On Tuesday Pi Guy and I went out for a ride. This time to see how far out the Midland Trail goes. The trail map shows it going out as far as 20th Street. But the dotted "to be completed" lines point to Manitou Springs.
This ride gave new meaning to the words "Wind Trainer." The wind was SWS and powerful. Nice when it's at your back. It was a short ride, about twelve miles out and back.
We saw the Blue Heron, maybe a Blue Heron, and not the one that we had seen just a few days before. It was standing in the middle of Monument Creek about behind the Colorado College. (Rats, no camera.)
Monument Creek is up, not run off stage yet but up a little. We have about two feet to eighteen inches before we won't be able to cross just past the Bijou bridge.
Amazingly, the Midland Trail stops at 20th Street. Just like the map said. A more decked out road cyclist answered our question. He said that this was the end of the trail. Yes, it is slated to go as far as Manitou Springs, and that Manitou Springs was his destination, but it doesn't go there yet. You have to suck it up and smell the traffic.
Pi Guy and I swung down by G&C Packing Company, which is a meat processing plant, to see if there were any possibility of a trail down by the Fountain Creek heading west. NSL. Then we headed back.
Did I say that it is nice to have a strong wind at your back? (That's rhetorical.)
I don’t think that I said anything about it not being nice to set down your water bottle while your getting your bicycle out and not pick it up again for your ride, did I?
As we were cruising back on the Rock Island Trail, almost home, we saw the/another Blue Heron. They are great birds, big, and they fly with their legs trailing out.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
More Rides
Pi Guy and I have been on three rides since last post. A break in good health for Pi Guy (a cold) and a change in the weather to the colder extreme prevented us from getting out for almost a week.
(I thought that this would put us behind schedule, but I was wrong.)
Getting out again, I was considering Pi Guy's endurance, and suggested that we ride up to the Austin Bluffs, Union Blvd. intersection where there has been a large intersection project. It would be about four miles round trip, and give us a chance to more closely look at the progress of the construction.
New to Pi Guy was the underpass under Union, and the path parallel to Union. Familiar with our usual route to Rocky Mountain Calvary, Pi Guy said that we could even bicycle there on this path.
Rather than back track and return home, with Pi Guy's approval, we headed up the bicycle path parallel to Austin Bluffs, to the east.
At the access to Palmer Park we picked up a gravel road that took us up into Palmer Park. The incline near the end of the gravel portion, our inexperience, and the type of tires on our bicycles cause us both to spin our tires. But we persevered. The rest of the ride was on the asphalt road that runs through the Park. And it was down hill from the crest of the park to home. The whole distance was about six miles.
Our next ride was somewhat more intense for our inexperienced legs. We headed out to the Pikes Peak Greenway, and went up the Sinton Trail. The Sinton trail has a steady incline until it meets up with the Mesa Trail, which we would then take to the south.
I thought that we would have an incline down as soon as we were on Mesa Trail. I'm wrong a lot. We still had more hill to climb before enjoying some coasting.
Even the first coast was short lived as we had to climb from the 30th Street, Mesa Road intersection to the top of the hill by the Garden of the Gods Club. Pi Guy slipped his chain again, and was tempted to walk his bike up the rest of the hill. I restrung his chain and prevailed in encouraging him to take the rst of the hill on the bike.
Once at the top of the hill, we had an extended coast along Mesa Road until we came to the I-25 pedestrian/bicycle overpass. We stopped in the park on the east side of I-25 by Fountain Creek. A blue heron was just finishing eating in front of us, then flew away downstream. Then we returned home. This trip out was about 12 miles and tougher on our legs.
The last trip out was just a day later and a repeat of our trips out to the end of the Rock Island trail at Powers Blvd. Although the temperatures were in the high seventies, maybe eighties, the next two days were supposed to be a return to winter, not fit for fair weather cyclists like us.
(I thought that this would put us behind schedule, but I was wrong.)
Getting out again, I was considering Pi Guy's endurance, and suggested that we ride up to the Austin Bluffs, Union Blvd. intersection where there has been a large intersection project. It would be about four miles round trip, and give us a chance to more closely look at the progress of the construction.
New to Pi Guy was the underpass under Union, and the path parallel to Union. Familiar with our usual route to Rocky Mountain Calvary, Pi Guy said that we could even bicycle there on this path.
Rather than back track and return home, with Pi Guy's approval, we headed up the bicycle path parallel to Austin Bluffs, to the east.
