The Big Ride Part III

With Loveland Pass behind us, it was all down hill for the next 25 miles.  We had a short climb over Swan Mountain around Lake Dillon,  a short rest at Summit County High School and then our final climb up Vail Pass.

The ride down Loveland Pass was exhilarating.  I reached speeds up to 45 mph, before I got a little nervous and hit the brakes.  The road was narrow in many spots and full of hairpin curves. 

The first of our little problems hit as we were going down Loveland Pass.  I hit a rock on the roadway and got a pinch flat.  I had to do an emergency stop along the road going about 30 mph.  Fortunately, I came to a stop before my front tire was ruined.  None the less, we spent about 30 minutes fixing my flat. 

After getting back on the road, we had a short climb over Swan Mountain and then a short ride downhill to our next rest stop at Summit County High School on the south side of Lake Dillon.

We were ready for break!  Sandwiches, watermelon, fig newtons, bananas and oranges were a welcome treat.  Thomas and I estimated that we burned over 10,000 calories on this bike ride!

After loading up on fuel, we were back on the road.  By this time it was after 4:00 in the afternoon.  We still had one big climb left, Vail Pass.  Fatigue was starting to set in.

Most of the climb up Vail Pass was on a bike path between the traffic lanes of Interstate 70.  The path is on the left of the road down in the valley in this picture.  The grade was surprisingly steep in spots.  Going up Vail, we started to "bonk," a cycling term for running out of energy.  I started to get cramps in my thighs and had to stop and walk for a short time.  For the first time, doubts about the wisdom of our venture started to enter my mind.  I thought strongly about loading up the bike at the top of the pass and calling it quits.

 Finally, after what seemed like the longest climb of the day, we made it to the summit of Vail Pass.  As you can see in the picture at the right, my focus is on the path in front of me.  I'm the third biker in the line.  By this time, I was thinking just keep on pedaling, the top is getting closer.

Thomas was right behind.

Are we having fun yet!

How much further is it?  Thirty miles!  But it is all down hill!  We can coast that far.

And so, off we went on the final leg our our journey, by now it was after 6:00 p.m.

The long downhill ride begins.

On our way into Vail, the clouds and rain came in from the northwest, and we got wet just  10 miles from the end of our trip.  The wind was blowing in our face making the rain sting.  In a few moments we were soaked!

But, the end was in sight!

As we approached Eagle, CO, we followed this mountain stream, crossing over it several times.

 The end was in sight!  Wasn't it?

Yes!  There was a finish.

Thomas crosses the finish line!

Finally, the end.  I was just getting ready to point my arms and hands to the sky in jubilation.

The sign says it all.  125 miles, with 10,000 ft. of climbing, in just over 13 1/2 hours.

Time to make a dent in the 10,000 calories that we burned.

As we headed back to the car to load up and return home, a beautiful sunset bid us farewell to an eventful day.