Chad's Oskar Blues Blog is Better Than Mine

Well, the brewer's sufferfest known has the Tour of BoulDurango has arrived. I've made it to Colorado's Front Range and there's all manner of good stuff happening today such as the World Cup finals, the Tour De France, the 1st Annual CO Beer and Cocktail Party at Denver's Star Bar, and Reel Big Fish is playing at the Odgen Theater, but all I can focus on is this silly ride, and how I, once again, have found myself committing to it.

We take off in the morning from Avery Brewing in Boulder with much of the same sweet crew as last year. Adam and six others from Avery, along with Dale, Chad, Dave, and Jeremy from Oskar Blues, a couple of the Grossman clan of Sierra Nevada fame, and Arlo (Barroom Hero), Sam (Accountant), Robin (Chemist), and myself, all from Ska.

The bottom line on internet coverage is this: Chad's Brews and Bikes blog from Oskar Blues is much better than this, with killer photos to boot! That being said, I'll try not to dissapoint--I'll be the Stats Man, keeping running statistics on the really important things such as mileage, mechanicals, crashes, and types and amounts of beers consumed, at least until I'm too happy or sad to care. We'll arrive back home at Ska, hopefully with everyone still in tact on Saturday 7/23. I'll do my best to keep this updated daily, so stay tuned!

I Kept Trying to Will One More Gear Into Existence But My Summons Fell Short

What a day! I thought I'd throw some summit photos up however and just mention that It's incredibly beautiful in Colorado at 12,000 ft! We were joined by the Brick Oven/Avery team as we hauled ourselves up and over Cottonwood Pass from Buena Vista to Crested Butte. Thanks for the hospitatlity at Brick Oven Pizza!

Loveland Pass, Elevation 11,990'

Hoosier Pass, Elvation 11,542'

The 20 mile climb up Cottonwood Pass ended with us crossing the Continental Divide once again,

Elevation  12,126'

The Brick Oven/Avery Brewing team made today's ride with us from Buena Vista to Crested Butte, obviously leading the charge

Here's us, we're what you'd call "Way Behind"

"Today was a record I hope to never break" --Matt "Truck" Thrall

130 miles today! Talk about a pain in the ass. Literally. Yesterday we made it over Cottonwood Pass after a grueling 20 mile climb and a somewhat unappreciated payoff in the way of a 15 mile dirt downhill, and eventually (after 76 total miles)wound our way into Crested Butte. Today, however, 130 miles. Did I mention the taint pain? I guess so. The picture is Matt, "Truck" Thrall after we found our way to Hutch's Ourayle House Brewery. The contrast between 100 degrees in angry-big-truck-Montrose, and the beautiful box canyon town of Ouray was that of apples and oranges. Make that worm-ridden apples, and fresh-picked oranges. I'm too tired to blog, but will add more about Crested Butte's Brick Oven Pizzeria, the beer selection, and their kick-ass bike team on the next post. Cheers!

Buena Vista to Crested Butte via Cottonwood Pass at 12,160 Feet

Enlightenment?

Road biking is new to me, and honestly, descriptors such as "sane," "beer-swilling," and in particular, "fun" have always seemed far more than 6 degrees separated from the sport. Mountain biking has always fit that mold, and for that matter my lifestyle, far better. But I had never gone down Loveland pass at 45+ miles per hour on a road bike--what a Fu!#ing blast!
Climbing up Loveland Pass from the ski area was less than easy. In fact it was the vision in my mind when I woke up every night at 3:00am for the last month that kept me from falling back to sleep. A steady rhythm and hearty Ipod mix of Neko Case, Slade, Minor Threat, and Madness made it come and go, and the only thing that could top the downhill payoff was our arrival at the Breckenridge Brewpub. Good friends and Breck Marketing Masters Tebo and Sara (see above photo) arrived just as we did, and pitchers of Ska Modus Hoperandi, Avery White Rascal, and Breckenridge Summerbright were waiting with a feast that couldn't have been better. In fact, John the Brit (also pictured) said the fish and chips were the best he had ever had in the U.S! The speed, the beer, and the good friends must be what's really going on behind the full factory kit (road-biker outfit) scene!

We're Not Crazy--You're the One That's Crazy

Riding from Boulder to Idaho Springs on Sunday was beautiful, and fortunately, uneventful! We rode over Lookout Mountain, past Coors, AKA 'Brewery #2'and after paying our respects at Buffalo Bill's Grave we ran into these two lunatics. They took off, straight down, on their skateboards--as they hit the first corner it appeared as though the nitrous kicked in. Good luck boys.