Newsletters of 2002

For people who love to ride

March 2002

April Club Rides Meet at 8:45 AM

April 20 (Sat) 

For people who love to ride

April/May 2002

RMCC Club Meetings

RMCC club meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month. The club convenes in the Denny’s Restaurant (Park Avenue and 1-25) at 7:00 PM. All RMCC members are encouraged to attend!

Next Club Meeting
Tuesday, May 7th 
at 7:00 PM

We're Online!
Visit RMCC on the web - www.rmccrides.com

Inputs to the Newsletter
Please submit comments, suggestions, corrections or column ideas to Penny Kosel at  penny@hikecolorado.org Submissions for Chain Chatter are due on the first of each month.

Denver-Aspen Classic Registration
Get your registration in to secure your spot for the 2002 Joe Lookingbill Denver to Aspen Classic! You can register online at www.active.com, download an application from the  Denver-Aspen page, or look for registration forms at your favorite bike shop.

Membership Updates
Need to update your membership info? Send changes to bandhmyers1@mindspring.com

Coming in June!
Look for a recap of the April 7th Populaire ride including results!

RMCC RIDE REVIEW
WIGGINS-FT.MORGAN-BRUSH RIDE (SUNDAY, APRIL 28th)
Brent Myers

This is a new ride for the RMCC that travels east through the plains with long stretches that will encourage group riding. The route was introduced by Ft. Morgan's Team Jackalope (visit www.the508.com) last fall. The road surfaces are good; the motorists are few and very polite with single file riding only warranted by opposing traffic.

The ride will start in Wiggins, just 60 miles northeast of Denver on 1-76. Park along the fence at Stub's and grab your last minute provisions. Starting on road Q heading east will give you plenty of time to warm up as this is a straight run east for about 20 miles and runs just south of Ft. Morgan and into Brush. Going through Brush ends the corn and alfalfa fields and begins a winding trip through the South Platte River bottom. There is a convenience store on the east end of Brush for a good regroup point. Turning left we follow Hwy 6 until Hillrose where we head north across the Platte River. Once north of the river we begin to work our way back west with up to five river crossings. The ride enters Ft. Morgan and turns west past the beet plant and onto Orchard City where Michener's Centennial was filmed. Here the ride is almost complete with the crossing of 1-76 and returning through Wiggins.

There are plenty of chances to shorten or extend this ride, as this area is heavily agricultural with no subdivisions yet. Riding is very peaceful with minimal traffic. And Stub's has this great shake machine for that recovery drink after the ride.

RMCC JERSEY ORDERS DUE!

Don't forget! RMCC jersey orders are due April 18th! Make checks payable to RMCC ($65.00/jersey) and send to:
Rick Melick 
5350 Ridge Trail 
Littleton, CO 80123-1412

Questions about RMCC jerseys?

"The best rides are the ones where you bite off much more than you can chew--and live through it. " -- Doug Bradbury

RMCC MEMBER NOTES

RAAM 2002
We are looking for 2-3 people willing to crew for Fabio Biasiolo in RAAM 2002. Transportation to race start and back from race finish is included. Fabio had a third place finish in the 2000 RAAM.

For more details please contact Ann Crossland at Annbondcrossland@aol.com; Visit Fabio's website at www.fabiobiasiolo.freeweb.org. If interested please respond as early as possible in April 2002.

Try Something New...
...stoke a tandem! John Hughes is looking for a stoker to ride a CoMo tandem with a Softride beam. He has 20 years of tandem experience (and as many good stories!) and is looking for someone to help cruise through the Sunday Endurance rides.

E-mail JHnFriends@aol.com

Remember the time...
Chain Chatter wants to print your memories - the best, the scariest, the fondest, and the funniest - of cycling and RMCC. Send them to penny@hikecolorado.org or
RMCC Chain Chatter
c/o Penny Kosel
10056 Signal Butte Dr
Littleton, CO 80125

RMCC Challenge Series
The Rocky Mountain Cycling Club is proud to offer eleven timed rides for people wanting a special challenge. All rides are in the traditional French format (brevet style), with a mass start, checkpoints, time cards, and check-in at finish.

May Challenge Series Rides
May 5th E243-Horsetooth 200 Kilometer Brevet

May 18th Littleton-Black Forest 300 Kilometer Brevet 

Pre-registration for brevet rides is encoraged!

Memorial Weekend Tour
Loop the Grand Mesa! Start in Rifle and loop Grand Mesa clockwise. This SAG supported ride is coordinated by Barry Nash, and pre-registration by May 8th is REQUIRED!

Quotes
Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel...the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood." --Susan B. Anthony

REMEMBER THE TIME...
John Hughes

I've ridden many brevets on my single and was having a little trouble getting psyched up for the RMCC 200 km last year. John Lake was coming out from Illinois for the brevet so I e-mailed him "Let's do it on the tandem." He wrote back "I've never ridden tandem, but let's go for it."

I've been riding tandem for over 20 years, but never for more than 100 miles. The 200 km featured some stiff climbs - this would be a challenge!

On Saturday we adjusted the stoker's position to fit John and went out for a very wet eight-mile ride. We got started without falling over, climbed a one mile 10% hill, and got back down in one piece. We were ready!

Sunday the weather was clear. At the start, I positioned the tandem at the back of the group and then waited until they'd left, before we rolled out. Trying something new is good, but we didn't need an audience.

Take-off was successful and on the rolling hills east of Boulder we practiced standing. After a few tries, we could stand and stay in our lane! Our butts would survive the ride!

By the first control we were riding with others, pulling into the north wind. We were one of the first bikes to reach the second control in Rawhide, and gratefully we turned south. After about 80 miles, John and I rolled into LaPorte. We took a leisurely break at Vern's, eating enormous cinnamon buns, juice and anything else that looked tasty.

After leaving LaPorte, we had only a few miles to warm-up and then we turned onto Centennial, which featured four 10-15% climbs. I shifted into the granny. I've done a lot of mountain biking and have good bike handling skills. And John was a very steady stoker. So, we were able to grind up the hill at 3.5 mph. We even passed Charlie Henderson!

Over the top I put it back in the middle ring. Starting up the next hill, I waited too long to go for the granny and couldn't make the shift. "Stopping!" and we clicked out of the pedals. John lifted the bike while I shifted to the small ring. Charlie rode by us, with just a bit of a smirk. Hmm ... now we need to get started without falling over. "One, two, three" ...we did it!

I paid more attention to shifting and we made it over the last two hills. As we rolled down the last one and around Horsetooth Reservoir, I had a big grin on my face and I suspected John did, too. We had it made - only a few miles of prairie back to the finish.

As most of you know, the Joe Lookingbill Denver- Aspen Classic is the premier double-century ride in Colorado. But if the thought of a 200 mile ride in one day is a little intimidating, remember that the D2A offers a 155 mile option that is a piece of cake for century ride veterans!

If you are wondering if you can do it here is the answer -YOU CAN! Come on out on August 3rd and ride the 8th annual Joe Lookingbill Denver-Aspen classic!

RETROSPECTIVE: JOE LOOKINGBILL
Catharine Guy-Lookingbill

Ever wonder why the Denver to Aspen Classic is called the "Joe Lookingbill Denver to Aspen Classic?"

Joe was one of the six founding member of the Rocky Mountain Cycling Club. Each of these six original members put $100.00 into the treasury in order to print RMCC's first ride brochure. After countless visits to the many bike shops in Colorado, RMCC's membership gradually grew to over 400 members.

Joe was a valuable member of the club; he donated many hours of his time to marketing the RMCC as well as serving in various positions on the board. Joe designed our first club logo, the Denver to Aspen Classic jerseys, and the Challenge Series jerseys. He worked with Barry Nash to develop the RMCC logo.

In addition, Joe relentlessly pursued Pearl Izumi to sponsor the RMCC; his efforts resulted in RMCC being the only sponsored bicycling club. Because of Joe's efforts, RMCC members still receive deep discounts on quality merchandise.

Joe truly defined the RMCC's motto "for people who love to ride" as riding was one of his great passions; the Denver to Aspen classic was one of his favorite rides despite the fact that he never officially completed the course - he came within four minutes one year but volunteer Bob Barday, ever vigilant in his duties, pulled him from the course (D2A volunteers take their jobs very seriously!).

After his death from colon cancer in 1999, board members voted unanimously to change the Denver to Aspen Classic to the "Joe Lookingbill Denver to Aspen Classic." So remember - when you are riding this year's Denver to Aspen Classic, Joe will be "riding like the wind" in your slip-stream and just maybe he will put a hand on your saddle and help you up Independence Pass.  

