Chopper

I have no qualms about Colorado. With shorter mileage days, the team has been able to sleep in a little bit more, which is adding to the overall boost in team morale. Today was just 62 miles. I finished my chore of vacuuming early, and was the first rider to leave the host site. Being at the front of the pack never happens - I'm the chopper! The first 20 miles of the ride were smooth sailing on the Rio Grande Trail. This trail is through nature and away from cars, and also is at about a -2% grade, which helped me to see how much I can push myself.

A new Whole Foods Market opened in the town of Basalt, and they hosted a second breakfast stop for us. The blueberry and flax seed muffin was one of the healthiest things I've eaten in a long time. While hanging at Whole Foods, we found out from an employee that Lance Armstrong would be picking up a meat order that day. Since all the locals I talked to in Aspen had nothing nice to say about Lance, I didn't see the point in waiting around for him. I think I met even cooler people instead. First, a seven year old girl who was wearing chamois and had already biked twelve miles that day. Second, a construction worker who only works to save up money for more bike touring - this guy had so many stories and lessons he shared with Mike and I from all his experience. At this stop, I also figured out how to use the Strava application on my new smartphone.

The landscape now is becoming more desert-like again, and we rode through the Red Canyon. I then spent another beautiful 20 miles on the Rio Grande Trail. I did get one flat, but it luckily happened right next to a bike shop, so they let me use their floor pump. I patched the hole and continued onwards. At mile 30 I chalked a message for the rest of the pack, a quote I ruthlessly ripped from the rowing world and adapted it to cycling: "When your body is tired, bike with your mind." After writing it on the ground, an old man pulled a U-turn on his bike to read it. He then pressed his temples with both of his hands off the handlebars while riding, and then shouted, "It works!"

Even after fixing a flat and chalking a long message, I was still the first rider to arrive at lunch. It looked like rain was coming, so I hit the road shortly after eating. However, the rain didn't last more than 5 minutes. After 40 miles of remote and scenic bike paths, I then had 5 miles of riding on the interstate highway, but it wasn't bad and I pedaled fast just to get it over with. Within the last 12 mile stretch, I chalked the rest of the quote, "When your mind is tired, bike with your heart."

While stretching at the host site in Silt, a teammate entered the host site and gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek because she enjoyed my chalking so much. Though I rode alone today, I had an incredibly fun ride, and I'm seeing myself grow faster and stronger as a cyclist. Some days are for sightseeing, some are for slugging, and others are for shredding.