Bicycle riding

[MadDog]

Survived day 2 of hiking. Another 9 miles of moderate to difficult rated hiking. Feet hurt, but everything else ok.

on a biking note, there is a really nice bike path that runs parallel to I70. Not sure how long it is, or where it starts and ends, but easily over 100 miles. No road crossings or intersections with streets that I could tell. It would be a dream to ride something like that. Wish I had my bike with me!

[MadDog]

Hey Altwsu, we did the same thing at the Grand Canyon. Down South Kaibab and up Bright Angel. Except we didn’t camp, just down and out in a day. Then, many years later when were 51 years old, we did it again. Judging from these first two hikes this week, not sure there is a third time in the cards to do that down and out again for me anyway!

[JVShocker]

Survived day 2 of hiking. Another 9 miles of moderate to difficult rated hiking. Feet hurt, but everything else ok.

on a biking note, there is a really nice bike path that runs parallel to I70. Not sure how long it is, or where it starts and ends, but easily over 100 miles. No road crossings or intersections with streets that I could tell. It would be a dream to ride something like that. Wish I had my bike with me!

I found sme info on this. Its 150 miles long. I found a youtube video of a 14 mile paved section near Glenwood Canyon. Just remarkable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIKWL-TYTM8

[atlwsu]

Hey Altwsu, we did the same thing at the Grand Canyon. Down South Kaibab and up Bright Angel. Except we didn’t camp, just down and out in a day. Then, many years later when were 51 years old, we did it again. Judging from these first two hikes this week, not sure there is a third time in the cards to do that down and out again for me anyway!

My son and I did a lot.of hiking in the Smokies. Most were 4 to 5 miles. Longest was 8+. Most are loops. On one we were the farthest from the start/end as possible, probably 3or 4miles or so, when ran across a beware of bear poster. We were kinda nervous for the rest of the hike. I think the most we did was 2,000 feet in elevation change. Cannot do it now.

[MadDog]

JV, yes, I would say 150 miles sounds about right. I think it goes from Dillon to Glenwood Springs. This time of year it looks way cooler than the YouTube video you posted. The colors in that valley are gorgeous right now. Here’s a picture right outside of Glenwood Springs. These pictures don’t do it justice either. Huffy and I decided we have got to come back and ride this next year.

[JVShocker]

That youtube vid looks pretty cool to me along I70 in Glenwood. I'm sure you're correct in the assessment that the LIVE picture is better than any photograph you could take or youtube video to be watched. Lately I keep watching vids of the Prairie Spirit Trail near Ottawa, KS and there's a decent 50 mile that might be worth a day trip. And then I keep seeing posts on youtube about Dirty Kanza, and while they look like fun, I'm guessing the 208 mile bike ride through the flint hills would take me between 16 and 19 hours depending on stops, breaks, and mechanicals. SO I don't know if I feel like sitting on a bike seat for that long, so I might try and look at the Dirty Kanza100. They're all kind of "lottery based" so I don't even know that I could get in.

Another ride tonight but got cut short at 18.82 miles ( 1 hour 25 minutes) because one light died and the other had the CHARGE ME light come on. Was glad to make it home before it died. The light came on at the first picture, which is still almost 10 miles from home depending on the route I take. Funny thing about that picture (taken just north of Warren East theater), is that its usually dark when I get there and its 8-9 miles straight line to home, but I usually venture off to the north (or right) down Greenwich.

Oh, and Maddog, they FINALLY poured some concrete to the bridge (last photo) on the west side of redbud from 127th street. I didn't dare ride back there tonight (they were working) to get a better look.

[pogo]

The guys (Rick Stephens and the two Harrison Brothers) reached Eads Colorado yesterday and will be in Limon tonight. Will reach Mt Trelease on Saturday morning.

[revenge_of_shocka_khan]

22.5 in an hour and 25 last night. Discovered an inefficiency in my mechanics and I fixed on it. Yet another benefit of putting a lot of time in the seat.

[revenge_of_shocka_khan]

JV, yes, I would say 150 miles sounds about right. I think it goes from Dillon to Glenwood Springs. This time of year it looks way cooler than the YouTube video you posted. The colors in that valley are gorgeous right now. Here’s a picture right outside of Glenwood Springs. These pictures don’t do it justice either. Huffy and I decided we have got to come back and ride this next year.

I have nothing but a trip to Dallas (if my employer gives me the time off) scheduled for vacation this year. If I'm really lucky, maybe I can to to Lake Charles or the Lucky Buzzard casino. :)

Enjoy your vacation, looks like you are having a great time!

[MadDog]

JV, I did the Prairie Spirit Trail a couple of years ago from Ottawa to Garnett. I was hoping to get it done again this fall, but not sure it’s going to work out this time. It definitely is a great day trip, but you’ll need two bike carrying vehicles to pull it off. As I recall the path was very similar to the part ot the Redbud east of Andover. I rode it on my road bike and did ok.