JOIN THE D2A TEAM 

An event like the Denver- to Aspen Classic can't occur without the help of our tireless staff of volunteers, and now is the time to start thinking about being a volunteer for the 2002 event! We have opportunities both for planning and day of ride support - whether you have 2 hours to spare or a whole day to devote to the effort, we need you! Look for more opportunities in the June Chain Chatter.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Catharine Guy-Lookingbil at  clookingbill@rnsn.com 

Start Time - 
April Rides
Cyclists joining RMCC for club rides in April should be ready to ride at the Meet Point no later than 8:45 AM!

Start Time - 
May Rides
Cyclists joining RMCC for club rides in May should be ready to ride at the Meet Point no later than 7:45 AM!

Don't forget!
Cyclists in RMCC club rides must agree to abide by traffic laws and practice courtesy and safety in cycling. 
Helmets are required!

Inclement Weather?

Rides will be conducted in all weather subject to final decision of the Ride Leader at the meet point. In severe conditions, rides may be changed or canceled without prior notice.

Be a Ride Leader!

Join the few, the proud, the RMCC Ride Leaders! We are always looking for RMCC members to take the lead in starting RMCC rides.

For more information, check out the RMCC web site - www.rmccrides.com.

To volunteer, contact John Klever.

Question?

ONGOING EVENTS 
The Handle Bar and Grill Wednesday Evening Training Ride

This is a weekly ride around Washington Park; meets in the northwest corner of the South High School parking lot at 5:30 PM. Laps around the park provide for socialization, varied pace, and the opportunity for late arrivals to join the group. We will meet at The Handle Bar and Grill following the ride. Discounts and gift certificates are available to RMCC members. Contact Val Phelps for more information.

For people who love to ride

August 2002

RMCC Club Meetings RMCC club meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month. The club convenes in the Denny’s Restaurant (Park Avenue and I-25) at 7:00 PM. All RMCC members are encouraged to attend! Next Club Meeting Tuesday, August 6th  at 7:00 PM   We're Online! Visit RMCC on the web - www.rmccrides.com Inputs to the Newsletter Please submit comments, suggestions, corrections or column ideas to Penny Kosel at penny@hikecolorado.org Submissions for Chain Chatter are due on the first of each month. Denver-Aspen Classic Registration Get your registration in to secure your spot for the 2002 Joe Lookingbill Denver to Aspen Classic! You can register online at www.active.com, download an application from the  Denver-Aspen page, or look for registration forms at your favorite bike shop.   Errata In the April/May issue of Chain Chatter, Catharine Lookingbill's e-mail address was incorrectly reported. Her e-mail address is: cglookingbill@msn.com

ANCHORAGE TO NOME BICYCLE RECORD By John Hughes Bob Fourney, solo RAAM winner ('90 and '91 ), set a new winter trans-Alaska record of 14 days 7 hours 40 minutes, taking 19 hours off of Mike Curriak's Iditasport impossible time of 15 days 2 hours. Fourney followed the same route as the 1925 serum run when brave Alaskans carried life saving diphtheria serum from Anchorage to Nome. Fourney's route was 1049 miles. Fourney rode an average of 18 hours a day with many 10 minute breaks. He rode through three nights, but most nights he slept in beds when people would offer hospitality. Two nights he slept in cabins with fires he was able to get going. The weather was magnificent for Alaska, with sunshine, tailwinds and mild temperatures. It was -20 one morning on the Yukon. Along the coast there were winds up to 50 mph. "At 0 that's awfully cold, but I didn't frostbite any part of my body ." On the trek from the Yukon to the coast at midnight a passing snow machine warned him that there was a pack of hungry wolves on the trail ahead. Not wanting to lose time, Fourney continued on. "With scenes of 'when animals attack' playing in my head. I wondered if I could get my front wheel off quick enough to use as a shield. As I rode along I started to see the huge tracks. I kept speeding up hoping to reach the Tripod Flats Cabin before they could chow on my biker butt. I kept looking back into the darkness to see the green reflections of their eyes. Once I rode off the trail and piled into the deep snow, landing under my bike and its heavy load. Laying on my back staring up at the northern lights I kicked the bike back up onto the trail to free myself from the deep snow. In the struggle my headlight went dead, I was afraid I had broken the wire from the battery pack to the headlamp. I was in total darkness, the northern lights danced in the North and the stars were vivid. The wind was blowing 20 mph and I was very cold from the snow that had gotten all over my warm body and melted. "I had to fix the light to continue - waiting till the morning was not an option since I only had a bivy sack. I found my pinch light in my jersey pocket and decided to replace the batteries first, hoping that would be the problem. I took the 4 D cell batteries out of the oversize Tupperware container bolted into my main triangle of the bike. I dumped the used ones out onto the trail and used the pinch light to identify the position that the new batteries had to be aligned. I remember hoping that I didn't burn out the bulb because they are a bear to change out in these conditions. By now I was sure the wolves were aware of my situation and busy plotting their dinner. When the last battery snapped into place the halogen light lit up like the sun: PURE RELIEF. Tripod Flats cabin was less than a half mile down the trail. I arrived at 4 a.m. and started a raging fire in the stove; it was 75 degrees in there in 20 minutes. I cooked dinner and went to sleep feeling that I had truly dodged a bullet, I was thankful to be alive. The next day Ranger Dave at the Old Woman cabin informed me that there has never been a documented wolf attack on a human in Alaska. I felt like a Chechacko (Eskimo for newcomer or greenhorn)." Congratulations Bob!

 

Get Well, John Klever! One of the Rocky Mountain Cycling Club's most active members, John Klever, suffered a broken clavicle in a cycling accident in June. We hope for a speedy recovery! RMCC Challenge Series The Rocky Mountain Cycling Club is proud to offer eleven timed rides for people wanting a special challenge. All rides are in the traditional French format (brevet style ), with a mass start, checkpoints, time cards, and check-in at finish. Look for upcoming events on the RMCC website (www.rmccrides.com) or contact John Lee Ellis for more information. Great Divide Adventure! This is the adventure of a lifetime! Steve (m) and Skip (f) are looking for companions to share this with us. The plan is to bike the lower half of Adventure Cycling's Great Divide Mountain Bike Trail. The route is from Frisco, CO to Antelope Wells, NM (across the border from Mexico). The trail consists of 80% gravel roads, 10% paved roads, and 5% single track. The trip will take place the month of September as we tour, self-contained, on mountain bikes. If interested, please contact Skip at  esbeck@juno.com

BREVETS By Val Phelps I have recently completed the "shorter" spring brevet series. RMCC had 3 populaires (1 cancelled mid-ride due to weather) and the 200k regular brevet. A populaire is approximately 75 miles and it is intended to give new brevet riders experience riding a timed event.  Shorter brevets or populaires provide an opportunity for serious cyclists to ride distances similar to centuries against the clock. The vast majority of club cyclists aren't racers or ultra distance riders but may welcome the challenge of riding a timed event. It has been my experience that the "shorter" brevet series (between 75 and 130 miles) is challenging and provides an excellent opportunity to improve stamina and speed.  You do not need to ride the longer brevets to enjoy the populaires or 200K events. Even though I ride frequently and log a great number of miles per year, longer brevets do not hold an attraction for me. After 100 miles I become weary of "being one with my bike". The "shorter" brevet series resumes in September with a populaire covering the Copper Triangle and the 200k reversing the spring route. I encourage the vast number of century riders to join us. A RMCC membership is all that's required. I would be happy to answer any questions either by phone or on a club ride. I can be easily recognized by the RMCC jersey, my orange & yellow helmet, or my candy red Waterford. 300 KM BREVET A GREAT SUCCESS! Quite tolerable weather graced the 300km brevet this year (unlike last year's storms), rewarding the record number of cyclists (22) who showed up to ride. People seemed to like the course changes, including the extended loop at dawn around Chatfield Reservoir, the Gleneagle checkpoint, and best of all, Fox Farm Road into Larkspur and its friendly and pastry-Iaden general store. There were some new faces this year, including Jan Christiansen, a Dane working in England, who'd just done a 300km in Wales, an interesting comparison. We also appreciate other riders from outside the Front Range, such as Robin Favreau and Marc Witkes from Durango, and David Blair from Basalt. THE RESULTS ARE IN! EVENT: POPULAIRE - APRIL 7, 2002 Time Rider 3:40 Grealish, Chris 3:40 Hornik, John 3:40 Montag, Jonathan 3:42 Howe, James 3:43 Herzberger, Matt 3:50 Foley, Paul 3:50 Myers, Brent 3:50 Phelps, Val 4:02 Kalisch, Tim 4:05 Miller, Robert 4:10 Boyle, Tom 4:16 Foss, Tom 4:16 Van Der Kamp, Bruce 4:20 McCamman, Dan 4:45 Higgins, Kerry 4:50 Hayes, Allen 5:08 Lynch, Donna EVENT: 300KM BREVET- MAY I8, 2002 Time   Rider 11 :40 Grealish, Chris 11 :56 Favreau, Robin 11 :56 Talbert, Colin 11 :57 Smith, Vernon 12:02 Griswold, Wil 12:02 Rosenthal, Harris 12:41 Witkes, Marc 13:12 Vincent, Jack 13:14 Christiansen, Jan 13:14 Ellis, John Lee 13:14 Foley, Paul 13:26 Hughes, John 13:26 Kroonenberg, Stuart 13:26 Ryan, Jim 13:28 Blair,David 13:29 Farnsworth,Rex 13:29 Henderson, Charlie 13:29 Herrick, Jack 14:12 Barday, Robert 14:17 Bacus,Thomas 15:06 Billingsley, Ken 15:21 Simmons, Erick

