Homestead Ridge Trail

Pi Guy and I went for a little longer ride on Saturday.

The wind was blowing, according to the weather channel about twenty to thirty mph, and the sun was shining. We sun screened up with some SPF 30 spray.

We headed east on the Rock Island Trail then north on Academy Blvd., against the wind. We then cut across to the Homestead Ridge Trail at its start. I had been out this way before as far as Penrose Park.

The trail from Penrose Park inclines upward. It was a much steeper incline than I expected (possibly 6%) and quite a trial. (Remember our inexperienced legs.) I didn't notice the wind on the Homestead trail although I knew it could be a factor on the return.

We both did notice the Sky Sox Stadium that had no game from our perch at the top of Barnes road, as well as noticing all the new businesses out on Powers. The difference in elevation is about 600 feet, from home to where we were.

Our legs still are not acclimated to even the hills around Colorado Springs. It'll be a couple of weeks before we even get to a twenty mile distance. (Unless we get brave and up the distance training.)

We were only going for twelve miles but riding to Barnes Road was more like fifteen miles round trip. Next week end we'll plan on a seventeen mile ride. The weekend after, we'll come back this way and make our way over to Cottonwood Creek, down to Pikes Peak Greenway and back home.

That loop route should be about twenty miles, loaded at the front with that intense hill around South Carefree.

But this ride except for the tail wind on the way back, and the unexpected climb, was pretty uneventful. Considering some of the events that could happen, I'm happy.

Hey, I did get to break out my sunglasses.