If you don't like crowds and wheel-suckers, don't bother with Colorado's largest organized ride -The Elephant Rock Cycling Festival in Castle Rock. This year's cap of 7,000 riders was met well before the event was held June 1st. One of the first organized rides I ever attended was the Elephant Rock Ride back in 2000. I pedaled a Trek 7000 hardtail pulling an Adam's Trail-a-bike with granddaughter Tori in tow. She threw a screaming fit when I told her to get off and help push until we were at the top of the hill. We were attempting the 8 mile mountain bike family ride. Except for one year since, we've participated annually moving up to the century road ride in 2004.
Take the profile above and tilt it another 3% grade to account for the never silent winds that buffet the open prairies. Despite not having trained specifically for the 100 miler, I was pleased with a slightly under 6 hour ride time and an average speed of 16.1 mph.
Choice of weapon this year was the 2007 Yeti ARC-X cyclocross bike. A fresh set of Continental GP4000 S skins converted the newest member of the Yeti stable into a decent open road cruiser. True, a lot of the descents had me red-lining the CX gearing but the +110 rpm spinning sections serve well as an efficient lactic acid purge following big ring climbs.
Veterans of the game, we arrived early Saturday afternoon with the travel trailer and act dumb about the 3:00pm check-in time. Results are always a prime camping location on precious flat ground and a dawn Sunday morning view of the hordes of cyclist arriving like warriors from a scene in Braveheart.
The early season event serves as a good reality check for fitness and as a reminder that the race season is nearly here. Details of the event can be found at http://www.elephantrockride.com/.
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