Park to Park Bicycle Tour - 2003 (The Story)

2006-11-12T13:16:00.000-08:00

Greetings People

Once again I was able to locate another bicycling story for your enjoyment. This story was the part of two events that I did back to back. This was done on Saturday and the Marathon was done the following day.

Park to Park Bicycle Tour 2003

September 13, 2003

Greetings Goofball-ers’

Introduction

Okay, It has been over a month or so since I had to get up and ride in the dark before the coming of dawn. Nothing new at all for me, but I thought I would not have to do this sort of thing until next year. I am not sure if I told you readers about my training schedule during the spring and summer. My day starts before many of you guys and gals ever get out of bed. I usually start anywhere from 4:00 to 4:30 in the morning and usually I am out the door by 5 AM.

I was ready for today - I actually have been looking forward to this day. This time around I posted my schedule in my cubicle at work. I wanted my fellow co-workers see something incredible that was going to happen to me. Incredible? Yes. I am proof that if you set your mind to something you can attain the goal(s) you set for yourself. Anything is possible.

Before the day of the ride, I was watching the weather very carefully. In the month of September the weather is cool. With the cool day of Autumn the rain seems worse and unfortunately I saw the day before that a cold front was coming, which was forecast to bring rain and lots of rain. The only thing that the weather people could not nail down was the time the cold front will roll over the Rocky Mountains into Denver.

Well, Okay readers. You know the procedure. Grab some coffee, grab a can of coke, or if it is Miller time you better grab a beer, In my case, I am going to grab a nice tall cold bottle of Corona with four limes stuffed into the bottle. Yummy yummy! Okay? Put your arm around me and let us take a walk into my personal life once again and let me guide you through another ongoing chapter of my life. Ready? Let us commence.

Note: This here story is about my bike riding and nothing else. Maybe some surprises other than that strictly all about me. Me, me, and me. If this is not your cup of tea then read no further. Remember, if you do not like what you are reading you do not have to read any further.

Saturday 13, 2003

Listening to KBCO, Daryl was riding to Cherry Creek State Park at 5:30 in the morning. Enjoying the morning is one of a few things he values. Not for the obvious reason of being a brand new day, but because he is fond of that time of the day. Knowing that most people are still asleep in their bed, lounging on the sofa bed, makes him feel good about himself.

Before getting to Cherry Creek State Park, Daryl has to ride through the DTC (Denver Tech Center). Basically, a small area where business buildings abound and basically no neighborhoods are located in the DTC. Riding through the empty streets and the empty buildings give Daryl a sense of emptiness and a feeling of being alone. Once again, Daryl thinks about the isolation he has chosen for himself. Lots of empty parking lots and garages can be seen. He often pictures himself in a movie with a scene of himself riding through an empty business center/park in the early dawn morning with the song from the motion picture Heat soundtrack - Last Nite (track #5).

Cherry Creek State Park

Daryl entered through the West Park gate entrance, but he had to ride to the east side of the park, because that was where the Starting / Finish line was located. Beginning the ride through Cherry Creek State Park the dawn’s light was beginning to come up over the horizon. Also, biking through Cherry Creek State Park at this time of the morning is something new for him. The only time that he bikes through the park is later in the morning or in the afternoon. Most of his mornings begin on the C-470/E-470 trail either going to CastleRock or to Chatfield Dam.

Start / Finish Line - Smokey Hill Shelter

With the dawn finally here Daryl looks to the West and can see the Cold front coming over the mountains drifting into Denver. Not a good thing to see. The skies to the East of Cherry Creek State Park were clear as far as the eye can see. Those clouds over the Rocky Mountains did not look good - not one bit.

6:30 AM - There is no initial starting time, just start biking whenever you wanted to. Daryl left the shelter and got into his biking mode. He decided to listen to some Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus and various remixes of the song.

Daryl got his groove on and to quote him “That’s what I’m talking about!” LOL. He had one of many missions this morning and the first one of the day was to beat the incoming storm and rain that was going to happen pretty soon. Daryl got his ass moving and he was already warmed up with his ride to Cherry Creek State Park. Such a pretty morning in the Park and he even got to see some of the wild life - a deer and a fox or coyote.

Cherry Creek Park/Cherry Creek Trail

The junction where Daryl had to turn left on towards the Northwest to Downtown Denver. This is where the bike trail gets a little rough. Why they have not re-paved the trail he knows not. The pavement is riddled with cracks and every time his bike tires has to go over a crack it is felt all throughout his body. Only a small section of the trail is like that, but nevertheless that is one of the reasons why Daryl does not ride through this part of the city.

