Mike Says Meh|The blog of Mike Kauspedas | Hosting by www.gearhost.com

This year I am registered for 3 rides … so far. My one regret was not paying attention to the Triple Bypass registration. Registration opened in January and filled all 3500 spots in one hour. The triple bypass is the hardest ride here in Colorado and people come from out of state for it. I’ve been dropped by so many cyclists with triple bypass jerseys too. Not to say the lesser rides aren’t challenging or fun. Here they are -

Denver Century
June 20th 2010 | 100 miles
First up, the Denver Century. I’m pretty sure this is a new one, but this is the first year I am doing any of these rides so they’re all new to me. The course is the most familiar for me. I can’t remember how many times I’ve ridden the trails here in Denver and that’s what this is. Starts at Invesco field and heads out west to the 470 trail then east to cherry creek and back. A nice big 100 mile loop. Should be easy and a blast.

CO Bike MS
June 26-27 2010 | 150 miles
DONATE!!
The very next weekend after the Denver Century is the Colorado Bike MS. This is the only big ride I’ve done. I did this last year and it was unbelievably fun. Very well supported with stops every 10 miles. I mean this when I say ANYONE can do this ride, and EVERYONE should. Its fun, its for a great cause, and a great way to get into cycling. There are plenty of SAG wagons to pick you up if you don’t want to pedal all the way up a hill. (The horse-head reservoir had some good ones.) Free cliff bars and bike mechanics. I got my bike adjusted both days for free!
DONATE!!!

Copper Triangle
August 7 2010 | 5,981′ Elevation | 80 miles
This one is easily the hardest of the three without mentioning Pikes Peak (see below). Lots of climbing = lots of fun. Its the one I am most excited about and will be training for. Climbing is my favorite thing to do on the bike. Its steady, slow enough to take in the views, and challenging.

On the table are two more rides. Subaru Elephant Rock and Assault on the Peak.

Subaru Elephant Rock
June 6 2010 | 100 miles
Very popular and I don’t think they even have a cap on riders. They also have a mountain bike course and a lot of family friendly and shorter courses. This one sounds a lot like the Denver Century. I’m just not sure about 3 huge rides in June, but hey, they do that daily in the TDF for 3 weeks soooo … maybe I shouldn’t be such a pussy. (Even though I’m 1/33 a TDF level cyclist) Money is also a factor though. Which leads me to the next one on the table because this is where the money goes.

Assault on the Peak
August 29 2010 | 6,360′ Elevation | 18 miles
Fuck yeah. That’s what comes to mind when I think about riding up Pikes Peak. Or ZOMFG ru serious!1!!?! the price tag does a good job of calming me down, $180. Wow. Copper triangle is longer, with 2 more peaks, and pretty close in elevation. Both the Denver Century and Copper triangle were $200 together and I got jerseys for each. The allure of Pikes Peak is that it hasn’t been done before, and its fucking Pikes Peak. I can see Pikes Peak from my apartment here in Denver – so can my bike – we’re both thinking the same thing. So yeah, I’m going to register for this and shell out the $180. Registration in fact, is tomorrow or else this would be in the list up top. The other major difference is that cyclists cannot ride up Pikes Peak any other day. This is it. As I’m passing Pikes Peak in my car I’ll be able to look to the west and say, “Yes, I rode that.” My wife can say the same thing if we’re traveling north and I’m driving.