Not a bad week and a fairly good day.........
Took a quick ride (3.5 hours) up SR 39 toward Monte Cristo yesterday morning. I didn't have enough time to go all the way to the top, so I stopped at the spring just past MP 35. An early start got me up South Fork Canyon in some pretty nice conditions. A lot of traffic up to the Causey Dam turn-off, with still an occasional group of truck draggings "side-by-sides". Still pretty nice.
The ride back down is always fast, but seems to go on forever down in the canyon itself. It gets kind of narrow with several limited sight distance corners and rises. It only lasts about 4 miles, but when you're tired, it can seem a lot longer. Once you get to MP23 (Camp Atoka) it does open up again and you can actually get cell service. The cell service this is really kind of key when riding up there. Once you get past Atoka going up, it's like going around the back side of the moon - you're pretty much on your own. It is rather peaceful, but you have no chance of calling for a bailout. More on Monte at a later time.....................
The stretch home, over the rollers and back into the north side of the valley is always a challenge. Yesterday was no different. Knowing you are going in, it is easy to become complacent and not drive as hard. A close call with a hay wagon didn't help matters any. The last four mile climb should be where I concentrate the most, but for some reason I tend to "milk it" home. That is until the hill just below home. With grades exceeding 10%, it's gonna make you pay every time. Yesterday was no different and it took getting into the bailout gear right at the end to finish.
I wanted to get home early to go ice skating - believe it or not. Worth the sacrifice, but it left me just a couple miles short of my weekly goal.
Next week I need to start a new segment of training and begin focusing on the discipline side of things. The bike is starting to feel pretty good, with minor mechanical issues, but still pretty natural. I still need to hit East Canyon this year, but I'm anxious to get over Monte. It's all happening way too fast - again.
For now, enjoy a little Louis. Kind of fitting for the morning ride.
Ride hard!
