June 2-12, I’m hosting a dozen athletes at my home in Snowmass for a week long frenzy of biking and running. Springtime in the Rockies. Here is the preview I gave to them:
Base Camp: My family’s home in Snowmass Village, CO. I share this with my sister. Because my son, who manages the property, rents it out half the year, we have 15 “pillows” when filled to the max. Three bedrooms (Blue, Black, and Master) with attached baths, a loft with a nearby half bath, and a bunk room with nearby half bath.
Directions: Most people will be coming from the East, through Denver. While Independence Pass is scenic and appears to be a shorter route, it is easier and quicker to come via I-70 through Glenwood Springs to SR 82. At about MP 36, right turn @ light onto Brush Creek Road towards Snowmass Village (don’t confuse with town of Snowmass, 8 miles closer to Glenwood). 4 miles, turn right on SInclair, 0.6 miles to a right on Lemond, house is third driveway on the left, 281. There should be an EN flag attached to the house.
Eating: There is, of course, a fully equipped (though small for 13 people!) kitchen with coffee maker, blender, microwave, dishwasher, etc. Stocked with condiments, spices, and staples. I will buy food a few days before the camp, per requests given at the Group Facebook page. Breakfast will be at the house, lunch on the road, and dinner mostly going out to local places in Aspen or Snowmass, with 1 or 2 nights group meal @ home. After you check the shopping list on FB, if there is anything else you need (special powders, favorite food) either bring it with you or buy @ the City Market or Whole Foods, both of which are in Willits/ElJebel/Basalt in a shopping area off to the right about 19 miles from Glenwood.
Weather: June is the driest month of the year here, but I can’t promise no rain. Key to understanding the weather is: we are IN the mountains. The Roaring Fork Valley runs from 5700’ @ Glenwood to 12,000’ @ Independence Pass. My house is @ 8300’. Temperatures vary about 3-5 deg F for every 1000’. So a typical day might be 80+ downvalley in Glenwood, 67F @ my house, and in the 50s at 10,000’ and above. Most of our riding will be between 6000-10000’, except for the day we go up (and over) the Pass. It’s not uncommon for afternoon clouds to form, and even rarely some rain, usually higher up. So the main idea: bring clothing for all conditions! A light stuff-able wind jacket, arm warmers and a base layer are often needed.
The Riding: All rides start and end at my house, which means a climb of 3-600’ up 6-8% grade at the end of the day. As we say, “That’s where the training happens.” All rides flow out from and back into the Roaring Fork Valley, through which some back roads run, as well as a bike path the entire distance from Glenwood to Aspen. There is also an extensive network of bike paths in and around each of the towns. AND, almost all our rides are out and back on dead end roads. So, expect little traffic worries. Also, the people here are very used to cyclists, and conflict with drivers is exceedingly rare (like, I have never experienced it.)
The Rides: I have a tentative schedule, but reserve the right to call audibles based on the weather and people’s interests. All rides will be designed with both shorter and longer routes. Shorter does not necessarily mean easier, just fewer miles in the same general area. Because people are arriving and leaving at different times over a ten day period, I’ve listed rides on all days except Saturday, June 10, the day of the Ragnar relay. The rides show “Candy Ass” option, or the shortest possible route that day, along with the “Bad Ass” option, the longest possible route. Of course, if that’s not enough, you could always do what Dave Tallo did, a few hill “repeats” added on. Personally, I plan on doing mostly either the Candy Ass option, or somewhere in between the two. My goal is to “have fun with my fitness”, not destroy it.
Two links here, first to the schedule of rides: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vl3WsMLtw09DTQfsd1tuqyVvyLEWZiaWznrKVH6jIuU/edit#gid=0 And the route maps/descriptions on Ride With GPS: https://ridewithgps.com/users/364131/routes
Bikes. I have a bike rack on which to hang 13 bikes against the wall, so we don’t have to leave them leaning all over everything. I have several pumps, including two screw-on LeZynes. I have a fairly complete set of bike tools, including a chain whip, torque wrench, and thanks to Attila, a derailleur hanger adjustment tool (hope no one needs THAT). I also have a bike stand. And, about 10 CO2 cartridges you can use while you’re here.
Ragnar: Oh, yeah, almost forgot. Most of us are doing the Ragnar Trail Relay on the evening/night of June 9th + the day of June 10th. For those who have not done this before, make sure you bring a headlamp, warm clothing for your night run – last year Jeremy ran 65 minutes at midnight in shorts and a t-shirt, but most of the rest of us had a watch cap or headband, long tights, and several layers upstairs. Expect a clear night with temps in the 30s – 40s if we’re lucky. But NO SUN between 8 PM and 6 AM. The schedule for the relay will be finalized at the camp. Those few folk who need to leave early will get the first start times, and should be done by 11 AM at the latest. I assume you already have the link to Ragnar and the athlete guide.