Several completed the Triple Bypass 2009 on Saturday, July 11, 2009. What a challenge! Congratulations to the riders (left to right): Bob, Steve, Dave, Josh, Todd, Chris, Dan (Mark not pictured).
Special thanks to Emily (and the boys) for taking such good care of the riders along the way. It was always a great sight to see the black SAG vehicle with Emily and the boys waiting with fresh food, drinks, sun screen as well as cheering us on. That was awesome SAG support!!
The journey....
We pushed off at about 7:00 AM, about 45 minutes later than planned in Evergreen. Going up Squaw Pass (the first pass), we all felt proud and were probably going at a faster pace than we should have but we looked good and strong. Had some comments from other riders that suggested we might burn out given we were only about 5 to 10 miles of climb into the first 15 mile climb to Squaw pass summit. Coming down the pass, it was a wild and fast ride and lots of fun. Road was restricted to traffic so that was not an issue on Squaw pass.
Next up was the 30 mile climb to Loveland Pass once we descended to Idaho Springs. Getting up over Loveland pass was definitely a challenge, certainly to the mind. The climb got steeper as we approached Loveland Pass and the Eisenhower tunnel. The interesting part was that we were riding on the berm of I-70 West bound for some time. Yes, semi-trailers, motor homes and cars were buzzing by on our left as we cranked our way up the mountain. We made the lunch stop which was about 4 to 5 miles below the Loveland Pass summit. As we sat there and ate lunch and recovered, we continually looked up the hill at the road that led to the summit. Talk about mind games. Looking up at that road trying to figure out how long and how really steep it was, well, that was definitely causing some thoughts to run through our minds. What a steep grade we were looking at and it really played with our minds as we were trying to recover from the previous two climbs. Several of us ended up hanging out in the Mash like first aid tents to get out of the direct sun light. I think all of us had some feelings that our bodies were operating on the edge and needed some serious rest, food and water before traversing that last 4 miles to the top. Once at the top of Loveland Pass, the feeling was exhilarating and the views spectacular. Took another break at the top and then put on the jackets and arm warmers for the ride down the back side. Of course, the backside of the pass was clouding over and starting to sprinkle just a bit. We pushed off at very high speed in short fashion. There were at least two of us (names withheld to protect the guilty), that had a tanker semi-trailer truck in their sights going down the back side. Obviously, that presented a small challenge that couldn't be resisted by some and off they went passing the semi-trailer (legally passed on dashed yellow line by the way). I don't know if anyone actually hit 50 mph, but I heard some max speed callouts later after we descended in the range of 48 to 49 mph ( I hit 45 mph). It was a long ride down at a very fast pace and several challenging turns. Couple of us drafted the semi-trailer. Significant winds blowing through the canyons can get you on edge as the bike moves pretty good when you get cross winds, especially at speeds of 40+ mph.
We then started heading to Keystone and Frisco area for a small climb over Swan Mountain then onto Vail Pass. Weather turned just after Swan Mountain and we hit rain just after the rest stop and after we descended Swan Mountain. We pulled over to a loading dock near Frisco to let the weather clear a bit which gave a chance for the group to collect up again. Good thing for the rain delay as we would have left Mark behind as we had gotten separated at the previous rest stop given everyone was scattering from the down pour. Weather cleared and we pushed off to Cooper and Vail Pass.
Heading up through Copper, the clouds were looming and threat of rain was starting again. Just spitting a few rain drops up to Vail Pass. Once we hit Vail Pass, we pressed after a quick break and the group separated a bit knowing that it was raining on backside of Vail Pass and everyone wanted to get to Vail/Avon where earlier it was reported that Vail and Avon were clear. Well, we pushed downward for the better of 15-20 miles in the rain and then the clouds seemed to be breaking up but it never really cleared and that hope for the sun popping through never really happened. So, the weather reports might have been good earlier but they had clearly changed by the time we came through. Lots of riders were catching sag vehicles or personal vehicles that were in wait at the bridges and underpasses. But not the Affton Confidus team! We were determined to see it through every last mile in spite of the weather. We had come to far to sag it in to the finish. Besides, no one wanted to be the only one that didn't ride it in...too much peer pressure to not finish this one! I think everyone had a moment or two (or many) where they questioned their own sanity and why we were doing this once we were in the thick of the rain just out from Vail and Avon areas. We all knew that no matter what the challenge and obstacles, there was too much peer pressure to sag it in and no one wanted to return to St. Louis having tto face that stigma.
