Vail Daily Article

Thanks to Ian Cropp and Dominique Taylor for words and photos in the Vail Daily article published today. We really appreciate their time and effort.
Here's the link to the article:
http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20080619/SPORTS/793509677&parentprofile=search
Be sure to watch the video as well (click link under the photo in the article) - Chris gives the low-down on our summer touring set-up.

Have fun,
LK

(photo courtesy of Dominique Taylor at the Vail Daily)

The Evening Ride

Day 269
Son of Middle Creek
Time: 1:54:00
Distance: 13.10
Avg Speed: 6.8 mph
Terrain: Vail Singletrack
Location: 39˚ 38’ 50.8” N, 106˚ 23’ 44.3” W

We’ve been in Vail for the last couple of days. As usual, we are bunking with friends and enjoying some time catching up on all of the latest in our lives.
We arrived from Eagle on Wednesday after a pleasant ride along the Eagle River. It was fairly uneventful until Edwards when we were waved off the road by a man wielding a camera. No big deal, we just figured it was someone interested in what we were up to. Sure enough, it turned out to be a very well-traveled bicycle touring couple, who maintains the Full Loaded Touring Galley website. They had just moved to Eagle County from Utah and were on their way to Vail to see the sights. We’ll definitely have to look them up the next time we roll through this area. I’m sure their stories from the road can run circles around ours.
Tonight we enjoyed the classic evening ride on the Son of Middle Creek trail. It was the perfect time of day to go; nice temperature and beautiful light. The sun rays were filtering through the trees and highlighting the distant mountain peaks. I had forgotten about the great views of Mt of the Holy Cross and the Gore Range. The route is a favorite of ours and is becoming an annual tradition. Last summer when we stayed in Vail, a group of us went out as part of our farewell weekend. I hope the tradition continues.
Enjoy the alpenglow,
LK

Singletrack Bums

Day 266
The Boneyard Trail to the Pool/Ice Rink Trail
Time: 1:17:00
Distance: 10.5
Avg Speed: 8.2
Terrain: Singletrack
Location: East Eagle Trails

We arrived in Eagle last Thursday and we’ve been riding singletrack ever since. The weather is beautiful, the wildflowers are in bloom, and life is good. (And yes, we know how lucky we are…)

When it comes to singletrack, Vail probably gets the most recognition compared to other towns. It’s a world-class destination and it does have a stellar collection of trails. However, I’d have to say that Eagle has the best riding in the County. Given the length of season, the amount of trails, and the variety of routes, “down valley” is tops in my book.
Overall, Eagle County has endless opportunities on a bicycle. From Vail Pass on the east to World’s Greatest on the west, we’ve ridden just about everywhere on pavement and dirt. We’ve also reinvented ourselves many times over with regards to our bicycling personalities. Whether it was riding, racing, commuting or touring, we always found a way to be on a bike. In fact, our first bicycle tour together was a three day push from Gypsum to Leadville and back by way of Crooked Creek, Hagerman, and Tennessee Passes.
After today’s ride we cruised by the shop looking to get our bikes washed. We ran into an old friend, Larry G. He’s one of our favorite “bike people” and is always doing something on two wheels. Larry invited us to his house where he has a nice wash station set up. While we washed the grime away, he got us up to date on all his latest escapades. In addition to his day job, Larry is training and racing; he’s promoting cyclocross events and working (sort of) as rep for a new company called Squirt Lube. Squirt Lube is a new dry lube for bicycles that is wax and water based. It does not have any solvents so it’s pretty environmentally friendly. We like that. Anyway, we had a great time catching up with Larry G and we look forward to testing a new product.
Happy Monday,
LK

Eleven

Day 262
No Name to Eagle
Time: 30 minutes by car, 50 minutes by bike, 1:15 on singletrack
Distance: 24 – 8 – 8
Avg Speed: 50 – 9.8 – 6.4
Terrain: Interstate – New Bike Path - Singletrack
Location: 39˚ 39’ 39.52” N, 106˚ 49’ 3.0” W

Eleven months ago today we were saying farewell to co-workers and packing up the last of our personal items. Eleven months ago today we said goodbye to the structure of an 8-5 job. Eleven months ago today we took the first step in the “journey of a thousand miles”.

Today we caught up with eleven months ago and pedaled our way from Gypsum to Eagle. I definitely felt like we were coming full circle. We’ve made a few trips to Eagle County since we’ve been home, but today was obviously different. I didn’t feel overwhelmed with emotion, I just felt good. I knew the territory and I was looking forward to the familiar faces. Life was good here and this part of central Colorado will always have a special place in my heart.
The ride through Glenwood Canyon was made with a vehicle instead of a bicycle. It was an unplanned shuttle, but necessary since the recreation path is closed due to high water. No matter how many times I’ve traveled through the canyon, I’m always in awe of its dramatic natural beauty. The sedimentary rock walls carved by the Colorado River tell the story of millions of years of uplift and erosion. This unique landscape on the south side of the White River Plateau is one of many special places in Colorado.
The super special part of the route today was my maiden voyage along the new bike trail from Cooley Mesa Rd to Eagle. I had commuted many miles on US Highway 6 for six years from Gypsum to Eagle. Thanks to the ECO Trails committee there is now a safe route between the two communities. I think this group deserves a lot of credit for what they do.
Once in Eagle, we again we found ourselves taken in by friends. We can’t thank all of these good people enough for giving us room and board. We are very humbled by their generosity and compassion.
Now the real riding begins – ha ha. Many miles of singletrack adventures await. It is now day 12 of my attempt to ride every day in June. I’m a little tired but I think it will be easy to stay motivated by all of the great trails in our old neighborhood.
Welcome home, LK

The Scout Trail

Day 261
Boy Scout Trail
Time: 3:15:00
Distance: 23.2 miles
Avg Speed: 7.3 mph
Terrain: Classic Colorado Mountain Bike Ride
Location: 107° 17' 56.353" W, 39° 32' 36.116" N

Our quest to ride singletrack on our days off continued today with the Boy Scout Trail, a classic Colorado ride. Starting on the newly completed Rio Grande Trail, which continues through Carbondale to Aspen, we rode south along Highway 82 to access Red Canyon Rd. A couple hours of stiff climbing lay ahead of us and we settled in for the long haul. Luckily, the spectacular views of Mt Sopris distracted us while we made our way to the radio towers above Glenwood. After two hours of climbing we were rewarded with a fun and challenging singletrack descent into the city. The trail is perched on the side of Lookout Mountains and, at times, I felt as if I might fly off the trail into the canyon below. It was just as spicy as I remember.
LK

I-70 Time Trial

Day 260
Rifle Gap State Park to No Name
Time: 4:04:00
Distance: 38.3 miles
Avg Speed: 9.4
Terrain: Rolling
Location: 39˚ 33’ 34.8” N, 107˚ 17’ 42.6” W

There was just no way around it; we had to go through it. Between exits 109 and 114 on eastbound Interstate 70 we had the BOB Trailer ride of our lives. Chris called it the “I-70 Time Trial”. Nothing like pedaling all out while pulling 40lbs. of gear. “It’s all training”, as we like to say…
Day 260 started out with a pleasant ride up the Rifle Falls. We had never been there and it’s been highly recommended to us. We weren’t disappointed at all. Three huge waterfalls raged and tumbled over limestone cliffs about 60 feet tall. A fine mist from the water sparkled in the morning light. It was awesome and well worth the detour.
After the quick sightseeing trip, we retraced our route down from the falls and pedaled our way southeast toward New Castle. The hay meadows and side roll irrigation gave way to new developments and a golf course. The transition from urban to rural is ever present these days on the western slope.
After a couple of $5 footlong sandwiches at Subway (now you have that song in your head), we did the I-70 time trial and arrived in Glenwood Springs. We’ve been there a thousand times, but it was a first on a bicycle tour. It’s amazing how excited I’ve been to travel through places on my bike that I’ve been before. Simple things can make a huge difference I guess.
Glenwood Springs is probably one of the most recognized mountain towns in Colorado. It has a beautiful setting at the confluence of the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers. The area was first inhabited by the Ute Indians and then settled in the late 1800s. Glenwood was developed into a world class resort that catered to the wealthy. The famous Hot Springs Pool was opened in 1888 and the storied Hotel Colorado was opened in 1893, design after the Villa de Medici in Italy. Over the years we grew to love a day trip to Glenwood from Gypsum. We usually found something in the way of good food, interesting history, fascinating geology or just a relaxing atmosphere.
On our way through town, we stopped for some groceries and then finished the ride to No Name. We’ll be staying in Glenwood Canyon with some good friends for a couple of days. We’re looking forward to catching up with each other’s trips, eating, and laughing a lot.
LK

