Today we rode with our friend Mike Molitor on the first real training ride for the Triple Bypass ride. [120 miles, 3 mountain passes] The section from Evergreen to Echo Lake, just beyond Juniper Pass, is the first 18 miles of the Triple. It's a good challenge as it rises over 4000' in those 18 miles.
Great views make it well worth the effort. Honestly, passing people half our age wasn't bad either.
Fresh pavement and actual bike lanes sure are an improvement over last year. It's fun to descend at speeds equal to the cars when one doesn't need to dodge pot holes and broken pavement.
It snowed above the pass yesterday. The 14 mile road to the top of Mt. Evans was closed. It's the highest paved road in the U.S. and finishes at over 14,000'. We were all secretly relieved that we couldn't do that ascent.