Whoa…hello legs! Nervous about this one…big climb…hot…middle of nuttin! However, I managed to commandeer my friends Dirk and Chiara’s daughter Jorgie for ride support :) I mean why have them if you don’t use them…friends that is. That is rhetorical…of course I know why you have them. Couldn’t have done it without the water refill that Jorgie brought out to the middle of nuttin for me. Sent her a pin and said “be there”. I dig this ride support thing. 27mi in and I had already finished my three bottles. Super parched on these rides these days. Refilled my three bottles, drank a coconut water and moved on. Electrolytes in the first batch but none in the second batch. The ride - Got to see the climb I’d have to do to finish the ride, driving to the parking lot. Not particularly stoked about that one. Broke the sound barrier on the ride down from Horsetooth Res to the first turn. Then started the climb up Rist Canyon. Ugh…what’s the opposite of the sound barrier?? I broke that on the climb up. That was a slog. Did it though, I mean I knew I would, just not sure I was going to do it in the same day. Awe that downhill though was so worth it. Got close to the sound barrier. Did’t bust through, but that was some long amazing mountain roads all the way to Masonville (the very definition of a one horse town). There was a outhouse for me though….can’t sweat it all out. First time I saw a donation box next to an outhouse. Respect. The climb back up to Horsetooth seemed longer than I remember (I did do this exact loop before, but probably at least 10 years ago) and there were some additional ups and downs in there that I don’t recall. Not likely they added them in those 10 years, so must be selective exercise memory (I thought we were done climbing, I swear). Made it to the final set of climbs out and back to the lot. Not super long, but punchy, especially at the end of the loop. Legs held in there. Water was somehow missing from my bottles. Parked it in that “Granny Gear” and just kept spinning (not fast). I was quite pleased to get to the top of that final climb and roll back to the car. Certainly like that feeling of accomplishment. Maybe I should apply that else where in my life?