This part of town is called Aurora. Aurora or sometimes known as the Saudia Aurora. Biking through this part of the town is not bad. Nothing to look at though.

Aid Station # 1 - 4 Mile House

Aid Station # 1 - Daryl finally arrived and he decided to stop and get a refill on his water bottle. The station was in the process of being set up and some of the snacks were not quite out yet. Daryl pulled out some sort of paper that, he thinks, needed to be stamped. A few minutes later he decided to get moving.

Not ten seconds later he felt the first raindrop of which was going to many that day. The day was already gloomy and overcast. But not nowhere near how gloomy it was going to be after the Chatfield Reservoir State Park aid station near the base of the Rocky Mountains.

Riding below and along Speer Boulevard in the sprinkling rain the bike path was starting to get crowded. Daryl was still keeping a mad pace, but there was a team of four riders that rode past him. Nothing could be done about the team of riders, so Daryl did his best to pick up speed and try to keep up as long as possible. Daryl could not bring Sarah today, because of the rain that was forecast. So, Daryl had to bring Heidi since she is well seasoned and nothing to lose in the rain. I know she did not mind.

Along the trail Daryl can see the homeless people sleeping here and there. Readers, he does not know what the opinion of yours might be, but you got to feel sorry for some of these people. Sleeping with a grocery cart full of their possessions nearby, using a cardboard box as a blanket or nothing at all and lying under the bridge or under some brush in the foliage along the river.

Aid Station # 2 - Confluence Park / REI

Aid Station # 2 - Talk about cold. Some of the homeless people were taking their bath in the South Platte River. Daryl could not even imagine standing in the water that morning and getting ready for the day. Burrrrr.

Daryl stopped at the Aid Station and got some grapes and a bit more water. He also had to change his Oakley Lens. With the rain starting to pick up and the morning light gone to a dismal gray he needed to take off his mirrored lens and put in a clear brown lens which sharpens the world. He thought of putting in a yellow lens, but he sort of wanted to be color coordinated. ::laughing::

The bike route was now to head south along the South Platte River all the way down to Chatfield Reservoir State Park.

Heading South you can see Elitches Six Flags on the east side of the River. A bit later you can see the New Invesco Field Stadium. You may call that the new “Mile High” Stadium, but to Daryl the true “Mile High” stadium was the old one they tore down. Daryl got to see the Colorado Rockies (Baseball Team) play there many times in the Inaugural year and many, many rock concerts. I guess Daryl does hate the new Stadium, but he has not been there yet.

Heading down the South Platte trail you are going through part of the urban industrial jungle. Factory plants and auto salvage yards litter the area. Besides that there are the occasional golf courses and greenbelts along the path. Even a dog park.

Only one more team of riders rode Daryl down and that was a team of three riders. He thought about catching up to them, but with the sprinkling rain now turning into rain, the bike path was wet and Daryl was getting afraid of losing his traction on the bike path. Yes. He was scared.

One too many accidents have scarred his fear of wiping out on his bike. The scars on his legs, arm and face can tell a story that might make you feel some pity for him. Crashing on a bike is rough. Daryl will tell many of those stories to you readers in writing one of these days, but not today. Although, he has no problem if you ask him personally.

Aid Station # 3 - Bear Trail Junction / South Platte

Aid Station # 3 (Hampden Ave/Santa Fe Ave Approx.) - Daryl did not stop at this Aid Station. He sees a couple of riders at the station and the volunteers are sitting under a sheet of plastic and looking very cold just sitting there with the rain steadily falling now.

Another golf course and this time the golf course is on the West and East side of the South Platte. Nothing to mention except you can see an area of the river that often has Kayaker’s practicing. Kinda neat how, he thinks, they built water chutes for the Kayaker to practice with.

A bit further we come to the first wooden bridge. Wooden bridges and rain do not mix with bike tires. Very slippery. Daryl was scared of this part and was going to be scared three more times before reaching Chatfield Dam.

C-470 / South Platte River Junction

The rain has begun. Pouring steadily and his jacket was getting soaked. Not to mention his biking pants. The biking pants more so because there is a pretty big rip in the pants and the water is somehow getting in and soaking the insides of his pants and getting his leg cold. His right foot was soaked and getting very cold and numb.

