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Heaven in Hades (you probably CAN fry an egg on the sidewalk) by fe-lady

It's HOT outside. I mean probably 108 with a blast furnace type wind. Very pleasant. Now you can see why we force ourselves to get up and out by 5 or 5:30 in the summers. Starting a workout(for me)and my husband after 6:00 A.M. is just too late. Unless we are swimming. And that has to be in an indoor pool.

It's also hard to prepare food and feel like eating much when it is this warm. Last night I steamed some salmon, chilled it, opened a bag of salad and microwaved some mashed potatoes. No heat- good to eat!

But I had to get in a longer bike ride today. And I didn't really want to do it "in town", in the hot, hot asphalt covered town...so we drove Southeast to "our little heaven on earth"-a canyon that takes us about an hour and a half to get to. But it's higher, and it's cooler, and there were clouds so we weren't getting any more damaging UV rays.

We saw about a dozen of these little mule deer today as we were out there pretty early.

We have it written in our wills that our ashes be strewn in the canyon in a certain spot. Hopefully someone will carry out our wishes when the time comes. We have had many great rides up and down the hills in this area, and very rarely see another person. We sometimes rate how "good" the ride was by the lack of people/cars we encounter. Today was good. One other mountain bike guy and three "birders". No cars.

I started this morning not really mentally into this ride. It climbs almost immediately and gets very rocky, then goes into twisty single track with a couple of ditch-type sandy areas. I really have to pay attention and be agressive. This morning I knew it would be rough and I botched the first hill (walked), then totally lost it on the second hill and went off the side completely (walked again), and slid down the big downhill (dab, dab, dab-foot out of the cleat). It's fairly non-challenging from that point on, just a gradual climb to the top. And we made it, but I wasn't quite happy with my performance so we decided to give it another go.

I was a little peeved now. And sometimes I ride better when I just get totally pissed-off at myself for not making a hill (up or down)-so I went for it. And today I actually rode (although very slowly) a steep downhill (I consider it steep) without clipping out and "dabbing" at the dirt. It has taken me three years of riding this hill to do this. Three damn years! But I guess it's progress. A little slow...but progress is good.

I guess I should have gotten angrier way back when!

Do you want to read more from FE-LADY? Just visit her at her blog by clicking HERE.

Heaven in Hades (you probably CAN fry an egg on the sidewalk) by fe-lady

It's HOT outside. I mean probably 108 with a blast furnace type wind. Very pleasant. Now you can see why we force ourselves to get up and out by 5 or 5:30 in the summers. Starting a workout(for me)and my husband after 6:00 A.M. is just too late. Unless we are swimming. And that has to be in an indoor pool.

It's also hard to prepare food and feel like eating much when it is this warm. Last night I steamed some salmon, chilled it, opened a bag of salad and microwaved some mashed potatoes. No heat- good to eat!

But I had to get in a longer bike ride today. And I didn't really want to do it "in town", in the hot, hot asphalt covered town...so we drove Southeast to "our little heaven on earth"-a canyon that takes us about an hour and a half to get to. But it's higher, and it's cooler, and there were clouds so we weren't getting any more damaging UV rays.

We saw about a dozen of these little mule deer today as we were out there pretty early.

We have it written in our wills that our ashes be strewn in the canyon in a certain spot. Hopefully someone will carry out our wishes when the time comes. We have had many great rides up and down the hills in this area, and very rarely see another person. We sometimes rate how "good" the ride was by the lack of people/cars we encounter. Today was good. One other mountain bike guy and three "birders". No cars.

I started this morning not really mentally into this ride. It climbs almost immediately and gets very rocky, then goes into twisty single track with a couple of ditch-type sandy areas. I really have to pay attention and be agressive. This morning I knew it would be rough and I botched the first hill (walked), then totally lost it on the second hill and went off the side completely (walked again), and slid down the big downhill (dab, dab, dab-foot out of the cleat). It's fairly non-challenging from that point on, just a gradual climb to the top. And we made it, but I wasn't quite happy with my performance so we decided to give it another go.

I was a little peeved now. And sometimes I ride better when I just get totally pissed-off at myself for not making a hill (up or down)-so I went for it. And today I actually rode (although very slowly) a steep downhill (I consider it steep) without clipping out and "dabbing" at the dirt. It has taken me three years of riding this hill to do this. Three damn years! But I guess it's progress. A little slow...but progress is good.

I guess I should have gotten angrier way back when!

