aspenmike
May 7th 06, 04:52 AM
I thought I was in heaven today, on my Coker ride, until the snow
started dumping on me. Rode up Independence Pass to see how far the
road was plowed to. The bike race is in two weeks and they open it to
vehicles in three weeks. Our winter was good, so I figured that the
road would not be plowed to the summit just yet. I was ready for the
big 4,500' (1372' meters) vertical climb, even though I havent ridden
much this spring, damn work keeps getting in the way. It takes CDOT two
to three weeks to plow it from bottom to top, and they attack it from
both sides. I passed where the gate was closed and spun my way up the
steep grade. 1 1/2 hours later I could go no further, as there was over
4 feet of snow, ( 1 1/2 meters) on the road. The snowplows have gotten
to within 2 or so miles of the summit, 12,000' (3657 meters).
These are the hardest miles to plow, as many avalanche chutes cross the
road. I would say that they will make the deadline, but not by much. I
had just put the camera away when the snow started falling down. I was
at 11,300' (3444 meters), and could see the last switchback. My
camelbak was filled with all the clothes that I might need, and boy was
I glad. The temperature dropped, the wind picked up and the road turned
white. I pedaled cautisouly down the snowcovered road, which at this
point had 7' (2.1 meters) snowbanks on both sides. BTW, I had only seen
one person to this point, 2 hours into the ride. As they say, "If you
don't like the weather wait five minutes", well after about ten minutes
the squall had passed over me and now the sun was beating down. My
hands were the only parts on me that got cold, so the warm high
altitude sun brought comfort back to them. By the time I was half way
back down, it was hot, kind of. Well, hot enough to take the layers off
that I put on up high. The leaves on the Aspen tree's are just popping
out, so the scenery changed from snowpacked hills to green trees with
no snow.
I can't wait till I can ride to the top, by next weekend, I hope. It is
quite the special place to be without any car traffic. Cheers
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Filename: Ind. Pass May 06'001.JPG |
|Download: http://www.unicyclist.com/attachment/13324 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
--
aspenmike
------------------------------------------------------------------------
aspenmike's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/3768
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/49224
started dumping on me. Rode up Independence Pass to see how far the
road was plowed to. The bike race is in two weeks and they open it to
vehicles in three weeks. Our winter was good, so I figured that the
road would not be plowed to the summit just yet. I was ready for the
big 4,500' (1372' meters) vertical climb, even though I havent ridden
much this spring, damn work keeps getting in the way. It takes CDOT two
to three weeks to plow it from bottom to top, and they attack it from
both sides. I passed where the gate was closed and spun my way up the
steep grade. 1 1/2 hours later I could go no further, as there was over
4 feet of snow, ( 1 1/2 meters) on the road. The snowplows have gotten
to within 2 or so miles of the summit, 12,000' (3657 meters).
These are the hardest miles to plow, as many avalanche chutes cross the
road. I would say that they will make the deadline, but not by much. I
had just put the camera away when the snow started falling down. I was
at 11,300' (3444 meters), and could see the last switchback. My
camelbak was filled with all the clothes that I might need, and boy was
I glad. The temperature dropped, the wind picked up and the road turned
white. I pedaled cautisouly down the snowcovered road, which at this
point had 7' (2.1 meters) snowbanks on both sides. BTW, I had only seen
one person to this point, 2 hours into the ride. As they say, "If you
don't like the weather wait five minutes", well after about ten minutes
the squall had passed over me and now the sun was beating down. My
hands were the only parts on me that got cold, so the warm high
altitude sun brought comfort back to them. By the time I was half way
back down, it was hot, kind of. Well, hot enough to take the layers off
that I put on up high. The leaves on the Aspen tree's are just popping
out, so the scenery changed from snowpacked hills to green trees with
no snow.
I can't wait till I can ride to the top, by next weekend, I hope. It is
quite the special place to be without any car traffic. Cheers
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Filename: Ind. Pass May 06'001.JPG |
|Download: http://www.unicyclist.com/attachment/13324 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
--
aspenmike
------------------------------------------------------------------------
aspenmike's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/3768
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/49224