The air is cool and fresh and thin. Thin is an important word here. A beautiful sunrise wakes up to greet us. Notice, we are awake before the sun is. Camelbacks full of water are strapped to our backs, heads capped with helmets, and all the other necessary equipment is attached to our bodies. The bikes are loaded. The proper attire is mandatory e.g. shorts with built in derrieres, (as if I need any extra back there, but by the end of the day, all that padding was welcomed, even though it felt like I had on about 10 diapers), undies that wick the moisture away from the body, and shoes that click into pedals.
New to this experience, I don't really know what to expect. Around this first bend and up the incline, my thighs immediately start burning and asking me what the heck are you doing to us? We haven't moved this much in years. My lungs are wondering why isn't there any oxygen entering them. I think I'm breathing. At least I'm trying to breathe but no matter how hard I try, no air seems to be anywhere around that I can suck in. Did anyone bring an oxygen tank ? Remember that word 'thin?' Well, it's still thin but no longer cool and fresh. Just thin. I don't remember swallowing a flaming marshmallow. About when I start trying to unhook my feet that are in those shoes that are clamped onto my pedals, we start downhill. Well, this is nice. A chance to breathe. Around another curve and down the hill my thoughts are, "holy crap, where the heck is the ground?" Does this bike come equipped with wings because I seem to be airborne? Once I found myself at a stopping point and in one piece, I tried to loosen my grip. White knuckled doesn't seem to describe my fingers. It took about five minutes for me to pry them loose and another five minutes to straighten them.
Is there someone here to pick us up? Evidently not, and the group doesn't seem to be waiting on me either. At some point along the way, it was necessary to "hike and bike." Don't know how much my bike weighed, but I did consider abandoning it and turn this stretch of the trail into "hike" only.
After about two hours, my brain starts communicating with my body, telling it that we've made it to the half-way point. Just when I convince myself it can't get any worse, it does. Where are the guard rails that might prevent me from tumbling into the Colorado River?
From somewhere a voice asks, "Are you enjoying the view?"
"Are you kidding me? All I can see is my front tire." I didn't bring a life jacket in case that front tire gets too close on the left, and I don't have any rappelling gear to climb this mountain on my right. There's no way to turn back because there's not enough room to turn around. Single track is now very clear in my mind.
Finally, we find a wide spot in the road trail and have lunch. Pro Bars (whole berry blast is my favorite), water, and Shot Blocks. Yum-MEE !
I dare not ask what lies ahead. It really doesn't matter. So, no more words. Just pictures.
"Hey, Kath, wanna go again tomorrow?"
"Sure."
And I did.
Anyone interested in joining us for the next Colorado Mountain Bike Ride?
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Wolfbaby asked about the winners in My Happy Birthday Contest. The votes are still being tallied because I decided to award ALL the creative bloggers prizes. They will be posted soon.
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Do you suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia ?
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If you have a few minutes, be sure to watch the video in the post below.
Testing. 1-2-3 Test.
Posted by: Swamp Witch | July 12, 2007 at 10:10 PM
Dear swampy. I just love mountain biking, although I've only mostly done small spurts of up hill and down hill, with lots of flat in between. Hard on the butt though! I hope you have LOTS of fun, but I can't join you this time :(
Posted by: Little Miss Moi | July 12, 2007 at 11:41 PM
I'd love to take up your offer...looks like great fun.
Posted by: beccy | July 13, 2007 at 02:23 AM
You are one brave and adventurous woman. I am impressed.
Posted by: nessa | July 13, 2007 at 04:51 AM
beautiful pix. looks so dry there. but what a great day that must have been.
Posted by: laurie | July 13, 2007 at 07:29 AM
I felt my stomach drop and flip at the mention of going downhill. I almost ralphed on my keyboard. After living in the flat-as-a-pancake state for 16 years, just driving in the high plains of Kansas can make me a little queasy.
We love Colorado, though. I think I'll stick with backpacking and staying on my own two feet. I have control issues. A mountain bike would put me somewhat out of control, especially on the downhill part.
We live on the western edge of the Flint Hills and there are a lot of people out biking on the roads every day, sometimes in large groups. I think they *think* they are "mountain" biking because it's hillier than closer in to Wichita.
Posted by: Jenni in KS | July 13, 2007 at 07:48 AM
Holy tomatoes! You are far braver of a woman than I. The views were amazing.
Posted by: nikki | July 13, 2007 at 08:05 AM
Happy weekend to you as well Swampy. I admire your fitness and energy. A thing of the past for me, but I enjoy your posts tremendously.
