Sprung??

Is that even a word? I consulted with my girl in the office who is my go to person for grammar and spelling. She confirms that it is the past tense of the word spring.

Just not in Estes Park. I live in a fantastic, beautiful place, but, in my opinion it is the toughest time to live here. Not twenty miles away down either canyon Spring is going on. Green grass starting, buds on the trees, bulbs coming up, warm temps, soft rain. Yet come back to to town and still brown, cold wind, white flakes. In the future I don't think I will ever be a "snow bird" and flee the winter months but I might become a "spring bird" and head out for the month of April!

I got the outdoor riding season going this weekend. Always seems a bit counter productive to pack a bike in my truck and drive someplace to ride but that is what I did for Saturday. Started down in Lyons for a flatland ride.

 Lyons north up to Loveland and back. I picked up 20 degrees in air temp and probable dropped off 15 MPH in wind. It was a good ride of firsts! First ride in shorts for the year! First extended ride on the Univega since its rebuild. Even got to say hello to the Easter Bunny as he was resting up before his big day.

Did not drive myself too hard and felt pretty good for a Spring ride. About 2 1/2 hours on the bike and 34 miles.
Woke up Easter Morning and after some family time cooking up some waffles and eggs, I thought what the heck! A little bike time! As usual a different Spring program up here. Full cycling pants and a couple of layers and full gloves. Not too bad for the temp but a pretty good wind working out of the west. I have Santa Fe in the back of my mind that I have to get some miles in, so, out we go!

Seems that no matter how much time I spend on the indoor spin bike during the winter, the legs always feel it come spring riding!
Here is the consensus of the legs talking to my brain this morning....

Headed for my favorite place with my thinking that I would climb against the wind until it rendered my soul to be crushed.
The arrow on this sign is accurate...it is uphill to the park.

This is the east end of Horseshoe park and just about the end of going west into the wind. There is one more climb to get up to Deer Ridge Junction but you swing around and head south and east so have the soul-sucking wind out of your face!

West end of Horseshoe Park, just have to stop and check out the view of Ypsilon Peak.

Kind-of found my second wind and powered right up to Deer Ridge and got ready for a fast cruise back to town, down hill and down wind. Did not get to far and just had to romp on the brakes to stop for this look. I have lived here for almost all of my adult life yet views like this still make me stop and catch my breath......I love living here.

I had to tap my brakes a couple of times because the downhill/downwind thing got me a little nervous. When I looked back on my computer I hit 40.7 MPH. My bike performed very well, but a little fast for an early season ride! Big difference today to yesterday. I rode for two hours but only got 17 miles. Probably a better riding work-out with the climbing. It is probably because I do a lot of it, but I do enjoy the big climbs. Nothing more rewarding than just getting after it for a couple of hours and then the big reward!
After the weekend my legs are the only thing feeling a little sprung but that is a good feeling and the knowledge that summer will re-appear!
Have fun everybody!
Jim