At the access to Palmer Park we picked up a gravel road that took us up into Palmer Park. The incline near the end of the gravel portion, our inexperience, and the type of tires on our bicycles cause us both to spin our tires. But we persevered. The rest of the ride was on the asphalt road that runs through the Park. And it was down hill from the crest of the park to home. The whole distance was about six miles.
Our next ride was somewhat more intense for our inexperienced legs. We headed out to the Pikes Peak Greenway, and went up the Sinton Trail. The Sinton trail has a steady incline until it meets up with the Mesa Trail, which we would then take to the south.
I thought that we would have an incline down as soon as we were on Mesa Trail. I'm wrong a lot. We still had more hill to climb before enjoying some coasting.
Even the first coast was short lived as we had to climb from the 30th Street, Mesa Road intersection to the top of the hill by the Garden of the Gods Club. Pi Guy slipped his chain again, and was tempted to walk his bike up the rest of the hill. I restrung his chain and prevailed in encouraging him to take the rst of the hill on the bike.
Once at the top of the hill, we had an extended coast along Mesa Road until we came to the I-25 pedestrian/bicycle overpass. We stopped in the park on the east side of I-25 by Fountain Creek. A blue heron was just finishing eating in front of us, then flew away downstream. Then we returned home. This trip out was about 12 miles and tougher on our legs.
The last trip out was just a day later and a repeat of our trips out to the end of the Rock Island trail at Powers Blvd. Although the temperatures were in the high seventies, maybe eighties, the next two days were supposed to be a return to winter, not fit for fair weather cyclists like us.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Fifteen Miles
We made one more ride, getting started. We were going to go twelve miles, over to the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail then up to the Rockrimmon Trail and back.
It was another beautiful day but breezy, in the high 60's. There were joggers out as well as other cyclists all up and down the trail.
The trail north of the Sinton Trail turn off was new to me. Actually there are two trails, and we ended up on the Front Range Trail. The Pikes Peak Greenway traverses, I think, on Sinton Road. So we stayed on the path, and were able to avoid automobile traffic.
On the North side of Garden of the Gods Road we notice the work of some beavers. We had never seen any nor had we considered that there might be urban beavers in Colorado Springs. But the downed and gnawed trees were undeniable. And some were fresh.
The trail bridges Fountain Creek several times. At the first crossing after passing under I-25 I had heard some cyclists behind us so instead of turning up the trail I went straight. There were four cyclists traveling in a group, their colors gave them away. They were appreciative that they could get by so easily.
We ended up going up past Woodman Road. Rough figuring, we would travel about fifteen miles. This would be about a week ahead on our schedule for weekly increases in distance.
At a trail map near a trailhead Pi Guy was ready to head back. It was quite warm so Pi Guy doffed his sweatshirt I took off my jacket. But when we got back to the place we had pulled of for the group of cyclists earlier. We pulled off again to put warmer clothing because of the wind.
It was then that I noticed that there was a retail bicycle shop right there. Criterium Bicycles, who knew? It's on Corporate Drive, if you're driving.
Somewhere along the ride there was a sign announcing that there was an intention to complete a bicycle trail extending from Wyoming to New Mexico. A ride for another time.
Good ride. I had been concerned that Pi Guy wasn't going to be able to keep up, he is always in a following position. Several times during this ride he pulled up to mention observations of interest, an abandoned soccer field, and a larger animal scurrying away in the brush. He's doing well.
Warmer, we headed home. This happened last weekend.
It was another beautiful day but breezy, in the high 60's. There were joggers out as well as other cyclists all up and down the trail.
The trail north of the Sinton Trail turn off was new to me. Actually there are two trails, and we ended up on the Front Range Trail. The Pikes Peak Greenway traverses, I think, on Sinton Road. So we stayed on the path, and were able to avoid automobile traffic.
On the North side of Garden of the Gods Road we notice the work of some beavers. We had never seen any nor had we considered that there might be urban beavers in Colorado Springs. But the downed and gnawed trees were undeniable. And some were fresh.
The trail bridges Fountain Creek several times. At the first crossing after passing under I-25 I had heard some cyclists behind us so instead of turning up the trail I went straight. There were four cyclists traveling in a group, their colors gave them away. They were appreciative that they could get by so easily.
We ended up going up past Woodman Road. Rough figuring, we would travel about fifteen miles. This would be about a week ahead on our schedule for weekly increases in distance.
At a trail map near a trailhead Pi Guy was ready to head back. It was quite warm so Pi Guy doffed his sweatshirt I took off my jacket. But when we got back to the place we had pulled of for the group of cyclists earlier. We pulled off again to put warmer clothing because of the wind.
