There's only one road here for serious riding: Hwy 145. The closest town to the south is Rico which makes for a nice 50 mile ride round trip. In my attempt to cram some training in for a race next weekend, I chose this route since the trails were still muddy from yesterday's rain. There was a good chance of rain today, but getting wet is just a risk you have to take. There's no predicting mountain weather.
The ride there was great! I rode an easy pace 10 miles up to Lizard Head Pass at 10,222ft and 15 miles down the other side. Coming back was another story. The road wasn't steep, but 5 miles into the return trip it started raining with no sign of letting up. Thankfully, there was no lightning, but it did hail for about 10 minutes. I usually don't mind riding in the rain; however, rain above 10k ft is freakin' cold. It finally backed off at the top of the pass. As I started descending soaked roads at 30mph, my tires managed sling up enough water to completely soak my underside.
As I was making this initial descent, I encountered two oncoming cars. The second driver decided that he was in too much of a hurry to wait 10 seconds for me to get by so he could pass the other car. So there I was freezing cold, doing 30mph on wet roads with a car coming straight at me. I got onto what little shoulder there was and flipped off the driver as he passed. Should've thrown a water bottle at him. It completely baffles me how normal people completely change behind the wheel. Some people have no respect for human life. They'll slow down for a deer, but not a cyclist. That's ridiculous.
The rest of the ride was fairly miserable. In fact, that might be the coldest I've ever been, definitely in the top 5. It's difficult to ride a bike when your on the verge of hypothermia. Stopping would be even worse, though. My muscles and tendons in my legs were tight. My gloves were soaked and my hands weren't getting good circulation. I had to hit the shifters with my palms because my fingers weren't strong enough. It took about 10 minutes in a hot shower before my fingers would extend all the way.
I love road riding, but I've only got one road to ride. I'm starting to think that drivers are too stupid for me to put my life in their hands. It's really only about 10% of drivers that worry me, but that's enough. I may try to employ more defensive cycling techniques, but I'm doubtful.
7.29.2014
7.18.2014
Debunking Myths
I've heard some pretty wild claims lately, giving me the feeling that a lot of Westerners will believe any health related thing anybody tells them. Yesterday, I saw a pamphlet for magnet therapy as an alternative to prescription drugs. Really? Magnet therapy? Also, my coworker's girlfriend bought a bracelet to help with digestive issues. Of course it came with herbal tea - like the weight loss pills that recommend diet and exercise. I've also heard that meat is bad for you, drinking warm water is better than cold water, milk is bad for you, and running is bad for you.
I'm not even going to waste my time arguing for meat. It's good. If our ancestors didn't eat it, we wouldn't be here. As for warm water vs. cold water, it's one I've heard before. The argument here is that your body can only absorb warm water, and you have to "work" to warm up that cold water. Now, I don't like ice cold water when I'm really thirsty just because I can't drink it fast, but I certainly prefer cool water to warm water. I can see how warm water may hydrate you slightly faster, but in terms of staying cool, cold water wins hands down. Your body doesn't use energy to heat the water, your stomach is already hot. Don't believe me? Read more here.
Another claim I've heard is that milk is not a good source of protein. The argument was that the protein is from another animal, and therefore, useless to humans. Unless you're a cannibal all meat is protein from another animal. We use it just fine. There was another argument against the calcium. I don't know enough about that to argue well, but I drink lots of milk and have pretty strong finger nails and bones as far as I can tell. My favorite milk myth is that it's bad to drink milk before you go work outside in the heat. In high school I drank milk everyday at lunch, then marched outside in band for an hour and a half. Never got sick. Why? Your internal temperature stays the same regardless of outside temperature, or at least it should.
I've also heard that running is bad for your joints. It's certainly a higher impact activity than cycling or swimming, but even in the peak of my running days, I was getting beat by 80 year olds in a 10k. Their joints seemed just fine. Again, if our ancestors never ran, we wouldn't be here. In any case it's better than sitting on the couch.
I'm really getting tired of hearing these things, and now that I've done a little research, maybe I can set some people straight. Most people around here are pretty fit, but it seems that some health nuts are always looking for the new thing. Personally, I think life is too short to eat healthy all the time.
