All that counts is in the end the good guy got the girl!

Boulder CO
July 2009

This is what son Mason had to say about the ride beforehand and he could not have been more accurate......

Chris is on point when he says this is a great ride. We do multiple variations regularly throughout the summer. We’ll start from Boulder and the legs will get warmed as we cruise the first 35 miles or so north towards Carter Lake. Despite being in the plains, we are far enough from the base of the foothills to get great views of the big mountains that you can’t get from Boulder and other foothills towns. Once we past Carter Lake we will hit Big Thompson canyon and we’ll settle in for a nice steady climb to Estes Park. Beautiful scenery as you come up the canyon, which is very narrow at times, and catch glimpses of the large mountains ahead of you. The canyon is gradual, but once we reach Estes we will be at around 7500 feet, 2000 feet above Boulder. After some necessary fuel at one of our local gas stations in Estes, we begin what I would call the toughest climb of the day, around about 6 miles, out of Estes Park. Despite being a touch steeper the grade is steady, so once in a good rhythm the climb goes by quickly, particularly if you pay attention to the views rather than your legs! As you top the hill and head towards Allens Park it’s a nice smooth, mostly downhill cruise with a great shot of the shear face of Long’s Peak on your right hand side, which looks like you could reach out and touch it. Soon thereafter we will hit the peak to peak highway and have what is for the most part a nice steady climb towards Ward. Anyone with legs left can do the pulling as we descend 10 miles to Leigh Hill, a steep but short little kicker. Then we’ll descend the next 2000 feet into boulder while catching the views on the way down. Great stuff the entire ride, 100 miles is over before you know it!

Will Frischkorn and his family are long time friends of ours. Will is a professional racer, recently of Boulder, now living in Girona, Spain.  In 2008 Will came within a half a wheel of winning Stage 3 of the Tour de France. That's right, the Tour de France! He finished the race, all 2100+ miles. Here's what he has to say about our ride.........

"The Glen Haven-Ward loop is a true Boulder classic. I can't think of a more beautiful, challenging, and complete ride anywhere; long climbs, fun technical descents, spectacular views of Longs Peak and the entire range, and a perfect cafe stop in Estes mid-ride."

"Have fun with that action! A killer ride."   Will Frischkorn, Garmin Chipotle