 

Start Time -August Rides Cyclists joining RMCC for club rides in August should be ready to ride at the Meet Point no later than 7:45 AM! Don't forgetl Cyclists in RMCC club rides must agree to abide by traffic laws and practice courtesy and safety in cycling. Helmets are required! Inclement Weather? Rides will be conducted in all weather subject to the final decision of the Ride Leader at the meet point. In severe conditions, rides may be changed or canceled without prior notice. Be a Ride Leaderl Join the few, the proud, the RMCC Ride Leaders! We are always looking for RMCC members to take the lead in starting RMCC rides. For more information, check out the RMCC web site -  www.rmccrides.com. To volunteer, contact John Klever. Questions? If you have questions about joining a ride, contact the ride leader listed in the schedule. Any other questions about RMCC rides can be directed to John Klever. Membership Updates Need to update your membership info? Send changes to bandhmyers1@mindspring.com Volunteer Opportunities The 8th Annual Denver- Aspen Classic is just around the corner and we need you! We have many opportunities for RMCC members to get involved with this excellent cycling event. Contact Mike at  denver2aspen@hotmail. com

August Club Rides Meet at 7:45 AM Date Meet Point (E) (R/P) Leader August 3 (Sat) 8th Annual Joe Lookingbill Denver-Aspen Classic! Fully supported cycling adventure! Registration and fee information at the Denver-Aspen page 200 mi 155 mi Mike Kosel . August 10 (Sat)  Start: Ted's Place (12 mi. north of Fort Collins on Hwy 287) (E) Route -Stove Prairie, Masonville, Horsetooth, Belleview (R/P) Route -Stove Prairie, Masonville, Horsetooth loop    90 mi 56 mi Brent Myers . August 11 (Sun)  Start: Littleton, NW corner of the park-and-Ride at Sante Fe and Mineral (E) Route -Deer Creek, Pleasant Park, Conifer, Black Mountain, Evergreen, Morrison, Willow Springs (R/P) Route -Deer Creek, Pleasant Park, City View, South Turkey Creek, Deer Creek Loop 67 mi 45 mi Val Phelps  . August 17 (Sat) Start: Golden, Parking lot on Jackson St, east of the park at 10th and Washington  (E) Route -Mount Evans Ride, Golden, Lookout Mountain, Bergen Park, Echo Lake, Mount Evans, and return (R/P) Route -Lookout Mountain, Bergen Park, Juniper Pass and return    93 mi 47 mi Val Phelps . August 18 (Sun) Start: Castle Rock, the parking lot adjacent to Big O Tires, 2 blocks SE of 1-25 exit 181 (E) Route -Wolfensberger, Perry Park, Palmer Lake, Larkspur, Perry Park, Tomah Road (R/P) Route -Wolfensberger, Perry Park, Larkspur Loop    67 mi 32 mi Jack Vincent  . August 24 (Sat) Start: Littleton, NW corner of the park-and-Ride at Sante Fe and Mineral (E) Route -Deer Creek, Indian Hills, Upper Bear Creek, Stagecoach, Soda Creek, Morrison, Willow Springs (R/P) Route -Deer Creek, Tiny Town, Indian Hills, Kittredge, Evergreen, High Drive, Deer Creek Loop 77 mi 52 mi Dan McCammon . August 25 (Sun)  Start: Wagon Road, the park-and-Ride at the SE corner of 120th and Huron in Northglenn (E) Route -Airport loop, Tower Road, Barr Lake, Brighton loop (R/P) Route -Barr Lake and return 106 mi 51 mi No Volunteer . August 31 (Sat) Start: Golden, Parking lot on Jackson St, east of the park at 10th and Washington (E) Route -Golden Gate Canyon, Rollinsville, Coal Creek Canyon (R/P) Route -Golden Gate Canyon to Hwy 119 and return 58 mi 38 mi Tom Foss .   WEEKLY EVENTS The Handle Bar and Grill Wednesday Evening Training Ride This is a weekly ride around Washington Park; meets in the northwest corner of the South High School parking lot at 5:30 PM. Laps around the park provide for socialization, varied pace, and the opportunity for late arrivals to join the group. We will meet at The Handle Bar and Grill following the ride. Discounts and gift certificates are available to RMCC members. Contact Val Phelps for more information. Announcing Tuesday Night Hill Climb Ride This new ride will start in Golden at 6pm in the parking lot at 10th and Washington next to Parfet Park (same location as our Golden ride starts.) We will climb Lookout Mountain or do other loops that involve climbing. Rides will be about an hour long. The only Tuesday's without rides will be the first Tuesday of each month, which is our club meeting. If you have questions please contact the ride leader Jonathan Breen at jonathanb@cobs.edu.

C h a i n   C h a t t e r 
September 2002

For people who love to ride

 

RMCC Club Meetings RMCC club meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month. The club convenes in the Denny's Restaurant (Park Avenue and I-25) at 7:00 PM. All RMCC members are encouraged to attend! Next Club Meeting Tuesday, September 3rd at 7:00 PM We're Online!  Visit RMCC on the web - www.rmccrides.com Inputs to the Newsletter   Please submit comments, suggestions, corrections or column ideas to Penny Kosel at penny@ hikecolorado.org Submissions for Chain Chatter are due on the first of each month. Grand Loop Results Only six riders challenged themselves to the extremely rigorous Grand Loop (203 miles, 15,000 feet of climbing). Five riders were successful:    Tasshi Dennis - 13:17  Chris Grealish - 14:30 Robert Pogoreiz - 17:27  Nathan Dick - 17:27 Rex Farnsworth - 17:27 Missing Anything? A number of items were left at various aid stations along the Denver-Aspen route. If you believe you left something behind, contact Penny at penny@ hikecolorado.org

JOE LOOKINGBILL DENVER-ASPEN CLASSIC ROLLS THROUGH COLORADO  By Mike  Kosel The 2002 Joe Lookingbill Denver-Aspen Classic has come and gone! On a warm August 3rd morning, we sent 85 riders out from the Denver Tech Center on the double-century , and 73 riders departed from Conifer on the 155-mile option. Despite recent hot weather, we caught a break and saw temperatures in the 80s and most riders even encountered light rain between Twin Lakes and Aspen.  The 8th annual D2A saw some of the fastest ride times in recent years -- the frontrunners finished the 200 mile option in 10 hours and 47 minutes. They arrived at Aspen's Paepcke Park before 2pm, where a beautiful day lent itself to hanging out in the park and swapping stories with other riders. Our latest finishers came screaming into the finish line at 9:28 PM, just two minutes before the end of the official qualifying time. We congratulate everyone who rode on August 3rd! It was a pleasure to have everyone out on the route. And of course, many thanks go out to our crack staff of tireless volunteers, all of whom went above and beyond the call of duty to assist cyclists and do their part to make the day run smoothly. Finally, we extend a note of gratitude to our supporters and sponsors. Although there are too many of them to list here, the D2A wouldn't be possible without the generous donations of food, materials, and facilities that make the Denver-Aspen Classic such an incredible event.  For more details, please check the web at the Denver-Aspen page. We'll have the full ride results posted in mid-August, and certificates and medallions will be mailed by late August. For those who ordered jerseys, they're coming in mid- September. Once again, thanks to everyone...riders, staff, volunteers and supporters for making the Denver-Aspen Classic a one-of-a-kind cycling experience. The Denver-Aspen Classic Team: Jonathan Breen, Randy Durban, Terri Durban, Bill Gosh, Catharine  Guy-Lookingbill, Dennis Horgan, Marsha Kestner, Mike Kosel, Penny Kosel, Teresa Kosel, Bryan Lookingbill, Kathy Lookingbill, Dan Post, Terry Rudd, Tom Tobiason, and Jack Vincent (and son). We hope to see everyone back next year on August 2nd, 2003! CHAIN CHATTER VIA E-MAIL  RMCC Members now have the option of receiving the newsletter via e-mail (PDF) instead of USPS. If you are interested, e-mail penny@hikecolorado.org and you will be added to the list!

