Eyeing the century ride, enjoying herons and dogs
By Clay Evans
A long time ago, I made my living for a few years riding a horse. Not every day, but let’s say 200 days out of the year. And that, it seems, has forever spoiled me from riding a horse for fun. What? You’re just going to ride around out there? No windmills to fix or heifers to check? Uh, I’ll pass.
I hate to say it, but after years of commuting by bicycle on a regular basis, I came to feel much the same about riding: What? No joyous day at the office at the other end? What’s the point?
I’m pretty sure I’m wrong about horses, and I’m absolutely certain I’m mistaken when it comes to cycling. After all, as a kid growing up in Boulder, some of my greatest adventures took place on two wheels, culminating in a 1,400-mile tour from Yellowstone to Calgary, across the Rockies, down the Okanagan Lake valley, and into Vancouver. I was 15 and rode with two friends, 15 and 14.
But a bike, as anyone who’s done some touring or a century ride will tell you, is a great way to see the world. It slows you down, gives you a chance to see the land rolling past. So this year, I’ve signed up for the Buffalo Bicycle Classic and I’m going to spend some time in the saddle—the bike saddle—to get ready.
I’ve already taken a couple of “training” rides, and I’ll update this blog a couple times a week. I’m planning to ride the 100-mile course, but the ride offers several distances, any one of which sounds cool to me.
Other than that, all I have to say is, “Giddyup!”
May 29
Route: Downtown Boulder, 13th Street to N. Broadway; U.S. 36 north to Hygiene Road; fantastic detour on Crane Hollow Road (to see a heron/crane rookery); N. 75th Street; Niwot Road to home.
Miles: 22
Weather: Low 60s, breezy; north-northeast wind, 15-20
I am a lazy person. Oh, I’ve trained my body to mind to pound me with relentless guilt if I don’t get out the door every day to run (what one friend calls the “tyranny of the workout”).
But I have not developed well-honed guilt reflexes when it comes to bicycling. In the few days since I decided to do the Classic, I’ve found plenty of reasons not to ride.
Today, however, I forced myself to ride (at least) 11 miles to Niwot. I drove into Boulder with my wife, Jody, to give a presentation for a veteran’s group in the morning. She needed the car, so I had little choice but to mount up and ride.
After my transformation from Speech Clay—shaved, coat and tie, brown wing-tip shoes, etc.—into Joe Rider (courtesy of a Clark Kent-style quick-change in a handicapped porta-potty at the Boulder Creek Festival), I headed north.
It was a good ride, though I found myself pushing for speed unnecessarily—if anything, I need to slow it down in anticipation of long miles and a long day.
High point: Hands down, taking a little detour to see (and hear; they croak from the high trees!) heron rookery. Memo to self: Don’t be afraid to take detours.
But what is it with males and competition? I fancied that I was “reeling in” cyclists ahead of me—just like the pros!—only to find that they didn’t even realize they were in a race. People just out enjoying the ride and the beautiful day. Silly sods.
June 5
Route: Niwot to 73rd Street; 75th Street north through Hygiene; across Colo. 66 on 75th; Woodland Road to N. 83rd St. to Larimer County Road 2 (out and back)
Miles: 26 (marathon!)
Weather: 70s, light breeze, perfect
Today I replaced my usual Sunday run with a ride north, in hopes of seeing some new territory (or at least territory I haven’t seen in awhile).
This was a long, straight-ish shot with just a handful of turns. Tons of riders of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes on the road. Most I spoke to were on a longer ride, to Carter Lake and back.
I focused on shifting properly, trying to maintain a cadence on the pedals, uphill, downhill and on the flats.
High point: When I stopped at my turnaround point (45 minutes) to drink some water with GU Brew electrolyte powder, I chatted with an old man who was sitting amid the flowers in his gorgeous garden. Bonus: Petting his two pit bulls.
Bonus: Feeling like an outlaw, riding a bike in Sheriff Jim Alderden’s Larimer County. Alderden has put riders from Boulder in his sights, blaming us for something or other.
The Elevations Buffalo Bicycle Classic, which raises funds for scholarships, includes ride distances of 14, 35, 50, 70 and 100 miles. To learn more about the Sept. 11 event or to register, click here.
