SuperNana and the Hypoxiettes
There are those around here who are impressed with my cycling.
I am not one of them.
I humbly submit that there are many who are stronger, faster, better climbers or have more endurance than I.
Among those, are the members of Club Hypoxia, hosts of the 2008 BikeJournal Reunion this coming July and August. Yours truly has marked the staff vacation calendar, sent in his check, made hotel reservations and is finalizing travel plans to join them this summer.
From the very start I’ve been intimidated by many things—traveling 1,600 miles to go on a bike ride, said bike ride having a name, “The Epic Century”, being 100 miles long, starting at 5,500 feet ASL, and climbing 6,500 feet to spitting distance of the Continental Fucking Divide.
Well, I can dream…
Anyway, the Pictures From a Recent Ride thread at BikeJournal is one of my favorites. Or maybe was. I’m not so sure now.
Two posts (copied in below for non-members) have restored my intimidation to its near-paranoia extent and shows exactly how much and how hard I have to train over the next five months.
First, post 617 from Howard, mild-mannered architect from Fort Collins, Colorado, and unofficial spokesman for Club Hypoxia and the 2008 BikeJournal Reunion, who, on a lark last week, decided to ride to Wyoming. Just for kicks. Twice.
Epic day with Epic climbing (4,500’ vertical in 50+ miles) with Epic friends. The Hypoxiettes even got sucked into a peloton vortex of young Rexes and barely (if unwillingly) escaped. We saw more cyclists on the road today than we’ve ever seen in a single day before. Temps in the high 60s on a March Saturday probably helped!
Here we are at the entrance to Horsetooth Mountain Park—Left to right: BalticTiger, Popeye, Howard, PedalPusher, SuperNana, BikePrincess, Deadhead. Photo by Howard.
Fine looking bunch, aren’t they? And just out for a nice Saturday ride with 4,500 feet of climbing. What fun!
Now, post 621 from SuperNana, mild-mannered grandmother of two, from Loveland, Colorado, home base for the 2008 BikeJournal Reunion, who has been riding only a little less time than I.
So today on our Hypoxian Climbfest, the Hypoxiettes got quite a thrill!
As we were riding together (the guys, nowhere to be seen) we noticed in the distance what seemed to be something large in the road.
As we soon found out, it was a peloton.
We happened to find ourself making our way to the center of the group.
The middle of the pack was really exciting and a tad noisy, as there were loud “Whoo hoo’s” and many whistles.
Alas, we enjoyed it while we could, but we really needed to peel off and find the guys before they started to miss us. It was kinda hard riding, taking pictures, and climbing, while working to stay in the pack. Whew!
Shortly after our little adventure we found the guys and we were all reunited again. Popeye, PedalPusher, BalticTiger, Deadhead, BikePrincess, and Howard.Photos by SuperNana.
So now you know why my plans for a nice little afternoon ride around one of my rolling hills loops has morphed and been extended to include hill repeats at the three of the favorite hills from the TNUA rides.
Darned grannies, attacking and dropping whole peleotons full of young bucks when they should be home baking cookies or something…
