Why do you ride?

Why I Ride
by Chad Stamper

"I think this is it." I thought to myself while beginning my rocky dual track ascent up what would prove to be an amazing journey. Dark clouds form above me and the sound of thunder a short distance away threatens my ride. Unfazed by natures attempt to knock me down I push on expecting harsh rains and bitter cold temperatures. "Should I turn back?" No, a little rain can be fun but the cold is a little too much to bare. My uncovered hands were going numb. I press on though, thinking the workout would warm me up.

For the next two miles, I endured a steady dual track climb in what felt like freezing rain. The intensity of the ride warmed my lower half while my arms were kept numb by the wind. Reaching the top, I am greeted by a spectacular view of Lee Mountain. Within seconds, the clouds begin to disperse and the suns rays thaw my chilled arms.

Another trail intersect and a steep but quick hill, I made it to the top. The thought of 3 miles of mostly singletrack downhill reverberated in my head. The first two miles greet me with technical rock and root combinations. My calves burn while my toes grip the pedals, hands on weak brakes, I continue my descent.

The scenery changes again with a turn into the trees. I find myself tracking a small stream, hands still clasped tight absorbing roots and splashing my way down. Turn after turn and bump after bump, one of my best rides yet.
Finally, reaching the blacktop, I know the ride is coming to an end. Hands off the bars, arms spread, palms up, wearing a smile. This... is why I ride.

Weekend Update July 24-25

Our weekend was a little lighter this time around, but still, with plenty to do! Pictures are already posted at the website to give you a little preview of what we were up to!

Backpacking the Rawah Wilderness: Eric led this trip with Andy, and they had an amazing time! Heading out into the backcountry on a beautiful weekend would lift anyone's spirits! And, there was a cool front that came through to top it all off! They saw moose, alpine lakes, and some of the best views in Colorado!

Trail Work Day at Horsetooth Mountain Park: Armed with over fifteen people for our Trail Work Day, we helped to maintain the Spring Creek Trail by replacing water bars, cutting back brush, and taking down burms. It was a successful day, and thank you, NCO for providing lunch from Whole Foods! Not only was it successful, but we all got a great workout, got to know each other better, and had a lot of fun, too!

Beach Party at Horsetooth Reservoir: There's not much better than a dip in the lake after Trail Work Day! We ran back to town and grabbed a few groceries and headed back out to South Bay. Fired up the grills, and had a plethora of food from salads, steaks, hamburgers, and chicken skewers! The chilly swim in the lake cooled everything off. Matt and Jay helped a goose with a fish hook in its neck, and we topped off this fabulous day with a slice of cherry pie!

Women on Bikes: We had a fun day at Women on Bikes on Sunday! We met at the City Park Pavilion and rode into Old Town for some brunch at Lucile's. Afterward, we did a short loop around town and headed back to City Park! We are looking forward to the clinic this week on Wednesday! If you don't know how to fix-a-flat, come on out and learn! Bring your bike, and we'll all fix flats together!

Shakespeare at Sunset: Elise led a group of folks to the Shakespeare at Sunset series again this weekend. Romeo and Juliet was performed at the CSU Theatre across from the experimental gardens. This age-old classic of love and love lost was a nice change of pace to the active, outdoors' lifestyle that is the norm for our group!

Meet & Greet & Photography Clinic

Thanks to The Photographic Touch for hosting us this week on Wednesday, July 21st at their place of business in South Loveland! We had a great time learning some of the finer points of taking pictures even with a point-and-shoot camera! From cropping and highlighting to software and ISO, they covered a whole range of interesting ways to make our photos better when outdoors on a hike! They will continue to update us regarding their upcoming nature photography classes!

Wilbur's was fantastic for offering a great discount on the beer and wine served at the Meet & Greet, and NCO provided all the food for the event!

Thanks to everyone for coming out!

Weekend July 17-18

We had a busy weekend again! We have such a fun group, and look forward to each event that comes up!

Elise led the group at the Shakespeare at Sunset theatre production at CSU. They had a picnic before the show and then saw Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Brad led the Brewery Tour on Bikes on Saturday. It was a hot one, but with cold brews, it made for a fun day!

Colleen led a beautiful hike to Brown Lake up the Poudre Canyon. She had a good group of about 10 people! Getting out of the heat from the Front Range was a great idea, and helps remind us how wonderful it is to live in Colorado and have access to these amazing natural spaces!

Kristina led an early morning hike to Mt. Chapin with 10 people. Getting up to the trailhead, it was about 49 degrees and we saw the sunrise as we drove through the canyon to RMNP. During our first steps up the trailhead, we encountered a moose, which was a wonderful surprise! As we hiked further and higher, we saw marmots, pica, and ptarmigans. We made it to the summit of Mt. Chapin before noon, and headed back down snacking in a meadow with a babbling brook running through. We got back to the cars and made it back to Estes for pizza before heading back down. It was a wonderful day to be out on a hike!

Kevin led the group on a Tubin' trip down the Poudre River. On a hot day, this was the best medicine! Some cool water along the way and bbq waiting at the end! The sun warmed things up, and the rapids were just high enough for some fun and laughs!

Great weekend, NCO! We're not even half-way through the summer, either!