Here is a nice view from the Colorado Trail near Kokoma Pass at about 12,200 ft.

Officially a CO bum!

Yep I have fallen into the path of being a mtn junkie since I have left Nashville on June 3rd. I can't believe it has been that long but the travels of the final SE races of Bump and Sugar left me with a great taste of racing and now I'm just bouncing around the front range outside Denver. I must admit that I haven't even hit up a race yet since I've moved as the busy schedule of searching for a new job and getting settled in took top priority. Don't get me wrong though....I have been riding so I should be keeping my fitness up; just without the high end that racing forces me to have.

It is now soon to be 2 mths and I still have no job, which I can't complain about, but getting kinda old not having a schedule. I have been working some traveling around helping my old college boss move people around the country, which may be why I haven't raced as being on the road for 17 days straight isn't conducive to training...let-alone racing! Oh well, have to eat and pay bills, so must do it.

Ahh the crew; myself, Joe, Gene, Justin and Rufus.

Well about CO! It is great. I have done some new things, as I just got back from a 3 day backpacking trip on the Colorado/Continental Divide trail. Pretty different packing 50 lbs on your back moving at 2-3 mph vs the usual blazing trail riding that I'm accustomed to. I have also been trying to explore some of the trails around the front range to take advantage of not having the 9 to 5 right now. I must say that a weekend of camping and riding in Winterpark was well worth the drive through the mtns and if you want a technical test that will make your triceps pump and knuckles white, then either the Sourdough trail near Boulder or White Ranch outside Golden are some good tests.

Unfortunately I can't say the road riding is the best yet. I am still in the process of finding some good loops to ride as Denver is one huge concrete hell and almost impossible to get out of without at least riding a hour 1st. I can mention a great ride that I did the 1st week here that was a deciding factor on my racing plans. I found a great ride out of Denver to the nice little town of Golden to meet a few guys at Starbucks. The ride proceeded to climb 19 miles thru Golden Gate State Park to the the Peak to Peak Hwy. By the time I hit close to 9500 ft my eyes felt like they were sinking in my skull and I couldn't hold a straight line while trying to maintain tempo. My heart rate fell into the 120 range and I officially was a victim of altitude. It took several days following that 4+ hr ride to feel anywhere close to normal.

Anyways I will be doing some racing when I get back from my brother's wedding in NY. I'm taking my road bike and newly built miniature steed of Heather, so we can ride the rural roads of Penn Yan around the finger lakes. It should be fun. Hopefully have a race report for readings after the first weeks of August.