The Silver Thread Slumgullian Tour
From Gunnison to Gunnison, Colorado June 1997
by Robert J. Bryant
As the plane touched down in Colorado Springs, I just had a feeling it was the trip of a lifetime. If you get off the plane and look east, you could be in Kansas or Nebraska or any place known for gently rolling grassy plains. Look west and see the majestic Pikes Peak and the front range. Colorado Springs is set snug up against the mountains where my journey was to start.
THE SPRINGS
The Springs is a fast growing city of 300,000, though it seems like a small town. I easily tracked down a decent book store, Starbucks and a bagel shop. The natural beauty of this place is overwhelming matched only by the friendliness of the people. It is a conservative town known for right wing politics and family values. The Springs was rated as one of Fifty Fabulous Places To Raise Your Family, from a current book by Melissa Giovagnoli (Career Press), which caught my wandering eye. Its also home to the Air Force Academy, Olympic Training Center, Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and the Pikes Peak Cog Railwaya tourist mecca. There is enough action to keep vacationers busy for weeks. It is a well planned community dating back over 100 years. The Springs was built up as a playground for the rich and famous looking for clean mountain air. The city had a cosmopolitan reputation with visitors coming from Europe and the east coast. The city earned the nickname of Little London. Several sanatoriums were built in the early years for tuberculosis patients moving to the area. This is still evident today with wide tree-lined streets and houses with large porches to take advantage of the clean air.
In Colorado, people dont ask your towns population, but they cant wait to find out the elevation. At 7,000 feet elevation Colorado Springs was the lowest elevation of the trip. The Springs is an easy town to get around. The drive to Angletech is around the southeast side of town and up Ute Pass to Woodland Park. The drive gives you a good perspective of the town. The mountain (Pikes Peak) makes for easy navigation. I did the fast tourist tour and hit all of the hot spots the first day while acclimating to the elevation. Since training so hard to become aerobically fit, my above-the-clouds transition took just about four days. I started riding the second day in town. By the start of the tour I was up to about 90% of my sea-level power, but I felt great in the thin and dry Colorado air.
ABOVE THE CLOUDS
The drive from the Springs to Woodland Park takes you through Old Colorado City, by Garden of The Gods, ancient Indian ruins, the North Pole (kids amusement park) and Manitou Springs all while hugging the base of Pikes Peak. In 18 miles and twenty minutes you roll into the town of Woodland Park. At 8,800 feet, you know youre moving up in the world. The air is thinner, cleaner and this bedroom community to the Springs has a laid back feeling. Woodland Park receives 300 days of sunshine each year and double the snowfall of the Springs. Woodland Park is a unique town. The houses can be turn-of-the-century cabins or million dollar mountainside estates. The views are breathtaking, with seemingly another vista around every corner. To bent heads, this is the drop off point for the best custom spec recumbent shop on the planetAngletech which was to be our home-base for the few days before the tour.
The RCN Colorado Crew for the start of the trip included Ron Ronster Schmid, RCN Goodwill Ambassador, Magura Guru, Presto fanatic and all around good guy. When hes not hanging with the crew, Ron works as an airplane mechanic for Horizon Air in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. Ron was co-piloting Dale Clarks S & S coupler- equipped Counterpoint Opus semi-recumbent tandem. Ron was the lucky guy in the bent position. Next was Mark Mr. McGu Colliton. Mark is the co-designer of the V-Rex and other bikes. He rides with the WHIRL group in his home territory of Washington, D.C. where he works as a graphic designer. Mark does all of the RCN covers and scans most of the pictures for RCN. Mark and I met as pen-pals years ago when he called me to ask about Roulandts (an odd Dutch high LWB bent). Mark also built a series of BMX based SWB bikes written about for an early RCN issue. Mark would be riding the top secret Rans prototype LWB (Gold Rush killer) Limbo. John Rocket-Man Williams is an animal. Hes the most fit of our group. This 40-something family man is a health teacher from Philomath, Oregon (down the street from BikeE). John is a quiet understated guy until you get him on a bike. Hes an HPV racer on his really low SWB bikes, time-trialer and NW Cannonball Racer. John came in 6th in a field of 24 in this semi-outlaw race from Seattle to Spokane over Snoqualamie Pass. John rode a new Rans Rocket Saturn-V on the tour. His Rocket ride will be legendary for years to come. Little did Rans know theyd elevate the status of this pocket speedster by loaning it to John, the fastest guy on the tour. Myself, the RCN-guy, I took this ride seriously and overtrained for it. My training was written about in previous RCN issues and I am happy to sayit paid off. My wheels were prepared by Angletecha 97 Angletech V-Rex GL63, suspended 63-speed fat-tire beauty.
Crew members John and Janice Schlitter of the Rans company rolled into Woodland Park late Wednesday night before the tour. In the back of the Suburban were four glorious Rans bikes slated for tour use. We had to see, but could not ride until meeting the next day in Gunnison, Colorado, a three hour drive from Woodland Park. The group hit Tres Hombres, a rowdy Ute Pass Tex-Mex hangout for a group feast, then onto the Country Inns (best place in Woodland Park to stay) to crash for the night.
During the week in Colorado, the RCN Colorado Crew would grow larger. As RCN readers, Angletech customers and Slumgullian riders met for the first time, Colorado Springs Cycling Club (CSCC) riders mixed with us bent heads and as strangers became friends.
