TOP: Looking towards Silverton from durango. Guess why the race was cancelled?
2nd: The pro Criterium in downtown Durango. I didn't win this either...
3rd: Cliff playing the piano at a local bar. Emily joined him later in the set with some show tunes.
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Well, we finally got to Durango today, and even though the race is still 3 days away, the news is talking about a "major snow event" on friday into saturday. Good for a snowshoe race, not so good for a road bike race.
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By friday our crew had all arrived into town (along with about 3,000 of our closest cycling friends) and we were all busy getting things ready. We drove a car up to Silverton where we met Larry (AKA "Flash") and Peggy (AKA "Posh") so that we could leave 2 cars there with warm weather gear for when we finished. THAT was a good time, as it took over 2 hours to go the 35 miles up the mountain behind a tanker truck. I could have rode it faster...OK, NOT!
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The mountain is very imposing, roughly 35 of the 50 miles of the race are uphill, most a a very significant grade, topping out at about 11,000ft. This is a serious ride. I'm thinking, hmmm, why didn't I take a pass on those tuesday night abbotts custards with jan. Instead, they have made a home around my waistline.
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We were all psych'd and ready to go, at 6am saturday when they cancelled the race. Seems silverton got over a foot of snow (this a week before june!), and the passes even more. The highway patrol would not let us race...turns out for the better as we attempted to get back over the pases to collect our cars and gear. Another few hours driving up the hill in snow, slush, and rain.
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On a positive note, we got to go lunch at the "Handle Bar", my favorite little place in Durango. Famous for their bumper stickers all over the walls, their taxidermied animals (mountain lions, bison, deer, mountain goats, democrasts...), and their waitresses with handlebar mustaches (I think they're all Italian). Great food, cheap drinks, baudy atmosphere, and hairy waitresses...who could ask for anything more.
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We spent the rest of the weekend in Durango drinking margaritas, cycling in the "lowlands (the 6,500" of Durango", hiking, and eating at Durango's many exceptional restaurants. Although disappointed by the race cancellation, we had a heck of a good time anyways, and would definitely do it again.
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Other weekend highlights:
- the marble size hailstorm that caught us while we were out walking the town. Kathy had dents in her head from the ice
- the river kayakers doing all sorts of flip-de-doodles in the animas river. These guys were awesome, and we watched them for several hours one afternoon
- the incredible durango community center, which was as good or better than any workout club I've ever been to...10 lane pool plus massive kiddies pool complex, cybex setup, spin center...free for residents, and only $5 for guests. What a bargain!
more to come as the tequila drains out and I get my memory back...
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""Snow in July'd out" Lumpy
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