Last year rode part of the rail trail from Vassar to Council Grove, also on the road bike. That didn’t go so well as I blew out a tire in Miller KS which ended the fun about halfway through the ride. Surface was very harsh, very similar to the Redbud between Woodlawn and K-96. I’d kind of like to try that one again on the gravel bike and start in Council Grove where I understand the path is crushed limestone.

Shaka, I hope you can find a way to retirement soon. Thankfully it sounds like you get in your share of bike riding even with that job of yours!

Another 28,000 step, 338 floors of elevation change on the hike today. This summer of bike riding has been great training for the hiking, but unfortunately doesn’t simulate the pounding your feet take on the trails. I’m going to have to make a shoe change to get through the rest of the week.

[MoValley John]

How does someone get their wife to say okay on a $3,000 carbon bike with Ultegra. Asking for a friend.

[MadDog]

She gave it to me for my birthday

[revenge_of_shocka_khan]

How does someone get their wife to say okay on a $3,000 carbon bike with Ultegra. Asking for a friend.

You could point to the mileage you are riding and tell her that you need to upgrade your ride? Perhaps offer her a 'his and hers'?

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/mens-diverge-comp/p/154306?color=&searchText=95419-5248

Looks like they are offering a 15% discount, so $3750 - $550 = $3200.

You will probably need to buy directly from them. This one caught my eye because it also has a shock integrated into the frame. My LBS in Houston has one for around $3K. I don't think it is this one, but this one has the same feature (the shock).

[revenge_of_shocka_khan]

JV, I did the Prairie Spirit Trail a couple of years ago from Ottawa to Garnett. I was hoping to get it done again this fall, but not sure it’s going to work out this time. It definitely is a great day trip, but you’ll need two bike carrying vehicles to pull it off. As I recall the path was very similar to the part ot the Redbud east of Andover. I rode it on my road bike and did ok.

Last year rode part of the rail trail from Vassar to Council Grove, also on the road bike. That didn’t go so well as I blew out a tire in Miller KS which ended the fun about halfway through the ride. Surface was very harsh, very similar to the Redbud between Woodlawn and K-96. I’d kind of like to try that one again on the gravel bike and start in Council Grove where I understand the path is crushed limestone.

Shaka, I hope you can find a way to retirement soon. Thankfully it sounds like you get in your share of bike riding even with that job of yours!

Another 28,000 step, 338 floors of elevation change on the hike today. This summer of bike riding has been great training for the hiking, but unfortunately doesn’t simulate the pounding your feet take on the trails. I’m going to have to make a shoe change to get through the rest of the week.

Real busy yesterday, work was a **** show. But on a personal note, an old friend of mine (Went to ND, was Gotlieb's class partner, Gottlieb subsequently stole his credit card, which got him thrown off the team there) asked me about retirement yesterday.

Last two days makes me want to go, but I want to keep working. I can't see a reason to retire during this pandemic, but my hat's off to you. I won't be able to hike (or probably ride) extended steep grades until I get my knees replaced. I'd like to think I will get the replaced the last year I work, I don't know how much longer I have, but I am hoping 2-3 years.

And why did I bold Miller, Kansas in your post? My grandfather was a section foreman for Missouri Pacific Railroad in Miller until the 40's or early 50's when he moved the family to Admire after they shut the section gang there down. My dad worked at the Miller Ranch after he graduated from High School and before WWII.

I went through there about 10 years ago, after the line was abandoned, and remember the large limestone rock that they used to stabilize the track bed. If it's still there, it would be a real pain to ride on.

[JVShocker]

JV, I did the Prairie Spirit Trail a couple of years ago from Ottawa to Garnett. I was hoping to get it done again this fall, but not sure it’s going to work out this time. It definitely is a great day trip, but you’ll need two bike carrying vehicles to pull it off. As I recall the path was very similar to the part ot the Redbud east of Andover. I rode it on my road bike and did ok.

Last year rode part of the rail trail from Vassar to Council Grove, also on the road bike. That didn’t go so well as I blew out a tire in Miller KS which ended the fun about halfway through the ride. Surface was very harsh, very similar to the Redbud between Woodlawn and K-96. I’d kind of like to try that one again on the gravel bike and start in Council Grove where I understand the path is crushed limestone.

Shaka, I hope you can find a way to retirement soon. Thankfully it sounds like you get in your share of bike riding even with that job of yours!

Another 28,000 step, 338 floors of elevation change on the hike today. This summer of bike riding has been great training for the hiking, but unfortunately doesn’t simulate the pounding your feet take on the trails. I’m going to have to make a shoe change to get through the rest of the week.

Love the pics. And our bike carrier will hold three bikes so we'll be good with it.