Why you should wear a helmet

Because if you don't, this could be your skull:



On the way to Breck, I was zipping through the woods on the bike path at a good clip, probably about 17-20 mph. Whatever the speed was, it was too fast, because when the path curved left, I was unable to turn sharply enough. My bike drifted off the right side of the path, the front wheel sunk into the soft gravel, and the bike nosed down and flipped over on its left side, throwing me to the ground.

The damage: a separated left shoulder, an acre of road rash, and one shattered helmet. The bike, amazingly, came out of it in pretty good shape.

In the midst of the blackness and disorientation of the crash, I recall the impact of the helmet on the asphalt. If not for the lid, I wouldn't be remembering anything right now.

Sunday morning

After a 7-mile coast down the bike path from Copper to Frisco, I headed out to the Dillon Dam aid station, then doubled back to rejoin the path to Breckenridge. On the way back, the route traverses this elevated path that spans a wide wetlands area.

We climbed 8 miles up the Vail Valley, below, just to get to the start of the 8-mile final assault on the Vail Summit:

From this point onward, the climb looked like this:



The final 5 miles of the ascent went through an icy rain, but at the top, it was relatively dry:

Born 18 years ago small enough to fit in one hand, Evan is now conquering mountain passes, thanks to the docs and nurses whose work is supported by the Childrens' Hospital Foundation. By riding in the Courage Classic, each of us is helping provide that kind of care to Colorado kids who need it.

You can help by clicking here, and clicking on my name.

Bad News

How this happened remains a mystery:

. . . but Evan was nearly to the top of Battle Mountain when his derailleur twisted sideways and curled into his spokes. Having worked to climb to the top, he then got a sag-wagon ride down the mountain to the lunch aid station, where he could have a bike mechanic try to fix it.



For a while, it didn't look good.
















The mechanic got out his biggest wrench and forcibly straightened the frame just below the dropout, where the derailleur hanger bolt screws into the frame.

Then he took the derailleur into his hands and mashed it back into rough alignment.



. . . and surprising even himself, the mechanic got Evan's bike back into riding condition.

The time spent under repair put us behind schedule. We started the long climb to the top of Vail Pass as the clouds began to build.

Looking back

Halfway up Battle mountain, you can look back down the valley and see how far you've come.

Battle Mountain

Crossing the Eagle River, right, and sizing up the climb to Battle Mountain, below.

Camp Hale

This is where the 10th Mountain Division was based during WWII. It's a relatively flat, and very scenic, stretch of the tour on Day 1.

Motivational message

whatever gets you to the top!

Tennessee Pass

Evan making it up the last 100 yards to the summit


Tenessee Pass is the site of the 10th Mountain Division memorial.


ET at the top -- pass number one for the tour -- and fueling up for the upcoming climbs.

Starting line: Leadville

A ride of 157 miles begins at the beginning. Today's route: Leadville . . . Tennessee Pass . . . Battle Mountain . . . Vail Pass . . . Copper Mountain.

Help me help Childrens' Hospital. Click here and click on my name.