Day 259: Meeker to Rifle Gap Reservoir

Time: 4:46
Distance: 43.04 miles
Avg Speed: 9 mph
Terrain: Rolling
Location: 39˚ 38’ 00.2” N, 107˚ 44’ 45.9” W


We left the comfort of my mom’s place this morning. There was light frost when we got up, but due to us dragging our feet and having that second cup of coffee the frost melted and the sun came out. We only had to dodge oil rigs for a few miles before we turned off of the highway and onto county road 13. We were grateful for a parallel route that kept us away from more oil traffic. The road went from two lane country road to one lane dirt and took us up over a small pass at 8150’. That elevation looks familiar. We crested our last hill and decided that we would just head to Rifle Gap State Park for a campsite rather than bush camp. Leslie wanted a picnic table and I guess I couldn’t argue. We rolled into the camp area and much to my surprise the gal that took our camping info knew our last name. She remarked that her principal in high school had that name. Small world, it turned out to be my uncle. After getting settled in among the fifth wheels and RV’s we made up some soup and took a little nap. While we were eating dinner we had a nice conversation with a fellow camper from Grand Junction. He had just gotten back from a volunteer stint in Louisiana helping with the hurricane repair. He had spent his time working with a local tribe south of New Orleans. The Homa Indians lived way south on the bayou and weren’t even acknowledged by the US government until the mid 1960’s. Evidently they were brushed aside by both the French and the Americans during the Louisiana Purchase. Our camper friend also remarked that he had never eaten so good while doing volunteer work. His menu sounded a lot like the seen in Forrest Gump where Gump’s friend, Bubba, lists all the dishes you can make with shrimp. It sure did sound good while we ate our chicken and rice chili (secret recipe!!).
We are both a little cooked from the day’s effort. I think it is from not really riding for a couple of days. Hopefully tomorrow is a little easier on us.
CK

The World According to Bicycles

Day 258
Meeker

I ran across some really interesting information on Patagonia's blog a few weeks ago. They always follow National Bike to Work Week very closely and published some really cool statistics related to world bicycle production. In an attempt to exercise my brain, I compiled the statistics and information together in a map. It was pretty exciting to see the data behind the hype - there is a whole lotta potential with that two-wheeling machine...
Have fun,
LK

32x16

It's not a picture size - it's the most common gear ratio for a singlespeed bicycle.

We made a run to the dump today. On the way down the road we picked up the paper and I immediately noticed a sports article about singlespeeds. Even the Grand Junction paper is hip with the times. If you haven't noticed (or maybe you have), singlespeeds are all the rage right now. Cruisers, fixed-gears and mountains bikes; one speed is all you need.
It's not like they haven't been around - singlespeeds were the original bicycle. Even the Tour de France cyclists raced with one gear in the early days of the historic stage race. In addition, I just read an article about a Colorado woman named Dora Reinhardt who rode 20 centuries in 20 days back in 1896. She did it wearing a dress AND pedaling only one speed.
Today singlespeeds have an entire culture surrounding them. Hey - if one speed makes you feel cool, go for it. The more bicycles in the mix, the better.
Keeping it real,
LK

Route Info: Fort Collins to Steamboat Springs

Colorado Bike Month

Day 253
Steamboat Springs to Ten Miles East of Craig
Time: 2:47:00
Distance: 34.0 miles
Avg Speed: 12.4 mph
Terrain: Rolling
Location: 40 1 39.2 N, 108 1 13.4 W

As the pink neon sign of the Rabbit Ears Motel gave way to morning, we packed up our bright yellow bags and hit the road. Steamboat was good to us and we’re looking forward to exploring the area more in the future.
Once again we headed west on US Highway 40. The traffic was definitely heavier but a nice wide shoulder provided some good spacing from the dump trucks and long haulers. In this region of Colorado where energy development is at an all time high, it’s no surprise to see these large vehicles. What was unexpected was the variety of signs representing bicycles on the road.
Halfway into the ride we stopped in a cute little town named Hayden. As we took a break in a little town park I noticed the Colorado Bike Month poster on the community billboard. I almost forgot about June being all about bicycles and commuting. A few summers ago a friend of mine wanted to try to ride every day in June. I thought it was a great idea but a reality of work, family and life made the goal difficult. Given our current situation and lack of employment, I’ve decided to give it a try. I will try and ride my bike every day in June. For more info, see this link: http://www.dot.state.co.us/BikePed/COBikeMo.htm
Tonight we’re enjoying our first night in an extended stay with Chris’ mom and husband. We’re looking forward to a few days of relaxing at the ranch.
Happy Tuesday, LK

"I only ski blacks on my birthday"

Day: 252
Steamboat Quasi Rest Day
Time: 1:54
Distance: 17.38 miles
Avg Speed: 9.1 mph
Terrain: Hills and Singletrack

We had a quintessential day of living on the road today. We had wanted to meet with our tent manufacturer, meet with our energy food sponsor and ride some singletrack today. We did so much more.
We started the day off with a little ride up to the Hot Springs Trail north of town. The ride wound us through spectacular country with views of the ski mountain. The actual trail starts out near Strawberry Park Hot Springs. We had thoughts of grandeur and were going to try to time a soak in the middle of the ride. We finally thought better of it and decided to do a soak later in town at the town hot springs. The ride was a great little section of singletrack that kept us near Mad Creek the whole way and eventually spit us out on highway 129. We rolled back into town in time to meet Chris at Big Agnes to thank him for taking care of us on our tent rain fly. He was very down to earth and quite cordial to us even though he was very busy. If you ever have a chance to buy a Big Agnes product, do it. It is a great grass roots company based in Colorado that takes care of the customer. We also ran into Nate, who is the sponsorship director for Honey Stinger Energy Foods. It worked out nice that both these guys work in the same building for the same parent company. Nate hand delivered our latest food order and shot the breeze with us for a little bit as well. It was great to finally put some faces with some names.
We got over to the hot springs in town around 2:00 for a little soak. We ended up in the mineral pool where we got into a conversation with a very interesting guy named Win. He found out we were touring through Colorado for a couple of weeks and added that for his 70th birthday he rode across the U.S. on the southern route (California to Georgia). After about an hour in the pool he invited us to dinner with him and his wife for some Mexican food at the Rio. We met Win and his wife Elaine at 6:00 and headed off to a great dinner at the Rio and they followed it up with a nice little tour of Steamboat Springs. Eventually the conversation steered towards Elaine’s 70th birthday. She had a great day skiing with her five grandkids and her daughter. Evidently her daughter had trouble keeping up with her, because “I only ski blacks on my birthday”. The beauty of it is they only learned to ski at 62. I guess there is hope for Leslie and I.
Backcountry Wilderness Rangers, Skiers, Hikers, Cyclists and married for 51 years. Talk about an inspiration.
How Cool Is That!!!
CK

The ‘Boat

Day 251
Rabbit Ears Pass to Steamboat Springs
Time: 2:25:00
Distance: 25.2 mi
Avg Speed: 10.0 mph
Terrain: Another Mountain Pass
Location: N 40 28 53.3, W 106 49 42.4

