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