Rider's Log 9.17.07 Farmer's Highline 1st time

Left the house a little after 7 this morning with the intention of riding for 4 hours on the mountain bike via the city trails. Headed west on the Farmer's High Line Canal path for the first time. Took this all the way through Northglenn to Thornton where it heads out towards 136 near Horizon HS. There are some really cool neighborhoods that back up to the canal. Turned around at 13.5 miles. Started to rain on the way back - i was totally soaked and a little cold. Air temp was around 55. Stopped to grab a power bar for fuel. It didn't rain too long and my pearl izumi wear did it's job of drying quickly.

I got back to the Highline and Dry Creek junction and decided to take Dry Creek as far as i could. Ended up somewhere around Huron and 136th. Rain came again on the way back. I was still loving it.

I was really speeding along today - keeping it around 15-17 mph on the flats, even doing some pulls at 20+mph. My legs were beat and my energy was running low by the time i was near 120th Ave. so i headed home rather than cruising out to Standley Lake for The Hill.

Total mileage: 41. Average speed 13. 3+ hours of ride time.

Rider's Log 9.9.07 M13 Standley Lake

"Hey M13."
"Yeah?"
"We own this lake now. It's our lake."
M13 smiled big. I know he did. even though he was riding in front of me, I know he did.

55 degrees. Sky was spitting. One lonely sail boat on the lake.
3 times down the "big hill." Top speed descent - 33.3 mph. Bike FLOATs at that speed.
nursed a flat back to the house so last 4 miles was full speed.

Distance 18 miles.

tear of joy and satisfaction.

Lovin' This Music

"Give Yourself Away"
Robbie Seay Band

Rider's Log 9.7.07 Wondervu 1st time!

Made it! Didn't even feel like i would. Legs were strong at the start, felt faster until after rest at 93 and 86th. approach to longview was more difficult than it's been. muscle burn/pain. kept going. was sure i was going to turn around. just kept going-pushed through it. pain left somewhere after rest at cattle drive rd. rested again at fire station. rested at power place. road past german restaurant. rested. hardest part of climb was fire station to post german. upright climbing didn't work so i spent most of the time with hands on the brake hoods mashing out the hills.
really nice stretch up toward the top - forested, cool. incline not steep.
wondervu was very quiet. took pictures at the top. was cold on the descent. a strong wind for the east slowed the descent (probably helped the climb a bit.)
rested at five parks. took an extra loop up westminster blvd to 112th to sheridan.
gatorade in water. 2.5 triple threat powerbars.
started at 8:15. wondervu at 11:00. home at 12:30. distance 55+

Rider's Log 9.5.07 Intervals

Trying to get the leg strength to climb the last mile to Wondervu so i did high gear intervals on the City Park hill. Warm up ride out to 120th on the Big Cry Creek Trail then back to City Park. 9 intervals up the hill in highest gear; last two up the hill in lower gears.
Total distance - 13 miles.

Rider's Log 9.3.07 Standley Lake again

M13 and I went out again rode around the south side and the north side of the lake. Another great ride and so much fun exploring. M13 is like the energizer bunny - he keeps going and going and going. I love my kids!
Total distance - 23 miles

Rider's Log 9.1.07 Standley Lake

On a whim, I asked M13 if he wanted to ride with me on Saturday morning last week. He was so down with that! After watering up and getting the tires nice and plump, we headed west along the Big Dry Creek trail towards Standley Lake. It was great fun. We went around the south side of the lake on the single track all the way to the west side bald eagle habitat boundary. I was riding under my normal speed and kept expecting M13 to wear out and want to turn back. Quite the opposite was true. I'd look over my shoulder to see if he was keeping up and there he was, right on my wheel. It was great! His brake pads are totally worn down from the neighborhood riding he does and they give him very little stopping power but it was cool because he just bombed down the hills that i was squeezing that brakes for! youth....
On the way back around the damn, we found a fun hill to mash our way up and fly down. On our way back home i told M13 that i would suffer on that little hill again just to be able to fly down. M13 was all over that so we rode back up the hill and flew down again.
Total distance - 18 miles. A great ride with a great boy!