Back in the Saddle

After a two week hiatus from cycling I finally had some motivation to ride again. Beautiful weather and a half day at work was all the inspiration I needed. With the cross bike as the chosen trusty steed for the day, I headed up Gold Camp Rd. in search of some good 'ol gravel and miles of climbing.

My legs immediately let me know what two weeks off the bike will do. Damn. My fitness is certainly lacking since moving to Colorado. I work too much and my schedule is too sporadic to be on any kind of training schedule. I haven't even raced since September. Yikes.

I climbed several miles of pavement passing plenty of trails that I still need to explore. I passed several group rides going the opposite direction, passed a few weekend warriors and came upon a pilot from Washington who rented a shitty bike from me the day before. He was keeled over at the top of his first climb. I stopped and talked to him for a minute.

Carrying on, I passed a couple more people once I hit the gravel. I saw a dude in a Carmichael Training Systems kit who was just around the bend. For some reason I always try to hammer those CTS kit wearing folk into the ground. Maybe just to show that you don't need to pay Lance's coach to become a decent rider. So I catch the guy, say hi, slide past and pick up my pace just a bit, trying not to make it too obvious. Ah, nice and easy, he certainly won't be trying to hold my wheel. I passed him way too easily.

About five minutes of climbing go by, I go through the first tunnel, look down at my rear tire, it feels low. It looks good but while looking down, I realize that the CTS rider is on my wheel. WTF? I pick it up a little bit, again, trying to be discrete about it.

Nearing the last mile or so, I can't hold the pace anymore so I move to the left, leaving room for this guy to take a pull. We trade some words. "I was just trying to see if I could hold your wheel" he says. I respond with, "Yeah, I didn't even know you were back there till a second ago." He pulled to the top of the climb and we talked for a few.

Turns out homeboy (Jim) is an editor for Chris Carmichael. "Doesn't Chris live in the Springs?" I asked the guy, even though I already knew the answer since I've raced against the chubster. Jim tells me, "Yeah, actually he lives right there, on the last switchback of that climb."

That climb is the hardest climb in the Springs and one of the toughest in Colorado. I've done it twice in five months and it starts just under two miles from my driveway. It sucks. It hurts. No wonder Mr. Carmichael brings his clients there to train, his driveway is near the top of the climb.
Crazy. I love the Springs. Large concentrations of big time racers live in Colorado but most are in Boulder, Ft. Collins or other towns. I knew Carmichael lived in the Springs but, I had no idea he lived on my street, just a few miles down.

Now, where is Compton? Katie Compton, not the city made famous my your favorite rappers.