 

RMCC Challenge Series  The Rocky Mountain  Cycling Club is proud to offer eleven timed rides for people wanting a special challenge. All rides are in the traditional French format (brevet style), with a mass start, checkpoints, time cards, and check-in at finish. These are self-supporting rides meaning that most checkpoints are at convenience stores where water and nourishment are available. Contact John Lee Ellis for more information on any challenge series ride. September Challenge Series Rides September 14th Check-in: 8:30 AM Start: The service station at the Copper Mountain- Frisco traiIhead  Course: Vail Pass, Vail, Minturn, Tennessee Pass, Leadville, Fremont Pass Distance: 120 km September 22nd Check-in: 8:30 am. Start: The convenience store at the northeast corner of Exit 243 (1-25 and State Highway 66) Course: Masonville, Horsetooth, Laporte, Rawhide power plant, Wellington, Windsor Distance: 200 km

300KM BREVET - 27 JULY 2002 Helmets off to Charlie Henderson! He put together this rolling, challenging, yet quiet route as a substitute for our Woodland Park course that forest fires had nixed (threat of blowing ash or flash floods caused us to re-route). The new course combines the best of the spring 300km visit to Black Forest, subtracts the most aggravating stretches, and adds climbs over seemingly countless rollercoaster hills for a strenuous yet tranquil ride! Weather was excellent, with some cloud cover to blunt the sun, and prolonged riding above 7,000 ft., which made for mild temps. Ridership more than doubled over last summer's 300km, and we think cyclists will enjoy this route for next spring's 300km. 600KM BREVET - 29-30 JUNE 2002 The smoke that spared us on the 400km did infiltrate the 600km, together with temperatures grazing 100 degrees. That, coupled with the typical headwinds in the shadow of Meeker and Longs Peaks, made for some real work, for which the excellent cinnamon rolls at the Glen Haven General Store were a welcome restorative. Out-of-towners included Ann Bond Crossland from Aspen, who, together with Bob Barday, John Lee Ellis, Jim Emig, Rex Farnsworth, Charlie Henderson, and Chris Grealish, is now set for Boston-Montreal-Boston. Thanks to Wojciech, Charlie Henderson's support person, for keeping a watchful and helpful eye on the brevet riders! 1000KM BREVET -15-18 JUNE 2002 Participation quadrupled over last year's inaugural 1000km, drawn no doubt by the chance to climb two canyons, with Fort Morgan and the Weldon Valley as "intermission" in between. Riders endured some toasty temperatures and smoky air, especially on the make-up ride, June 29th. For Charlie Henderson and John Lee Ellis, this completes their qualification for the Randonneur 5000 award from Paris. Jack Herrick earned his last year and did this ride ostensibly just for fun, as did Marcia Kestner. Thanks to Jack Herrick for helping lie out and measure the route! 300 KM BREVET - 07/27/02 Time  Rider  11:56 EMIG,James  12:13 ELLIS, John Lee  12:23 HOWE, James  12:23 KROONENBERG,  Stuart  13:36 HENDERSON, Charlie  13:36 HIGGINS, Kerry  600 KM BREVET - 06/29-30/02  Time  Rider  24:30 GREALISH, Chris  30:00 FOLEY, Paul  30:00 SMITH, Vernon  30:44 BARANCZYK, Merle  31:58 CROSSLAND, Ann  Bond  31:58 HERRICK, Jack  32:17 ELLIS, John Lee  32:22 BARDAY, Robert  32:22 FARNsWORTH, Rex  32:38 EMIG, James  1000 KM BREVET - 06/15-18/02  Time  Rider  61:14 HENDERSON, Charlie*  62:20 ELLIS, John Lee  64:05 HERRICK, Jack  64:05 KESTNER, Marcia  400KM BREVET - 06/15-16/02 Time  Rider  15:57 EMIG, James  15:57 FAVREAU, Robin  15:57 SMITH,Vernon  16:10 GREALISH, Chris  17:18 FOLEY, Paul  18:45 BLAIR, David  18:45 HENDERSON, Charlie  18:45 HUGHES, John  19:15 HOWE, John  19:30 BARDAY, Robert  19:30 HIGGINS, Kerry  19:30  KROONENBERG,  Stuart  21:00 DEIGNAN, Michael  21:00 SIMMONS, Eric

 

Start Time -  August Rides  Cyclists joining RMCC for club rides in August should be ready to ride at the Meet Point no later than 7:45 AM! Start Time  - September Rides Cyclists joining RMCC for club rides in September should be ready to ride at the Meet Point no later than 8:45 AM! Don't forget! Cyclists in RMCC club rides must agree to abide by traffic laws and practice courtesy and safety in cycling. Helmets are required! Inclement  Weather?  Rides will be conducted in all weather subject to final decision of the Ride Leader at the meet point. In severe conditions, rides may be changed or canceled without prior notice. Be a Ride Leader! Join the few, the proud, the RMCC Ride Leaders! We are always looking for RMCC members to take the lead in starting RMCC rides. For more information, check out the RMCC web site - www .rmccrides.com. To volunteer, contact John Klever.  Questions? If you have questions about joining a ride, contact the ride leader listed in the schedule. Any other questions about RMCC rides can be directed to John Klever. Membership Updates Need to update your membership info? Send changes to bandhm yers @mindspring.com For Sale 99' Litespeed Ultimate, 58 cm C-T, 57 cm top tube; brushed titanium full dura-ace 8 speed bar and shifters; cxp 33 wheels; $4000 new/ sell for $2000 Victor: 719. 221.1592 99' Trek Carbon OCLU 5500 frame and fork; quill stem; 58 cm, 57 cm top tube, new factory 2002 USPS paint job still in box; $1600 new/ sell for $1000 Victor: 719. 221.1592

August-September Ride Schedule August 24 (Sat) Littleton-Bergen Park-Morrison Loop Dan McCammon  Start: Littleton, NW corner of the park-and-Ride at Sante Fe and Mineral (End) Route: 77 mi - Deer Creek, Indian Hills, Upper Bear Creek, Stagecoach, Soda Creek, Morrison, Willow Springs (R/P) Route: 52 mi - Deer Creek, Tiny Town, Indian Hills, Kittredge, Evergreen, High Drive, Deer Creek Loop August 25 (Sun) Northglenn-Prospect Valley Century Charlie Henderson  Start: Wagon Road, the park-and-Ride at the SE corner of 120th and Huron in Northglenn (End) Route: 106 mi - Airport loop, Tower Road, Barr Lake, Brighton loop (R/P) Route: 51 mi - Barr Lake and return August 31 (Sat) Golden Gate Canyon Loop Tom Foss  Start: Golden, Parking lot on Jackson St, east of the park at 10th and Washington (End) Route: 58 mi  - Golden Gate Canyon, Rollinsville, Coal Creek Canyon (R/P) Route: 38 mi  - Golden Gate Canyon to Hwy 119 and return Sept 1 (Sun) Aurora-Strasburg and loop, then return Tim Kalish  Start: Highway Commission parking lot at the southeast corner of Colfax Avenue and Tower Road in Aurora (End) Route: 67 mi - Aurora, Watkins, Bennett, 88th Avenue, Strasburg, Bennett, Watkins, Aurora (R/P) Route: 39 mi - Aurora, Watkins, Bennett, Watkins, Aurora Sept 7 (Sat) Granby-Rand return Jack Vincent  Start: The convenience store/gas station at US Highways 34 and 40 in Granby. Granby is about 80 miles northwest of Denver. (End) Route: 68 mi - Granby, Willow Creek Pass, Rand, Willow Creek Pass, Granby (R/P) Route: 46 mi - Granby, Willow Creek Pass, Granby Sept 8 (Sun) Superior-Boulder-Ward return Tom Foss  Start: Superior, the park-and-Ride at the southwest corner of the Boulder Turnpike and McCaslin Boulevard in Superior near  Boulder. (End) Route: 62 mi - Superior, Boulder, Lee Hill Road,  Lefthand Canyon, Ward, Lefthand Canyon, Old Stage Road, Boulder, Superior R/P) Route: 49 mi - Superior, Boulder, Lee Hill Road, Lefthand Canyon, James Canyon, Jamestown, James Canyon, Lefthand Canyon, Old Stage Road, Boulder, Superior Sept 14 (Sat) Copper Triangle Counterclockwise Tom Foss  Start: The service station parking lot on the east side of State Highway 91 in Copper Mountain. Copper Mountain is about 70 miles west of Denver. (End) Route: 78 mi - Copper Mountain, Vail Pass, Vail, Minturn, Tennessee Pass, Leadville, Fremont Pass, Copper Mountain (R/P) Route: 41 mi - Copper Mountain, Vail Pass, Vail, Vail Pass, Copper Mountain Sept 15 (Sun) Littleton-City View-Chatfield loop Jack Vincent  Start: Littleton, NW corner of the park-and-Ride at Sante Fe and Mineral (All) Route: 56 mi - Littleton, Deer Creek Canyon, Phillipsburg, Pleasant Park Road, Conifer, Aspen Park, City View, Deer Creek Canyon, Chatfield Reservoir, Littleton The Handle Bar and Grill Wednesday Evening Training Ride  This is a weekly ride around Washington Park; meets in the northwest corner of the South High School parking lot at 5:30 PM. Laps around the park provide for socialization, varied pace, and the opportunity for late arrivals to join the group. We will meet at The Handle Bar and Grill following the ride. Discounts and gift certificates are available to RMCC members. Contact Val Phelps for more information. Tuesday Night Hill Climb Ride  This ride starts in Golden at 6pm in the parking lot at l0th and Washington next to Parfet Park (same location as our Golden ride starts.) We will climb Lookout Mountain or do other loops that involve climbing. Rides will be about an hour long. The only Tuesdays without rides will be the first Tuesday of each month, which is our club meeting. If you have questions, please contact the ride leader Jonathan Breen at jonathanb@cobs.edu.

