For the last…man it seems like a long time…I’ve been on Spring Break from school. It was soooo much-needed after quite possibly the hardest semester of school of my life. I had originally intended to go to Portland to visit my sister but because of Southwest Airline’s two week in advance ticket purchase stipulation (to get the really low fares) and my reluctance to miss the Koppenberg road race on March 26, I decided to skip going out there. As much as I would like to check Portland out, this damn cycling disease overpowers my good brotherly senses, sometimes. And lo and behold the race ended up being canceled due to extreme mud – like the kind of mud where at the very thought of riding through it, your bike just goes “uh-uh. this ain’t happening.” Here’s a photo someone took of the dirt (when it’s dry) climb that is the race maker/breaker, on the day before the race was scheduled.
Evidence as to why the race was canceled.
The climb is a 17% grade and really rutted out plus the entry onto it is kind of small, so you really have to be in the first 10 or so riders to get a clean trip up. Otherwise you risk some schmoe losing it and falling off or getting off the bike and running up. Both scenarios, if you’re behind said schmoe = loss of speed, and possibly race. I’m really working with visualization these days. When I’m training or just thinking about something that I want to have happen, I picture what it would feel like to get the outcome I want. In this case, it’s winning this race on an attack with half-a-lap left. I’ve even been working my victory salute! Oh, I forgot to mention, the race is rescheduled for this Sunday, barring any more moisture. It’s part of the new Tour of Colorado, which includes the Salida omnium, North Boulder Park crit, Sunshine Canyon hillclimb, Ironhorse, and one other that I can’t think of. I’d love to try to race all of these and get the jersey. We’ll see though. All that racing adds up to lots of money and driving, probably the only two banes of my existence.
As I mentioned, a huge spring blizzard hit us last Thursday dropping about 16.5 inches of snow in town. Although I prefer the sun at nearly all costs, actually having some accumulation down here after the driest winter I can remember, was really cool. I even got to skate ski at North Boulder Park three days in a row. First time skiing the park since I bought my skis back in December. I did a great ride with my team on Sunday, the day the race was canceled, out to Carter Lake with a post-ride coffee at Amante with a few of the guys. I always try to be the first one up the climb to Carter Lake because it’s long enough that it’s pretty taxing, but it’s not so steep that my weight inhibits me. Typically when I ride with the team, it’s a battle between me, Boups, and Bobby Noyes and the last couple times I’ve taken it. This time though, Bobby accelerated on the second-to-last pitch and went by me to finish on top. Still happy with my ride though, Bobby’s super strong!
Yesterday I was feeling the inevitable boredom that comes with, dare I say, too many days off and I got the itch to do something different. I ended up riding up to EspressoRoma on the hill for a coffee and then over to Chautauqua for a hike. Although the trails were pretty muddy/snowy, I wasn’t going to let that deter me. I decided on the Royal Arch trail which turned out to be a skating rink. It was like a river had run down the trail and just froze. Really beautiful, actually, to see something snaking down the mountain but slick as a devil. Nice change of pace though and I felt great getting out into the mountains without a bike between my legs or skis on my feet. On the way home I meandered around the hill’s neighborhoods and was for the 8 millionth time, taken aback by the beauty of the homes. I even saw a frat house I’d never seen before that didn’t look like architectural defecation, like some of the others you see up there.
I go back to class on Friday for the start of 2nd quarter. Feeling the inevitable dread that has accompanied first day/returns-after-break I have felt my whole life, but I know it’ll be fine and I’ll get right back into the manic-panic-stress-relax cycle I love and loathe.