We accomplished the first goal of our Colorado Tour – we made it to Steamboat Springs. We got on the road at our usual time – 8:30. I was expecting a long arduous climb to the top of Rabbit Ears Pass. To my surprise, we reached the East summit in twenty two minutes. Another beautiful bluebird day made the pedaling pretty easy.
The landscape was vibrant green as we descended into the Yampa Valley on Hwy 40. With higher temperatures the snow is melting fast. The rivers are up and all of the water is doing its thing. It’s a little too much at times as the area is part of a two county flood warning. It might be interesting for us as well travel west to Craig on Tuesday.
The ‘Boat was settled in the late 1800s and has a rich history in ranching. The streets of downtown were even built to accommodate longhorn cattle drives from Texas. In the early 1900s skiing came to town by way of a man nicknamed the “Flying Norseman”. The ski area that bears Carl Howelsen’s name is the longest continually operating ski area in the United States. Today Steamboat is a major Colorado resort town that still maintains a strong western heritage.
After four days on the road we were really excited to ride our bicycles into town. In the past we’ve usually arrived via automobile from Eagle. Back in the day (1890-1908) the only way to get to Steamboat was by stagecoach. After taking the train to Wolcott, one could pay $6.50 for the two day trip over Red Dirt and Yellow Jacket Passes. As I read about this journey at the visitor’s center I was amused by the list of “stagecoach etiquette”. It goes something like this:

-Don’t smoke a strong pipe inside, especially early in the morning.
-Spit on the leeward side of the coach.
-If you have anything to take in a bottle, pass it around; a man who drinks by
himself in such a case is lost to all human feeling.
-Don’t swear, nor lop over on your neighbor when sleeping.
-Don’t grease your hair before starting, or dust will stick there in sufficient
quantities to make a respectable ‘tater’ patch.
-Don’t ask how far it is to the next station until you get there.

Perhaps Chris and I can incorporate some of these rules into our own touring etiquette…

Happy June,
LK

Guest Cyclist

Day: 250 (WOW!!)
Gould to Rabbit Ears Pass
Time: 5:10
Distance: 48.3 miles
Avg Speed: 9.4 mph
Terrain: rolling

We had our first guest cyclist of the trip today. Anne came up from Ft. Collins this morning armed with her mountain bike and a bag of food. We had requested more food from her, and she exceeded our expectations (chocolate chip cookies). She left her car in Gould at the good old KOA and we took off on some back dirt roads heading for Rabbit Ears pass. We made good time across the vast openness of North Park and even had time to take some pictures and grab some lunch. Our guest’s departure came only 3 hours into the ride, so Anne missed out on the 15 miles of headwinds to our camp for the night.
The ride through North Park took us from Gould to Rand and over Muddy Pass. The whole time we were either looking ahead at the spectacular Mt Zirkel Wilderness or behind us at the rugged and amazing Rawahs. Most of the ride kept us in cattle country with only the occasional glimpse of antelope. We did have a little concern at one point riding through an open range section with about 10 bulls grazing in a pasture off the road. I think I would have been the sacrificial lamb since both Leslie and Anne would have dropped me. We ate lunch sheltered from the wind near a dump truck parked on the side of the road. Cheddar and jalapeno bagels taste great with peanut butter on them. After lunch our guest cyclist took leave and left Leslie and I the 15 miles to Muddy Pass. At 8300’, Muddy Pass marks our first crossing of the continental divide on this trip. It is also pass #2 for us. We will make #3 tomorrow. We will be enjoying some food that arrived via special delivery for us and having a good sleep parked on the side of the road tonight. Tomorrow…Rabbit Ears!!
CK

Two Dollar Wal-Mart Cokes

Day 249
Poudre Canyon to Gould
Time: 4:02:00
Distance: 34.3 mi
Avg Speed: 8.6
Terrain: High Mountain Pass
Location: N 40˚ 33’ 17.2”, W 106˚ 02’ 11.1”

I believe in karma. In most instances I never had to wait long for bad karma to bite me in the behind. Today something caught up with me that’s been years in the making.

Cameron Pass was our objective today. At 10,276 ft it was no small undertaking and is the highest pass we’ve ridden over yet. The pace was slow – a trailer loaded with 45lbs of gear will do that to you. The weather was very spring like, a mix of sun, clouds, wind and gropple. You can be sure we stopped a few times to take off or put on extra layers as we reached the summit. Earlier, Chris had mentioned a new visitor’s center that one of our friends had told him about. My thoughts immediately turned to hot soup or a nice latte. I pictured tourists parked on the pass, snapping photos of each other while sipping coffee in to-go mugs and enjoying the spectacular views. Apparently, it’s been awhile since I’ve been over Cameron. There is one small sign, no view and a pit toilet - so much for my idyllic setting. We snapped our self-portrait, choked down an energy gel, put on several layers and began the decent.
Luckily, the views opened up and we were treated to a spectacular panorama of Mt Richthofen 12,940 ft, and Thunder Mountain, 12,070. Part of Rocky Mountain National Park, both mountains are in the far northwest corner and can be access by foot from Hwy 14.
We continued our quick downhill path towards Gould and finally spotted the Moose Visitor’s Center. It wasn’t exactly at the top of the pass, or anywhere near it, but a welcome sight nonetheless. Chris fixed up some peanut butter bagels and we enjoyed a life-size moose sculpture made out of barbed wire. After a short discussion, we decided to call it a day and check out the local KOA Kampground.
As we rolled on down the highway we spotted a convenience store/restaurant. I told Chris that a couple of cokes would be nice. He went in and came out five mintues later with sodas in hand. I noticed right away that they didn’t look like Coca-Cola or Pepsi. After further inspection, I saw that they were “Sams Cola”. I wrinkled my brow at Chris and he said “Ya, and they were two bucks each!”
Here’s to my continued boycott of Wal-Mart,
LK

Day 248: Ft. Collins to West of Rustic

Time: 5:38
Distance: 50 miles
Avg Speed: 9.09 mph
Terrain: Uphill/Rolling

We started our bike tour for real today. The ride from Boulder last week was just a ride. We saw our friends off to work this morning, patted the dog goodbye and rolled on out of the garage a little past 8:00. The ride through Ft. Collins was a little hectic this morning with rush hour drivers not really paying too much attention. We also managed to time our ride with a trash truck that we leap frogged a couple times. We finally made it through Laporte and to Ted’s Place before turning off the road and heading up the mighty Poudre River. In the canyon we raced with every rafting company in Northern Colorado. The river is up right now (it was measuring at 3.5’ on an incremented rock) and there were a lot of rafters taking advantage of the high water and warm temperatures.
Our goal was to make it up the river canyon about 20 miles on the east side of Cameron Pass. We found a nice little free camping spot across the highway from the river and set about making ourselves at home. The tent didn’t get any bigger since we slept in it last. We figured the last time we camped in it was in Torquay in Victoria, Australia. Quite a contrast from that campsite and this one. There we had to worry about drunk surfers, here we have to worry about bears getting into our food. I guess it always something. Tomorrow we are heading up and up on our way to Cameron Pass. The scenery is beautiful and the traffic is light. I knew there was a reason I liked Colorado!
CK

The ABCs

Day 247
Time: 2 Hours
Distance: 10 Laps
Avg Speed: Climbing
Terrain: Rock Gym
Location: Fort Collins

We’ve been in a holding pattern the last few days. Chris’ bike ended up in the shop and the weather was pretty wet and cold. We have the time so we extended our stay in Fort Collins.
Since the trails are pretty wet we decided to hit the climbing gym today. It’s the first time in quite awhile that I’ve strapped on my harness and done some laps. I started with a climb called “The ABCs” and then worked my way through several different routes. It felt good to get some repetition in and not have to worry about some of the things required of an outdoor climb. You see, I’ve struggled with my climbing in the last year. It wasn’t related to my ability or an injury, it has to do with confidence, fear, and obviously, lack of time on the rope. I had a few climbing goals planned last summer before our bicycle trip began. I only accomplished a fraction of the list and somehow, my mind began to turn on me. Not only was I frustrated, I felt like I was letting down my climbing partners. For one of the few times in my life I wasn’t able to accomplish everything I set out to do. Little did I know that our trip abroad would take me through the process of tearing down and building up several times over.
Fast forward about eight months to Wednesday May 28, 2008. Many things have changed; no job, no house, no car. In addition to those tangible things, my persona has changed as well. To me, the most significant change is that I have much more clarity. In other words, I feel like my mind has slowed down to a pace that allows me to be very present. I can see much more simplicity in everything. A year ago, I overwhelmed myself with the responsibility of climbing. Today I started over at the beginning. And all I had to do were my ABCs.