It was then that I noticed that there was a retail bicycle shop right there. Criterium Bicycles, who knew? It's on Corporate Drive, if you're driving.
Somewhere along the ride there was a sign announcing that there was an intention to complete a bicycle trail extending from Wyoming to New Mexico. A ride for another time.
Good ride. I had been concerned that Pi Guy wasn't going to be able to keep up, he is always in a following position. Several times during this ride he pulled up to mention observations of interest, an abandoned soccer field, and a larger animal scurrying away in the brush. He's doing well.
Warmer, we headed home. This happened last weekend.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Rock Island Trail
Pi Guy and I went for a second ride the same week. This was also about twelve miles. Our access to the Rock Island Trail is almost immediate from our home and from here to Powers Boulevard is relatively flat for about six miles. We've done parts of the trail as a family, and I used, fairly regularly, three or four miles, as part of my bicycle commute to work.
The Rock Island Trail does have its challenges, however, some of which I am familiar. The trail parallels Constitution Avenue. The intersections pose dangers, if, as a bicyclist, you observe and use the pedestrian crossing.
I have seen from my bicycle perch some nasty auto accidents being pulled from the Union, Constitution intersection. The next intersection, Circle and Constitution, is set up the same way. I had seen, here, a cyclist that had been hit, broad side, and flung from his bicycle. I was in time to hear his vocal chords match the pitch of the approaching sirens.
Academy, Constitution again is similar, but the Academy cross traffic is much, much heavier. I have been nearly clipped on numerous occasions. People in automobiles often times find the crosswalk a convenient place to stop to observe oncoming traffic when they are attempting to turn on to Constitution. At times their eyes are looking in the wrong direction to see you entering the crosswalk with the ped x-ing light.
Another time, a cyclist was actually road cycling on Constitution. He was excellently outfitted with wetsuit, a really (!) nice road bike, and great training as exhibited by his velocity. He thought that he would be able to run a yellow, almost red, traffic light at Academy.
He was wrong. Five lanes of northbound traffic began to move as he crossed the southbound lanes. He almost had to put his bike down, but turned south into the outside, of the three southbound lanes.
I'm glad that all I had to do was shake my head, and not make a cell phone call for an ambulance for him. 8<) But what a bad reputation he gives the road cyclist. Recognizing these perils Pi Guy and I had a good ride out to Powers and back.
The Rock Island Trail does have its challenges, however, some of which I am familiar. The trail parallels Constitution Avenue. The intersections pose dangers, if, as a bicyclist, you observe and use the pedestrian crossing.
I have seen from my bicycle perch some nasty auto accidents being pulled from the Union, Constitution intersection. The next intersection, Circle and Constitution, is set up the same way. I had seen, here, a cyclist that had been hit, broad side, and flung from his bicycle. I was in time to hear his vocal chords match the pitch of the approaching sirens.
Academy, Constitution again is similar, but the Academy cross traffic is much, much heavier. I have been nearly clipped on numerous occasions. People in automobiles often times find the crosswalk a convenient place to stop to observe oncoming traffic when they are attempting to turn on to Constitution. At times their eyes are looking in the wrong direction to see you entering the crosswalk with the ped x-ing light.
Another time, a cyclist was actually road cycling on Constitution. He was excellently outfitted with wetsuit, a really (!) nice road bike, and great training as exhibited by his velocity. He thought that he would be able to run a yellow, almost red, traffic light at Academy.
He was wrong. Five lanes of northbound traffic began to move as he crossed the southbound lanes. He almost had to put his bike down, but turned south into the outside, of the three southbound lanes.
I'm glad that all I had to do was shake my head, and not make a cell phone call for an ambulance for him. 8<) But what a bad reputation he gives the road cyclist. Recognizing these perils Pi Guy and I had a good ride out to Powers and back.
On the return trip we head back toward Pikes Peak. Here's a morning view.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The Inaugural Ride
The inaugural training ride for Pi Guy and me started as a family ride to the Dog Tooth Cafè, with us taking advantage of more warm weather. (This time the gelato selections were orange, watermelon and kiwi.)
We left Lucy and Blue Jay to return the way we came, while Pi Guy and I went along Columbia, to the west. We continued until we had access to the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail from Culubra Avenue.
From that access point, just north of Uintah, we headed south, and unnecessarily crossed Fountain Creek to be closer to I-25. It was fortunate, however, for two reasons. One was to see the pedestrian/bicycle I-25 overpass access. The other reason is that there are public restrooms there, and I had been concentrating on my water consumption.