Aid Station # 4 - Chatfield State Park

He stops and get his map out to look at the route once more. This part of the course he has not ridden on for about two years or so. The trail is okay, but the bike path is beat up and there are huge cracks in the bike path. If you are not careful you will have an accident if you are not paying attention.

While waiting, he also grabs a bagel and tries to wipe dry his Oakleys. This is a turn around point, but for Daryl that is not an option he has. His destiny is the Century route. After about ten minutes Daryl is ready to continue and he hopes the climb into the foothills is not going to be very bad.

Wrong.

The clouds were so low that morning it seems you could actually reach up and touch them. They were gray and white and thick. Not mention full of heavy, pouring rain. And I mean Heavy! Not three miles from the Aid station he just left, Daryl was literally soaked to the bone. His jacket was already soaked and was sticking to his body. His pants were wet inside and out. Both feet were soaked to the flesh. Daryl did not put on the clipless pedals, but instead stuck with regular clip pedal. The next smartest thing he has done.

Mission number two was to get to the next Aid station in a state of calmness. Since this was a bike tour he really did not have the option to just sit and wait out the rain. The forecast said rain and rain all day. So, he kept pedaling even though he wanted to be under some sort of cover. He also wanted dry clothes, but that was not going to fucking happen. LOL.

He lost a lot of time during this portion of the course. The path and the weather played a big factor obviously. The scenery was of very little to mention - the foothills, and yet another golf course and Bandimere Speedway.

Bear Creek Lake Park

Aid Station # 5 - A few volunteers were here and lots of snacks were available, He grabbed some GU, orange slices and a powerbar. One of the volunteers from Aid Stations 4 asked why it took Daryl so long to get here. Hah-hah, not as funny as you think Mister.

Bear Creek Lake Park is a very nice little park nestled in between the city of Denver and the foothills. Leaving the aid station you have short climb then basically all downhill to the Aid Station # 3. The heavy rain finally had stopped, but still sprinkling. The Bike Path was still wet and Daryl was still being cautious about his riding and turning.on the bike path.

Aid Station # 3 - Bear Trail Junction / South Platte

Just a quick refill on his water bottle.

Heading north on the South Platte Trail you could actually see some of the sky peaking through the clouds.

Aid Station # 2 - Confluence Park

Daryl did not stop at the aid station, he was on his way to the southeast and basically a straight shot to the finish line.

Aid Station # 1 - 4 Mile House

The Aid station was already closed for the day.

Cherry Creek Park/Cherry Creek Trail

Almost to the end.

Start / Finish Line - Smokey Hill Shelter

Well, the time has come to say Daryl did another official Century ride, Five Hours and forty-five minutes and this time in about 70 miles of rain. Daryl immediately headed to the lunch table and grabbed some food and barbecue. He found an empty table in the shelter and started to enjoy his first step of victory. While he was eating they were having a raffle and guess what - Daryl won. He won two sets of Mountain bike tires and tubes. A very nice and expensive set. LOL. What the fuck is he going to do with Mountain Bike Tires and tubes?! Shit. He has no Mountain Bike, but six Road bikes. And no way was he going to give these tires and tubes to his brother who does have a Mountain Bike. No way. One day down, tomorrow yet to go.

Epilogue

The bike paths this day were fairly empty due to the rain. Which worked out perfect for us riders. This particular bike route can get fairly congested on the weekends when the weather is nice. You have runners, bikers and in line skaters who use these bike trails.

Once again, I hoped you enjoyed my journal which is the last biking story for 2003. I did not entertain you as much as I wanted to this year. For that, I only offer my apologies. Well, time for me to let you go and bid you a fond farewell - adeiu mon amie.

Author’s Note

I actually had to come out of retirement for this event. No big deal, since I had been sort of using the course as a training ground for the past month or so prior to the Park-to-Park event. The course was a piece of cake, but what made the ride difficult was all the rain. In the past years, I have ridden in the winds of Wyoming for hundred miles, I have also tamed one hundred miles in the scorching heat of New Mexico, and I even did a hundred miles in the Rocky Mountains. Amazing accomplishments I consider and now I can add that I did a century ride in the rain, well almost all in the rain. At one time in my past I could not imagine doing a hundred mile ride in the city of Denver. I guess that shows you how limited my imagination was at one time. The only way that I measured doing a hundred miles was riding out of the city to the south and go as far south or east then turnaround when I reached 50 miles on my odometer.

until the next time

w-i-t-h-u-t-m-o-s-t-s-i-n-c-e-r-i-t-y

Daryl
aka Calseti

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete