Not a training ride

I am in complete agreement with my friend Teesie about "training". I really don't go on training rides. I just like riding. If I have an event scheduled I am aware that I need to get some extra rides and miles in before the event mainly so I can enjoy the event instead of it turning into a suffer-fest. But training??? Not even sure what that term involves. Guys ask me when talking bikes and rides what my split times are and my fastest miles when maxing out, and my cadence and gear revolutions per foot and all sorts of bike-speak that I have no idea what the hell they are talking about. All good!! It is what motivates them to be out on their bike and that is a good thing!!
I bring this up because last weekend I was out riding my usual Horsetooth ride and when I stopped at the top of one of the climbs I got to talking with a guy who was a "real cyclist". Super lean and fit, retired from working and was asking if I rode out there much. Al did not ride on the weekends usually because that is when all the novices cluttered up the roads. (Hey! I resemble that remark!) We got to talking about rides and he asked if I was training for a ride. I told him that I really was not training but I did have the Santa Fe century coming up. Wow! That got old Al going with all sorts of questions about my bodily functions and training programs that I really could not answer. He left me with a "good Luck" wave and pedaled off into his bike world.
Anyway this was last weekend because I had a golf event on this last Saturday and Sunday's ride was wiped out by the snow event we had, so, I'm rolling with the "training" that is already in place for Santa Fe.
Here is some pictures from that last ride.

Ranch scene on the way up into Masonville. Some fat and happy horse stock working the new spring green grass.

There is a collection of old farm equipment displayed in Masonville.

There are five climbs to work yourself from the south end of Horsetooth until you pop out on the north end and drop down into LaPorte. They are short but steep climbs that are a good workout. I have always liked this ride because of the pretty scenery that the Hogback can give you.
First climb

Horsetooth is very pretty this spring because it is already full and the run-off is just starting. I think most of this water goes for irrigation in eastern Colorado, so it should be a good year for the farmers. Also a good year for the boaters and recreation out on the water at Horsetooth.

The climbs are caused by either going up and over the hogback or the drops down to cross the little side dams of the reservoir ans climbing back up the other side. Here I go down to a side dam and you can see the climb up the other side in the picture.

After the drop down to Laporte it was the ride back south through Ft. Collins and back to Loveland. Nice ride today because those 18 miles heading south I had a nice tailwind pushing me along.
After up and down roller riding out in the foothills, I had a nice ride through the farm country that is between Ft. Collins and Loveland.

And, back to my truck for a visit to Big Beaver!!

All in all, a pretty good ride for a non-training ride!!
Next report from beautiful Santa Fe!!
Everybody have a great week!!
Jim