Once it did clear, and by the time we hit the finish line in Avon, the weather was cool but rain had passed through. The problem was that we all were thoroughly soaked from head to toe and there was a kind of numbness that overcame the body followed by extreme shivering. Actually, the shivering started mildly about 15 - 20 miles out from Avon and just got progressively worse. Once in Avon, we shivered our way to the buffet set up and grabbed some baked potatoes to warm our hands and then consumed significant amounts of potatoes and chicken once we stopped shivering enough and were able to grip the knives and forks they gave us.
There were no accidents on our team and we finished the ride with our heads held high. Actually, our heads were held high primarily because they were kinked and locked in position at that point given the length of the ride.
We did it!!!
Not but two days later, and after we returned home, some of these Affton Confidus cyclists are already looking at the Death Ride for the next challenge (http://www.deathride.com/). Go figure that!
Some Triple Bypass links for reference.
Triple Bypass 2009 Ride Description
http://www.teamevergreen.org/node/2
Triple Bypass 2009 Map
http://www.teamevergreen.org/sites/default/files/TripleBypassRouteMap2009_0.pdf
Enjoy the pics!
Mogman@earthlink.net
We pushed off at about 7:00 AM, about 45 minutes later than planned in Evergreen. Going up Squaw Pass (the first pass), we all felt proud and were probably going at a faster pace than we should have but we looked good and strong. Had some comments from other riders that suggested we might burn out given we were only about 5 to 10 miles of climb into the first 15 mile climb to Squaw pass summit. Coming down the pass, it was a wild and fast ride and lots of fun. Road was restricted to traffic so that was not an issue on Squaw pass.
Next up was the 30 mile climb to Loveland Pass once we descended to Idaho Springs. Getting up over Loveland pass was definitely a challenge, certainly to the mind. The climb got steeper as we approached Loveland Pass and the Eisenhower tunnel. The interesting part was that we were riding on the berm of I-70 West bound for some time. Yes, semi-trailers, motor homes and cars were buzzing by on our left as we cranked our way up the mountain. We made the lunch stop which was about 4 to 5 miles below the Loveland Pass summit. As we sat there and ate lunch and recovered, we continually looked up the hill at the road that led to the summit. Talk about mind games. Looking up at that road trying to figure out how long and how really steep it was, well, that was definitely causing some thoughts to run through our minds. What a steep grade we were looking at and it really played with our minds as we were trying to recover from the previous two climbs. Several of us ended up hanging out in the Mash like first aid tents to get out of the direct sun light. I think all of us had some feelings that our bodies were operating on the edge and needed some serious rest, food and water before traversing that last 4 miles to the top. Once at the top of Loveland Pass, the feeling was exhilarating and the views spectacular. Took another break at the top and then put on the jackets and arm warmers for the ride down the back side. Of course, the backside of the pass was clouding over and starting to sprinkle just a bit. We pushed off at very high speed in short fashion. There were at least two of us (names withheld to protect the guilty), that had a tanker semi-trailer truck in their sights going down the back side. Obviously, that presented a small challenge that couldn't be resisted by some and off they went passing the semi-trailer (legally passed on dashed yellow line by the way). I don't know if anyone actually hit 50 mph, but I heard some max speed callouts later after we descended in the range of 48 to 49 mph ( I hit 45 mph). It was a long ride down at a very fast pace and several challenging turns. Couple of us drafted the semi-trailer. Significant winds blowing through the canyons can get you on edge as the bike moves pretty good when you get cross winds, especially at speeds of 40+ mph.
