Monday, August 4

Colorado Trail Daze

I sit here hanging out at Matt's place with my lovely wife and my feet up, content and tired. The numbers don't tell the story but I spent the last week according to my GPS climbing 61,500 feet of Colorado mountains over some 550 miles. My legs and feet are swollen and although I have no scale, I am sure I lost a lot of weight. And yet, sitting on the ground at the Junction Creek trailhead, my bike and gear in a pile, a couple of 2-Epic's old teammates asked me if I'd do it again.

I said "yes" without hesitation.

The Colorado Trail is extremely beautiful. It's high, it's rugged and it's filled with flowers. There were beautiful sunsets and thunderstorms that pounded me with hail. I slept (a little) under the stars. I rode (a lot) under the stars. I spent a great deal of time alone and some with great friends, new and old. The sun baked me and clear skies at night left me shivering. The experience was amazing and it was just what I needed.

In March of 2007, I raced Fred's Rim Ride in Moab. Coming off a DNF at 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo, what I felt I needed most was to finish. Last Monday I felt very similarly about this year's CTR. On Saturday at 6:31pm, I realized I was right.

A huge thanks to all my family and friends for the support, you were all with me out there in so many ways. There are hundreds of pictures to post and a much more detailed story to relay if I can figure out how.

But for now I think I need another nap and then some dinner.

16 comments:

Ed said...

Congratulations, what an awesome ride Chris!!

I guess I'll only see you at the start of VT125, no way I'm gonna be able to prep like you are.

Ed

Carney said...

Congrats!

Hell of a good ride!

Dave Harris said...

Bravo!

When I got up to check blue dots (Sat morning I think?) and saw you had motored right on through the Sargents Mesa area overnight I was simply dumbstruck. You took it to a higher plane this time around.

Looking forward to the pics and nitty gritty, should you feel compelled to put it here ;)

FixieDave said...

dude way to ride!!

Rock on!

Anonymous said...

nice job, proud of ya man.

Geoff said...

way to go chris. sounds like you got just what you were looking for.

Shawn said...

Great Job Chris! You da man!

John In Colorado said...

way to go! that was epic and inspiring. love it.

Grizzly Adam said...

Epic!

Matt said...

Congrats again Chris and it was fin riding back into town with ya.

Paul said...

Great job Chris! I am very proud. And on a single speed rigid.... unbelievable!

Paul

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Chris!
You rock!
Love,
MOM

Fonk said...

Congratulations, man! And on a rigid singlespeed, no less... Awesome job.

Jill Homer said...

Another congrats. Sounds like a possibly life-changing experience.

Doug said...

Way to go Chris!! Words can't express how happy I am for you.

5280 Brady said...

Congratulations, Chris! What you set out to do AND accomplish on a single speed is inspiring!