When I first did this ride, it was about the biggest ride I’d done.  Hence the lofty name. How things have changed.   Now it is just the Hawes\Pass Mtn Loop, which is an understated name in need of some color. Just shy of 4 hrs moving time, just shy of 4.5 total.   It helps having a bike as fast as the Hei Hei. Just a nice spot’o’morning, before clocking in for Daddy DayCare while Beckie did an 18 mile run.

North of the Pass Mtn saddle, 2:00 – horses destroy trails

lunch
a

climbing to the towers

before dropping in

All week thinking about this ride, i thought this could be the day I got all 3 steep slots on Tower.   I dropped the seat 4 inches, and despite punching a barrel cactus and leaving a toothpick sized splinter in my pinkie, i gobbled up the 3rd one before realizing I had left my fork locked and my propedal on.   Well now, if having a baseline and knowing you got a first is not enough to confirm you’ve stepped up, doing it without suspension certainly is.   I rocked the rest of the downhill, split a sidewall a mile from home, and pumped every quarter mile to limp in just under 4.5 hrs.   The tire quickly faded from memory.

woot woot.

baselines are fun when you leave them behind.

I have been thinking of better names for this ride, and thus far have:

• Passing the Red Sister
• Pass the Red Twister
• Hawes\Pass Mtn Intensely Colorful Loop

I need suggestions.