GUNNISON or BUST
The Silver ThreadSlumgullian Tour starts in Gunnison, Colorado. We climbed into the team car (rented Geo Prism) for some last minute pre-ride preparationsa Gu-Stop at Team Telecycle (the other bike shop in Woodland Park). The last stop in Woodland Park was the Doughnut Mill. They serve some of the best round powerbars Ive tasted, or maybe its that I hadnt had a round powerbar for awhile. In a post-ride strategy session, our group was made to feel right at home sitting at the Mills Liars Table telling tall bent tales and psyching each other out for the four days, nearly 300 miles and 12,000 feet of climbing on the tour known as Silver ThreadSlumgullian.
Driving at altitude is different because cars lose power above the clouds (at altitude). With our anemic little Geo Prism the squirrels under the hood were definitely working overtime. Four guys, bags and a V-Rex hanging off the back climbing Ute Pass, pass through Divide, Florrissant, center of the known universe according to a bumper sticker, and some of the most breathtaking scenery youll ever see. Mountain vistas with wide open valleys that stretch for miles and the views are magnificent. In the thriving town of Buena Vista we stopped for refueling at the local sandwich shop. The clerk said if we had come through in another month, the lunch lines stretch down the block. Buena Vista is on the Arkansas River which is well known for whitewater rafting. Its also a tourist pit stop and the town is known to be booked solid on some summer nights.
We motored toward Gunnison by way of Salida and Monarch Pass. The squirrels were really working overtime under the hood of the Geo and I was about to ask the crew to punch holes in the floor for Flinstone power. Then in the rearview mirrora Suburban bearing down on usthe Rans crew who took a morning mountain diversion to the bear-infested woods of Guffey, Colorado were coming up on our tail. We let them pass.... and tucked in to draft them for the downhill stretch into Gunnisongiving the squirrels a break.
Gunnison is one of those seemingly perfect small towns. It has a population of 5,000 and no traffic problems. Its located in the wide Gunnison River Valley, a college town, farming town and outdoor mecca. The Gunnison area was a primary Ute Indian buffalo hunting ground. In 1853 a famous expedition led by Captain John W. Gunnison passed through the area while looking for a suitable transcontinental railroad route. All four members of the group were brutally killed by a band of Paiute Indians later in Utah. Captain Gunnison was shot with 15 arrows before his arms, tongue and heart were removed.
Nearby Crested Butte is considered one of the last ski resorts not <yet> overtaken by development. Its also known as the mountain bike capital of the world. No trip to Gunnison or Crested Butte would be complete without a day trip up the bike path that stretches 26-miles in between the two towns, so next year well do it.
HANGING IN GUNNISON
We stayed at the Holiday Inn on Tomichi Avenue. The staff was extremely accommodating as the RCN Crew checked in early (while really messing up Kelvin Clarks plans). Once settled, it was time to get into the back of that Suburban and ride the new Rans bikes. In the parking lot, we met Randy Johnson with his pristine Presto, Lu Lu the cow bike, an Angletech masterpiece painted in a white wet spray with cow spots. On the head tube was a cow glaring at you with shades, a tie and a Lu Lu-like attitude. The Presto was a rare skinny tire 451 model with Maguras and a 3x7 for 63 speeds. Randy had driven down from the Chicago area with Silver Thread/Slumgullian veteran Bob Meierhans (who wrote the Slumgullian story in RCN#37). Bob did the tour on a V-Rex last year, but had just taken delivery of a new Angletech/Easy Racer Gold Rush Replica. This rolling kinetic masterpiece was outfitted with one of those new White Industries drivetrains, a Sachs 3x7 built into a HED wheel, a Rans seat and was painted gold.
Out of the back of the Rans crew vehicle came a gorgeous metallic green Screamer that John and Janice would ride on the tour. Next was the Saturn-V. If you like Rockets, the S5 will knock your socks off: Magura brakes, taller gearing and skinny 406 wheels with the new Primo Comet 1-3/8 hi-pressure tire (theres something about those dual 20s....). Next came the new production Rans Gliss. Its in production and in a word, incredible. The bike was brought out for Buffalo, New York RCN reader, recumbent rider, Ed Weiss to ride. Ed owns an Angletech Ryan Vanguard with a 3x7 hub and a Vision Metro Nexus. Finally, the top secret Limbo. This is a concept bikea long-and-low performance machine utilizing Stratus and Gliss technology. It looks like a Gliss pushed low to the ground. It has a 26/20 wheel combo, tall gearing, V-brakes and is painted school bus yellow. The final dialing of this bike came in the Holiday Inn parking lot as we tweaked the steering. I had been experimenting with lean/stretch-forward riding positions on the new Black Gold test bike, and Rans had been having a dial-in dilemma with the Limbo. The Gliss bars brought the controls too far back and created too much leverage on the steering. The Gliss stem is inverted when used on the Limbo. We pushed the bars way forward and found a unique new aggressive riding stance for this top secret prototype.
Once all the bikes were prepped, we rode through Gunnison. Mark in search of Gu, Janice in search of the WalMart and John and I along for the tour de Gunnison. We hit the local bike shop and then found that the bike trail that runs 26-miles to Crested Butte Ski Resort also leads directly to the Wal-Mart. I didnt have the privilege of shopping there, but we did find a machine out front where you could score a Pepsi for 35 cents. I was riding and totally enjoying the laid back, ergonomically perfect riding position of the latest greatest Gliss. The chain stays now run out to the bottom bracket, but they do not connect to the head tube. This creates the necessary frame stiffness, but allows some give in the front end of the frame so as to not beat up the rider. Ed was going to like this primo machine.
Later that evening we dined at Garlic Mikes. The management seemingly punished us for being late by separating our group. The service and food were only mediocre, or maybe more so because it was a pricey joint, but the company was terrific.