We left Lucy and Blue Jay to return the way we came, while Pi Guy and I went along Columbia, to the west. We continued until we had access to the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail from Culubra Avenue.
From that access point, just north of Uintah, we headed south, and unnecessarily crossed Fountain Creek to be closer to I-25. It was fortunate, however, for two reasons. One was to see the pedestrian/bicycle I-25 overpass access. The other reason is that there are public restrooms there, and I had been concentrating on my water consumption.
This is a view south from the bicycle trail in Monument Valley Park. The Star Gate portal is in Cheyenne Mountain, straight ahead.
We continued south on the trail crossing another excellent pedestrian bridge.
One result from our exploration was the realization that if the creek rises, a low concrete bridge taking us back to the west side of the creek will be under water. This would cause a pursuit of other routes.
From the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail we found the I-25 underpass to 8th street. And confirmed it with the Colorado Springs Trails Network Map. Another underpass, 8th Street, allowed us to get on the other side of 8th, and avoid the traffic.
The trail curled tightly to the right and climbed to the elevation of the street, and just about 100 ft. more to the south was a gravel trail that announced access to Bear Creek Park. Rode on this trail to, nearly, Bear Creek Park.
We doubled back taking a small detour at the Confluence Park. (Actually we were trying to find a way to the Penrose Library.) Unless we got onto trafficked streets there was no way to cross the rail yard. So we headed north, trail wise, passing under Bijou Street, then found the trail down the east side of the railroad tracks into downtown.
Briefly stopping at the library, we loaded books up in the backpack and headed back home.
This part of the trail passes by the Colorado College athletic fields, and through the Monument Valley Park. And you hardly notice that the deciduous trees have no leaves. The creek is well maintained and peaceful, at least now before the snow runoff.
We traveled about twelve miles.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Blue Jay Tube Replacement
Pi Guy and I were given a reprieve by the weather on a Saturday and set out to repair Blue Jay’s bicycle tire. It was chilly, still, at a little under 50 degrees, but doable. I had purchased a pair of tubes at Target earlier in the week. Blue Jay has a Schwinn so that is the brand we bought. I had confirmed the tire size before we went to the store.
I had thought that I had “slimed” her tires, but didn’t see any evidence of that. “Slime” maybe a brand name. It is the stuff that keeps a tube from going flat by sealing from the inside small punctures. I’ve done several others of our bikes since we ride on the trails so much, and are liable to pick up the goat heads.
I was please with Pi Guy’s involvement in doing this repair. We noted that the tire manufacturer’s name was adjacent to the valve stem, just as Mike at Bicycle Village had suggested as protocol. Lucy was our photographer, as we made the change.
We followed the technique that we had observed with Mike.
We checked the tire at the relative position that we observed the puncture in the tube for any remaining projection. When I sealed the puncture with my finger Pi Guy observed that it appeared to be the only one. We checked the rest of the tube just in case, considering that I had removed two thorns from the tire when it went flat.
Pi Guy corrected me when I didn’t slightly inflate the new tube before having him insert it into the tire. We did inflate it slightly before replacing the tire back on the wheel, and checked to see that we didn’t pinch the tube. Pi Guy saw one such pinch point, which he corrected. We inflated the tire, mounted it on the bike, spun it (it looked true), and checked the brakes. That was it, a successful change.
I had thought that I had “slimed” her tires, but didn’t see any evidence of that. “Slime” maybe a brand name. It is the stuff that keeps a tube from going flat by sealing from the inside small punctures. I’ve done several others of our bikes since we ride on the trails so much, and are liable to pick up the goat heads.
I was please with Pi Guy’s involvement in doing this repair. We noted that the tire manufacturer’s name was adjacent to the valve stem, just as Mike at Bicycle Village had suggested as protocol. Lucy was our photographer, as we made the change.
We followed the technique that we had observed with Mike.
We checked the tire at the relative position that we observed the puncture in the tube for any remaining projection. When I sealed the puncture with my finger Pi Guy observed that it appeared to be the only one. We checked the rest of the tube just in case, considering that I had removed two thorns from the tire when it went flat.
Pi Guy corrected me when I didn’t slightly inflate the new tube before having him insert it into the tire. We did inflate it slightly before replacing the tire back on the wheel, and checked to see that we didn’t pinch the tube. Pi Guy saw one such pinch point, which he corrected. We inflated the tire, mounted it on the bike, spun it (it looked true), and checked the brakes. That was it, a successful change.
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