Initially, I had planned to depart earlier. However, upon waking at 5:00 AM, I discovered that the weather was experiencing heavy rainfall. I consulted the radar, which indicated that the precipitation was expected to subside early. By 7:30 AM, the rain had ceased, and I awoke Jordan.
At 8:15 a.m., we were optimistic about the favorable weather conditions before our journey began. The temperature was approximately 45 degrees, and a gentle breeze was blowing in our favor. We intend to cover a distance of less than 100 miles on this inaugural camping day. We deemed it unnecessary to delay our departure, as the ride is likely to remain rain-free over the subsequent 12-16 days. The forecast predicted consistent rainfall throughout the week.
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| All smiles before we head out |
Jordan also desired to complete the angry photo before we commenced. Below is our initial attempt to express anger towards each other. It appeared somewhat artificial—special thanks to Katerina Bujnoch for capturing the photographs.
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| I tried to look angry, but it did not work. |
The commencement of the journey proved challenging. The loaded trailer attempted to exert control over the bicycle. I required a significantly greater grip on the handlebars to perceive the trailer’s impact on the bicycle. I was gradually adjusting, but my test rides differed from those conducted in this fully loaded trailer. Approximately 13 miles into the ride, he necessitated a halt. The initial portion of the journey traversed excellent trails, and numerous designated stops were provided, as per the requirements. He required a stop, and you can discern the reason for this.
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| First official stop |
Our second destination of the day is Brighton, Colorado, approximately 43.3 miles away, and we anticipate arriving in three hours and seven minutes. We have now transitioned from the well-maintained Colorado trails to more challenging roads. US Business 85, a moderately busy two-lane highway without a shoulder, will serve as our initial route. This will eventually lead us to US 85, a four-lane highway with a shoulder.
Jordan attempted to tow the trailer, but it proved to be an overwhelming challenge for his bike. This situation caused him frustration and self-blame. (Subsequently, I conducted a Google search and discovered two issues related to the trailer’s weight exerting control over the bike. Jordan was equipped with 25 racing-type tires, while my 28-inch Gator skins and over 100 pounds of additional weight created a significant disparity.)
As the temperature began to rise, we refilled our water supplies. The clouds have completely dissipated, and we are experiencing a slight headwind. It is currently approximately 12:30 PM, and we are maintaining a satisfactory pace. We have planned a rest stop at the easternmost point of our route, approximately 51 miles from our current location.
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During our lunch break at Subway in Platteville, Colorado, we covered approximately 50 miles in the first three and a half hours of our ride, with a distance of about 46 miles remaining to reach the campground. Despite feeling generally well, we experienced a slight headwind of approximately 10 MPH, which was somewhat frustrating.
We considered ordering larger sandwiches to save some for later consumption, but ultimately only managed to save Jordan’s cookies. After a 45-minute rest, we resumed our journey, but the sensation of having been riding persisted. One crucial reminder was to reapply chamois butt’r to the bottom of our bikes, as it serves a similar purpose to sunscreen and requires frequent application throughout the day.
Upon departing Platteville, Colorado, our progress was initially smooth. However, we encountered an unexpected challenge when Jordan attempted to tow the trailer with the bike setup we had. The combination of the trailer and the wind proved to be overwhelming, causing the bike to lose control.
We successfully reached Greeley, Colorado (70 miles) just before 3:00 PM, leaving us with a remaining distance of 26 miles to the campsite. As we navigated through the town, we experienced the first of three flat tires (two on Jordan’s bike and one on the trailer). Unfortunately, I (Londell) made a careless mistake by pinching a tube, necessitating another replacement.
The most significant setback occurred when we realized we had forgotten to bring a Schrader valve pump for the trailer. Fortunately, I was able to solicit assistance from passersby who were willing to inflate the tires, enabling us to continue our journey. However, this assistance came at a considerable cost, as we wasted approximately 20 minutes in the process.
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Jordan accurately highlighted that the prudent course of action was to return to Greeley to locate a suitable pump and replacement tubes. Although this entailed a slight detour, it was the most prudent course of action. We visited the nearest establishment, as indicated by the iPhone application, but it was closed. We proceeded to the second closest shop, but it was not even operational. Shop 3 was about to close, but it was missing some of the necessary components.
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We traveled an additional two miles to the main shopping center area, which included a Walmart. What surprised me was the number of stores that did not have the tube we needed for the trailer. Fortunately, we were able to obtain everything we required at Walmart. While we typically do not have a strong preference for Wal-Mart, the company’s trucks were exceptionally generous today, slowing down as they passed us. This was a notable exception to the majority of the truck traffic we encountered.
This resulted in a 12-mile detour. Consequently, if we intended to make camp, it would entail a total of approximately 110 miles. We finally departed Greeley, Colorado, at 5:30 PM, with approximately 26 miles remaining. The headwind and traffic made this a challenging 26 miles. Approximately 10 miles before sunset, we were compelled to utilize our headlights due to the darkness. With the combination of darkness, road conditions, and traffic, we were fortunate to maintain a speed of only 10 miles per hour. We also took several brief breaks during this time.
I want to share photographs of our campsite, but unfortunately, it is not feasible as we arrived at the campsite in complete darkness after traveling 112 miles. We were greeted by a camper who informed us that the campground was full. He also suggested that we try a site reserved near the creek that appeared unoccupied. Despite the darkness, we were able to locate the site. We promptly set up our camp, and Jordan prepared an excellent sweet-and-sour chicken using a dehydrated meal. It was delicious, as we had not eaten since 12:00 PM, and it was now 9:30 PM. It was truly a blessing to have the jet boil!
In summary, a day that commenced with remarkable success encountered a challenging turn, making the final 40 miles, or 50 miles, arduous. Despite our utmost efforts, we successfully reached the campground at the designated stop.
Shortly after arriving at the first stop, I experienced severe leg cramps, which persisted throughout the night and caused significant discomfort. To address this issue, I recommend consuming a nutritious meal, taking vitamins, and taking E-capsules to alleviate the symptoms for tomorrow.
Both of us are experiencing considerable fatigue and intend to retire to bed as soon as possible. Fortunately, tomorrow’s ride will be only 60 miles. I will capture a photograph at the campsite in the morning.
Day 1 Summary:
- Total distance: 111.1 miles
- Average speed: 12.8 MPH (riding time only)
- Total on-bike time: 8 hours 44 minutes 23 seconds
- Total day time: Approximately 13 hours
- Temperature range: 44.6°F to nearly 95°F
- Total ascent (Garmin Connect): 1,079 feet
- Net elevation decrease: 1,233 feet (from 5,971 feet to 4,738 feet)
0-10 in 0:45:10 - 14 mph
10-20 in 0:50:04 - 13.6 mph
20-30 in 1:13:35 - 13.7 mph
30-40 in 0:44:28 - 14.2 mph
40-50 in 0:56:25 - 14.1 mph
50-60 in 1:30:18 - 16.3 mph
60-70 in 1:55:58 - 13.5 mph
70-80 in 1:40:23 - 10.5 mph
80-90 in 0:53:45 - 11.7 mph
90-100 in 1:01:15 - 11.2 mph
100-110 in 1:05:18 - 11.4 mph
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