Sharing is caring,
LK

Tijuana Toaster

Day 241
Boulder to Ft. Collins
Time: 3:57
Distance: 47.7 miles
Avg Speed: 12.1 mph
Terrain: flat to rolling

After a little respite and some time on other bikes, we got back on the road again. We conned Leslie’s dad into taking us to north Boulder. We weren’t too keen on riding the highway between Golden and Boulder again. We got on the road under sunny skies and only the slightest peek of storm clouds coming down from the mountains. The ride up from Boulder was uneventful, but we were waved at by quite a few cyclists on the roads. That was quite the opposite from the introduction we got to Boulder cycling a few weeks ago. The storm clouds blew all around us by the time we turned off from Longmont to Loveland. The weather was a little more stable today (yesterday there were a few tornadoes in the area) but the rain was threatening. We made it to Loveland with only one little unintentional detour (not lost, just misplaced) and went on the search for lunch. We found a great little sandwich shop called Daddy-O’s Green Onion. Leslie got the Turkey Rueben and I just had to get the Tijuana Toaster. I didn’t even care what was on it; I just wanted to have a sandwich with that name. You will have to go to Daddy-O’s to see what it was all about. We are now hanging out in Ft. Fun for the holiday weekend and attending my cousin’s high school graduation.
We had a good day back on the road, stayed dry, and ate some good road food. We are looking forward to checking out Colorado and all the weather it has to offer. When we leave here, we will probably have a few days of snow camping as we head over the passes. Yeah for Colorado!!
CK

Goin’ Native

Day: 240
Terrain: Yellow B.O.B Trailer Bag and a Whole Lot of Gear
Location: Littleton, CO

The break is over. I’ve got my sleeping bag, down hoodie, some bicycle shorts, a couple of t-shirts and a pair of flip-flops. I’m goin’ native. I was born and raised in Colorado and I’m really excited to get an up-close and personal look at my home state.
I really have much more gear than that (I am the “chronic over-packer”, you know). I’m actually carrying a few additional pieces of “community” gear this time. Packing has been a little more efficient and hopefully I will keep unnecessary items to a minimum.

And now for the geography lesson…
Colorado is the 8th largest state in the US in size (104,185 sq mi.) and 22nd in population (4.8 million, 2007 estimate). Located at roughly 39 N and 105.5 W, the state is in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. With an elevation range of 3,315 ft to 14,440 ft, Colorado has a very diverse landscape. The climate is also variable and has been known to be very unpredictable at times. Any Coloradoan will tell you “if you don’t like the weather just wait five minutes”.
The history of the 38th state dates back to the Native Americans and tells us that the region has been inhabited for over 13 millennia. The boundaries of Colorado started to form in the early 1800s through the Louisiana Purchase but weren’t finalized until 1875 due ongoing conflicts with the US and Mexico (who was in the midst of gaining independence from Spain). Finally, in 1876, Colorado was declared the “Centennial State” as it was admitted to the union 28 days after the centennial of the United States.

Tomorrow we start pedaling and our trip will focus on the northern and central part of Colorado. We estimate the planned route to takes us through about 750 miles of the Rocky Mountains. We’re looking forward to seven weeks of awesome sunrises and sunsets, steep climbs and long descents, beautiful wildflowers, fabled history, and friendly locals.

See you somewhere in Colorful Colorado,
LK

The Wild Rose

Ruth Louise McKenzie
November 22, 1917
to May 14, 2008



My grandmother passed away this evening. She was an amazing woman, someone who has had a profound influence on my life. She loved life and everything about it. Her spirit is very much alive in me.
She was a mother, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, and, to me, most importantly, she was my grandma. In her ninety years, she was many things to many people. She was gentle and kind, but always confident. She was spiritual and blessed, but never boastful. She was spontaneous and whimsical, a bright light for those around her.
My grandma was a Colorado girl through and through. She grew up on the plains but her heart was in the mountains. She spent lots of time there on picnics, church retreats and family gatherings. She always seemed a little bit happier in the alpine air.

I feel very lucky to have had so much time with my grandma throughout my life. Looking back, I don’t feel like a missed anything with her. From my earliest years to the last few weeks, I have had some special moments with her. Some of my favorite memories; camping in the backyard in the little red tent, staying with us while my parents went on vacation, Christmas shopping trips downtown, examining books at the Tattered Cover, afternoon tea at the Brown Palace.

When we decided to go on our trip, I was most concerned about her health and the possibility of not seeing her again. It was actually difficult to tell her we were leaving. She didn’t think anything of it – she was the most excited. She had done her share of traveling and had even aspired to “travel the world” with her best friend Roberta after high school. She was very thrilled for us. Despite her failing eyesight, she kept up with our travels with a bright lamp and a magnifying glass. Her thoughts and prayers gave me strength while we were gone on the first part of our journey.

Since we’ve been home I’ve had some cherished time with her. I was able to recount some of our adventures firsthand and read her a special book. Even though she was in a great deal of pain, she listened intently and never complained.
Although I feel a wide range of emotions at this moment, I draw great comfort knowing that she suffers no more. I now see what the universe had in store for us.
LK

Ready or Not China, Here We Come…

Day 230
Bluesky Trail to Coyote Ridge
Time: 2:45:00
Distance: +/- 20 miles
Avg Speed: Slow
Terrain: Ancient Sea Beds
Location: Fort Collins

Another day, another singlespeed ride. We had another epic and this time it was accidental. Three plus hours and one flat tire later we arrived back in town. Our route took us south of the cuty and we combined the Blue Sky Trail with Coyote Ridge Natural Area. We underestimated the distance a bit, but it was all training and the extra miles will help us this summer.
Now for the exciting news (drum roll please)…
Our passports have returned and we are now the proud owners of Chinese visas. It was really anticlimactic since we employed a visa service. It was definitely worth the few extra dollars to have the experts work through the process.
We’re scheduled to travel to Kunming, the capital of the Yunnan Province, at the end of July. All of our summer riding should pay off since this part of Southwest China is home to some high elevations and hilly terrain. In addition, we’ll be looking forward to the cultural diversity as the Yunnan is home to over 50% of China’s ethnic minorities. All in all, we are very excited for the next phase of our international adventure.
LK