DAY 1 GUNNISON AIRPORT TO SAGUACHE
It is 75 miles to Saguache over North Pass. My personal goal in this ride was to enjoy old and new friends, the Colorado scenery and not be the last guy up the pass. Ive always been a decent rider, but never an athlete. With my training this year, I was not sure what to expect, but as of six weeks ago, I knew I was ready. I had reached the pinnacle of my training. At home, I can ride straight up James Hill in Kent; true, its only about 300 feet of vertical rise, but its very steep.....and a wimp hill by Colorado standards.
Our day started early. Those heading off for the GIANT PANCAKE restaurant left at 7am. It may have been preride jitters, but our crew hung out at the Holiday Inn for the continental breakfast. Six or eight riders ate cold cereal, round powerbars, some fruit, coffee and bagelspower breakfast!? In retrospect, we should have done the giant pancake thing. V-Rex rider Steve Freeman from Maine reminded us of that all day long as hed whip out his boxed pancake throughout the day for power-breaks.
This day would have us really out in the middle of nowhere. This would mean lunch of whatever you had in the sag or on your bike. A late night trip to Safeway had us stocking up on Gu, Power Bars, Fig Newtons and Gatorade. Around 9am, some motored, and others rode to the Gunnison Airport where we parked, and hit the pavement.
With 25 riders, it doesnt take long to disperse the crew. I tucked in behind John Cunningham (JC) on his Gold Rush Replica. John is a well known recumbent cyclist (bent roadie animal) in these parts and I knew hed be the guy to keep up with. Shortly after, Mark Rowe came zooming by on his Guerciotti Dura Ace equipped criterium racer, maybe he was the true animal of the tour due to his choice of torturous machines. I had instant respect for the guy when I realized that he had 14 speeds in a road corn-cob array. I kept the fact that I had 63-speeds to myself as I tucked in behind the Schlitters Screamer tandem. I lost track of Mark Colliton, Ron Schmid and John Williams and wouldnt see them until later at the sag stop halfway up North Pass.
The riders separated with John Cunningham and Mark Rowe up front. For these two, the race was on. Later we were passed by lady roadies Sue Martin (Trek 2120) and Barb Butler (Cannondale R500 triple) with Suki on her metallic pink Stratus wearing her bright orange jersey.
My new V-Rex had a drivetrain skip that I could not adjust out of the system. I was blaming the mysterious innards of the 3x7 hub. Finally I got so perturbed with this hi-tech gizmo that I disconnected it. What this means is climbing in the 3x7 3rd gear, a 136% overdrive of whatever gear that you happen to be in. In this case, 30 gear inches for a low. This was especially annoying because the advertised benefit of the 63-speed bike is the really low lows17 gear inches is what it should be.
As the miles rolled along John, Janice and I were seemingly the only cyclists on this gently climbing road along the Cochetopa River. We enjoyed good conversation in a place that was far from the phones, faxes and everyday bike business. We came upon an actual bathroom with Suki, the lady roadies and fast guys all taking a break. I looked at John and Janice and they looked at me. In unison, we put the power to the pedals and took this brief chance to hold the lead. The day was a postcard perfect Southwestern Colorado sunny day and we were blessed with a gentle tailwind. Life is good.
The river-hugging canyon Hwy 114 eventually plateaus into some beautiful farmland near Buffalo Pass. This was our sag stop. Mark Colliton caught up and had to have his Gu. I ate some form of energy wood pulp that I wouldnt eat again. Ed, Randy, Steve and many others met here. Just as we were settling in for a break, like a scene from a road race wed all like to see, Rocket Man John Williams comes racing through the sag area with Roadie Lady Barb Butler pacing behind. Well, my new found mission was to catch these two. I paced out of the sag area with Mark Colliton and the Schlitters. The wood pulp energy bar lit my after burner, stoked me up and I was off. The fast guys Mark Guerciotti Rowe and JC (Gold Rush Replica) were out in front of me. Rocketman Williams and Roadie Lady Barb were as well. For the next few miles I would see nobody, except Suki wearing her neon orange jersey riding her metallic pink Stratus in my rearview mirror. At this point I hadnt really talked much with Suki, but I knew she was a strong rider. That first day up North Pass, she was my motivation for keeping going. I kept her safely in my rearview mirror. Later in the week, we had a neat conversation about how she kept my orange/blue Giro Exodus RL helmet as a target to make it up the pass. Unknowingly, we helped each other up the pass, and we hadnt even met yet.
My new V-Rex is an Angletech built 24/20 GL63 with a Ballistic suspension fork, custom fit to me via the AngleFit" (recumbent fit kit). My first ride on the bike had been just a few days before. The bike had been going through a series of break-in woes since the second ride. While in Woodland Park the new Sachs Quartz derailleur broke and had to be replaced (at the cable bolt, the same place my Centera broke on the Turner, hmm. Another glitch was a drivetrain gear-skip. Each day, we thought we had it worked out, only to find it still happening. A truly annoying problem that would haunt my climb over North Pass.
I was within 1.25 miles of the North Pass summit at the elbow and stopped. Climbing with the drag of the 3x7 locked in 3rd gear and a 30 gear inch gear, the 7% grade was wearing on me. I was bound and determined NOT to walk a single hill on the Silver ThreadSlumgullianand I didnt. I took a short break, ate some chocolate wood pulp in the form of a power bar. You know youre having some kind of a spiritual experience when you actually LIKE the taste of these things. The Schlitters on the Screamer rolled by. I relieved myself behind the bushes, first time in four hours. I reconnected my 3x7 and put it in low, low 17 (gear inches) for the final ascent. My bikes drivetrain had an attitude, but I needed that low gear. I was reenergized and Suki was coming up the hill. It was time to make my move for the summit and I got back on the bike, spinning to the top at 4.5 mph and fantasizing about the down hill back side of North Pass.
