RtR Day 5--Mileage Total 660

Day 5 started with me and Rick meeting at 7:15 to get on the road. We waited a few minutes to see if anyone would join us but in the end it was the two of us.

We rolled out of town on tired legs with a welcoming sun and gentle breeze. This day of riding started with a gentle climb out of town towards Rabbit Ears pass and after about 4 miles we began the 11+ mile jaunt to the top.

I don't know about Rick because he was not offering a lot of commentary on his leg strength this day but my power muscles were still in the recovery mode from the previous two days. My climbing muscles felt pretty good however and once we were in a rhythm we maintained an efficient, and at times, fast pace up the mountain. Maybe the Parlee helped with the climbing or possibly the "new bike placebo effect" but I felt fast going up! :)

Ascending Rabbit Ears--4%-7% grade

Aid Station 1 at first summit--we were passed by only one rider on the way up

That water would really help sore quads

Heading up toward the second summit of Rabbit Ears

Rick and I continued to ride well and did not run in to anyone from the previous two days. We pressed forward to the summit and began a fast descent down the mountain and this is where I could really tell the difference between my bike and the Parlee. To compare, my venerable Litespeed is a Lexus Sports Sedan and the Parlee is a Porsche. Anyway...........the Parlee was faster going down and when I wanted to accelerate it responded.....what a joy....unfortunately not in my bike budget for 2011!

After making it to the bottom of the mountain we pacelined with others to fight the wind through the next two aid stations. When we made it to Aid Station 4 in Kemmerling we reunited with the Diesel who said he was just taking it easy today and did not want to push too hard. Well.........................

So we rolled out of the Aid Station and it was Day 3 Deja Vu. The Diesel complimented us in that we motivate him to push hard to he led us out toward Granby in a 3-man effort with him of course taking the longest pulls. Heck, Rick had to move up front and tell him to take a break!!

Even on tired legs the three of us were motivated to keep up the pace and the gentle tail wind, even though most of the last 30 miles were uphill, kept us moving fast. 

Rick and the Diesel in a canyon about 15mi from Granby

 

Aid Station 5--quick stop for water and 10 miles to go

After the last stop we pushed hard and had a wonderful ride in to Granby. The short steep hill to the RtR Headquarters at the high school was no fun but like on Day 3 we felt great to push the pace and work together. Rick's post ride data had us averaging almost 21.5 mph for the last 60 miles.

JOCMO: The climb up Rabbit Ears had both of us working and feeling a heck of a lot better than we thought and we were almost "climbing like mountain goats". 

Day 5 down