Do you want to read more from FE-LADY? Just visit her at her blog by clicking HERE.

Heaven in Hades (you probably CAN fry an egg on the sidewalk) by fe-lady

It's HOT outside. I mean probably 108 with a blast furnace type wind. Very pleasant. Now you can see why we force ourselves to get up and out by 5 or 5:30 in the summers. Starting a workout(for me)and my husband after 6:00 A.M. is just too late. Unless we are swimming. And that has to be in an indoor pool.

It's also hard to prepare food and feel like eating much when it is this warm. Last night I steamed some salmon, chilled it, opened a bag of salad and microwaved some mashed potatoes. No heat- good to eat!

But I had to get in a longer bike ride today. And I didn't really want to do it "in town", in the hot, hot asphalt covered town...so we drove Southeast to "our little heaven on earth"-a canyon that takes us about an hour and a half to get to. But it's higher, and it's cooler, and there were clouds so we weren't getting any more damaging UV rays.

We saw about a dozen of these little mule deer today as we were out there pretty early.

We have it written in our wills that our ashes be strewn in the canyon in a certain spot. Hopefully someone will carry out our wishes when the time comes. We have had many great rides up and down the hills in this area, and very rarely see another person. We sometimes rate how "good" the ride was by the lack of people/cars we encounter. Today was good. One other mountain bike guy and three "birders". No cars.

I started this morning not really mentally into this ride. It climbs almost immediately and gets very rocky, then goes into twisty single track with a couple of ditch-type sandy areas. I really have to pay attention and be agressive. This morning I knew it would be rough and I botched the first hill (walked), then totally lost it on the second hill and went off the side completely (walked again), and slid down the big downhill (dab, dab, dab-foot out of the cleat). It's fairly non-challenging from that point on, just a gradual climb to the top. And we made it, but I wasn't quite happy with my performance so we decided to give it another go.

I was a little peeved now. And sometimes I ride better when I just get totally pissed-off at myself for not making a hill (up or down)-so I went for it. And today I actually rode (although very slowly) a steep downhill (I consider it steep) without clipping out and "dabbing" at the dirt. It has taken me three years of riding this hill to do this. Three damn years! But I guess it's progress. A little slow...but progress is good.

I guess I should have gotten angrier way back when!

Do you want to read more from FE-LADY? Just visit her at her blog by clicking HERE.

Deer Path Amongst the Aspen by Universe Signs

Wheels whisper as they whirl down the winding trail. Stones kick up from the knobby tires, clinking as they strike the spokes. Bike chains rattle from the bumpity-bump of the trail. Wind rushes through the vents of the helmets, while branches produce a tune as they whip through the spokes. The song of mountain biking plays on…

I begin to have a new appreciation for wild animals and how they travel through these mountains, among the golden Aspen, and along trails no wider than themselves. A blur of rocks and woven shrubs pass by on either side. My left shoe is clipped stiffly in its pedal while the right one stays free in anticipation of a crash. I am fixated on the blur below me; yet I have to look up once in a while to see what lies ahead. The knobby front tire has a mind of its own as it maneuvers its way along the trail. My hands ache from clenching the brakes just tight enough to slow down without compromising a decent pace for the descent. The corners come quickly, as do the small piles of sand. What is sand doing in the Rocky Mountains anyway? Nevertheless, it is there and is difficult to maneuver through. I learn not to brake while going through the sand, as that causes stress on the bike and inhibits my ability to proceed. Pedaling through it quickly is definitely the way to go. I always thought descending was the easy part. The rush, sense of freedom, and the physical challenge of riding on open trails speak to the benefits of mountain biking.

We climbed 3,000 feet before arriving at the turn off for Porcupine Trail. Amanda, who is four months pregnant and said she had to take it easy, is about a quarter of a mile ahead of me. She has the advantage of having ventured down this trail many times. This, my first visit to Colorado, left me unsure of what to expect. During the climb, I was able to blame my breathlessness on the altitude. Now during the descent, it becomes all about the talent that is required to handle the bike and anticipate the technical maneuvers needed for the terrain.

I glance up after the last turn and sand pit and spot Amanda ahead at an intersection. The single-track part of the ride is over. We have come full circle and are ready to head back down the main trail into the valley. Smiling, I turn onto the wide trail; I am proud of my success. The effects of the altitude are no longer an issue as we fly down the last part of the ride. Both feet in the pedals and hands off the brakes, I feel free.

