l'alpe d'huez
as the l'alpe d'huez took place today in le tour de france, and i will note that for the first time a luxemberger took the stage - fränk schleck, i took a ride for myself in the foothills of the rocky mountains yesterday.
the twenty five mile or so ride took me past the famous jj's (famous in foco for the entrance to the street that leads up to horsetooth reservoir" up onto that road wich has one switchback before going up to horsetooth dam. centennial drive is one of the best roads in fort collins. to the right and below about three or four hundred feet is the front range (which you can clearly see fort collins). to the left is horsetooth reservoir. there are four substantial climbs in all. being in the lowest gear is the only way i could climb them.
climb one: there is a switchback that slows your momentum to the top.
climb two: the infamous "maniac hill" is the second climb as it is very steep for awhile and as you are getting to the top, you realize it still continues for another five hundred or so meters.
climb three: anyone who knows fort collins knows that hughes stadium, home to the csu rams, is on the other side. on that same hill facing fort collins (since centennial drive is on the back of the hill, you can't see it) is the famous "A" that traditionally gets repainted every year for csu's homecoming ritual (csu used to be colorado a&m and their mascot used to be the aggies, hence the "A"). this climb is hard because you're done with maniac hill and think that you're almost done with the ride. it's the most rewarding hill looking back on when you're done with the mountains surrounding horsetooth in the background.
climb four: this "ceremonial climb" as i call it because it's the last and easiest of the climbs isn't bad at all. it looks hard as you're going downhill to get to the base of it, but it is easy.
after you're done, you coast down past the north dam into the town of bellevue. you then pass verns which is famous for their cinnamon rolls. continuing on, you run into highway two eighty seven, which takes you into oldtown fort collins then a few miles more and i'm at my house.
it is a very scenic ride, and probably it is the most fun so far. it's good for the hills. it's good for the scenery.
the twenty five mile or so ride took me past the famous jj's (famous in foco for the entrance to the street that leads up to horsetooth reservoir" up onto that road wich has one switchback before going up to horsetooth dam. centennial drive is one of the best roads in fort collins. to the right and below about three or four hundred feet is the front range (which you can clearly see fort collins). to the left is horsetooth reservoir. there are four substantial climbs in all. being in the lowest gear is the only way i could climb them.
climb one: there is a switchback that slows your momentum to the top.
climb two: the infamous "maniac hill" is the second climb as it is very steep for awhile and as you are getting to the top, you realize it still continues for another five hundred or so meters.
climb three: anyone who knows fort collins knows that hughes stadium, home to the csu rams, is on the other side. on that same hill facing fort collins (since centennial drive is on the back of the hill, you can't see it) is the famous "A" that traditionally gets repainted every year for csu's homecoming ritual (csu used to be colorado a&m and their mascot used to be the aggies, hence the "A"). this climb is hard because you're done with maniac hill and think that you're almost done with the ride. it's the most rewarding hill looking back on when you're done with the mountains surrounding horsetooth in the background.
climb four: this "ceremonial climb" as i call it because it's the last and easiest of the climbs isn't bad at all. it looks hard as you're going downhill to get to the base of it, but it is easy.
after you're done, you coast down past the north dam into the town of bellevue. you then pass verns which is famous for their cinnamon rolls. continuing on, you run into highway two eighty seven, which takes you into oldtown fort collins then a few miles more and i'm at my house.
it is a very scenic ride, and probably it is the most fun so far. it's good for the hills. it's good for the scenery.
3 comments:
sorry bro but toronto is ranked # 15 in the world for best city to live in. last time i checked, foco didnt even make the short list.
good ride...you are going to be a machine!
its all good
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