C h a i n   C h a t t e r 
October 2002

For people who love to ride

 

RMCC Club Meetings RMCC club meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month. The club convenes in the Denny's Restaurant (Park Avenue and 1-25) at 7:00 PM. All RMCC members are  encouraged to attend! Next Club Meeting Tuesday, November 5th at 7:00 PM We're Online! Visit RMCC on the web - www.rmccrides.com Inputs to the Newsletter  Please submit comments, suggestions, corrections or    column ideas to Penny Kosel at penny@hikecolorado.org Submissions for Chain Chatter are due on the first of each month. Chain Chatter Wants to Hear from YOU! Chain Chatter wants to hear about your favorite rides, the time you won the big event, your very first cycling race -anything to do with your life as a cyclist! Send submissions to penny@hikecolorado.org Missing Anything? A number of items were left at various aid stations along the Denver-Aspen route. If you believe you left something behind, contact Penny at penny@hikecolorado.org

Make Your Vote Count! The November elections are approaching. Please learn about your candidates and HAVE YOUR VOTE COUNT!! With that in mind, this is a short update on communication between the bicycle community and the Jefferson County Commissioners. The issue defined by the commissioners in the canyons is that motorists are speeding and causing unsafe driving conditions. Rather than enforce the speed limits (and provide a safe environment for cyclists as well as motorists), the commissioners have chosen to skirt the issue and put in rumble strips.  We have sent Richard Sheehan, in particular, our multiple requests, numerous letters (was yours in there?) and several hundred signatures on petitions regarding rumble strips in the foothill canyons. His response to the community was a short three sentence response saying the county has money, it has to be spent or lost, and they are spending the money on rumble strips. When pressed to produce a rationale, a list of accidents was issued with an evaluation of which ones could have been mitigated with rumble strips. Bike Jeffco and a number of other cyclists reviewed this report as well as personnel from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). A thorough and politely worded evaluation was sent that disputed a significant number of the items from the commissioners report, and CDOT also concurred that the study did not support any definitive safety factors. CDOT verified that, indeed, there is no study at this time that has any statistics for the safety value of center rumble strips especially in a one lane, narrow road situation such as the canyons. Mr. Sheehan's response was "Interesting" (shorthand, for I don't care). He has also continued to decline requests to meet and discuss the issues. On any given weekend there can be more cyclists in the canyons than motorists. If our commissioners do not believe in representing the interests of their constituents, it seems like a good time to vote someone into office who has an interest in our safety, a person who will listen to us and take action. At this time, Cal Johnson has been receptive to our calls and also does ride a bike. He is running for the spot held by incumbent Sheehan. Please look into the issues and Vote Wisely! RMCC Members in the Spotlight Chris Grealish --  RMCC member Chris Grealish WON the 2002 1200K Boston-Montreal-Boston Bicycle Event in 53 hours, 48 minutes. Congratulations to Chris! This was the most difficult BMB course ever and the BMB is the toughest 1200K in the world. Jim Emig and Bob Barday  Two other RMCC members successfully completed the 2002 BMB:  Jim Emig 79 hours, 55 minutes and  Bob Barday 87 hours 08 minutes  Congratulations to Chris, Jim and Bob!!! Larry Augenstein Larry Augenstein rode 176.24 miles in 12 hours at the Mississippi Valley 24 Hour Challenge 2002. He was Men's 12 Hour 50+ category winner, and placed 4th overall in the 12 hour event. Great job, Larry! Chain Chatter via E-mail RMCC Members now have the option of receiving the newsletter via e-mail (PDF) instead of USPS. If you are interested, e-mail penny@hikecolorado.org and you will be added to the list!

 

RMCC WEEKLY RIDES! The Handle Bar and Grill Wednesday Evening Training Ride This is a weekly ride around Washington Park; meets in the northwest corner of the South High School parking lot at 5:30 PM. Laps around the park provide for socialization, varied pace, and the opportunity for late arrivals to join the group. We will meet at The Handle Bar and Grill following the ride. Discounts and gift certificates are available to RMCC members.  Contact Val Phelps for more information.  Tuesday Night Hill Climb Ride This ride starts in Golden at 6pm in the parking lot 1 at 10th and Washington next to Parfet Park (same  location as our Golden ride starts.) We will climb Lookout Mountain or do other loops that involve climbing. Rides will be about an hour long. The only Tuesdays without rides will be the first Tuesday of each month, which is our club meeting. If you have questions, please contact the ride leader Jonathan Breen at  jonathanb@cobs.edu.

A Triple Bypass Round Trip An  article by member Tasshi Dennis A couple of years ago a group of us doing the Triple Bypass speculated that it might be possible to pedal back to Bergen Park the same day and arrive shortly after the first shuttle bus. It seemed feasible when you considered what we had just done: an early finish in Avon, a few hours wait for the first departure, a two hour bus ride, and an additional wait for bikes to be delivered. Since this process took about six "idle" hours, it seemed like a great opportunity to enjoy even more biking! Last year I rode the Triple with the intention of attempting a return. However, tired legs from riding the Grand Loop the previous weekend combined with too fast of a pace and nasty weather thwarted the attempt. This year I hoped for good weather and rode conservatively to Avon, letting colleagues sail by. I arrived in Avon in good time, but found that lunch wouldn't be served until 2 PM. I ate a little before hitting the road at 2:30, slowly climbing Vail Pass as herds of cyclists flew by on the left. My big fear was that oncoming traffic on the bike path would be a sure recipe for a head-on collision. Thankfully the later riders were descending cautiously with good communication.  I enjoyed the watermelon at the Vail Pass aid station a second time before dropping down to Frisco, noting that the oncoming cyclists had now thinned to a trickle. I arrived at Summit High School at 5:45 PM only to find the aid station gone and not a soul in sight. Loneliness really began to settle in as I climbed Swan Mountain, with heavy clouds forming. Just beyond Keystone I noticed a sign stating "Loveland Pass Summit 8 Miles," guaranteeing that it would be another hour before I reached the other side of the Divide! Furthermore, all of the passes are a lot steeper on their western side. During the climb four cars with bikes with  Triple Bypass numbers on them passed me. At this point I felt like a total idiot, being out on the road while everyone else was "idly" recounting the adventures of the day. I reached the summit just as golden sunlight broke through, but it was a short moment of glory as I needed every article of clothing I had for the cold descent. At the ski area I put on my lights and hit I-70, only to be passed by even more cars with bikes.  In Idaho Springs I decided I had no choice but to skip Squaw Pass - no Double Triple this year. I already had friends waiting for me and a rough descent at 11 PM would have been very dangerous. So I went up Floyd Hill to Bergen Park and pulled into the park-and-Ride at 10:15 PM. People were still loading up bikes and gave me a puzzled look as I exclaimed, "Round Trip!" Is it feasible? - Yes. Is it much fun? - Not really. Will I do it again? - No chance!