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Loops

Day: 229
Ft. Collins to Ft. Collins
Time: 1:35

We did a figure 8 of sorts this morning on our singlespeeds. The trail was packed with runners and walkers, but we were some of the only cyclists enjoying the crisp spring morning. We tackled a hill during our ride that provides us with challenges galore on our geared bikes. Riding it on our singlespeeds proved to be even more challenging having to grind up an over the rocks and roots while having your lungs hanging out. We finished up the ride by 10:30 and made it back in time to run down Denver to sell Leslie’s road bike. There was a little sadness as she let go of her baby, but she did find solace in the fact that the bike went to ‘bike’ people. They commute by bike and only have one car between them. They were fun to talk to and the deal was quickly closed. We jumped back in the car and returned to Ft. Collins to catch the main event of the day.
Ft. Collins started a criterium or ‘crit’ for short that goes down on Sunday nights. Tonight was the first night, and the competitors and crowd were a buzz with excitement. The event is being used as a fundraiser to help fund a velodrome in the Ft. Collins area. Currently the only velodrome in Colorado is located at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The first heats were straight up sprints around the oval at CSU. The races lasted from 1 lap for the 7-12 year old open division to 10 laps for the 18+ licensed road racer division. The second heats took on more of a track racing feel with a Danish format implemented to help riders enter the ‘pain cave’ a little faster. The winner of each lap got to drop out of the race and was awarded a prize. This gave the first 3 laps a lot of clout as the racers went all out to get the prize. What was the prize you ask? It was a can of Coke and a sandwich from a local deli. It is amazing how little motivation it takes people to get after it like that. I could do another musical blog by printing the lyrics to ‘Pretty, Pretty Pain Cave’ by Wayne and Garth from Wayne’s World fame, but I won’t. The race series attempts to parallel another track race called 6 day races. The local series lasts 6 Sundays, but the track 6 day races take place on 6 consecutive days. Check out this Wikipedia link to give the race details; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-day_racing. It used to be 1 man per team and that guy would try and get as many laps in as possible in 6 days. Due to it being outlawed in several states from racers dying of exhaustion it now incorporates 2 man team who take turns racing throughout each day. They are still held in Europe and I think they hold the occasional one in the eastern US. All in all it was a fun day riding bikes, selling bikes, meeting bike people and watching bike racing.
CK

The Ups and Downs and the Bends in Between

Day 227
Ft Collins Epic Loop
Time: 2:37:00
Distance: 25 mi
Avg Speed: Single
Terrain: Everything from pavement to singletrack
Location: Circumnavigation of Horsetooth Reservoir

We’re back in Ft Collins again. We make excellent house sitters since we are currently unemployed. Our good friends have gone on vacation and we have taken over their house. We set up camp; laptop, books, and maps in the house, and bicycles in the garage. This time around we brought only singlespeeds. We looking to increase the difficulty of our training and these bikes are the simplest way to do it. One speed with varied topography and long distances equals hard earned fitness.
Our goal for the day was to circumnavigate Horsetooth Reservoir. By definition (in a free on-line dictionary) circumnavigation entails “to proceed completely around”*. We did just that by a riding 25 miles of paved and dirt roads with some singletrack mixed in. It wasn’t the first time we’ve completed the loop, it’s just the first time we’ve ridden with just one speed. Our gear ratio of 32x16 lent itself well to the ups and downs and the bends in between. A geared bike would have made things easier, but today was all about training.
Besides pedaling, we have spent a fair amount of time in the last few weeks on route planning. One of our mistakes last year was not having detailed information regarding the route at our disposal. As logistics planner, I relied more on time and a general region than on distance and topography. Starting on the North Island of New Zealand helped me realize the error of my ways. As we prepare to tour Colorado and then China, I have been consulting as many maps as possible. Not only am I looking for a sense of place, but distance and elevations as well. We have come to realize that a day of climbs is a day of shorter distance and visa versa. In addition to the procurement of maps, I have been working in my GIS program to create elevation profiles. These are neat little graphs that show the hills and valleys of a linear route. The X axis is the distance and the Y axis is the elevation. For bicycle touring it can be an indispensable piece of information.
There is more training to come in the next few days. The long climbs and exciting descents of the Rockies await – at least we know what we’re getting into this time.
Here’s to rise over run,
LK

*Wikipedia defines circumnavigation in traveling around the world by boat or ship. For more details on that see this link.

Alternative to the Gas Tax Holiday

Day 224
Home Base to Golden and Back
Time: 2:43:08
Distance: 28.28 mi
Avg Speed: 10.4 mph
Terrain: Front Range Foothills
Location: American Alpine Club

There has been a lot of press lately regarding the price of fuel. Senator John McCain has proposed suspending the federal gas tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day to give drivers a break during the summer. See this article for more information.
This proposal has definitely worked its way into the latest speeches for the presidential candidates. Regardless of who does or doesn’t support the holiday, you have to question what “relief” the gas-tax really provides.
I put some thought into the issue as we rode our bicycles to Golden to return some library books today. My ideas drifted toward alternative transportation, not temporary financial relief through the price of petrol.
In 2004, Chris and I sold our second vehicle and relied mostly on our bicycles for alternative transportation. During that time we only had to rent a car once, relying on carpooling (with each other) or ride our bicycles. I’ll be honest; our main goal was to gain financially from owning only one car. What we saved in automobile costs was used to help get our finances in order for our ultimate goal (that we are working on now). In addition to eliminating fuel costs, we did away with insurance and maintenance costs as well. Furthermore, the health and environmental benefits we gained were very satisfying. We were able to get in workouts and immerse ourselves in the landscape while riding from place to place.
Some of you may be thinking at this point about the logistics of using a bicycle as a means of transportation. Going for a ride is one thing, but running errands and getting to work is another. What about the cargo; clothes, packages, etc? Conventional methods have included the use of a backpack, pannier system or trailer. Fortunately, there is also a newer and more innovative means for bicycle commuting. Read on.
As equipment manager, Chris is always researching the latest touring bikes and gear. While cruising around on the Surly Bicycles website he found the Big Dummy. This is a frame and fork designed to work with Xtracycle components. What’s Xtracycle you ask? It’s a sport utility bicycle company. Yes, sport utility applies to bikes as well – all of the function and none of the fuel. The Big Dummy is essentially a “long” bicycle that was built to handle a 400 lb load, 200lbs for the cargo and 200 lbs for the rider. It probably works better than panniers or a trailer due to its design. Overall, the bike is easier to handle, can carry a heavier load and puts less stress on the rider.
So really, what’s my point? Simple – let’s think outside the box (or pump in this case) when it comes to the gas tax holiday.
LK

Vertical Ethiopia

Day: 218
Time: Evening
Location: Boulder REI

Wednesday was a well deserved rest day. Our legs were tired from the last few days of exercise. It was good to keep it going and will help us as we get ready for the Colorado tour.
Most of the morning was spent preparing for China. We now have plane tickets and a hotel reservation. Now we just need those visas. The applications are in the mail and we are confident that everything will work out. All of the news articles and discussion forums seem to contradict themselves – we’ve stopped reacting to each new report.
The evening took us back to Boulder – this time in the car. We attended an awesome presentation given by Majka Burhardt, a local climbing guide and writer. She is on a national book tour to promote and discuss her recently published book, Vertical Ethiopia. The hardback chronicles the journey of four women climbers (led by Majka) in search of new routes in Northern Ethiopia. Through both pictures and words, you not only get a feel for the climbing, but the culture and landscape as well.
The geography of Ethiopia is quite interesting and our speaker did a great job of hitting the highlights. The country was never colonized and is Africa’s oldest independent country. With a land area of over 400,000 sq miles, Ethiopia is twice the size of France. Most surprisingly, the elevation of the country ranges from 125 m below sea level to its high point at 4,550 m. The capital, Addis Ababa is actually the highest capital city in Africa at 8,000 feet. From a cultural standpoint, Ethiopia is just as fascinating. Christianity and Islam share equal parts of the population and Majka shared that each group attends the holidays and functions of the others. Not what one would expected in a region of the world where religion is at the very core of most conflict.
One part of the presentation really resonated with me. Majka spoke to the common misconceptions of Ethiopia, both from the world and her own. She shared that she found a country that was much more diverse and beautiful than what she had read and heard about. I think Chris and I feel the same about the countries we have visited. It’s now hard for us to believe all of the bad things we hear – you can’t really know until you go and experience a place for yourself.
The most exciting part of the night was when Majka shared that Ethiopia has a great potential for many outdoor sports, especially mountain biking. I think this country in the Horn of Africa might just find its way on to our list of “places we want to ride”.
Here’s to endless possibilities,
LK

