[Mile 105, 12:16 p.m.] Beautiful Colorado fall colors!

Colorado Fall Colors

It’s that time of year again when the air becomes a tad crisper and leafy aspens explode with brilliant shades of yellow, red, and gold in Northern Colorado. Unfortunately, I will be in California when the Colorado fall colors hit their peak, but I got a good preview during a delightful 200-mile self-supported bicycle ride on Monday.

[Mile 0, 4:15 a.m.] Canny all set to go, all loaded up and weighing in at 35.4 lbs.
[Mile 0, 4:15 a.m.] Canny all set to go, all loaded up and weighing in at 35.4 lbs.
[Mile 45, 8:15 a.m.] The view of the Front Range from Timnath.
[Mile 45, 8:15 a.m.] The view of the Front Range from Timnath.
[Mile 87, 11:02 a.m.] Cornfields, snow-capped mountains, and horses.
[Mile 87, 11:02 a.m.] Cornfields, snow-capped mountains, and horses.
[Mile 95, 11:40 a.m.] Canny makes a new friend.
[Mile 95, 11:40 a.m.] Canny makes a new friend.
[Mile 105, 12:16 p.m.] Beautiful Colorado fall colors!
[Mile 105, 12:16 p.m.] Beautiful Colorado fall colors!
[Mile 103, 12:30 p.m.] First "real" test of the day: a "Level 5 Road," featuring a 18% grade I had (in months prior) gone down at 52.5 mph!
[Mile 103, 12:30 p.m.] First "real" test of the day: a "Level 5 Road," featuring a 18% grade I had (in months prior) gone down at 52.5 mph!
[Mile 104, 12:38 p.m.] Felix Wong overlooking the north end of the Horsetooth Reservoir.
[Mile 104, 12:38 p.m.] Felix Wong overlooking the north end of the Horsetooth Reservoir.
[Mile 105, 12:53 p.m.] There are an abundance of mountain biking trails here.
[Mile 105, 12:53 p.m.] There are an abundance of mountain biking trails here.
[Mile 107, 1:15 p.m.]  Some bluffs in picturesque Horsetooth Reservoir.
[Mile 107, 1:15 p.m.] Some bluffs in picturesque Horsetooth Reservoir.
[Mile 110, 1:20 p.m.] You can see the expanse of the Horsetooth Reservoir, the largest body of water in CO.  Amazingly, each August 100 people swim its entire 6.1-mile length!
[Mile 110, 1:20 p.m.] You can see the expanse of the Horsetooth Reservoir, the largest body of water in CO. Amazingly, each August 100 people swim its entire 6.1-mile length!
[Mile 115, 1:10 p.m.] In historic Masonville now...
[Mile 115, 1:10 p.m.] In historic Masonville now...
[Mile 122, 2:12 p.m.] Nice fountain.
[Mile 122, 2:12 p.m.] Nice fountain.
[Mile 121, 2:08 p.m.] Toothy red rock.
[Mile 121, 2:08 p.m.] Toothy red rock.
[Mile 121, 2:17] Yes, I love my bike.  Canny in front of an unnamed lake.
[Mile 121, 2:17] Yes, I love my bike. Canny in front of an unnamed lake.
[Mile 123, 2:27 p.m.] More CO fall colors.  The female cyclist in this photo warned me that she had just seen a baby black bear nearby here!
[Mile 123, 2:27 p.m.] More CO fall colors. The female cyclist in this photo warned me that she had just seen a baby black bear nearby here!
[Mile 132, 3:26 p.m.] Sailboats in Carter Lake.
[Mile 132, 3:26 p.m.] Sailboats in Carter Lake.
[Mile 172, 6:22 p.m.] Back at the south end of the Horsetooth Reservoir again.
[Mile 172, 6:22 p.m.] Back at the south end of the Horsetooth Reservoir again.
[Mile 195, 8:22 p.m.] Canny in Fort Collin's Old Town.  Twenty minutes later... home!
[Mile 195, 8:22 p.m.] Canny in Fort Collin's Old Town. Twenty minutes later... home!