At the top was the sag and reception committee, and cheering for every rider who came in. What an accomplishment! North Pass in Colorado at 10,149 feet, more than 2,500 feet of climbing. It was easy! Actually, it wasnt. This was my longest cycling day and most vertical gain of my lifea turning point in my cycling career.
The fast guys and lady-roadies were just leaving. Wow, are they something. John Williams is hanging out with me for awhile. We wait to see many of the gang come in. Ed Weiss is having a blast on his Gliss, there goes Steve with that cold pancake again. Here comes Mark Mr. McGu Colliton walking the last few blocks to the summit. That Limbo doesnt have low enough gears or something..... John and Janice run out to take a picture of Mark walking in. Mark says to me, Dont be calling me for this ride next year, Bob. Mark would eat these words later, though he and the Schlitters want to Bike Across Kansas next summer. A bit later Kelvin Clark rolls into the summit. Kelvin is riding the Angletech Altitude full-suspension SWB. It was set up just two days ago. I pulled the ball-o-food out of my Angletech seat bag. The tastiest part of my lunch was the bagel with strawberry Fig Newtons melted to the topan unexpected culinary delight. I am pretty much self contained. I have two water bottles filled with Gatorade and a Blackburn hydration system full of ice water. I refilled the water bottles, gobbled of my ball-o-food, bummed a pop-tart off of the Rocketman just in time for John to ask if Id like to descend with him. Roadie Barb had gone out with the fast crew, followed by the Schlitters on the Screamer, Fast Ed on the Gliss, Steve on his V-Rex and Randy on Lu Lu the cow painted Presto. Rocketman Williams was holding back waiting for me.
Rocketman John is a rider who is definitely out of my league, but he was here because I got him interested in this ride. He also seemed interested in just how fast I had become with my training. For John, it was preCannonball training. For me, it was learning from a master. On the road, John is thinking, planning and executing riding moves all of the time. I have to say that the only person Ive learned more from about recumbent riding is Gardner Martin, so that puts John in good company.
We headed off down the hill in a descent with about 35 more miles to go. We both hoped it was all down hill. The road was rough, with many twists and turns, but predictable. I had disconnected the 3x7 hub on the V-Rex once again, but was still experiencing drivetrain skip. When working perfectly, the 3x7 equipped drivetrain and 139 gear inch high gear allow you to pedal at speeds not normally possible. My old school training had me pedaling down the steep hills. Rocketman John does a speed-tuck. His homebuilt racers are really low with laid back seats. Even with the seat laid back all of the way on the Rocket S5, it was too upright for John. His answer was to sink down in the seat 4-6 and raise his knees up. This coasting speed-tuck was equivalent to my pedaling in 139 high gear, on most of the hills we rode on together. The only way I could hang with him was to ride a pace-line tucked in behind that 20 drivewheel. Dont ever let anyone tell you that small drivewheels or Rans Rockets are slow bikes. As it would turn out, John and I spent a lot of time together on the roads of the Silver ThreadSlumgullian.
My top speed on the descent was 48 mph. Johns was over 50. The fastest descent speed was JC on the Gold Rush Replica at 59 mph. The descent flattened into a new picture postcard view of Colorado as we neared Saguache. Our pace was very fast18-22 mph with a gentle headwind. We soon caught up to Ed, Steve and Randy taking a break on the side of the road. We guessed that we were 15 miles out. Rocketman volunteered to lead a pace line into Saguache. We started rolling and at times were pacing a tight all-recumbent paceline at 25 mph. We were passed by the Saguache Sheriff who did a double take. What a sight this must have been. I kept thinking of how cool it would be to have a video of this scene. The last few miles went quickly. Soon we saw the big S on the side of the oasis of Saguache. Somebody said turn right at the liquor store and find the motel. We rode around town and only saw a boarded up motel. We ended up at the Saguache County Sheriffs office/city Jail. We met the Sheriff and he mentioned passing us. He asked about our top speeds coming down. I was unsure if I should answer. After fifteen minutes of pleasantries, we were off in the right direction. Go south out of town and the Saguache Creek Lodge is a mile or two out of town. With North Pass and the rockies at our backs and the flat fertile lands of Saguache in front of us we rode our last mile of the day in the ever changing Colorado scenery. We rolled into the Lodge parking lot at about 3:15pm. We were told that JC was the first bike in on his RECUMBENT Gold Rush Replica, though Mark Guerciotti and JC basically rode in together.
After the usual afternoon cheering in of the riders (the last rider seems to get the biggest cheer, whereas the first guy gets nothinggo figure) and a quick shower. We hurried off to explore Saguaches culinary delights. In a wordOasis, yes, thats the name of the only restaurant in town. In any other town on any other trip, I wouldnt eat at a place like that, but boy, oh boy was that food good. My Southwest adventure had the fire breathing taste buds perked up. Mexican food was the order of the day, and it was terrific. The solo waitress at the Oasis had taken care of the first batch of hungry cyclists very well indeed.
Back at the Lodge we learned that the last riders had come in about 5:20pm. Dale and Ron and Dave and Dot on the Opus IVs. Nobody that I had talked to had seen Dave and Dot actually pedaling, so we all assumed they had landed down the street from the lodge and decloaked prior to reentering earths atmosphere and the Saguache Creek Lodge parking lot. They are a really nice couple from San Diego. They swap captain/stoker, recumbent/upright positions on their Opus and in their own words, We stop a lot. You couldnt find any more friendly folks on this tour.
After everybody had reenergized at the Oasis, we rounded up the best minds in recumbency (at least those in Saguache, Colorado) to figure out what was wrong with the RCN V-Rex dream bike. Its bad karma, Bob, I wash my hands of it. Its that damn 3x7 hub, Bob, put the final nail in the coffin of those things. These are just some of the comments heard while working on the bike. I would never put another one of those things on my personal bike, is what I was thinking and words I will undoubtedly eat later. I wasnt a happy camper as far as this bike was concerned, nor was I the poster boy for the Sachs 3x7.
