Another Classic in the Books!

Blue Sky Velo club riders and racers gathered starting at 7:00am on Sunday, September 8th for the annual BUFFALO CLASSIC CU event! Some of us came for glory and others experienced some leg pain, but all participated in the largest Blue Sky Velo club event turnout to date (25+ members)!

No Bikes??? It is the Buffalo Classic!

Let the group gathering begin!

Some of the Motley Crew

Max makes it with a severe cold and is dedicated to ride 70 miles!

Cindy is at the start right on time!

Are we ready to roll?

Angie picks up her pre-registration packet and makes her way to the start line.
We all chatted at the start line and drank some free coffee until the entire group was ready to start the ride at approximately 745am. With a slight morning chill in the air, the group rode from the CU campus down Folsom and the leg muscles began to warm as we turned onto 36. The group zoomed past the first rest stop and continued to St. Vrain. While everyone caught up on the latest cycling gossip, we turned onto Hygenine and stopped at the second rest stop. We used the restrooms, ate some fruit and cake and rode on our way. By this point the day was warming up and most shed their arm warmers/leg warmers and vests. The majority of the group rode up to Carter Lake and then on to Horsetooth where the Buffalo Classic route turned around to head back into Boulder. The century riders arrived between 2-4pm on Sunday afternoon. Those who were straving at the finish made their way to Ho's house for a nice dip in the pool and a great BBQ in the afternoon. Thanks to everyone who came out and made the club event a declared success!

Venus de Miles

Longmont played host today to Colorado’s first ever women’s only organized bike event, Venus de Miles! It was also my first entry into the world of organized charity rides (proceeds from the ride benefited Greenhouse Scholars). I chose this event figuring that you only get one chance to participate in the first of anything.

When I woke up to cloudy skies and light rain I began to wonder just how much “fun” I was going to have! However, by the time I lined up at Prospect Park, with 600+ other women (including several fellow BSV members) - the rain had subsided and the enthusiasm was back! As we wound our way through South Longmont, and out to Hygiene ,we pretty much had the streets to ourselves. Participants were whooping and hollering, enjoying the camaraderie in spite of the wet streets and overcast skies.

By the time we reached 36, skies had begun to clear and the roads were drying up, making for a very pleasant ride. Having signed up for the 35 mile route I headed south on 36, while the 65-milers headed to Lyons, before visiting Jamestown and then following the 35 mile route down Nelson, through Niwot and back to town.

Fully stocked aid stations were available every 10 miles, course marshals and police officers were out in force to help navigate the course. Music, lunch, photo opportunities and massages awaited riders at the end! What I enjoyed more than anything was hearing other women’s stories about the day, where they were from and how excited they were to be a part of Colorado’s first women’s only ride. It was fun to find out that quite a few of the women I talked to today said that they too were on their first charity ride!

An unexpected bonus for me were the numerous opportunities I had to share information about Blue Sky! Simply sporting my Blue Sky jersey generated quite a few questions about the club. I was more than happy to answer them – and based on their enthusiastic responses I believe we might get a few new members from this event!

Fun people, good cause, and even sunshine in the end,….overall it was a great day! I’ll look forward to participating in next year’s Venus de Miles as they plan to make it an annual event!

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Last, but certainly not least, throughout the ride I was using tips I had picked up from other BSV members during weekend group rides earlier in the season. From navigating in groups, to hand signals and misc. group cycling tips, the ride was easier today thanks to those who shared their knowledge during my first club rides!

Sunrise Century Club Sponsored Event!

We all train in different ways for upcoming events, but I chose the Sunrise Century to see how ready I'd be for the Triple Bypass, and what food works or doesn't for long, hard rides.

Wheels down before 7AM at the sunrise Century for many of us gave plenty of time to meet our goals. The weather on the most part (what is it about the wind in Boulder?) was amazing. The start/finish line was supplied with mechanics, food and lots of tunes to send us off.

The first 20 miles were relatively fast with rollers wandering through the outskirts of Boulder. The aid stations were supplied with a variety of fruit and carbs. The atmosphere was one of excitement with jokes and easy-going rivalry - at least at the first 2. :) The camaraderie was always encouraging, making the ride seem shorter and easier than it was. The climbing on hwy 7 seemed endless and hot with some reprieve on the Peak to Peak highway. People on the road became quieter as they dug deeper to keep their pace or just to survive. Ward was decision time for those going 75 or 100 miles. Thankfully I had a choice. I've heard the road up to Ward from Nederland was challenging, and this day I wasn't up for it, but the rest of the group was. They had reached this point at least 45 minutes ahead of me, and had already started to Nederland.

The ride back to Boulder was fast. yippee...

From the group, Cindy got stuck cleaning dog poo out of her cleats, and John had contact issues, but otherwise it was a good ride. I was disappointed I didn't do the 100, but this was certainly the hardest ride I'd done this year so far, and has encouraged me to do more. Wearing the Blue Sky jersey was great. Having people cheer for us specifically making me feel like part of a team.

Thanks to the BSV friends and sponsors who cheered us along the way. See you on the road!

PS. I did finish the Triple

- Annette Dyer

Elephant Rock Ride 06.03.2007

Castle Rock here we come!!!

So Blue Sky Velo rallied down to Castle Rock to join up with 6000 of our closest friends for a mongo group ride.
Two groups had formed, one going the full 100 miles, and another strolling along for 65.

The hundo group: Katie M., Rob L., Jose C., Kristin O and her hubby, Austin, and Brad.

Rounding up the 65 mile strollers was Dave K., Michelle, Steve, and Doug H.

Michelle and I camped out the night before in the ballfields to get a little tailgating in.

It was fun, and tons of poeple around. We got to watch a raging rainstorm blow through, which basically missed us but brought out some cool vistas.

ONLY to be awoken by announcer dude seeing everyone off at like 6am.

So, we woke up and started hustling only to remember that "hey we're only doing the hundred miler" so we waltzed over to say hey to the first part of the hundred miler group.

(then we un-ashamedly went down into to town to rustle up a starbucks), as we were going to meet steve and doug a tad later.

The ride was fun. Good times were had by all. The weather was epic.

Doug and Dave took FULL advantage of ALL the food stops (gluttons on wheels baybee).

Then, to our astonishment of the luck, the two groups ran into each other where both courses merged. Jose, Rob and Katie were hammering. Brad got a flat (which i think he was HAPPY for an excuse) and he and austin basically joined up with our slower group for the fun and frolics.

Its definately a must do for anyone who's into larger group rides. Its well run and really fun for the social aspect.

(see slideshow for more pics)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/17341044@N00/sets/72157601021110589/