 

Start Time  - September Rides  Cyclists joining RMCC for club rides in October should be ready to ride at the Meet Point no later than 8:45 AM! Start Time - October Rides Cyclists joining RMCC for club rides in November should be ready to ride at the Meet Point no later than 9:45 AM! Don't forget! Cyclists in RMCC club rides must agree to abide by traffic laws and practice courtesy and safety in cycling. Helmets are required! Inclement Weather? Rides will be conducted in all weather subject to final decision of the Ride Leader at the meet point. In severe conditions, rides may be changed or canceled without prior notice. Be a Ride Leader! Join the few, the proud, the RMCC Ride Leaders! We are always looking for RMCC members to take the lead in starting RMCC rides. For more information, check out the RMCC web site - www.rmccrides.com. To volunteer, contact John Klever. Questions? If you have questions about joining a ride contact the ride leader listed in the schedule. Any other questions about RMCC rides can be directed to John  Klever. Membership Updates Need to update your membership info? Send changes to bandhmyers1@mindspring.com Platte River Bike Path Weekly Show and Go Inauguration! After the final Wednesday night Handle Bar and Grill Show-and-Go on October 23rd, a new show-and-go ride, leaving from the 15th Street REI and exploring the Platte River bike path, will be inaugurated on October 30th. Lights will be a must, and riding a mountain bike would be a good idea.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER RIDE SCHEDULE Sept 28 (Sat) Lyons-Raymond-Ward loop Jack Vincent Start: Park-and-Ride at the SW corner of 4th Avenue & Broadway Street in Lyons. (All) Route: 47 mi -Lyons, South Saint Vrain Canyon, Raymond, Ward, Lefthand Canyon, Lyons Sept 29 (Sun) Littleton-Deer Creek-High Drive loop Tom Foss Start: Park-and-Ride at the NW corner of Santa Fe Drive & Mineral Avenue in Littleton. (End) Route: 49 mi -Littleton, Deer Creek Canyon, High Drive, Evergreen, Kittredge, Indian Hills, Willow Springs, Ken Caryl, Deer Creek Canyon, Littleton (R/P) Route: 35 mi -Littleton, Deer Creek Canyon, Indian Hills, Willow Springs, Ken Caryl, Deer Creek Canyon, Littleton                   Oct 5 (Sat) Superior-Apple Valley loop Val Phelps Start: Park-and-Ride at the SW corner of the Boulder Turnpike & McCaslin Boulevard. (End) Route: 77 mi -Superior, Boulder, Hygiene, Lyons, Apple Valley, Lyons, Longmont, Firestone, Frederick, Dacono, Erie, Lafayette, Louisville, Superior (R/P) Route: 58 mi -Superior, Boulder, Hygiene, Longmont, Louisville, Superior Oct 6 (Sun) Monument-Air Force Academy loop Rick Melick Start: Lewis-Palmer High School parking lot near Monument. Exit 161 off I-25, cross to the east of 1-25 on Highway 105, right on the frontage road, 1.5 miles to Higby Road, left 1/4 mile to the parking lot on the left. (All) Route: 49 mi - Monument (Lewis Palmer), Air Force Academy double loop, Roller Coaster Road, Monument  Oct 12 (Sat) Exit 255-Rist Canyon Century Brent Myers Start: The parking lot at the southwest corner of Exit 255 on I-25 42 miles north of Denver.  (End) Route: 96 mi - Exit 255, Carter Lake, Masonville, Horsetooth Reservoir, Bellvue, Rist Canyon, Stove Prairie, Masonville, Loveland, Exit 255 (R/P) Route: 37 mi - Exit 255, Carter Lake, Exit 255 Oct 13 (Sun) Wiggins-Hillrose-Orchard Century Beth Long Start: Stubs Gas Station just north of Interstate 76 Exit 66A & US Highway 34 on the east side of State Highway 39. State Highway 39 turns into State Highway 52 south of Interstate 76. Wiggins is about 65 miles northeast of Denver on Interstate 76. (End) Route: 92 mi - Wiggins, Fort Morgan, Brush, Hillrose, Snyder, Dodd, Fort Morgan, Weldona, Goodrich, Wiggins (R/P) Route: 54 mi - Wiggins, Fort Morgan, Weldona, Goodrich, Orchard, Wiggins    Oct 19 (Sat) Golden-Evergreen-Soda Creek loop Tom Foss Start: The parking lot along Jackson Street east of Parfet Park at l0th & Washington Streets in Golden (End) Route: 54 mi - Golden, Rooney Road, Red Rocks, Evergreen, Stage Coach Road, Bergen Park, Soda Creek Road, Lookout Mountain, Golden (R/P) Route: 48 mi - Golden, Rooney Road, Red Rocks, Evergreen, Stage Coach Road, Bergen Park, Lookout Mountain, Golden   Oct 20 (Sun) Northglenn-Barr Lake-Dacono loop Val Phelps Start: The Park-and-Ride at the SE corner of 120th Avenue & Huron Street in Northglenn. (End) Route: 60 mi - Northglenn, Henderson, Barr Lake, Brighton, Dacono, Northglenn (R/P) Route: 41 mi - Northglenn, Henderson, Brighton, Dacono, Northglenn Last Chance 1200KM Randonnée - 4 - 7 September 2002 This year's Colorado Last Chance experienced "explosive growth" with 14 registered riders and 13 starters. The finishing rate was 75%, comparable to last year, and 75% of the riders came from out of state - British Columbia, Saskatchewan, California, Arizona, and Texas. Most riders did well, despite toasty temps in the 90's, with high humidity in Kansas and unrelenting winds on the Colorado Eastern Plains (in other words, normal conditions). Ken Bonner finished first, with a sub-60-hour time close to the sub-60-hour time he had posted at Boston-Montreal-Boston mere weeks before, and a similar time at the Rocky Mountain 1200 mere weeks before that. In other words, he came to this event already warmed up. Local Riders - Charlie Henderson finished a close third, while simultaneously managing the course and coordinating with the event support person, Wojciech. Charlie drives this route often enough for ranching purposes that he knows every hill. Marcia Kestner in her typical low-key fashion, simply showed up and rode the 1200 kilometers. Finally, Paul Foley completed a successful rookie brevet season by riding the Last Chance 1000km option. Texan brevet administrator Russell Hahn brought a number of fellow riders, to whom the heat and open landscape were nothing new. The event drew two recumbents - Russell and Jean-luc Friang.

C h a i n   C h a t t e r 
November 2002

For people who love to ride

 

RMCC Club Meetings RMCC club meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month. The club convenes in the Denny's Restaurant (Park Avenue and I-25) at 7:00 PM. All RMCC members are encouraged to attend! Next Club Meeting Tuesday, November 5th at 7:00 PM We're Online!  Visit RMCC on the web at www.rmccrides.com and the  Denver-Aspen page  Inputs to the Newsletter Please submit comments, suggestions, corrections or column ideas to the Kosels at mike_kosel@hotmail. com  Submissions for Chain Chatter are due by the first of each month. We Need a New Editor!  Interested in taking a more active role in your cycling club? We're looking for a  new newsletter editor.  Responsibilities include:  -soliciting articles -assembling the newsletter  -delivering it to the printer.  Generally the newsletter is targeted to be published by   the 12th of each month.   Interested? Contact Mike Kosel RMCC Challenge Series  The Rocky Mountain Cycling would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2002 Challenge Series. These self-supporting rides will be back for the 2003 season, so keep watching the newsletter and the RMCC website! www.rmccrides.com Membership Updates  Need to update your membership info? Send changes to bandhmyers 1@mindspring.com