It was a full moon over the fields of Saguache and the motel parking lot. Kelvin Clark rode the V-Rex while John Schlitter diagnosed the problem. Both came back certain that it wasnt the 3x7 hub. Its a stiff link that you cant see. Hmm. Kelvin sat there in the dark, hand working every link in the chain. By the light of a full moon, I KryTeched every link on that chain.
We were told to have a sense of humor about the Saguache Creek Lodge. We would be packed into just a few rooms in a very open concept bunking arrangement. The Lodge was like a scene that could have been played in 1960 or even 1950an old style side-by-side strip motel in the Southwest a la Route 66vintage Americana at its finest? By most standards this place was a bit run down, though tonight, it was home. I have nothing but the fondest memories of this place. Except for maybe the bruise I have from Mark Colliton elbowing me in the ribs. He said I was snoring. Yes, it was tight shared quarters. John and Janice in one sunken-down twin bed, Mark and I in the other and our wives were at the two opposite ends of the country from Saguache, Colorado.
DAY 2 SAGUACHE TO CREEDE
An early start at 7:30am. Heck, my kids get up at 6am. Thats what time my computer goes on as well. I was up at 4:30am, but laid in bed not to disturb the snoring and restless sleep of my bunk cohorts. We were up and ready to go in a half hour. Janice scored us some coffee from the motel owners. They also let Barb and some others use their personal hot tub the night before. We said a quick good bye to our neighbor, a retired man who lives in a motorhome, but spends time in Saguache looking for Indian ruins. We shared mosquito repellant while hanging in the parking lot the night before. He had the strongest mosquito chemicals known to man.
Many of the riders left early. Some were as much as thirty minutes ahead. John, Janice, Mark Colliton and I all left for the flat run out to Del Norte for a breakfast. We slammed some Gu, Power Bars, melted Fig Newtons, bagels and fruit, but needed real food and it was 36 flat miles to breakfast in Del Norte.
As my power bar pulp kicked in, I led the pack and found nobody interested in my pace, so I turned up the volume. A while down the road I met Dale and the Ronster. I drafted for a bit to recoup, and then pulled in front of the Opus to offer a draft, but realized our paces were going to be different. 23 miles out, at the junction of Hwy 285, I took a right at Hwy 112 for the 13 mile stretch into Del Norte. It was later that I learned that this was where the Ronster got off the Opus and became the unofficial co-sag. Ron just wasnt adapting to the Colorado altitude as well as the others. Later in Creede one of our sags quit the ride and went home. Ron was a welcome help to the Slumgullian crew.
I caught up with Fast Ed on the Gliss. Ed is not your stereotypical technoweenie bent head. He doesnt use clipless pedals and he doesnt like derailleurs (his Ryan has a 3x7 and his Metro has a Nexus). Ed is a strong rider and he was having a great time. I really enjoyed meeting Ed. Wed corresponded briefly about the Gliss prior to the ride and I was happy that he was able to get a factory Slumgullian demo for the tour. Ed and I paced for several miles at 18-20 mph and he stopped for a water break. I kept rolling and met up with Allen, a wedgie rider on a Trek 1500. Allen was the lone wolf of our group. He often started out early and seemed to prefer not riding in a group. We paced and caught up to Steve on his V-Rex just outside of Del Norte. Randy on Lu Lu was the only one out in front of us. I could see him once briefly, but lost out due to a head wind coming into town. The giant D on the hill (do all small towns have letters on hills behind them?) told us we were in Del Norte. Coming into town we crossed the Rio Grande river. I wanted to stop, but was in hot pursuit of food. We caught up to Randy at the restaurant. After many of us had ordered, Sue stopped in to tell us that in our haste (or race) for breakfast, we were at the wrong place. The majority of the crew ate next door. Our group breakfast timing hasnt been good so far this trip. The group meals are among the best times of the trip. Next year I will stick with the gang.
We used the early bird/wrong restaurant scenario to our advantage and baled out of town in a big time hurry. Again, I paced and conversed with Mark Colliton and the Schlitters who have all become good friends over the years of bike shows, rides to the beach and now Colorado. We rolled along the Rio Grande for a fast 17-miles into South Fork. We found an antique car show at a huge gas station/deli mart (Loaf-N-Jug) and Fast Ed, Randy and Steve were there waiting for us.
Heading out of South Fork, we start to gain elevation. This was an easy day of 70 or so miles with only about 1000 feet of elevation gain. We rode in and out of canyons, farm land along the Rio Grande river in what looked like a scene out of a John Wayne movie. Fast Ed, Steve, Randy and Mark Colliton paced with us for awhile and then decided to take it a bit slower. I was, again, pacing with the Schlitters on the Screamer. Janice had some oranges in her pack and was able to peel and ride at the same time, while sharing orange slices with John and me. Its funny how little things like that seem important when all you are doing is pedaling across great open spaces in a world that seems very far away from where I am today.
The ride up to Creede was beautiful, though this location plays tricks on bike riders. You cant tell whether youre going up or down hill. I could have sworn that it was a descent down into Creede by the way it looked from outside of town, but it wasnt. It was a slow, grinding few miles with a headwind. Just as we didnt think we could make it, around the bend and there is the Snow Shoe Motel. Another old style strip motel, though remarkably more upscale than the night before. The innkeeper told us the first people in would get the best rooms and was he right. Rocketman John was the first in to Creede, followed by myself and then the Schlitters. The riders would trickle in over the next hour or two. The V-Rex was 90% perfect today, only a half dozen or so missed shifts. The KryTech chain lube soaking seemed to be the temporary cure for this ailing chain. I doused every link again for good measure. I was starting to feel at one with this bike and realized that I had made the right choice in bikes for the Slumgullian.