I'm not even going to waste my time arguing for meat. It's good. If our ancestors didn't eat it, we wouldn't be here. As for warm water vs. cold water, it's one I've heard before. The argument here is that your body can only absorb warm water, and you have to "work" to warm up that cold water. Now, I don't like ice cold water when I'm really thirsty just because I can't drink it fast, but I certainly prefer cool water to warm water. I can see how warm water may hydrate you slightly faster, but in terms of staying cool, cold water wins hands down. Your body doesn't use energy to heat the water, your stomach is already hot. Don't believe me? Read more here.
Another claim I've heard is that milk is not a good source of protein. The argument was that the protein is from another animal, and therefore, useless to humans. Unless you're a cannibal all meat is protein from another animal. We use it just fine. There was another argument against the calcium. I don't know enough about that to argue well, but I drink lots of milk and have pretty strong finger nails and bones as far as I can tell. My favorite milk myth is that it's bad to drink milk before you go work outside in the heat. In high school I drank milk everyday at lunch, then marched outside in band for an hour and a half. Never got sick. Why? Your internal temperature stays the same regardless of outside temperature, or at least it should.
I've also heard that running is bad for your joints. It's certainly a higher impact activity than cycling or swimming, but even in the peak of my running days, I was getting beat by 80 year olds in a 10k. Their joints seemed just fine. Again, if our ancestors never ran, we wouldn't be here. In any case it's better than sitting on the couch.
I'm really getting tired of hearing these things, and now that I've done a little research, maybe I can set some people straight. Most people around here are pretty fit, but it seems that some health nuts are always looking for the new thing. Personally, I think life is too short to eat healthy all the time.
7.05.2014
A Quest for Fireworks!
My journey began about 30 minutes before sundown. Having already ridden to and from work and an hour with Lucy, my legs felt shot on the first climb. They warmed up soon enough though. Originally I had planned on going into town to catch the fireworks show, but that trip was too long and too crowded, considering I had work at 7am the next morning. Instead, I thought the top of the gondola would provide a good view, but one look at the line confirmed that it was way too long. Luckily, I was prepared with my trail lights. Finding the Village Trail in the fading light proved a little difficult having only ridden it once in the opposite direction. After a couple of detours and over 700ft of climbing, I finally reached the top with only a minute to spare.
The show was great considering they had three years worth of fireworks stockpiled due to dry conditions previous years. The views of Telluride and Mountain Village at night were equally spectacular. There probably aren't too many places that you can view a fireworks show from above. About two minutes in, people started leaving to avoid the long line at the end. I had no issue staying the entire time, however. The ride down was awesome! I only out-ran my lights a couple times. The pain started again when I hit my neighborhood. The roads in my neighborhood were not meant to be biked, and although they've gotten easier, I doubt they will ever be easy. I got to bed a little late, but it was worth it!
The show was great considering they had three years worth of fireworks stockpiled due to dry conditions previous years. The views of Telluride and Mountain Village at night were equally spectacular. There probably aren't too many places that you can view a fireworks show from above. About two minutes in, people started leaving to avoid the long line at the end. I had no issue staying the entire time, however. The ride down was awesome! I only out-ran my lights a couple times. The pain started again when I hit my neighborhood. The roads in my neighborhood were not meant to be biked, and although they've gotten easier, I doubt they will ever be easy. I got to bed a little late, but it was worth it!
6.29.2014
My New Job
In short my new position as Groundskeeper means I do whatever it takes to keep the town looking good. My coworkers and I empty public trash and recycling cans, sweep the plazas, mow (most areas twice a week), pull weeds, plant and water flowers, and complete other random tasks. For instance, last Thursday I put on some waders and scooped algea out of a pond with a pitchfork all afternoon.
I really enjoy being outdoors, even with this crazy mountain weather. It's usually 40 degrees in the morning but quickly warms up to the 70s as the sun gets higher. But, each little rainstorm drops the temps back down to the 40s and comes with the possibility of hail and/or snow...in June! Usually I carry a fleece and a rain jacket in my backpack. Sometimes it's still not enough.