Day 217 Fort Collins to Golden

Time: 6:17:19
Distance: 71.5 miles
Avg Speed: 11.0 mph
Terrain: Rolling

I can’t really think of a title for the blog today. There was just so much that went on. We rolled out of Ft. Collins about 6:30 this morning and quickly got under way heading south. We did take a quick pit stop to get a battery for Leslie’s cycling computer so we could share our stats. We made it Loveland during the start of rush hour and quickly worked our way to some quieter country lanes. At about 8:00 am we caught a glimpse of a silver streak over our left shoulders. The streak turned out to be our friend Diane armed with a couple of coffees. She was so good, she had even ordered them extra hot so they were still hot when we got them. We chatted on the roadside for a little while, took a couple of pictures and then went our separate ways. It was a great surprise and really made our day. Leslie and I figured out how to put the cups in our water bottle cages so we could ride and sip at the same time.
Further south we drifted into Boulder County and were immediately aware of it by all the road cyclists keeping the highways hot. We usually wave to fellow cyclists and usually get a smile, nod or wave in return. The cyclists from Boulder are above that. I bet we were 50/50 on being acknowledged and being ignored. I would bet we saw 100 cyclists. Leslie finally got fed up with all the smugness and would wave really big and smile at other cyclists. She was finally able to crack a shell on those lucky enough to encounter her. It all reminded me of a South Park episode where several characters become so smug that the only thing good enough for them is the smell of their own farts. That was our welcome to Boulder. We stopped for a couple of sandwiches and got out of town riding past the always impressive Flatirons and Eldorado Canyon.
The ride on into Golden was nice with a little tail wind in parts and not crazy amounts of traffic. We both got to Golden and decided that we were probably cooked for the day and called in the Calvary. Leslie’s dad was kind enough to come get us and haul us the rest of the way home.
CK

Granite Gears

Day: 216
Horsetooth Mountain Park
Time: 2:20:00
Distance: 17.0 miles
Terrain: Singletrack

We followed up a day of climbing and hiking with a day of biking. The venue was Horsetooth Mountain Park, just west of Fort Collins. Every time we ride here we wonder why we didn’t ride it more in the past. I guess we’re a little more free from a day to day routine and that “let’s just get in a ride” mentality.
The ride started with a gut busting climb to Horsetooth Rock and there were no speed records set on the way to the top. We stopped for a moment to take in the fantastic views before rolling into an exciting downhill singletrack. In this case, exciting takes on two meanings. The trail was both thrilling and scary. The scary part entails the chunks of granite found at various places along the route. For those of you who have ridden through this type of landscape you know that a fall can tear you to shreds.
And now for the geology lesson…
Granite is an igneous rock that was formed far below the earth’s surface. Due to the depth it cooled very slowly and the rock formed with very large crystals. As the Rocky Mountains were formed (during a geologic event called the Laramide Orogeny), the granite formations were forced up and eroded down into what we see today. Chris was unlucky enough to examine one particular outcrop of the pink rocks up close during the ride. Those same crystals we discussed earlier did a number on his knee and he quickly remembered that it’s more important to look at what your tire is rolling over rather than the signs ahead.
We finished our ride by checking out the new bike skills park at Spring Canyon. We made a couple laps around the perimeter to check out the catwalks and teeter-totters. Don’t worry, Chris wasn’t allowed to try anything…
Keep the rubber side down,
LK

Extracurricular Activities

Day: 215
Grey Rock
Time: All Day

We often would talk while we traveled about all the things that we like to do, but were unable to since we only had bicycles and four bags.
Today we took part in one of our favorite pastimes…Climbing. Leslie, Chris S, and myself all headed up the Poudre Canyon to take a little trip up to Grey Rock. The area is about a 2 mile hike off of the Poudre River. Grey Rock is a large granite mountain that contains hundreds of rock climbing routes. We decided to do a 5.7, 4 pitch climb called Barfy’s Favorite. Chris and I climbed while Leslie scrambled around and took pictures. The climb was nice and straight forward (by Grey Rock standards) and took Chris and I about 2 hours. We met Leslie at the top and quickly scrambled off and headed back to our packs. Towards the bottom we began to discuss the Michael Jackson album ‘Thriller’. Chris wasn’t so sure that it was that great of an album so Leslie and I started listing the songs we remembered and began singing the lyrics to Billie Jean.

She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene
I said don’t mind, but what do you mean I am the one
Who will dance on the floor in the round
She said I am the one who will dance on the floor in the round
2nd verse
She told me her name was billie jean, as she caused a scene
Then every head turned with eyes that dreamed of being the one
Who will dance on the floor in the round

For full lyrics click here:
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/m/michael+jackson/billie+jean_20092703.html

We were about back to our packs when we heard a climber above us belting out the lyrics to the song we were discussing. He did quite well with the lyrics, and even though he probably wasn’t born when the album came out, he was passionate.
We made it back to the car with out incident and promptly went to the climb shop to replace the gear that we lost on the climb today. We usually don’t lose gear like that, but today was just one of those days. A couple of stoppers and a carabiner is a small price to pay for a great day out.
CK

Retail Therapy

Day 214
Time: All Day
Avg Speed: Stop and Go
Terrain: Pearl St Mall

I had a chance to get out shopping today with a good friend. We both wanted a day of retail therapy - she is off on vacation soon and I've got a few things I need for the next phase of our adventure. I definitely got a couple of things that I didn't need but it was nice to not have to be practical about every purchase. It's become second nature to avoid purchasing extra items but I found I was able to adapt quickly (ha, ha).
We shopped in the fine Front Range city of Boulder today. It's been awhile since I cruised up and down the Pearl St Mall. Despite the intermittent snow showers, the scene was lively with shoppers, buskers and everything in between. The local cyclists didn't mind the weather either. In fact, Boulder has a great bicycle network. Check out this link for more info. I'm always interested in the different bikes and the people who ride them. "Fixies" seem to be all the rage now and Boulder was chock full. I'm sure Chris and I will join the bandwagon at some point - we are, after all, equal opportunity cyclists.
Signing off from the "People's Republic",
LK

Press Release: Bicycle Geography Continues...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Leslie Kehmeier
Bicycle Geography
10773 W Marlowe Pl
Littleton, CO 80127
bicyclegeography@yahoo.com
http://www.bicyclegeography.org

Chris and Leslie Kehmeier Continue to Ride Bicycles around the World to Promote Geographic Knowledge

Chris and Leslie Kehmeier of Colorado are realizing a lifelong dream of seeing the world by bicycle. In the summer of 2007 they sold their house, quit their jobs and started traveling the globe on two wheels. They call their project Bicycle Geography.

The Kehmeier’s self-supported journey started in September 2007 when they flew from their home state of Colorado to New Zealand. After three months touring the North and South Islands they moved on to Australia and then Southeast Asia. Chris and Leslie have recently returned home to prepare for a summer tour of Colorado. In early August, the two-wheeled pair will depart once again for Asia and continue their international travels throughout China, Nepal and Europe.
During the first six months of the journey, Chris and Leslie have expanded their geographic knowledge while experiencing the landscapes and cultures of different countries. They continue to inspire people to ride bicycles, learn about geography and consider sustainable modes of transportation.

Chris and Leslie think bicycles have great practicality and functionality and continue to use them as their main mode of transportation. Bicycles not only allow increased mobility, health and economic benefits, they require only human-power as fuel.

After reading an alarming news article in 2006, The Kehmeiers were inspired to promote geographic awareness as part of their trip. They learned that young adults in the United States are significantly lacking in their geographic knowledge. They hope to bring more awareness to the subject of Geography through photos and journals on their Bicycle Geography website.

[END]

About the Bicycle Geography team:
Leslie Kehmeier was born and raised in Colorado. She can usually be found turning the pedals on her mountain bike, hanging from the side of a mountain or planning a weekend trip to Paris. Leslie is a 1991 graduate of Bear Creek High School in Lakewood, Colorado and 1995 graduate of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs with a degree in Geography.

