Day 12 – my final day to ride. While only 45 ish miles back to Steamboat, I had some tough climbing from the start. I usually ride this route going the other way so most of the climbing to Columbine is on pavement. But today, I get to grind it out uphill on gravel. I was up with the sun and excited to get going and hopefully meet Lori in Clark by 9:30-10:00 am.
Once back on the 129 I started climbing. 12-16% grades right away. I climbed over 400 feet in just the first mile and a half. Nuts. But another beautiful morning. Even though I was at 7800 feet, it didn’t get cold last night and was decent this morning. Perfect riding weather. I didn’t pull my rain jacket out the entire ride. So different than North Cape 4000 where I was wet many, many, many days. It was 11 miles of climbing to Columbine. I got there around 8:30 am with 11 miles and 1,766 feet of climbing. I texted Lori and Let her know I would be at Clark around 9:40-9:45 ish.
I was excited to be riding in my backyard now. Past Columbine. Past Hahn’s Peak. Steamboat Lake. Hahn’s Peak Village. The OutPost. Climb up to see the incredible Zirkels. Road to Pearl Lake. Final bump then a long descent down to Seedhouse Road, Clark and the Clark Store. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day to ride. Incredible. Perfect.
Lori showed up and I was so happy to see her. We each ordered the sausage and egg croissant. She try to talk me into throwing my bike in, but I was in it to win it. 129 all the way back to Steamboat. Probably my fastest time from Clark to Steamboat with a nice tailwind. I crossed the Yampa, core trail into downtown, then River Road to Mt Werner and home. I got home just past noon.
It was good to be home. What an incredible 12 days of riding.