A long time ago, I made my living for a few years riding a horse. Not every day, but let’s say 200 days out of the year. And that, it seems, has forever spoiled me from riding a horse for fun. What? You’re just going to ride around out there? No windmills to fix or heifers to check? Uh, I’ll pass.
I hate to say it, but after years of commuting by bicycle on a regular basis, I came to feel much the same about riding: What? No joyous day at the office at the other end? What’s the point?
I’m pretty sure I’m wrong about horses, and I’m absolutely certain I’m mistaken when it comes to cycling. After all, as a kid growing up in Boulder, some of my greatest adventures took place on two wheels, culminating in a 1,400-mile tour from Yellowstone to Calgary, across the Rockies, down the Okanagan Lake valley, and into Vancouver. I was 15 and rode with two friends, 15 and 14.
But a bike, as anyone who’s done some touring or a century ride will tell you, is a great way to see the world. It slows you down, gives you a chance to see the land rolling past. So this year, I’ve signed up for the Buffalo Bicycle Classic and I’m going to spend some time in the saddle—the bike saddle—to get ready.
I’ve already taken a couple of “training” rides, and I’ll update this blog a couple times a week. I’m planning to ride the 100-mile course, but the ride offers several distances, any one of which sounds cool to me.
Other than that, all I have to say is, “Giddyup!”
May 29
Route: Downtown Boulder, 13th Street to N. Broadway; U.S. 36 north to Hygiene Road; fantastic detour on Crane Hollow Road (to see a heron/crane rookery); N. 75th Street; Niwot Road to home.
Miles: 22
Weather: Low 60s, breezy; north-northeast wind, 15-20
I am a lazy person. Oh, I’ve trained my body to mind to pound me with relentless guilt if I don’t get out the door every day to run (what one friend calls the “tyranny of the workout”).
But I have not developed well-honed guilt reflexes when it comes to bicycling. In the few days since I decided to do the Classic, I’ve found plenty of reasons not to ride.
Today, however, I forced myself to ride (at least) 11 miles to Niwot. I drove into Boulder with my wife, Jody, to give a presentation for a veteran’s group in the morning. She needed the car, so I had little choice but to mount up and ride.
After my transformation from Speech Clay—shaved, coat and tie, brown wing-tip shoes, etc.—into Joe Rider (courtesy of a Clark Kent-style quick-change in a handicapped porta-potty at the Boulder Creek Festival), I headed north.
It was a good ride, though I found myself pushing for speed unnecessarily—if anything, I need to slow it down in anticipation of long miles and a long day.
High point: Hands down, taking a little detour to see (and hear; they croak from the high trees!) heron rookery. Memo to self: Don’t be afraid to take detours.
But what is it with males and competition? I fancied that I was “reeling in” cyclists ahead of me—just like the pros!—only to find that they didn’t even realize they were in a race. People just out enjoying the ride and the beautiful day. Silly sods.
June 5
Route: Niwot to 73rd Street; 75th Street north through Hygiene; across Colo. 66 on 75th; Woodland Road to N. 83rd St. to Larimer County Road 2 (out and back)
Miles: 26 (marathon!)
Weather: 70s, light breeze, perfect
Today I replaced my usual Sunday run with a ride north, in hopes of seeing some new territory (or at least territory I haven’t seen in awhile).
This was a long, straight-ish shot with just a handful of turns. Tons of riders of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes on the road. Most I spoke to were on a longer ride, to Carter Lake and back.
I focused on shifting properly, trying to maintain a cadence on the pedals, uphill, downhill and on the flats.
High point: When I stopped at my turnaround point (45 minutes) to drink some water with GU Brew electrolyte powder, I chatted with an old man who was sitting amid the flowers in his gorgeous garden. Bonus: Petting his two pit bulls.
Bonus: Feeling like an outlaw, riding a bike in Sheriff Jim Alderden’s Larimer County. Alderden has put riders from Boulder in his sights, blaming us for something or other.
The Elevations Buffalo Bicycle Classic, which raises funds for scholarships, includes ride distances of 14, 35, 50, 70 and 100 miles. To learn more about the Sept. 11 event or to register, click here.