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I slept great at my stealth spot next to the campground, and woke early and got going quickly so I could hopefully catch up with the group I had been riding with the previous day. They had pushed on last night and camped a bit further up.
I only had to do about 1000 feet of elevation gain to catch up with them just as they were getting ready to leave. On the way up yesterday and this morning too we had passed a large number of runners. We found out that they were a part of a race, the Hard Rock 100. The leaders passed us as we rode up and out of Ouray last night. They looked like they were still fresh but apparently were at about mile 50. Amazing.
I was so glad to be tackling the hardest climb of the trip with my new friends. I was actually excited about it rather than fearful.
The climb up Imogene pass was steep and chunky and very challenging but actually sort of rideable for the most part. The scenery was amazing as expected and I tried to ride as much as I could just because. We took lots of breaks and kept our group mostly together although the steepness had us separated a lot of the time. Up until the last 1000 feet of climbing I rode most of it but then had to walk a lot more. As did everyone else. We could see the top for awhile but it was very hard to get up some of the steep rock stairs on the last mile up to the pass. There was a bit of off road vehicle traffic but not nearly as bad as yesterday up Engineer pass. We sat and enjoyed the views from the pass for a long while. The wind was calm and the temperature was perfect. Telluride was clearly visible way down below and we had great cell service as a result.
After taking lots of pictures we rolled down the other side on the way to Telluride. The first mile was extremely steep but we made it and while the descent was quite chunky and challenging it was not nearly so rocky and difficult as yesterday's.
On the climb, while hike a biking, I found half of a Colorado motorcycle license plate. And then, a bit later, a quarter. I placed both in my backpack. Much later, near the bottom of the descent into Telluride, I saw another half of a motorcycle license plate, this one from South Carolina. Of all places. They almost fit together perfectly although one is upside down. I collect license plates I find on my rides. Some collect comics, some stamps, others coins. I collect fallen license plates. Just another of the ways I am crazy. Jen likes to say that I was a crow in a previous life because I take joy in finding discarded, shiny objects.
Our transition back to the city of Telluride was jarring and abrupt. We had bad timing for food as it was lunchtime on a Saturday. A couple of the guys had been there several times before and knew their way around. First place we tried had a really long wait. We wandered through the people and cars along main street and after a bit of back and forth, we split into two groups, with one going to an upscale grocery store, and the other a taco place. Strangely I found myself in the taco camp, by choice. It was a tad pricey but what isn't in Telluride. They were very fast despite the mad rush of people. I got three different vegetarian tacos, which were delicious, and a fountain drink for refills. We found an unoccupied picnic table in the middle of town at a park across from the courthouse. The town simply could not have contained more human beings. It was a wonderful atmosphere though and I really enjoyed spending time with my adopted trail family. I hesitate to use that term but that's how it felt. It was truly a beautiful day and it was hard to leave the grip of civilization. Not that we could have afforded a place to stay, nor was there any room anyway.
Eventually we had to get a move on but stopped by the grocery store first so I could resupply because my next town is over 100 miles away. Some of the others needed things too so I didn't feel as though I was holding everyone up. Hayden's rear wheel was a bit out of true and the tire was rubbing. I worked on it for a bit and got it a little better but we time was ticking so we had to get moving.
After we got rolling again we stuck together for a bit longer and collectively we decided to avoid the highway and take the bike path, then trail alternative I had mapped out. After a couple of minor wrong turns we headed down lovely easy gradual downhill singletrack to a well maintained gravel road. We climbed for a bit to the old town of Ophir where we parted ways finally as they headed east towards Silverton and I headed south.
It was sad to leave my new friends behind. Tomorrow will be my last day of Colorado and I loved riding here so much. It was even better than I dreamed. The beautiful scenery, wonderful people, and incredible riding was unforgettable.
I had a little climb up to Lizard Head pass on a highway and there was a storm just ahead of me in my path. So I waited it out at a bench at the pass parking area. After 45 minutes the storm moved out of my way and I continued on. After a short downhill, I turned off westward onto gravel again and began a gradual climb. The surrounding landscaping was awe inspiring but I was really tired from all the climbing and I just wanted to stop for the day. I could have camped anywhere as I was surrounded by public lands. But I waited until after the downhill to look for a dispersed spot. I found one right at the bottom next to a rushing creek. Pretty much my dream campsite.
By: | WTR4 |
Started in: | Ouray County, CO, US |
Distance: | 46.3 mi |
Selected: | 46.3 mi |
Elevation: | + 8175 / - 7471 ft |
Moving Time: | 05:46:01 |
Gear: | 2020 Lynskey GR300 |
Page Views: | 36 |
Departed: | Jul 17, 2021, 6:44 am |
Starts in: | Ouray County, CO, US |
Distance: | 46.3 mi |
Selected distance: | 46.3 mi |
Elevation: | + 8175 / - 7471 ft |
Max Grade: | |
Avg Grade | |
Cat | |
FIETS | |
VAM | |
Ascent time | |
Descent time | |
Total Duration: | 12:58:22 |
Selection Duration: | 46702 |
Moving Time: | 05:46:01 |
Selection Moving Time: | 05:46:01 |
Stopped Time: | 07:12:21 |
Calories: | 3326 |
Max Watts: | |
Avg Watts: | 161 |
WR Power | |
Work | |
Max Speed: | 40.6 mph |
Avg Speed: | 8.0 mph |
Pace: | 00:16:47 |
Moving Pace: | 00:07:27 |
Max HR: | 152 bpm |
Min HR: | 70 bpm |
Avg HR: | 114 bpm |
Heartrate zones: | |
Zone 1: | 1 hour 40 minutes |
Zone 2: | 57 minutes |
Zone 3: | 4 minutes |
Zone 4: | 0 minutes |
Zone 5: | 0 minutes |
Best format for turn-by-turn directions on modern Garmin Edge Devices
Best format for turn by turn directions on Edge 500, 510. Will provide true turn by turn navigation on Edge 800, 810, 1000, Touring including custom cue entries. Great for training when we release those features. Not currently optimal for Virtual Partner.
Useful for uploading your activity to another service, keeping records on your own computer etc.
Useful for any GPS unit. Contains no cuesheet entries, only track information (breadcrumb trail). Will provide turn by turn directions (true navigation) on the Edge 705/800/810/1000/Touring, but will not have any custom cues. Works great for Mio Cyclo. Find GPS specific help in our help system.
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