It's certainly not a glamorous job, but I'm really enjoying it. Honestly, I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing at this point in my life. It's not exhausting but still involves real work. I work 7-5:30 four days a week and get paid enough to afford good food (if I shop out of town), bike parts, and can still save a little. That's partly due to having four people living in a two bedroom house, but it's certainly big enough with a loft and a "Yoga" room (my room). I also like driving a work truck. Just feels right. Hydraulic lift gates are pretty awesome too. I think being self employed would be cool in the future, and getting paid to write and/or edit also has my interest. But for now, I'm pretty happy were I am.
I really enjoy being outdoors, even with this crazy mountain weather. It's usually 40 degrees in the morning but quickly warms up to the 70s as the sun gets higher. But, each little rainstorm drops the temps back down to the 40s and comes with the possibility of hail and/or snow...in June! Usually I carry a fleece and a rain jacket in my backpack. Sometimes it's still not enough.
It's certainly not a glamorous job, but I'm really enjoying it. Honestly, I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing at this point in my life. It's not exhausting but still involves real work. I work 7-5:30 four days a week and get paid enough to afford good food (if I shop out of town), bike parts, and can still save a little. That's partly due to having four people living in a two bedroom house, but it's certainly big enough with a loft and a "Yoga" room (my room). I also like driving a work truck. Just feels right. Hydraulic lift gates are pretty awesome too. I think being self employed would be cool in the future, and getting paid to write and/or edit also has my interest. But for now, I'm pretty happy were I am.
6.16.2014
First Impressions of Telluride
.JPG)
It's like Disney World for adults. It's a mecca for outdoor recreation whether it's hiking, climbing, mountaineering, kayaking, rafting, biking, fly fishing, off-roading, and of course skiing and snowboarding in the winter.
Some random facts:
- USPS does not come to my house; we have a PO Box in town.
- I'll most likely need 4x4-low and snow chains to get around my neighborhood in winter. Even then, I might get snowed in some days. But, it's the kind of place that you don't have to worry about locking your front door.
- It's much drier here than the Front Range, and I can now say that I prefer Aveeno over Vaseline lotion. It just feels more natural and less oily.
- Everything is uber expensive. Gas is $4.18, a 12 pack of PBR is $15, and groceries are through the roof. Sunscreen is $11 a bottle! I think I'll just wear long sleeves. Once I get paid, I plan to make a trip to the Wal-Mart in Montrose (an hour away) to stock up for a month.
- I have discovered the French Press and it is amazing, except for the last sip.
- Our fridge has a beer dispenser.
- My roommate has a Nintendo and a Super Nintendo.
- There are pretty much three types of people here. There are the tourists who are fairly well off and provide the foundation of the economy. Then there are the really rich people who own homes here and either don't have to work, work remotely, or just use this as a second home. And then there are people like me. Most in their twenties and here to play for a season or two while working backstage/operational jobs that keep this place rolling.
- There are only two radio stations. Both suck.
- Going from 5000ft to 9000ft is more difficult than going from sea level to 5000ft. There's not a whole lot of air up here, and I have a theory that smells are more intense because of it.
- It's good to have an employer that understands their employees. 4-10s and 3 days off in a row is sweet. I hardly know what to do with myself.
- It's also good to work for a small town with a lot of money. We're not lacking for equipment.
6.08.2014
Stuff
A simple truth: The more stuff you have, the more difficult it is to travel.
Everything I own fits in my vehicle, but it still feels like too much. If I had a tiny car that might be saying something, but with a Tacoma with a 6ft bed, a hitch bike rack and a roof rack, it almost feels like cheating. My goal for the next few years is simply to travel, so I've made it my short term goal to condense my possessions down so that I can camp comfortably in the back of my truck.
It's difficult getting rid of some things like books, kitchen supplies, spare bike parts, but the truth is that a lot of my stuff has been packed up in boxes since last August when I left Oxford. I didn't need it at home and didn't plan on being there long. I didn't have a place for that stuff in my house in Fort Collins except for the boxes it was in, nor have I needed those things. I think I'll be ok without them. The easiest way to travel is to own only what you can carry on your back - as seen in Into the Wild. However, I'm not willing to go quite that far. Backpacking has taught me exactly how much I need though.
It's these thoughts that are pushing me to not get an apartment in Telluride. More money plus no lease agreement and fewer obligations equals easier travel. Of course if I stay for the winter, it'll be a different story, but the summer should be nice for camping. In any case this is all good training for living on a sailboat later down the road.