Chris Kehmeier was born in New Mexico, and raised in Nevada and Colorado. He gets out on his bike, on foot, and on a rope as much as possible. When he is resting his legs he dabbles in the kitchen and plans his tick lists for future bike and climbing trips. Chris is a 1993 graduate of Littleton High School in Littleton, Colorado and a 1998 graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in Horticulture.

For additional information about Bicycle Geography please contact Chris or Leslie Kehmeier bicyclegeography@yahoo.com or visit http://www.bicyclegeography.org

Three Kids, Two Schools and a Minivan Part II

We've managed to survive until almost bedtime. Two-thirds of the group have pajamas on and are in various stages of going to bed. Chris is reading to the 4 year old from a novel about climbing. In the past it's been very successful in putting munchkins to sleep...
The start of the afternoon was a repeat of the morning, only in reverse order. We realized on the way back to pre-school that we had sent the 4 year old with his overnight bag, not his school backpack. Oh well. Nothing was mentioned when we picked him up so we just acted like we knew what we were doing.
We picked the oldest up at school and then headed to lunch and a movie. We only had to go back to the house one time for a forgotten bag. My mom and sister had their doubts about the movie but we thought we'd go for it. After all, how hard could it be? (Ha, ha - we do know how hard it can be) Anyway, we went to the IMAX at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science to see The Alps. As most of you know, climbing is our other passion and we try to influence all of our neices and nephews whenever possible. With time running out before the 3pm show started, we managed to park, buy tickets and hit the bathroom before the beginning of the movie. Surprisingly, the movie grabbed the kids' attention right from the get go. Even the 15 month old was doing her best to follow the movement on the giant screen. Not surprisingly, the 4 year old asked the famous question about fifteen minutes into the show - "is it over yet?". I just smiled and gave him the countdown. Much to our amazement we were able to see the entire film. We felt like WE had actually been climbing in the Alps, but were proud to have made it through without any emergency bathroom breaks or being asked to leave.
It was great to spend some quality time with our niece and nephews. We look forward to doing the same with the rest of our nieces in the near future.
Back to the grind (of a bicycling kind),
LK

Three Kids, Two Schools and a Minivan Part I

Day 211
Somewhere Between Castle Rock and Littleton
Time: All Day
Avg Speed: School Zone
Terrain: 18 month old to 12 years old

We're helping out my sister today. I'm going to try to keep track as the day progresses. So far the morning has been hectic. It has become very obvious that we haven't had a schedule in a long time...
Our first goal was to get the 12 year old off to 6th grade and take the 4 year old to pre-school. The pre-teen was easy. The second part shouldn't have been a problem except for the stop at the gas station. Chris popped the lid for the tank while I hopped out and grabbed the nozzle. I heard the beep, pressed the button for the low grade unleaded and squeezed the handle - nothing. Chris wiggled his way over to the passenger window and yelled "You'll have to use a credit card if you're not going to prepay with cash". I opened the door and fumbled through my coat, retrieved my credit card and proceeded. I got ready to pump again when Chris said "do you have a discount card?". Ahhhhhhh! Too many buttons, too little time. Meanwhile, the 18 month old and 4 year old looked at us like "Mommy doesn't do it like this...". The petrol stop only put us behind by about five minutes and we had a good laugh about how inept we have become in the last six months. A gas station stop for us is usually related to food and a restroom, not fuel for a car. Anyway, the four year old is now expanding his mind and we're doing laundry.
Stay tuned for the afternoon report.
LK

Castle Rock Run

Day: 202 and 203
Littleton to Castle Rock to Littleton
Time: 4 hours each way
Distance: 31 miles each way
Avg Speed: 8.5 mph
Terrain: rolling
Location: 39.38 N, -104.84 W

It was kind of like Cannonball Run, but without Burt Reynolds and that cool Ferrari.
We decided that our run really wasn’t going to be a race, but rather a ‘nuts and bolts’ tour down to Leslie’s sister’s house. We had recently gotten our BOB trailers and were keen to give them a go. We didn’t carry as much weight as we will in our tour this summer, but we did give our bikes, trailers and handlebar bags a thorough shaking. We left Leslie’s parent’s house in the heat of the day on Tuesday. We enjoyed 80˚ weather as we worked our way across Denver and through one of the last dirt roads in the area. Daniels Park Road heads out the back of a large housing development and climbs a large sandstone bluff overlooking the Front Range. We enjoyed views of downtown Denver to the north and Pikes Peak to the south. We eventually dropped down and wound our way through some high end golf courses and finally into Castle Rock. We wound around some bike paths and eventually found our destination. It is always interesting to ride somewhere after you have driven it several times. The bike allows us (and sometimes forces us) to take different, more intimate routes. In this case we decided to stay off the road we normally drive and follow a bike path that went in a different direction. After winding our way around the development we called and were set straight. We were close, but not too close. We enjoyed a mellow night hanging out with family and watching Transfomers.
This morning broke with cooler winds from the north, but clear skies nonetheless. Leslie and I both thought that the storm forecasted wasn’t going to go anywhere. We had a mellow morning seeing our two nephews off to school, and enjoying a nice breakfast with Leslie’s sister and niece. The weather kept cooling off, and to the north it just kept getting darker and darker. Maybe the storm was going to materialize. Leslie and I finally got on the road and enjoyed a swirling tail wind propelling us back up Daniels Park Road. The weather continued to get cooler and cooler and at the top of the road we donned more layers. Leslie’s sister found us on top and took some pictures of us riding together (check out the above pic). She left us, and Leslie and I were left alone to descend into the snow starting to fall. The snow continued to pick up and we took a pit stop at a Starbucks for some tea and cookies. We put on the rest of our layers and got back on the road for two more hours of snow riding. Leslie reminded me that the last time we toured was in Laos where the temperature was in the mid 90’s and the humidity was about the same. Nothing like a 60-70˚ swing to really put your body in shock.
Our ‘nuts and bolts’ tour turned out well with us riding in all conditions and all of our gear coming out great.
Yeah for tours!!
CK

The Colorado Plan: Summertime in the Rockies

Day: 202
Denver, Colorado


Here it is – the route we hope to follow this summer. A snowy winter and a late spring start are sure to bring some winter-like campsites and classic Colorado weather. We accept the challenge and will be packing our sun, rain and snow gear.

See map below for intended route and dates:

Stay tuned for more detailed maps and descriptions. Also, let us know if you want to join us along the route.

Happy Monday!
LK

The Bicycle Commuting Diaries: Maiden Voyage

Day: 199
Time: 2 hours or so
Distance: Across South Denver and back
Avg Speed: Stop and go
Terrain: Urban

It’s been almost a year since the last installment of the Bicycle Commuting Diaries. In the previous post I shared the accident I had with a BOB trailer. I escaped with minimal injuries but I have not pulled a trailer since. Today I got back on that horse and took one of our new “Yaks” out for its maiden voyage.
It wasn’t an especially nice day today but we needed to run errands and get some exercise. We watched the weather alternate between sun and snow showers all morning but decided to brave “springtime in the Rockies”. After changing into our cool riding gear and switching out rear quick releases, we ventured out into south suburban Denver. Chris pulled the trailer first and we worked our way to the first stop: the post office.
It’s amazing how different a very familiar place becomes on a bike, and on the side of the road. We put our recently acquired urban riding skills to the test as we navigated our way through several intersections along Kipling St. We took turns pushing the crosswalk buttons and caught some interesting looks out of the corner of our eyes. It couldn’t have been the big yellow flag sticking up from the back of the trailer…
After mailing off our applications for Nepalese visas, we continued east to drop off Chris’ new wheel. DT Swiss, the company who manufactured the rim, was kind enough to send a replacement right away and we didn’t want to waste any time getting it rebuilt. After a few calls, Chris found Arapahoe Cyclery and made plans to drop off the wheel. From the post office, we plotted a course through city streets and paved pathways. Meanwhile, the skies to the west were becoming increasingly dark. I shouted back to Chris “I’m guessing we’ll get snowed on before this ride is over”.
Our circuitous path finally brought us to the bike shop. In a matter of five minutes we were back outside the store; it had taken almost an hour and a half to get there. I guess commuting by bike is mostly a labor of love. Luckily, there was a fabric store right next to the bike shop. We were relieved that we could accomplish the next item on our “to do” list so easily. We popped in and Chris got more supplies to turn his bicycle helmet into a sombrero. By the time we got back outside to the bikes it was snowing. Go figure. We mounted up and Chris yelled “WHITE SQUALL!” as we rode out of the parking lot.
The ride home was uneventful. I pulled the trailer and can say that I made it back to home base without incident. You see, this time, I read the directions and I now know how to avoid crashing with the BOB trailer.

