across the way and another 20 minutes goes by (and a few degrees warmer).  A beautiful day unfolds before us as we hit the trail at 10:45.


A few miles later we are crossing the Lake Dillon dam that is 231 feet above the city of Silverthorne just below.  Once across the dam we ride along the lakefront of Dillon, their marina, and then along Hwy 6 that takes you to Keystone.  

Maybe we could just sail around the lake instead.

Its about this time that Miki is feeling the fact that she has not ridden her bicycle for some time.  She also observes the bike path seems to be going towards an incline called Swan Mtn. Road.  If you listen to her describe it, it is a mountain with similarities to Kilimanjaro, K2, and Denali.  Evidently, I knew where we were headed, but I failed to get that message across to her.  A 500 foot gain in elevation was about to be undertaken and once she wrapped her brain around it, she started...one rotation of her wheels at a time.

Breaks over...back on the road.

We started the climb about 5 miles into our ride.  We were accompanied (passed) by dozens of other cyclists throughout the morning on bikes of all kinds.  Road bikes, mtn bikes, tandem, and recumbent bikes made up the two-wheeled parade.  Didn't spot any unicycles.  


We stopped a number of times to rest our thighs, lungs, and swallow a few gulps of water.  Our views of the lake and surrounding area got better and better the higher we climbed.  

A view towards our campground from the opposite
side of the lake.

We finally reached the summit (top of this big hill), took a break, and then coasted down in a matter of minutes what seemed to take days to climb.  At this point there is no more major elevation change as we head back into Frisco, but when we reached a smallish rise in the trail, it seemed to be the start of Swan Mtn all over again.  With one more breather, we easily worked our way back to our campground where Miki started her rehab with Dr. Tooga at her side.

Life is good!  (when I'm not cycling)

Eighteen miles later and after being accused of trying to kill her, she pounded down a hot dog, potato chips, and some Dr. Pepper...that's right (all of you that know her...really?) the food of champions and gods (goddesses in this case).  She did resume enough feeling in her thighs to do some shopping in Breckenridge tonight.  Miraculous!


My Zen from the road:  In the past, as we have traveled in mountainous areas, when we would come upon road cyclists heading straight up a mountain (not what we did today, but it felt like it) we would just shake our heads and say to each other, "What the hell is wrong with these people?  What are they thinkin'?"  We would laugh and throw cigarette butts out the window at them, well maybe not the laughing part.  But as I have learned to enjoy my little cycling routine at home, I have come to appreciate, in a very, very small way, what these road bikers are doing.  And I am hoping that Miki agrees...to each his own.


Cribbage Win Count:  Miki - 1    Wallie - 2