Breck Training Day 2

I had a pretty good plan on deck today. Ride loop 3 of the Breck 100, and see how I feel, and keep going after that if my legs were happy. Juli and Chuck came along today and it was nice to have the company. We headed up Boreas Pass Rd, and 9 miles later, we arrived at the top.

Boreas Pass 11,500′

Right at treeline.  I joked to Juli that we should leave our bikes and hike to the top of that hog.

My riding buddies for the day.

Next, we were going to descend on some (from what I hear) fun singletrack into Como, but the sky was not looking so good. I had my gortex suit, but didn’t know if my buddies did, nor did I want to have to ride back up that pass in a storm.

Clouds were building.

And dropping fast….

This was the singletrack I wanted to ride down to Como(about 11 miles)… but the weather was looking ominous, and we’d have to ride back UP to the pass after, which could be pretty threatening in heavy rain or a thunderstorm. I will return tomorrow and rip that trail into submission. 🙂  Only 30% chance of rain tomorrow.

Good views up high.

We took the Baker’s Tank Trail down (the one I accidentally rode up yesterday).  Needless to say, it was way more fun, and raging fast coming down.

Aspen Grove trail was another fast, fun descent.

I heart singletrack.

We found some other trails in the Blue River playground and Spruce something ‘er other area too that were sweet!

Then, we hit up some of the trails behind the ice rink where were fun, with short, steep climbs. The trails seemed to go every which way. One of ’em dead ended here.  I loved today b/c usually I come to these awesome areas and have to only ride the designated race courses.  Today, I got to explore!

And then…. WHOA!!!

Near the end of the ride, we turned back up Boreas Pass Rd, and about 15 ft later, I saw a guy on a fixed gear bike, riding with his feet up while it “coasted” down. I realized it was my buddy, Dave Nice, aka “Fixie Dave!!!” What an amazing coincidence. The timing was within seconds of missing him. What was he doing you ask? He is doing the Tour Divide… so the man has been riding for 2 weeks and 1100 miles, starting from the Mexican Border. The fact that I randomly bumped into him, and if I was 20 sec later, would have missed him, is pretty amazing. He said he was cooked, but this was the best he has ever done. He is a tough ass, that’s all I gotta say. Fixie, and no chamois…ever.  GO DAVE!

and then it was onto the pump track to finish out the ride! I wasn’t cool enough to jump anything.

Not 5 minutes after I got in, it started pouring rain… and is still going..

Hey Coach? How is this for recovery drink? It has antioxidants!

Not a bad view last night… it’ll probably be cloudy all night today. i.e. no mountain views.

So one more day in Breck (Tear… I wish I could stay here all summer and fall… maybe I can dirtbag it and live out of my tent for a summer…somewhere)  The plan for tomorrow is to retry loop 3 and hope the weather cooperates, and then go ride part of the Colorado Trail out near Tiger Run Rd.  I have done that part before, but I want to refresh my memory (it is part of lap 2 in the Breck 100).  It is a SUPER fun loop.  I can’t wait!!! …and I hope the sun is out b/c it’s mid June and I am still wearing knee warmers for over half my rides!