A wee bit of altitude training in the Rockies at the company’s expense

I was at a conference, but there is no point travelling all that way and not seeing any of the local area. It’s also important to get regular exercise.

Accommodation was the Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs. Rated as one of the top hotels in the world, I have stayed in far more comfortable youth hostels. The corridors were frequented in the early hours of the morning by jet-lagged Brits trying to obtain kettles to make tea (none were forthcoming), trying to get internet access (forget it), while at the same time complaining about the noisy plumbing in their rooms. I just hope I don’t have to stay there again.

Escape#1 - Garden of the Gods.

Hiring a Hardrock mtb, it was a quite a hard ride to the Garden of the Gods. Although only a 6 mile ride from the hotel, the altitude (6500ft), heat, and dry air was quite a shock for this normally moist sea-level dweller. It was well worth the effort though. Eons of erosion produced sandstone rocks towering vertically out of the ground. It reminded me somewhat of Cambusbarron quarry. In addition, a large metal plaque was bolted to the side of one of them asking people not to deface the rocks.

Garden of the Gods

Escape #2 Cheyenne State Park

This was one of the best rides I have ever done. Rode from the hotel and climbed to the road-end, just shy of 8000ft.

Picking up the gravel-surfaced Lower Camp road, I descended back to Colorado Springs. Views opened out and the road dived through several tunnels.

Excellent fun.

Climbing

Looking back on the climb

Descending

And finally the 40-hour long trip home:

Flight aborted on the tarmac at Colorado Springs, reticketed via Denver, rollercoaster flight, aborted landing, quick vomit into a sickbag, delays at Denver, circling over Chicago forever, missed connection, retiocketed and put in a hotel, firealarm at 3am, all day at Chicago, struck by lightening at take off (bright blue flash and loud bang), delays at Heathrow.

Woah – got my money’s worth there !

Crispin’s Guide to Stirling Cycling - Overseas