2002 Summer Contrail By Brent Myers Waking to the sounds of cleats on the veranda of the Redstone Inn, I yell at my roomy to wake up as I realize the alarm clock I had set has not gone off, and we have only fifteen minutes to dress and load our stuff into the sag van...the Rexmobile piloted by Voijtek our sag driver.  I think of the day before riding from Leadville over Independence Pass and how easy it was with fresh legs. Chasing cars down the pass was a blast, trying to mimic Glenn's style in cornering, as I went flying into Aspen for lunch. Our evening in the dining room at the Redstone Inn was outstanding with all of us enjoying the fine food and Charlie's favorite Cabernet, then Chardonnay, and more Cabernet. I think back to the first day when we joined the Triple route and enjoyed riding with all of our friends along the way. We stopped in Idaho Springs for breakfast, which only turned into a cup of coffee. By the time I got to Loveland I was into full "bonk mode" and reminded myself never to skip breakfast again, so I was standing in line while people were bringing food to me. This was the first time I got to know Fabio Biasiolo, an Italian pro racer who had joined us for the week to recover from RAAM. Unfortunately health problems forced him out early, but we still had the honor to ride with him. Sensing my pain he put up with my grumpy demeanor and not only rode with me, but pushed me all the way up Fremont Pass. For one day I had a domestique I will never forget. Fabio is truly a great rider and can be found at www.fabiobiasiolo.it. When we rode from Redstone over McClure through the Delta Valley, our energy began to ebb. The smoke from the west, a little heat, and the 130 miles to Ouray seemed overwhelming. After leaving the Dairy Queen in Montrose I was refreshed and ready to go hard the last few miles and see whom I could catch. Ascending into this magnificent valley for the first time slowed my pursuit, and I am still thanking Charlie for this route into the San Juans. We had another fine dinner (Italian) with friends, and retired full, happy, and exhausted. Fourth day was an optional ride to the Dallas Divide. I used it to rest a bit, only riding 50 miles and then relaxing at the hot springs in Ridgeway. One of my dollar bills is attached to the ceiling at Bueno Tiempo restaurant in Ouray that serves great Mexican, and it will cost you a dollar to find out why the dollars are there. I finally started to get my legs back as we headed south to Durango over Red Mountain, Molas, and Coal Bank passes. The weather and scenery were ideal and the climbs substantial but with flats in between to recover. It is now my favorite mountain ride thanks to the grandeur of the San Juans completely surrounding me. Descending into Durango, I could see the burn areas and see how lucky it was that more damage had not occurred. Riding out of Durango to do a loop into New Mexico, I was in one of my favorite riding modes, flat, cool weather, and people to draft behind me. We made great time to Aztec thru the oil fields Bob had helped to develop a few years back. This was the day for flats, broken spokes and knee pain. I sagged partway from Aztec with ice on my knee, but picked up the final leg from Ignacio to Durango. Dinner at one of Robin's favorite places, the Durango Brewery, was a treat at which I would recommend the green chili pizza. In the morning we opened the cafe for the second time, and I think they were getting used to us in that the wait staff didn't try and dissuade us from ordering the 3-stack of pancakes and whatever sides we wanted. Robin showed us a new route to take to Bayfield on 240 Road, which then comes into Bayfield from the north. The climbs were gentle with the area north of Bayfield being as beautiful as Colorado can be. Arriving in Pagosa Springs, our sag vehicle was waiting with food, and I finished the pizza left over from Durango. From there we went south into New Mexico on Highwayy 84 to Olama, New Mexico. Rex had been valiantly chasing me for miles and was almost ready to take the lead until the rabbit kissed him. The Dairy Queen was strategically located right in the center of town, and we indulged upon our arrival. The final day of riding was bittersweet in that it was our final breakfast and final ride. This was as good a group to ride and have fun with as could be found! With Rex, Fabio, Ann, Helena, Jim, Robin, Carol, Beth, Bob, Glen and me, we were heading out in the cool morning to tackle the 130 miles to La Veta. I knew this was the last time to ride with everyone. Cumbres Pass was cool and shrouded in the morning mists that can hang in the valleys until the sun burns the morning off. Descending into the SanLuis Valley through an area rich in history from Antonito to the home of the Manassas Mauler, Jack Dempsey, we continued through the high desert of the San Luis Hills for many miles to the small town of San Luis. At this point with the time cut-off looming, I had to start pushing to reach our final destination and picked up Carol who kept me pushing over La Veta Pass. Totally spent we arrived and had malts and loaded up with car food for the ride home to Denver. This was a Contrail filled with laughter, camaraderie and majestic beauty. Riding with everyone was a joyful experience I will always treasure. I have come to enjoy the Contrails enough to plan to attend every year.

 

Bicycle Colorado Bicycle Colorado's mission is to encourage and promote bicycling, increase safety , improve conditions, and provide a voice for cyclists in Colorado. RMCC is proud to support Bicycle Colorado's efforts to improve bicycling throughout Colorado. Check out their website at www.bicyclecolo.org for more information, including excellent information about advocacy, hot issues, volunteering, membership, and more!  RMCC  Jerseys  Need an RMCC jersey? There are just a couple left!! The cost is $65, including shipping. Contact Rick Melick if  interested at alpha@sprintmail.com

2003 Denver-Aspen Classic News By Mike Kosel Holy cow! It's only October, and we're already thinking about the 2003 Joe Lookingbill Denver-Aspen Classic? You better believe it! A few notes for your consideration: The 2003 D2A will take place on Saturday, August 2nd. Mark your calendars now! We are always looking for volunteers, even in the off-season! If you're interested in working behind the scenes on the premier double- century event in the country, then we want to hear from you! What's to be done in the dead of winter? Volunteer coordination Supporters and sponsors Permits and logistics Day-of-ride volunteering And, for those with a flair for graphic design, we're going to be taking concepts for the 2003 Denver-Aspen jersey! So if you have a great idea for a cycling jersey, let us know! If we pick your design, we'll not only pay for your entry in the 2003 D2A, but we'll buy you a jersey, too! Send ideas via e-mail to denver2aspen@hotmail.com. Or for you cocktail-napkin artists, you can mail sketches to: c/o Denver-Aspen Classic 10056 Signal Butte Dr. Littleton, CO. 80125 Designs must be received by February 1st to be considered. A winner will be announced by March 1st. 2003 RMCC Ride Schedule It's time to start thinking about the 2003 RMCC Ride Schedule! The RMCC Board will be meeting several times over the next couple months to put together another year of scenic, challenging, and above all, fun rides for the 2003 calendar year. If you would like to be a part of this process, or have comments on this year's rides, suggestions for new or improved rides, or any other ideas regarding RMCC rides, contact John Klever.

 

Start Time-  October Rides   Cyclists joining RMCC for club rides in October should be ready to ride at the Meet Point no later than 9:45 AM!  Start Time-  November Rides  Cyclists joining RMCC for club rides in November should be ready to ride at the Meet Point no later than 10:45 AM!  Don't forget!  Cyclists in RMCC club rides must agree to abide by traffic laws and practice courtesy and safety in cycling. Helmets are required!  Inclement Weather?  Rides will be conducted in all weather subject to the final decision of the Ride Leader at the meet point. In severe conditions, rides may be changed or canceled without prior notice. Be a Ride Leader! Join the few, the proud, the RMCC Ride Leaders! We are always looking for RMCC members to take the lead in starting RMCC rides. For more information, check out the RMCC web site - www.rmccrides.com To volunteer, contact John Klever. Questions?  If you have questions about joining a ride contact the ride leader listed in the schedule. Any other questions about RMCC rides can be directed to John Klever. For Sale  99' Litespeed Ultimate, 58 cm C-T, 57 cm top tube; brushed titanium full Dura-Ace 8 speed bar and shifters; cxp 33 wheels; $4000 new/sell for $2000 Victor: (719) 221 -1592 99' Trek Carbon OCLU 5500 frame and fork; quill stem; 58 cm, 57 cm top tube, new factory 2002 USPS paint job; still in box; $1600 new/sell for $1000 Victor: (719) 221 -1592

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER RIDE SCHEDULE Oct 26 (Sat)  Larkspur-Monument-Black Forest loop Tom Boyle  Start: City Park parking lot 1/4 mile north of the main junction of Perry Park Avenue and Spruce Mountain Road in Larkspur. (All) Route: 69 mi - Larkspur, Spruce Mountain Road, Palmer Lake, Monument, Roller Coaster Road, Black Forest, Monument, Palmer Divide, Perry Park Road, Larkspur Oct 27 (Sun)  Northglenn-Broomfield-Morgul loop Tom Foss  Start: Park-and-Ride at the southeast corner of 120th Avenue and Huron Street in Northglenn.  (All) Route: 51 mi - Northglenn, Broomfield, Morgul-Bismark, Superior, Marshall, Cherryvale Road, Boulder, Erie, North glenn Nov 2 (Sat)  Rooney Road-Deer Creek Canyon loop Tom Foss  Start: Green Mountain Trailhead parking lot west of Green Mountain and on the east side of Rooney Road (west Lakewood) two miles south of the intersection of Colfax Avenue/US Highway 40 and Rooney Road (northeast Golden). (All) Route: 44 mi - Rooney Road, Red Rocks, Willow Springs, Ken Caryl, Deer Creek Canyon, Indian Hills, Kittredge, Red Rocks, Rooney Road Nov 9 (Sat) Northglenn-Louisville-Erie loop Val Phelps  Start: Park-and-Ride at the southeast corner of 120th Avenue and Huron Street in Northglenn.  (All) Route: 39 mi - Northglenn, Louisville, Erie, State Highway 52, Northglenn Nov 16 (Sat)  Aurora-Bennett return Val Phelps  Start: The Highway Commission parking lot at the southeast corner of Colfax Avenue and Tower Road in Aurora. (All) Route: 39 mi - Aurora, Watkins, Bennett, Watkins, Aurora Nov 23 (Sat) Littleton-Ken Caryl-Chatfield loop Tom Foss  Start: Park-and-Ride at the northwest corner of Santa Fe Drive and Mineral Avenue in Littleton. (All) Route: 34 mi - Littleton, Ken Caryl, Deer Creek, Chatfield Reservoir, Littleton Nov 30 (Sat) Northglenn and beyond, 40+ miles Tom Foss  Start: Park-and-Ride at the southeast corner of 120th Avenue and Huron Street in Northglenn.  (All) Route: 40+ mi -TBD by ride leader The NEW Wednesday Evening Training Ride As winter approaches, the Wednesday evening training ride is moving locations! After the final Wednesday night Handle Bar and Grill Show-and-Go on October 23rd, a new show-and- go ride, leaving from the 15th Street REI and exploring the Platte River bike path, will be inaugurated on October 30th. Lights will be a must, and a mountain or cross bike is suggested. Questions? Contact Val Phelps for more information. Tuesday Night Hill Climb Ride Hibernates for the Winter As the days get shorter and temperatures get colder, the TNHCR is going into hibernation for the winter. Thanks to those who participated in this challenging weekly ride in 2002. Look for the TNHDR to return in the spring of 2003.

