Cycling Camp in Colorado...Don't Miss the Adventure and Tips to Come

Pics firsts...everyone loves pics right...The Specialized machine...ready for battle. Thank you Knapps for getting her ready.

Beautiful Vista; view from the Colorado National Monument

Sunset on the Canyon

Tunnel Through...

...and another tunnel shot

Balanced Rock formation in the National Monument Park

Switchbacks as you enter the park

Entrance to the Park

The Eagle has landed...actually I arrived Sunday afternoon. I am here in Fruita, Colorado where I will be participating in a week-long cycling specific camp with EnduranceCorner.com lead by Gordo Byrn and his staff and a few surprises, namely pro triathletes Chris and wife Marylyn McDonald(Chris just placed third this past Sunday at IM St. Geogre).

The plan for the week is to:

May 3rd -- Arrival*, Evening Run Fruita (Actually did 3:00 ride in the am and because I just couldn't get enough I decided to pass on the run and do a second ride through the Colorado National Monument in the opposite direction; ride consists of a combination of climbing with a highpoint of 6600 ft+/some 10 %grades and some winding descents you may remember such movies as Cliffhanger with "Sly", Mission Impossible with Cruise and others shot here amidst the canyon backdrop). Check out the pics again above...breathtaking.


May 4th -- AM Devil's Caynon Run, Douglas Pass Ride and Afternoon Swim; AM did Devil's Caynon run. Unbelievable run through one of Colorado's Canyons. I felt like a mountain goat at times as the trail had us climbing p and down rock formations and multiple climbs too steep to run up, but I made the the warm up to the main ride.

OK, can anyone say C-L-I-M-B...this ride was 80 mi and we started around 4500ft, rode about an hour out to Douglas via some false flats;4-5%ish grade then the fun began where we made an ascent up to around 8600+ via some gnarley 13-15% kickers that smoothed out to make the 8-9% portions of the climb feel fun. OK, TIP of the Day: if you are invited on a trip to Colorado bring your climbing gears...tools of the trade a 50/34 compact up front and a nice 11/28 rear cassette on the rear. Many Thanks to Alex;Knapps Master Mechanic for all your hard work setting this up.

If you are in question if Computrainer works...Hell, I'm coming from sea level and this climb felt like cake...OK cake minus the icing(the kickers were a surprise). But, the time from November to date spent in the Indoor Cycling/Yoga Computrainer Classes paid dividends in my riding. Hope to see you at the end of May as we start another session(I miss you guys who are currently participating...hope you enjoy Jerrys and the 40 @ 6%...as I will be doing the same damage then some tomorrow via the Gran Mesa Ride its only 40 miles, but it gains 5000 ft of elevation in 20miles...we will reach the ascent at around 10,000 ft. I'm planning on bringing my oxygen mask from the little old lady down the hall in the hotel. Let you know how it goes manana. Happy riding via "Sir Edmund" Draper. Cheers.

ps- almost forgot the 75min swim session at Mesa State College...thanks Chris "Big Sexy McDonald for the swim tips...for you triathletes out there who are not coming from a swim background try strength swimming...what...glue two pullbuoys together and strap on your paddles and rock out about 60% of your workload this way. Hell, how can an IM champion be wrong, not to mention he was coached by Brett Sutton(coach of over 23 world champions...give it a try(be gentle with your shoulders though, if they are exhausted lsten to the body).

May 5th -- Swim, Grand Mesa Ride and Run;
May 6th -- Colorado Monument Ride, Swim Grand Junction, Run Fruita -- Transfer to Moab, Evening Ride Arches National Park
May 7th -- La Sal Mtn Loop, Evening Canyon Run
May 8th -- Islands in The Sky, Evening Canyon Run
May 9th -- "The Wall" Hill Climb - transfer to Grand Junction


Follow along during the week for more fun and adventure. Hope I can motivate you to get out on your own adventure this week.

Cheers,

Chris