Happy Spring,
LK

R & D Day

Day 197
Favorite Singlespeed Loop
Time: 1:10
Distance: ??

We were back at work after a weekend with friends up north. We had a few things on our to-do list to take care of so we got after it. Our timeline for Colorado is shaping up, so we decided to do a route to match. When it is all said and done, I am sure we will be a little off from what we had planned. Leslie got to work figuring mileage, roads and timelines for Colorado. It should be published here soon, so check it out and see when you can join us for a few days. It looks like it could be fun. Leslie was able to get a lot of the road info from the C-DOT website. It is always fun to find little gems of knowledge.
While Leslie was hard at work with the planning I had the sewing machine out making a visor/bicycle sombrero for our helmets. Leslie’s helmet was the guinea pig and I think it turned out well. We got the idea from our Aussie cycling mate, Hamish. He had a great sun shade on his helmet that his mum had made. I hope that I make his mum proud with our version.
We took a couple of breaks today for a ride on our singlespeeds before the weather started to turn and a run to the grocery store for some grub. We have now been home for a week and are staring at our third snow day. I can’t really complain about the weather since we only get a little taste of this year’s winter.
Tomorrow I will give my sombrero a go as well as head over to the American Alpine Club (AAC) library for a little research on China and Nepal. The AAC library has tons of information on international travel. We stumbled on the wealth of knowledge there last year while checking routes in the Tetons. If you are ever in the neighborhood of Golden, Colorado check it out.
CK

Kickstands Are Cool

Day: 196
Fort Collins to Denver
Time: A Few Hours
Avg Speed: 65 stay alive
Terrain: Interstate 25

It took some convincing by Chris to put the package in the shopping basket. I was really reluctant to purchase this particular piece of equipment. In the end, practicality won out and I held my head high as we checked out. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a kickstand.
I’m not sure at what age I turned against the small apparatus, but along with mirrors and reflectors, I have always shunned it. It was the first thing I removed from a new bike and the last thing I thought I would ever need again. However, after watching several fellow bicycle tourists stand their bikes up with little effort, I’ve slowly become convinced that it might make my daily ride a little more enjoyable. In fact, it will probably save some time since stopping usually requires pushing the bike around to find the right place to prop it up. The alternative requires setting the bike on the ground and that can lead to an entirely different conversation.
I’m now looking forward to keeping my bike upright. My two-wheeled companion really does deserve first class treatment. Who knows, perhaps I can inspire other “non-kickstand” cyclists to reconsider the usefulness of a metal stick on a spring.
LK

Ps – Happy 12th Birthday to our nephew Alec!

Twitching

Day 192
Denver

We’ve been home a couple of days now. We’ve been catching up on sleep, unpacking gear, washing clothes, etc. I’ve also been spending time thinking about our trip so far. I feel really happy about what we’ve done and I’m really excited to continue. I also feel pretty inspired about life.
A few years ago, Chris shared some words with me that he found on a website. They (the words) come from Mark Twight, a climber, who maintains a fitness website called Gym Jones. I’ve read the words from time to time in the last six months. Early in the game I needed to read them to remind myself why I wanted to do this trip. Now, as I reflect back on the first part of our journey, I revisit the words. I feel satisfied. I like the words because they are raw and intense, pure and fresh. I’d like to share my favorite part:

“Burn the bridge. Nuke the foundation. Back yourself up against a wall. Have an opinion one way or the other, get off the fence and rip it up. Cut yourself off so there is no going back. Once you're committed the truth will come out. You ask about security? What you need is uncertainty. What you need is confusion; something that forces you to reinvent yourself, a whip to drive you harder…”

If you’d like a link to the whole thing, email me. Be warned though, the full version is very intense and could possibly be offensive to some.

Thanks,
LK

Where are we and what day is it?

Day: 191 ( I think)
Seoul to Denver

We have now been traveling for a long time. I know times, but at this point I can’t add them up in my head. 12 hours on a bus, 19 hours at an airport, 6 hours on a plane, 6 hours at an airport, 11 hours on a plane, 2 hours at an airport and finally 2 hours on a plane. Leslie had the plan broken down into stages. We are now on the final stage of our trip home. I hadn’t realized how long we had been going until I looked at myself in a mirror and I had a healthy stubble on my face. I had shaved the day we left Vientiane (which is also the last day I showered…yummy).
We grabbed an iced-tea in LA and had the urge for a chocolate chip cookie as well. I think we are both regretting the cookie a little. We have been on a see food diet for the past 6 months and for the past 2 we have really been fortunate to have a lot of whole foods in our diet. The cookie wasn’t a very clean food and our bodies are reminding us of that.
I dozed a little on the final leg to Denver. I woke up and saw the undated map in front of me with the time on it. I set my watch to Colorado time, but I couldn’t figure our what day it was. A nasty, or nice, habit that we got into on the road is completely losing track of what day of the week it is. Our calendar was broken down into ride days and rest days. Anything beyond that was unnecessary. It turns out it is Wednesday and I had thought that it was Thursday. I am sure people thought I was on drugs when I asked Leslie what day it was. I probably look it at this point.
We were lounging at the airport in LA and we both hoped that weather would be nice enough to go for a little ride tomorrow. I think we are both happy that after all the saddle time we have had the past half a year that we were looking forward to a ride. Singlespeeds here we come!!!
We are both very happy to see and spend some time with our families. It will be a nice treat for us to see them.
I am not sure how often the blog will go while we are holed up for a couple weeks. I think it will resume when we are on the road in Colorado though. I know the Poudre River doesn’t sound as exotic as the Mekong River, but adventure is where you make it.
CK

In Transit

Day: 190
Suvarnabhumi (Suwanna-poom) International Airport
Time: 18 hours

We’ve gotten to hour 14 – only 4 more to go. Somehow this airport marathon hasn’t been as bad as others. We’ve kept ourselves busy all day. We’ve been eating, sleeping, walking, surfing and people watching. Some of those tasks have been done multiple times. The sleeping was pretty interesting – we both actually slept for a couple of hours. This was an accomplishment considering the cushion-less benches we were perched on and the Thai tour group chatting the morning away right next to us.
After meal number three (Chris tells me that the pork dumplings at 7-Eleven this morning count as a meal), we strolled through the garden area outside the airport. We managed to stay out of the sun and enjoy a green space amongst a lot of concrete and steel. Back inside, we explored another level and noticed a hair salon and spa. Chris spotted the 45 minute foot massage on the list and before I knew it we were both relaxing in comfortable chairs. It’s a known fact that I don’t do feet so I wasn’t going to keep Chris from getting his “dogs” worked on. Our justification was the 12 hours we just spent getting to Bangkok on the bus and the upcoming 20+ hours of flight time. Really, it was just a great way to kill another hour at the airport.
Now we’re on cruise control. We’ve got our boarding passes and the luggage checked in. We managed to get through another round of “let’s see what your baggage weight is”. They only weighed one of the bike boxes and said “the other one is the same, right?”. We both quickly shook our heads yes and whisked the bike boxes off to the oversized luggage check-in. We’ve learned to act quickly and not share ancillary details. Soon we’ll be tucked away in our exit row seats and dreaming of spring in Colorado.
See you tomorrow,
LK