We were dying of hunger, so four of us went out in search of food. While walking down the main street of Creede, the aroma of home-made pizza sucked us in. After filling up on a few pieces each, we continued our culinary tour over to the espresso stand next door. The co-owner was from the Ronsters hometown of Portland and filled us in on the comings and goings in Creede, while serving the best espresso of the trip. Out on the boardwalk were more of our cohorts, showered, refreshed and playing tourists, though all had a secret inner-glow of two days and nearly 150 miles in the mountains of Colorado Rocky Mountain High as Fast Ed quoted from an old John Denver tune.
Kelvin caught up to us and reminded us that we had dinner reservations and the Creede Hotel at 6pm. Later half the crew barked at us from the second floor bar/sun deck where I am told the Margueritas were good. I guess its a lucky thing we only ate one pizza for late lunch. Dinner at the Creede was not to be missed. This was the best food of the trip. Creede is a unique town in the Rockies as it has no winter economy (no skiing). Creedes main claim to fame was the discovery of silver back in 1890. 8,000 people once lived in Creede, thought the population today is just 400 (less in the winter). They say that drops in half or better when winter sets in. Even in the summer, the stores are all closed by 5pm. JC said hed move there if he won the lottery. I noticed a few vacant store fronts myself. This is a mystical place, the town itself sits at the bottom of this narrow canyon and rock wall. The scene becomes a bit eery as the sun goes down and the days light disappears quickly.
Creede has a checkered southwestern cowboy past with such characters as Bob Ford, who was one of Creedes early entrepreneurs, who shot Jesse James (in the back). Ford was murdered in Creede in 1892. Frank James, Martha Calamity Jane, pal Poker Alice, Bat Masterson and bunco artist Soapy Smith gave the town its reputation as one of the wildest camps in the state. Modern entertainment now centers around the culinary delights of the Creede Hotel and the Repertory Theater next door. At the end of town there are two very large cliffs with a narrow road running along a creek out of town. A mining museum, the community center and fire department all are built into the cliff.
This was the turning point in the tour for me. My performance far exceeded my expectations and the group was getting to know one another better. We watched the sun go over the Rockies in Creede while swapping stories of the day and sharing rides on the top secret Limbo, Altitude and Gliss with our roadie friends. Barb, Sue and Mark, we have pictures of you riding recumbents. I hope youll convert, youd be some fast hammering bent roadies.
DAY 3 CREEDE TO LAKE CITY via SLUMGULLIAN
For me, the day of reckoning was here. This is six months of training coming to a head. Creede is at 8,852 feet elevation, we would ride up Spring Creek Pass to 10,901 feet, back down and then back up to 11,361 feet of the Slumgullian, the namesake, nemesis, soon to be conquered. This is the true test for a recumbent cyclist. Your life and view of the world will change once youve ridden the Slumgullian.
We enjoyed a fantastic breakfast at the Creede Hotel (I love this town). I had the peak performance power-breakfast of hot grain cereal and a Creede Hotel sticky bun. Even though I was having delusions over those breakfast burritos, I had to pass. Today I needed rocket fuel. Many of us told the cyclists lie that we were going to hang back and cruise up the pass, others said the same. I dont think anyone believed it. Alan and the Opi (two Opuses) left early. Today, the metallic pink Stratus was on the roof as Suki was stoking the Opus as the Ronster co-sagged in the van. Dale would have fun. Suki is lively and energetic as well as a strong rider. She wears color-coordinated cycling apparel and wears perfume making an impact with all of the other cyclists she meets. Suki had only been recumbent cycling for a year or so. She is a runner CSCC member and lives with JC in Peyton, just outside of Colorado Springs. Her bike, the metallic pink Opus was built up by CSCC rider and trip wise guy, Doug Luttrell. Doug is a former Vision owner who has a Rans Rocket and surprised everyone with a new Tour Easy for the tour. Doug is a fun guy beneath all of the wise cracks. Wed have been in real trouble without his sag support van and willingness to pull double duty.
9am was like the start of a horse race, but in slow motion. Heading out of town I paced Mark Colliton and the Schlitters. I was feeling like a race horse in the gate and sped off to catch JC on the Gold Rush Replica. JC was after Allan, and the early crew who were up to an hour out in front. Rocketman John was back in the pack, though I knew he had his eye on where I was. While speeding through the countryside, I heard a thunk and a loud noise on my rear tire. I stopped to find my Angletech bag on the ground. One of the envelope seams that hold it to the top of the seat had ripped. Quickly I remounted it using the side straps. Okay, so I had it packed pretty goodcall it RCN torture testing. Just then Rocketman John and Lady Roadie Barb (on her Cannondale) came by pacing me. I could see what was happening. This was a group on the fast track to the top of Slumgullian. I needed to make a decision. Hang back, or get in with this fast crowd that was just a bit out of my league. Hell, this was the best ride of my life, and could be the best cycling day of my life. I thought to myself, I am going for it! Rocketman John, Barb and myself quickly started a routine where wed operate a systematic paceline to the benefit of us all. Soon we were in the front of the pack with only JC and the early birds out front. Within an hour we motored into one of many beautiful Rocky Mountain vistas which was the decloaking port of entry for Dave and Dot, swapping Opus riding positions so as not to punish either rider too long on that one wedgie seat. Ed and JC were there as well. Preparing for the ascent up Spring Creek Pass, I slammed some wood pulp in the form of a power bar. Bizarrely, it tasted good...deja vu.