Do you want to read more by UniverseSigns? Just visit her web site by clicking HERE.

Deer Path Amongst the Aspen by Universe Signs

Wheels whisper as they whirl down the winding trail. Stones kick up from the knobby tires, clinking as they strike the spokes. Bike chains rattle from the bumpity-bump of the trail. Wind rushes through the vents of the helmets, while branches produce a tune as they whip through the spokes. The song of mountain biking plays on…

I begin to have a new appreciation for wild animals and how they travel through these mountains, among the golden Aspen, and along trails no wider than themselves. A blur of rocks and woven shrubs pass by on either side. My left shoe is clipped stiffly in its pedal while the right one stays free in anticipation of a crash. I am fixated on the blur below me; yet I have to look up once in a while to see what lies ahead. The knobby front tire has a mind of its own as it maneuvers its way along the trail. My hands ache from clenching the brakes just tight enough to slow down without compromising a decent pace for the descent. The corners come quickly, as do the small piles of sand. What is sand doing in the Rocky Mountains anyway? Nevertheless, it is there and is difficult to maneuver through. I learn not to brake while going through the sand, as that causes stress on the bike and inhibits my ability to proceed. Pedaling through it quickly is definitely the way to go. I always thought descending was the easy part. The rush, sense of freedom, and the physical challenge of riding on open trails speak to the benefits of mountain biking.

We climbed 3,000 feet before arriving at the turn off for Porcupine Trail. Amanda, who is four months pregnant and said she had to take it easy, is about a quarter of a mile ahead of me. She has the advantage of having ventured down this trail many times. This, my first visit to Colorado, left me unsure of what to expect. During the climb, I was able to blame my breathlessness on the altitude. Now during the descent, it becomes all about the talent that is required to handle the bike and anticipate the technical maneuvers needed for the terrain.

I glance up after the last turn and sand pit and spot Amanda ahead at an intersection. The single-track part of the ride is over. We have come full circle and are ready to head back down the main trail into the valley. Smiling, I turn onto the wide trail; I am proud of my success. The effects of the altitude are no longer an issue as we fly down the last part of the ride. Both feet in the pedals and hands off the brakes, I feel free.

Do you want to read more by UniverseSigns? Just visit her web site by clicking HERE.

Deer Path Amongst the Aspen by Universe Signs

Wheels whisper as they whirl down the winding trail. Stones kick up from the knobby tires, clinking as they strike the spokes. Bike chains rattle from the bumpity-bump of the trail. Wind rushes through the vents of the helmets, while branches produce a tune as they whip through the spokes. The song of mountain biking plays on…

I begin to have a new appreciation for wild animals and how they travel through these mountains, among the golden Aspen, and along trails no wider than themselves. A blur of rocks and woven shrubs pass by on either side. My left shoe is clipped stiffly in its pedal while the right one stays free in anticipation of a crash. I am fixated on the blur below me; yet I have to look up once in a while to see what lies ahead. The knobby front tire has a mind of its own as it maneuvers its way along the trail. My hands ache from clenching the brakes just tight enough to slow down without compromising a decent pace for the descent. The corners come quickly, as do the small piles of sand. What is sand doing in the Rocky Mountains anyway? Nevertheless, it is there and is difficult to maneuver through. I learn not to brake while going through the sand, as that causes stress on the bike and inhibits my ability to proceed. Pedaling through it quickly is definitely the way to go. I always thought descending was the easy part. The rush, sense of freedom, and the physical challenge of riding on open trails speak to the benefits of mountain biking.

We climbed 3,000 feet before arriving at the turn off for Porcupine Trail. Amanda, who is four months pregnant and said she had to take it easy, is about a quarter of a mile ahead of me. She has the advantage of having ventured down this trail many times. This, my first visit to Colorado, left me unsure of what to expect. During the climb, I was able to blame my breathlessness on the altitude. Now during the descent, it becomes all about the talent that is required to handle the bike and anticipate the technical maneuvers needed for the terrain.

I glance up after the last turn and sand pit and spot Amanda ahead at an intersection. The single-track part of the ride is over. We have come full circle and are ready to head back down the main trail into the valley. Smiling, I turn onto the wide trail; I am proud of my success. The effects of the altitude are no longer an issue as we fly down the last part of the ride. Both feet in the pedals and hands off the brakes, I feel free.

Do you want to read more by UniverseSigns? Just visit her web site by clicking HERE.