After two years of moody, cold and rainy weather for my Snowmass High Altitude Training Camp (SHAT-C), this year has blossomed bright, bold, and downright HOT. Despite the sub-freezing snow and sleet on the first day.
The Fryingpan River courses down from the Divide to Basalt, there almost doubling the flow of the Roaring Fork. So I don’t overcook myself, I drive to 2 Rivers Rd, avoiding the 17 miles down and back from home, and saving over 2 hours of riding time. I need the rest, and don’t need the extra miles.
The ride starts in Basalt, where river side homes mean just that.
Up we go for 13 miles, with the river a constant companion on my right (this shot is looking downhill).
The grade is mellow, 1-2%, until I hit the climb up to Ruedi Reservoir.
Past the dam, the road heads up another 3 miles and 700’. The dam provides power, sailing in the Rockies, and water for Denver.
Near the end of the paved road, at 9300 feet, the still sparkling snow covered Divide looms just beyond the trees.
Back down, the first 10 miles is a rocket – a perfect coasting downhill, 3% grade, few turns, and warming temps. Up over the reservoir hump once more, then down for the final 13 mile power cruise, the usual uphill wind turned around today, with warm zephyrs coming from my side and back.
The numbers: 66 miles, 4 hours, 15 minutes, 4210’ of elevation gain, 85F at the end of the ride, and one very odd sun burn, where I neglected to sunscreen the underside of my forearms, exposed bottoms up on the aerobars.