The trio was rolling. John Rocketman Williams from Philomath, Oregon, Barb Butler on her Cannondale R500 triple, from Colorado Springs and myself on an Angletech V-Rex headed for the cycling ascent of our lives. The day was perfect, not a cloud in the sky and we had a tailwind. Some of the riders were talking about a waterfall in between passes that was not to be missed. John, Barb and I were on a mission and rolled out. It is difficult to climb in the Rockies, but with training and adequate gearing, it was not as hard as you would expect. I could not use my 3x7 granny or Barb and Rocketman John would leave me in the dust. I had to spin in the middle chainring, draft them and only drop into granny when they did. We climbed, and we climbed and we climbed. Surprisingly we passed JC on the Gold Rush. The only rider out front was early bird Allan on his Trek. Fast Ed on the Gliss was in hot pursuit of us, but enjoying his own Rocky Mountain (fast) pace.
At this point in the game, the lead three bikes on the Slumgullian are a 31.5 pound (+ junk in the bag) V-Rex GL63, a Rocket Saturn-V and a Cannondale 500. JC lost us in the climb because of a gearing glitch. Many bent riders want big gears and dont realize that they may be able to keep faster speeds spinning in lower mid range gears up hills. I learned this from Gardner Martin last year when I thought my test SWB was fast up hills. He asked me to compare gearing and I was climbing in a much lower gear on the SWB. I had a 24/46/53 crankset on my old Gold Rush Replica. Gardner suggest I change my gearing to a 24/40/53 and learn to spin in my middle chainring. This along with better fitness has allowed me to spin in the middle chainring up all but the very steepest hills and use my large chainring more often for flat land cruising. The moral of this story is select an adequate middle chainring to allow easy spinning/climbing. Dont be too quick to put huge gears on a bike. If you dump into your granny too early, youll climb slow regardless of what kind of recumbent you are riding. It can make a difference between climbing at 7-9 mph or 3.5-5 mph. John Forester in Effective Cycling says a road racer can spin at 26mph in a 94 gear inch gear. And be sure to spend more time tweaking and fueling the engine.
The Spring Creek summit was a welcomed sight. We took some fast pictures and hit the road. As we descended I was in the #3 pace position (back). Rocketman John was already in his speed tuck and Barb was on his tail. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Allan in the bushes holding his tube in the air while having a smoke. The sag was behind us so with this opportunity to take the lead, so we left early bird Allan at the top of Spring Creek with a flat tire. Barb was really getting an effective draft off of our low bikes. I had forgotten just how torturous a head wind can be on a wedgie. They hardly even affect bent riders by comparison. We named Barbs effective draft the Recumbent Vortex.
We raced down the windy backside of Spring Creek Pass. It was here that we missed the turnoff for the waterfall, but getting to the top of Slumgullian was our mission. Rocketman John, Barb and I had made a pact. We would climb together, pace each other, help one another and cross the summit as a team. It sounded like a plan, but I still thought I was a bit out of my league. This was serious business now. The downhill was over and now were climbing the Slumgullian. At some points, its a 7% grade and it goes on for miles. The air is getting thinner as we approached 10,000 feet. The Rocky Mountain air has me in a constant buzz. I am actually feeling quite high and loving every second of it. The adrenaline, the endorphins, and the camaraderie of our 3-rider Slumgullian ascent team. At one point, were climbing with a tail wind and keeping a 16-18 mph paceline at times while climbing up the pass. Besides riding and climbing, we did manage to talk quite a bit. At times, we had to remind ourselves to be quiet, ride and climb. We worked as a good team. Its funny how close you can feel to other riders in a situation like this. Before today, I had probably only spoken a few words with Roadie Lady Barb. Now were climbing the last few hundred feet up the pass and its getting harder as the air gets thinner.
A diesel truck and Airstream went by with the smoke-screen option on full blast. Nothing like a dose of reality to let you know why these roads were built, certainly not for cyclists. We were now climbing in granny low (not using the 3x7) at 5-6 mph. At about 11,000 feet I started to lose it. I got too close to the cliff and gravel and lost my footing almost falling down. Starting out on a 7% grade can be tricky and my team mates were losing me. It was sink or swim time. I needed to catch up. I was now a block or so behind with a few miles and a few hundred feet of elevation to go. I quickly shifted into 3x7 granny low, accelerated up to speed. A shot of adrenaline got me up with the team. We can see around the bend that we are almost there. The rush, buzz and high running through my body was beyond words. I was ranting and raving (so what else is new...). Rocketman John and Barb werent paying much attention. I started singing the theme song from the Monkees, Hey, hey, were the Monkees. Barb starts talking about eating an orange from her pack. While Im humming this odd 60s TV tune, she keeps talking about this orange. Rocketman John is our rock of Gibraltar. He gets us into procession as we round the corner and see the sign, Slumgullian Summit 11,361 feet. We cheered, ranted, raved. Our celebration timed perfectly as the sag pulled in. We took pictures, ate some pop tarts, and the best apricot Newtons that Ive ever had, though I dont think theyd taste the same at sea level. And Roadie Lady Barb ate her Orange.
