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Colorado Epic Prologue

 


I’ve had my eye on this bicycle tour for five years.  Two weeks, high altitude, nearly 1,000 miles, over 60,000 feet of climbing in Colorado’s high peaks, all by bicycle.  The Colorado Epic.  Sounds like a dream to me.  

Last year, I did a one-week Colorado bike tour with a great group of cyclists, and had an outstanding time.  At the end of the week, I wanted more.  I knew I had to make the two-week tour happen.  I reached out to a few of my fellow cyclists from the one-week tour, and two of them, Tom and Jim, agreed to register for the two-week Epic.  We needed five for the company to make it a go.  I registered in October.  Jim and Tom quickly followed.  We needed two more.  I checked my email daily, hoping for the email confirmation from the company that the tour was a go.  I waited, checked, waited, checked again.  

Finally, it came!  Tour is a GO!  July 2025.  Colorado Epic!  Let the training begin.

I started training in March.  I rode nearly every day, through the shit spring weather, the sleet, rain, wind, snow, and cold.  I rode on the rare sunny days, hoping the sun would thaw my frozen bones.  I cursed the wind, holding on to the mantra of, “a headwind is just a bonus climb.”  I added hill sprints once a week.  I strung together as many consecutive days of riding as my schedule would allow, regardless of the weather.  

March oozed into April, April flung itself into May.  The weather warmed, the wind eased, and my rides grew longer and harder.  I trained and trained, climbing every hill and mountain I could find.  May swept into June, June burst into July.  

Finally, it was time.  I packed up my truck on Thursday and headed south to Colorado.  I spent last night in Wyoming with my BFF and did an easy shake out ride this morning at altitude.  I feel strong.  I feel ready.  I am beyond excited.  I’ve waited for this tour for five years, and now it’s finally here.  Tomorrow, we ride.  Let the Epic begin!

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