Among the reasons we chose the Bubba, Southern Tier ride was the timing. We wanted to be back in Colorado for the summer riding season. Yesterday was a "this is why we ride" day.
We had the rare chance to bike the Estes Park to the summit portion of Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park before cars were allowed on the road.
It had snowed 2' recently but yesterday the weather and the road conditions were perfect.
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the larger parks at 415 square miles. Trail Ridge road traverses it and ascends from less that 8000' to 12,183'. From the top one can see 100 miles in several directions.
RNP is one of the busiest parks and traffic in the summer can rival any metro area rush hour. There are only a few days, if any, each year that the park is open to bicyclists, hikers, and, yes, roller blade athletes.
Yesterday was a gift.
Our friend Mike at 6'6" and the fabulously empty road near the summit
We're looking forward to many mountain rides this summer including mountain biking in Fraser, the Buena Vista fest, the Triple Bipass, Copper Triangle and a week in Alaska. Gary was right when he said that riding our bikes on the C2C ride was like being 10 years old again. I confess that we are having a hard time going back to being a grownup. Ride on, ride on.