Poudre Canyon 300km Brevet + 15 Miles
I’ve made it a tradition to ride at least one 200-mile bike ride every year since 1996. Last year, I tackled this challenge in Spain, and the year before that, I completed my first (and only) indoor double century on a trainer in a basement in Colorado. This year, I was determined to do my double century in Colorado, taking advantage of my few weeks here and participating in a brevet organized by the Rocky Mountain Cycling Club (RMCC).
I signed up for the Poudre Canyon 300km brevet, which started at 4:00 a.m. in Louisville, Colorado. To transport my bike to the start, I created a custom bicycle carrier for my Audi TT Roadster, avoiding the need to rent or borrow another car. I woke up at 2:15 a.m., left the house at 2:40 a.m., and arrived at the parking lot east of a Conoco in Louisville where about 20 RMCC members were gathered. Most were doing the 400km or 600km brevet options.
David Weigel, the organizer of the ride, took a photo of everyone. His phone camera wasn’t the best, but it made me realize I needed better visibility gear despite wearing reflective ankle bands. You can see from David’s photo below that I (on the far right) was relatively invisible compared to everyone else. I was using front and rear lights, but I resolved to wear fluorescent clothing and more reflective gear in future rides to decrease the odds of getting hit by an inattentive driver.
We all started riding at 4:01 a.m. I took my time, starting at the back to avoid going out too fast. This was to be a solo effort, so I maintained a safe following distance and avoided drafting.
During the first hour, I chatted a bit with David and exchanged pleasantries with Michael Turek of Longmont, a Strava connection.
After the first 20 miles, the group split into smaller ones as some cyclists made pit stops. I continued solo, only making my first bathroom stop at Horsetooth Mountain Park. Shortly after, I tackled the steepest climb of the day near Duncan’s Ridge in south Fort Collins. I felt great and flew up the climb. However, I missed a turn and was ready to tackle the rest of the Horsetooth Hills, but my Garmin 530 head unit alerted me with loud beeps that I was off-course and should be bypassing the hills instead.
I rode into Poudre Canyon, familiar territory for me, having ridden to Walden and back on six different bicycles. The climb to Rustic was long but gradual, spanning 31 miles from Ted’s Place.
As I neared Rustic, the winds picked up, but I still felt strong. Rustic, the turnaround point for the 300km brevet, marked 93 miles. I replenished my water and food supplies, bought granola bars and Red Vines, and drank a can of Pepsi.
The descent back down Poudre Canyon was exhilarating, allowing for lots of coasting. From there, the route retraced my morning ride, bypassing Masonville and going directly through Loveland instead. At a Circle K in Loveland, I made my second and final pit stop for supplies, buying more granola bars and a can of Coca-Cola.
Fatigue began to set in around Mile 150, and I had to contend with side winds, which, thankfully, weren’t direct headwinds. I stayed aero and relaxed. At Mile 180, just six miles from the Conoco in Louisville, I encountered a challenging nearly three-mile climb that was, quite frankly, an unwelcome surprise. The fatigue was hitting hard now.
I reached my car at 4:22 p.m., 12 hours and 22 minutes after starting. But with 14 miles left to complete my double century, I followed a pre-planned out-and-back route on the nearby US-36 bikeway. The trail, though separated from cars, ran alongside the noisy US-36 tollway with many turns and punchy climbs. Despite my fatigue, I pushed through.
As I neared the end, storm clouds loomed over the Flatirons of Boulder:
I finished the ride just ten minutes before it started raining, allowing me to huddle in my car as the rain poured down. My bike carrier only allowed transport with the top down, but fortunately, the rain stopped, and I could drive home dry.
This ride was likely my fastest double century in at least nine years. Despite the fatigue, especially in my back, the sense of accomplishment was palpable. I spent the next day resting and recovering, already looking forward to my next adventure on two wheels.
Ride Data
Distance: 200.1 miles
Ride time: 12h56m (15.5 MPH average)
Total time: 13h36m (14.7 MPH average)