Posted by: Brian | July 13, 2007 at 08:23 AM
LittleMissMoi: Maybe next time. Be sure to wear padded shorts.
BECCY: Be sure to bring flapjacks.
NESSA: There is a fine line between being brave/adventurous and stupid. Why can't I get to your blog?
LAURIE: It's a desert. Go figure. :)
JENNIinKS: Yeah, I know about "those mountains." We lived in SE OK amongst the Kiamichi Mountains. But when you live in the flat plains, an ant hill looks like a mountain.
Posted by: Swamp Witch | July 13, 2007 at 08:23 AM
BRIAN: Hey, you sneaked in there on me with your comment. Love, love, love those pictures at your place.
Posted by: Swamp Witch | July 13, 2007 at 08:24 AM
NIKKI: Oops ! Where did you come from?Amazing how we are all posting at the same time. Holy Tomatoes? I must go check mine now that you've mentioned them.
Posted by: Swamp Witch | July 13, 2007 at 08:25 AM
paraskevidekatriaphobia Me? NOPE! :D
Beautiful PICS as always! :)
Posted by: Debbie | July 13, 2007 at 09:45 AM
WOW mom I'm very impressed! And you look so cute in your little outfit! :) Love WW
Posted by: Wicked Witch | July 13, 2007 at 09:48 AM
What an adventure. Me thinks I'll pass on mountain biking.
Posted by: janet | July 13, 2007 at 09:55 AM
Wow. What a view (of the scenery!).
That looks like a lot of fun.
Posted by: RWA | July 13, 2007 at 10:05 AM
Beautiful, and kudos to you for getting up there!
Posted by: Gina | July 13, 2007 at 10:33 AM
Holly hannah that is one heck of a hike... wow..
beatiful though!!
Posted by: wolfbaby | July 13, 2007 at 11:41 AM
Sweet Cracker Sandwiches! I am tired just thinking about it....
Posted by: transplantedokie | July 13, 2007 at 12:20 PM
I tried this once in the Ozarks! It only took 8 weeks for the broken bones to heal and all the skin to grow back on my stomach and chest. Yours looks more fun.
Hey, I need some of those pants!!
Posted by: min | July 13, 2007 at 01:39 PM
1) You're insane.
2) YOU'RE MY FREAKING HERO, CYCLE QUEEN!
3) My favorite line of this post? "I don't remember swallowing a flaming marshmallow."
4) The video you posted before this post was my favorite scene in the movie.
Posted by: Robin | July 13, 2007 at 01:45 PM
uhm, wow!! that looks beautiful but I'm much better at downhill than up!! Good for you!
Posted by: claudia | July 13, 2007 at 06:11 PM
wow. that would just kill me! I am very impressed!
Posted by: theotherbear | July 13, 2007 at 06:25 PM
DEBBIE: Nope, me either.
WICKED WITCH: Yes, I'm the Queen of Lycra in that outfit. You must borrow it sometime. I'll bring it with me next month. Maybe you would want to wear it to one of the 'get-togethers.'
JANET: Ok, but come on over and we'll drink coffee together.
RWA: It was a riot and the scenery was great when I STOPPED to view it.
GINA: I love Kudo Bars. Thanks.
WOLFBABY: Yup, and I carried that bike on that hike a large part of the way.
TRANSPLANTOKIE: Sweet Cracker Sandwiches? Is that something you ate while you were in Oklahoma?
MIN: Just buy some stretch lyra shorts and pull the stuffing out of a mattress and stick it down the back of them. Whoa-La ! Shorts by Swampwitch.
ROBIN:
1) I
2) Love
3) Your
4) Lists
5) Stay
6) Tuned
7) Tomorrow
CLAUDIA: Getting rim-Rocked was something I was afraid of all day. I was pretty good at climbing those hills, but coming down was a different story.
TheOtherBear: Oh, I just photo-shopped myself into that picture.
Posted by: Swamp Witch | July 13, 2007 at 07:49 PM
Oh my GOSH!!! Those phots stole my breath they're so gorgeous.
I wish I was fit enough to do something like that. Maybe one day.
Wow - again. :)
Posted by: Debbie | July 13, 2007 at 08:45 PM
I would have been frightened by that trail.
I'm so out of shape...
tomorrow the hubby is riding his 200 miles (seattle to Portland)
I'm going to watercolor ... I should get my bike out and ride down to the end of the street and back and see if I'm still alive.'
Posted by: Pamela | July 13, 2007 at 10:16 PM