Everything I own fits in my vehicle, but it still feels like too much. If I had a tiny car that might be saying something, but with a Tacoma with a 6ft bed, a hitch bike rack and a roof rack, it almost feels like cheating. My goal for the next few years is simply to travel, so I've made it my short term goal to condense my possessions down so that I can camp comfortably in the back of my truck.
It's difficult getting rid of some things like books, kitchen supplies, spare bike parts, but the truth is that a lot of my stuff has been packed up in boxes since last August when I left Oxford. I didn't need it at home and didn't plan on being there long. I didn't have a place for that stuff in my house in Fort Collins except for the boxes it was in, nor have I needed those things. I think I'll be ok without them. The easiest way to travel is to own only what you can carry on your back - as seen in Into the Wild. However, I'm not willing to go quite that far. Backpacking has taught me exactly how much I need though.
It's these thoughts that are pushing me to not get an apartment in Telluride. More money plus no lease agreement and fewer obligations equals easier travel. Of course if I stay for the winter, it'll be a different story, but the summer should be nice for camping. In any case this is all good training for living on a sailboat later down the road.
6.06.2014
Softopper
I've been considering buying a new Softopper for a while now. They provide all the convenience of a hard shell without the drawbacks. Softoppers are lightweight, collapsible if you need the full use of the bed, and all the sides role up for great ventilation while camping. Also, they're made locally in Boulder. So, when I found a used one on Craigslist, it was a no-brainer.
At first I was worried about the cost, even though the asking price was only $400. But the way I see it, if I find a subleaser for my room and an affordable apartment, I'll still have enough money for rent. If it doesn't work out, I have a place to sleep and a way to keep my stuff dry during the move. That's if I can shove my mattress in there. It's an 8 inch foam queen, and I'm thinking it'll be a little flexible. A double would've fit perfectly though.
I have to admit that the idea of camping out for the summer (and not paying rent) is enticing. If I didn't have Lucy to think about, I'd plan on it for the whole summer. Although without Lucy, an apartment would be much easier to come by, but I'll save my rant about landlord discrimination for another day. And yes, she is more important to me than a solid roof. I think she'd be fine in the back with the sides of the Softopper rolled up as long as she didn't bark at people passing by. The highs in Mountain Village have only been in the upper 60s lately. The other concern is showering. I'm hoping that the employee fitness center has one. I'm not sure that a solar shower bag is a sustainable way of bathing, but it's the only alternative I can think of.
Following a dream isn't always easy. I could've easily dismissed it with the lack-of-funds excuse, but I'm pretty prepared to go off the grid if need be - wouldn't be the first time. It also helps that my paychecks won't skip a beat. Moving can get expensive, but it helps that everything fits in my truck. I just need to remember to not accumulate stuff. As a cyclist that's difficult to do.
At first I was worried about the cost, even though the asking price was only $400. But the way I see it, if I find a subleaser for my room and an affordable apartment, I'll still have enough money for rent. If it doesn't work out, I have a place to sleep and a way to keep my stuff dry during the move. That's if I can shove my mattress in there. It's an 8 inch foam queen, and I'm thinking it'll be a little flexible. A double would've fit perfectly though.
I have to admit that the idea of camping out for the summer (and not paying rent) is enticing. If I didn't have Lucy to think about, I'd plan on it for the whole summer. Although without Lucy, an apartment would be much easier to come by, but I'll save my rant about landlord discrimination for another day. And yes, she is more important to me than a solid roof. I think she'd be fine in the back with the sides of the Softopper rolled up as long as she didn't bark at people passing by. The highs in Mountain Village have only been in the upper 60s lately. The other concern is showering. I'm hoping that the employee fitness center has one. I'm not sure that a solar shower bag is a sustainable way of bathing, but it's the only alternative I can think of.
Following a dream isn't always easy. I could've easily dismissed it with the lack-of-funds excuse, but I'm pretty prepared to go off the grid if need be - wouldn't be the first time. It also helps that my paychecks won't skip a beat. Moving can get expensive, but it helps that everything fits in my truck. I just need to remember to not accumulate stuff. As a cyclist that's difficult to do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)