C h a i n   C h a t t e r 
December 2002

For people who love to ride

 Editorial
By Brent Myers

With the first edition of Chain Chatter assembled, I move into new challenges. Mrs. Jones, my 11th grade English teacher, would not have thought this possible. So I will try my best to be concise and have clear sentences with proper structure. If I don't, please feel free to ride with me and only after 75 miles can you give me constructive criticism. And I'd be glad to have any help with this annoying MS Publisher product. We should be paid to put up with this stuff, but I know that with much diligence I will eventually learn to use it .

Being the active rider that I am, if l see you, I consider you fair game for articles. Everyone of you has stories of riding that would be interesting to our members, but I want them in text format and e-mailed to brent.myers@mountsopris.com.  I may not use them immediately, but they will appear as soon as I have space.

I'd like to thank Mike and Penny Kosel for their great work as Denver-Aspen directors and newsletter editors. Hard jobs, and they did them well. So we move on and run the Aspen ride as it was done in the old days. I'm going to finish the brevet at the Woody Creek Tavern for protein and carbs.

The 2003 Ride Calendar will be mailed with this newsletter, and this is why the letter is a little late. With the committee going over every ride, our goal is to provide progressive training distances with fun and safe routes. John Klever has to edit the maps and cue sheets, so we research any route changes we make very carefully. Ride leaders are responsible for suggestions and improvements to the routes which we try, and we do the best we can with the added pressure of our increased membership. So thanks again to John Klever, John Ellis, Chuck and Diana Henderson, Val Phelps, Tom Foss, Rick Melick and Barry Nash for their efforts. 

Catherine Lookingbill has finally made her exodus to Florida to retire. She and Joe were strong members of this club when I first started riding, and they helped me to get stronger and be able to do a century. When I choose to ride in the back with the new riders, I do it from their example.  And here's to a Merry Christmas, hoping Santa brings us all new bike toys.

See Le Tour by Wandering Around France
By John Elmblad

My wife and I flew to Paris last July, picked up a rental car, and went in search of Lance and the tour. We knew from the schedule where to go, sort of, so off we went. We were constantly surprised that there wasn't more information or merchandising of the Tour in France. People at our hotels were consistently clueless about Le Tour, and most spoke better English than we did.

So, there we were, in southern France, the day of the stage to Mount Ventoux. It looked pretty close on the map so we set out to see if we could find the Tour route or anyone who knew where it might be. Before long we saw yellow signs with black arrows, and the Tour logo. So we followed them. We went through beautiful countryside, and many small towns. Finally we found a place that met our specifications, a place to sit, a little shade, and a promising looking bar.

It proved ideal. An entire village of people and others from the region quickly filled every nook and cranny near us, while a grandmother patrolled her flower garden to keep the spectators off. The one bar in town opened its doors and single bathroom, to one and all. We waited about four hot hours on either side of a road the width of a bike path, near the top of a small hill. There was a constant parade of bike tourists, in groups large and small, from all over the world, riding toward Ventoux. The crowd was friendly and we talked to the folks around us with our broken French, sharing food and water.

Finally, the Tour caravan came by, throwing out goodies, selling shirts and hats, and advertising everything from bottled water to the movie "Men in Black II". We were able to trade with the spectators around us for the most coveted freebies, and get rid of little cheeses thrown from the caravan with frightening velocity.

We knew the riders were close, and suddenly, here they came Viranque, and the blue train with Lance in tow. It was unbelievable how fast they rode, and how close together the riders were. Then they were gone.

We happened to spend the night at the same hotel as three teams, and enjoyed seeing the riders and mechanics on a rest day. We missed a start at another small town (Be sure you download the daily time schedules off the web ). We drove some of the stages in the Alps the day before the riders. We were in Paris for the finish, and even got a discarded water bottle. But the highlight was the small town in southern France.

 RMCC Rider Participates in the World Senior Games

The Huntsman World Senior Games are held each year during the second and third weeks of October. The host city is Saint George, Utah, providing pleasantly warm fall temperatures and eye-popping scenery, plus the townspeople totally love the 6000 + participants.

This year's cycling events drew nearly 300 participants, including a large contingent of Colorado riders. Rex Farnsworth from our club, as well as several riders from the Schwab Racing Team, and the COBRAs participated. Events included:
Day 1- Hill Climb (6k, 1000 feet of climbing, peaking at 10%)
Day 2 - Time Trial (20k or 40k, flat)
Day 3 - Criterium (30 minutes)
Day 4 - Road Race (60k, 2100 feet of climbing, peaking at 10%+).

The first two days were pretty discouraging for Rex racing in the Men's Public A division, 60-64 year olds. He managed personal bests in the hill climb (five minutes faster) and in the time trial (two minutes faster), but finished far behind the medal winners. Facing the criterium on day three, he was expecting to be dropped early, however, as they rounded the last turn he lead a wild sprint to the finish where he was edged out by less than a wheel, taking second place. The day four road race was nearly an instant replay of the criterium finish. At the top of the second mountain climb, Rex was surprised to be part of a seven-rider breakaway. The seven riders ended the race in a dramatic, 32 mph sprint finish. When the judges finally sorted it out, Rex finished second (again less than a wheel from the Gold) picking up another silver medal. Looking back, Rex believes that the RMCC training program provided the extra endurance needed to be competitive in the last two days of racing.

Rex also represented the RMCC rode in the mountain bike races during week two of the games. Events included: 
Day 1 Morning - Hill Climb (two miles, with 12+% climbs)
Day 1 Afternoon - Downhill (2.5 miles, very rough)
Day 2 Morning - Cross Country (15.2 miles, 2000 feet of climbing, including six challenging, technical climbs up sandstone washes).

Rex is not known for his mountain bike technical skills; plus the ladies regularly beat him on the descents. He had replaced his old hard tail bike with a new, full suspension machine just two days prior to the games. It is no wonder he calls this year's results "the miracle of Saint George": Gold in the Hill Climb, Bronze in the Downhill, Gold in the Cross Country, and Best Overall in the Men's Sport division, 60-64 year olds.

RMCC members interested in the World Senior Games next October should contact Rex at rexfarnsworth@earthlink.net.

October 27, 2002: Lessons Learned on a Chilly Sunday
By John Elmblad

How irritating is it to help another rider who came unprepared? I found out on the final Sunday ride of the year. For RMCC club members, it just isn't a big deal.

We had ridden about 40 of the 50 miles listed on the cue sheet when I flatted. The other four guys immediately stopped with me, and even helped change the tube I was carrying. It was new, but it wouldn't hold air. I didn't have another, so we patched it, checked the tire again, reassembled, and it still wouldn't hold air. We stripped the works, and Brent donated yet another tube, one from his front wheel with the long stem I needed. After reassembly, and pumping, it too went flat. Now Tom gave me a spare of his, and he and Mike checked my tire with the concentration of surgeons. Brent and Val checked the tube, we reassembled, and success at last! No one grumbled, chastised, or blamed. It was all shrugs and "Don't worry about its."

What did I learn? 1) One tube just isn't enough, particularly late in the season, or if you need special stuff. 2) You won't find nicer folks to ride with than those in the RMCC. Many thanks to Brent, Mike, Tom, and Val.

 Furnace Creek 508

October 17, 2002: RMCC member Jim "Katydid" Kraychy completed the Furnace Creek 508 in 40:03:16, placing him 17th in the men's solo division. Held October 12 - 14, the 508-mile, original ultramarathon event traverses Death Valley and features 35,000 feet of total elevation gain. See the Furnace Creek 508 website for more details at www.the508.com.

El Tour de Tucson

November 23, 2002: RMCC members Jim Kraychy and Carol Chaffee challenged the riders in the 108 mile "Tour de Tucson" with Carol placing 16th in the women's division with a time of 4:57. Jim dropped his chain at 98 miles, which left him shelled off the back of the pack, and he finished 333rd in the men's division. This ride features large pack riding, which Carol found to be exciting, fast, and exhausting. See the website at www.pbaa.com.

New York City Marathon

November 3, 2002: RMCC member Beth Long completed the New York City Marathon with a time of 4:35:02 placing her 18,020th out of 31,824 on a cool but sunny New York day. Beth's comments about the race were that the aid stations only offered water and sports drinks and the marshaling area had the runners waiting four hours in the cold before the race with only two coffee lines. The running community has nothing over our bicycle events. Nice job of cross training for the brevets.

Chain Chatter  
December 2002 

Rocky Mountain Cycling Club
P.O. Box 201
Wheat Ridge, CO 80034  

www.rmccrides.com    

For people who love to ride!