Less than twelve hours out of the car, I went for a ride this morning to stretch my legs. I ended up adding about ten miles to the ride when I missed the turn on, umm, Highway 57 (I had Mineral Avenue on my cue sheet). I felt pretty decent, considering two days in the car and elevation. The omnipresent headwinds seemed to have followed me from Pittsburgh. The ride was quite nice, though, on mostly quiet farm roads. A few observations:
* Trucks are very courteous to cyclists. Just about every one passed me with plenty of room to spare.
* The first cyclist I saw was riding a ‘bent. I can’t get away from these people. Apparently the ‘bent club in Colorado doesn’t require beards or sandals.
* Despite the impression that it is mostly flat in the shadow of the foothills, it is not. There is a very long, steady climb from Lafayette through Erie, with a couple of kickers as you approach Broomfield.
* I saw my first longhorn steer, and their horns are indeed long. Like four feet long.
Posted on 10 August 2009