So much for life at the top of the world. Were going down. The descent into Lake City is a world class downhill event. Its nearly 3,000 feet down in ten or so miles. The switchbacks, cliffs, gravel, rough pavement and natural A/C (wind). At this point I wished that I had my Gold Rush Replica, though I was at a new spiritual level with my V-Rex. Rocketman John did the speed tuck and was gone. At one point, I saw him a mile or so down the pass. Barb stayed with me for a bit, as I obeyed the speed limits in the nearly circular switch backs. Its a lucky thing the local police didnt have radar or speed traps set for the Rocketman. That Saturn V was on rails around the corners and the 107-inch high gear didnt mean anything to Mr. Speed Tuck himself. At one point I slowed way down for a tight switchback with a particularly nasty cliff because I was feeling a bit of headwind. Barb was way back at this point and I wondered if she was okay. On a straight run, Barb tucked in behind me, the next thing I know she is letting out this happy scream WOW! She goes ripping past me like I was standing still. Later she said it was my draft, it grabbed her and catapulted her around me...the Recumbent Vortex again. Rolling into Lake City was like a surreal roller coaster. Looking right and looking left, I took the fast tour and was #3 behind Rocketman John and Roadie Lady Barb into Mooses Western Bell Motel. Our rooms were ready and we had a gorgeous vista point from the deck to cheer in the other riders.
Rans John Schlitter is an animal. Hes an old roadie, airplane pilot, motorcycle rider and hes just too damn competitive for his own good. I am sure his wife Janice will agree. They experienced what has come to be known as Slumgullian road rash. In one of the tight switchbacks, John pushed it too hard, lost it, tried to correct and the road limo Screamer went down in the gravel. A few bandages and a bruised ego and all was better. Its a lucky thing I was carrying that first aid kit (thanks to my Girl Scout co-leader wife, Marilyn). Janice has a new command over her drag-brake. Having spent lots of bent time with Janice, shes a real trooper and really co-powers that Screamer well.
Somewhere near Slumgullian Randy Johnson lost his footing and snagged his Magura line with his shoe. He lost his front brake and nobody had a syringe or Magura service kit. Lu Lu (cow painted Presto) was due for a break. Lu Lu rested out the rest of the tour from the roof of the sag van. Randy would ride stoker on Dales Opus for day 4.
Since we had missed a real lunch again, we snacked at the local grocery store. Dinner was late, so some of us ventured into town and found a delectable establishment called Poker Alice in downtown Lake City. Mark Colliton, John and Janice Schlitter and myself ate another gourmet meal in another Rocky Mountain paradise. I had the Cannibal pizza named for the lurid side of Lake City where Alfred Packer ate his prospecting party in a snowstorm back in the winter of 1874. The pizza was very good.
Back at Mooses motel, the crew was having dinner on the veranda. We crashed the party, sat down and enjoyed their company and spinning our yarns. So ends the best cycling day of my life.
DAY 4 LAKE CITY TO GUNNISON
At this point, were trying to make it last. Nobody wants to go home. The gang is much closer than any previous day and were having fun. At breakfast we anticipated our final day on the road back to Gunnison. The folks at Mooses treated us exceptionally well and the food was great. I finally ate enough breakfast and decided Id just hang back and enjoy the ride today.
Later in the morning we were taking group pictures out front and realized some of the riders had left already. The Schlitters had snuck out on the Screamer, early bird Allen actually made it back to Gunnison before breakfast (that doesnt count). But thats what you get for leaving before the sun comes up.
Mark Colliton told me that he changed his mind and I could call him for the Slum next year. Hes acclimated to the elevation and mastered the Rans Limbo on Slumgullian Pass. He says its a fast bike and handles well, for a long bike..... (what do you expect from the co-designer of the V-Rex). We joke that the Limbo wont see Kansas again. Well just keep our fingers crossed that Rans will build the Limbo (1999?).
Rolling out of Lake City I had a feeling that this perfect trip was too close to being over, and too soon. Rocketman John and I got together and tried to recruit a recumbent pace line, but couldnt get enough interest. This is one of the most beautiful rides in the world, as our tour winds out of Lake City and along the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. Kelvin told me this stretch of the road had been a really spiritual journey for him last year and he was right.
We climbed another pass or two (small ones), had a near-run in with a bull while passing through a free range. A lonesome downhill ended at the Blue Mesa Reservoir. And then the dreaded sightcars and traffic.
I was trying to catch up with Rocketman and the Schlitters. Barb stopped to talk with early birds Dave and Dot decloaked at the rest area. We were re-entering civilizationculture shock as I rode the last 7 miles into Gunnison alone.
This sunny Colorado day quickly came to an end as I rode into the Gunnison Airport parking lot. Some of us were not anxious for the trip to end, so we had an early dinner at Marios in Gunnison that turned into a fun goodbye party. We then drove back to Colorado Springs through one of the most intense thunder storms Ive ever witnessed.
While out on the road aspects of your life seem to take on a clearer perspective. The mountains, the air, the sun, good friends and the mystical state of Colorado that you just have to experience for yourself. I learned just how few possessions a person actually needs. No TV, no radio, no computer... just a good bent, some water, food and maybe somebody to chat with as the miles roll by. Life can sometimes feel to complicated, but its really not.
And so ends the tour they call the Silver ThreadSlumgullian.
SILVER THREAD TEAM
The Slumgullian Tour is a tradition for the Colorado Springs Cycling Club (CSCC). Its a low key, relatively low cost event for 25 riders. It started as one couples private tour and is now considered the highlight of the cycling year by many CSCC riders. CSCC members John Cunningham and Sue Martin have been riding the silver Thread for years. John and Sue brought Kelvin Clark (Angletech) into the Silver Thread Team. Kelvin has now made it his yearly event and spear-heads, coordinates everything and is the problem solver, peace-maker and proved that patience is indeed one of his strongpoints. A special thank you to our new friends in the CSCC, Doug and Alicia Luttrell (sag) and especially to our fearless leader Kelvin Clark. If you want to ride the Silver Thread Tour in 1998, planning starts the first of the year. Previous years riders and CSCC riders are offered first preference and then Angletech customers. Those interested should contact Kelvin Clark at Anglezoom@aol.com.
