So, why the adrenaline high, you ask? Well... I biked up Vail Pass for the first time!!! I think what made it such a rush for me was that we had already biked roughly 16 miles (including a climb) and I honestly didn't think I was going to be able to make it to the top of Vail Pass. However, determination and pride got the better of me and to the top we went!
Nanci and I headed up to Frisco early Saturday morning to not only get some more climbs in but to also bike at a higher elevation to get used to how our Aug 1 ride will feel. We started out with a ride around Dillon reservoir. This is about a 16 mile trek on very nicely paved paths except for a brief section while heading over Swan Mountain. This was our first climb; a fairly steady one. I kind of pooped out at the top a bit (feeling the elevation), but had fun cruising down the back side. We headed back to the car and took a refueling break. Once again, I ended up talking to someone in the parking lot who was also from the U.P. and he got a smile out of my Sports Rack jersey that has Marquette, MI on the back.
After getting back on our bikes, we headed up towards Copper Mountain with the goal of doing Vail Pass. However, on the climb up to Copper (which was a very deceiving climb - seemed much flatter than it was) we both started feeling it. My legs were burning pretty badly and Nanci's IT band was acting up. Making it to the top of the Pass was looking pretty dismal. However, we decided we would at least give it a try and we could always turn around if needed. Well, this is when determination and pride set in for me. I'm not known for starting something without finishing! So, we climbed, and climbed, and climbed a little more. Just when I was about to stop and take a break, I came around the bend and saw our destination... the rest stop on the top of Vail Pass!!! Adrenaline kicked in and I was at the rest stop in less than 5 minutes!! What a damn good feeling!!! Wow! I don't remember the last time I felt quite like that! Accomplishing a goal such as this when I started out thinking that there was no way I would make it was overwhelming! IT FELT AMAZING!!! It reset my confidence for the Copper Triangle ride Aug 1. When I was thinking I wasn't going to make the Pass, I was really doubting my ability to do 3 major passes and 78 miles just 6 weeks from now! On the way back down Vail Pass, I had a perma-grin on my face and just soaked in the amazing ride... even though once again it started to rain (why do we always get rain on our way down?).
Ride Stats:
Distance: 45 miles
Time: 3.5 hours (I think)
Elevation change: From Frisco to Vail Pass is 1479ft climb. Not sure what our total climb was today including Swan Pass.
Challenge: Mind over matter... Matter = burning legs!!!
Goal: To keep training for Aug 1! Next weekend is a 55 mile ride around the city. Focusing on miles instead of climbing.
Map:
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