Training.

The last thing I want to happen is to not finish the ride, or maybe run the risk of falling over backwards on one of the steep climbs.  So training has been a focus for quite a while.  A couple of cycling buddies from Houston, TX and I recently completed the Bicycle Tour of Colorado (BTC) @ www.bicycletourcolorado.com.  Another epic ride, covering about 410 miles from Gunnison to Montrose, Ouray, Durango, Pagosa Springs, Creede, and back to Gunnison.  A few epic climbs, including a 70-mile ride over Red Mtn Pass (11k ft), Molas Divide (10.9k ft) and Coal Bank Pass (10.6k ft) between Ouray and Durango (day 3), a 65-mile ride over Yellow Jacket Pass (7.8k ft) between Durango and Pagosa Springs (day 4), an epic climb over Wolf Creek Pass (10.9k ft) between Pagosa Springs and Creede (day 6), and then the grand finale -- 107 miles over Spring Creek Pass (10.9k ft), Slumgullion Pass (11.4k ft) and a couple of mile-long bumps in the road with 10% steeps before ending in Gunnison (day 7).  I can say that Slumgullion Pass lived up to its name (look it up).  Here's a pic of me climbing Molas on day 3, just outside the small mining town of Silverton.

Here's a pic from a second-story brew pub in Ouray.  Ouray is a beautiful place nestled into a box canyon, at the foot of the million dollar highway.  A place called Maggie's Kitchen just down the street makes one of the best burgers in CO.  We climbed (cycled) up the mountain that you can see in the back of the photo.

Another training exercise was in late February when Linda and I ventured for the first time to Tucson, Arizona.  We stayed at a resort/spa nestled in the foothills overlooking the city of Tucson.  I took my bicycle and hooked up with some local riders for four days of riding on the local roads.  I climbed Mt. Lemmon a couple of times -- it's a 14 mile climb averaging about 5-6% grades to a place called Windy Point.  It's a popular training ground for cyclists.  Here's a pic of me standing at Windy Point.