We then started heading to Keystone and Frisco area for a small climb over Swan Mountain then onto Vail Pass. Weather turned just after Swan Mountain and we hit rain just after the rest stop and after we descended Swan Mountain. We pulled over to a loading dock near Frisco to let the weather clear a bit which gave a chance for the group to collect up again. Good thing for the rain delay as we would have left Mark behind as we had gotten separated at the previous rest stop given everyone was scattering from the down pour. Weather cleared and we pushed off to Cooper and Vail Pass.
Heading up through Copper, the clouds were looming and threat of rain was starting again. Just spitting a few rain drops up to Vail Pass. Once we hit Vail Pass, we pressed after a quick break and the group separated a bit knowing that it was raining on backside of Vail Pass and everyone wanted to get to Vail/Avon where earlier it was reported that Vail and Avon were clear. Well, we pushed downward for the better of 15-20 miles in the rain and then the clouds seemed to be breaking up but it never really cleared and that hope for the sun popping through never really happened. So, the weather reports might have been good earlier but they had clearly changed by the time we came through. Lots of riders were catching sag vehicles or personal vehicles that were in wait at the bridges and underpasses. But not the Affton Confidus team! We were determined to see it through every last mile in spite of the weather. We had come to far to sag it in to the finish. Besides, no one wanted to be the only one that didn't ride it in...too much peer pressure to not finish this one! I think everyone had a moment or two (or many) where they questioned their own sanity and why we were doing this once we were in the thick of the rain just out from Vail and Avon areas. We all knew that no matter what the challenge and obstacles, there was too much peer pressure to sag it in and no one wanted to return to St. Louis having tto face that stigma.
Once it did clear, and by the time we hit the finish line in Avon, the weather was cool but rain had passed through. The problem was that we all were thoroughly soaked from head to toe and there was a kind of numbness that overcame the body followed by extreme shivering. Actually, the shivering started mildly about 15 - 20 miles out from Avon and just got progressively worse. Once in Avon, we shivered our way to the buffet set up and grabbed some baked potatoes to warm our hands and then consumed significant amounts of potatoes and chicken once we stopped shivering enough and were able to grip the knives and forks they gave us.
There were no accidents on our team and we finished the ride with our heads held high. Actually, our heads were held high primarily because they were kinked and locked in position at that point given the length of the ride.
We did it!!!
Not but two days later, and after we returned home, some of these Affton Confidus cyclists are already looking at the Death Ride for the next challenge (http://www.deathride.com/). Go figure that!
Some Triple Bypass links for reference.
Triple Bypass 2009 Ride Description
http://www.teamevergreen.org/node/2
Triple Bypass 2009 Map
http://www.teamevergreen.org/sites/default/files/TripleBypassRouteMap2009_0.pdf
Enjoy the pics!
Mogman@earthlink.net
Vail Pass Prep Ride Before the Big Ride (Jul 10) - Mark, Coady, Chris, Bob, Dan, Steffen, Dave, Justin
View from Keystone Resort looking down towards Dillion and Frisco
Heading up to Sqaw Pass
Squaw Pass rest stop # 1 - Todd and Josh
Squaw Pass rest stop # 1 - Bob, Mark, Dave, Chris, Todd
Squaw Pass rest stop # 1 - Dan
Down from Squaw Pass - Chris
Heading up to Loveland Pass
Heading up to Loveland Pass
Loveland Pass Rest Stop - Josh, Todd, Steve
Loveland Pass Rest Stop - Mark, Steve
Loveland Pass Rest Stop - Bob, Dave
Loveland Pass Rest Stop - Chris
Loveland Pass Rest Stop - Mark
Loveland Pass Summit - Steve, Josh, Todd, Mark, Dan
Loveland Pass Summit - Mark, Dave, Chris, Steve, Dan, Bob, Todd, Josh
Loveland Pass Summit - Dan
Loveland Pass Summit - Descent Down
Looking forward to 2010 Triple Bypass!
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