Super Betasso

10.7 miles up (6.9 from grandpa's) 2.75 loop (x2) 5.5 down the link back

Leave my apartment around 5:15 to meet up with Grandpa for a super loop. We call him that because he's all of 1 year older than most of our other friends, and never hesitates to impart upon us his infinite wisdom, things like if its worth doing, its worth over doing, and other Chevy Chase-esque values. This will be the first time starting in Boulder, normally we would drive up to the loop and do a few laps but it's time to turn it up a notch in regards to training for the Triathlon in 8 weeks. He's pretty much ready when I get there but of course clown-boy is around and needs to come up and put his two cents in about whatever random existential low-brow comments were being tossed around the room before we knew he was listening. This is a guy that graduated from RPI, works as a bartender now and spends his free time teaching himself about the dynamics of kinematics and riding his imitation Harley, hence, clown-boy.

The road west only goes up. To get to the loop from Grandpas we had to bike up canyon towards Ned, which is not too steep but a consistent pitch none the less. The beginning isn't so bad just set the pace and go, once you turn up Sugarloaf Road it's a different story. It begins to rain, but the sun is being persistent. This happens all the time here, Mother Nature can never commit to bad weather and she keeps it pleasant even when it rains. The last 1.5mi before the loop is twice as steep as what we had been pedaling up, now its time to work. There is an expansive rainbow overhead as my calves begin to cramp and I start the ascent of Sugarloaf Road.

The loop. Stop to rehydrate briefly then out into the Betasso Preserve. I could tell today was going to be muddy, mainly because it rained the night before and most of the day and even a bit on the ride up. The loop starts with a short up hill followed by some fun downhill, right before the down there was a stretch of mud that would make a pig smile. The consistency would be that of the underside of a hippopotamus tongue, gooey and sticky with just enough slip to feel like the front tire is always about to wash out, and enough stick to make it feel like there is a 200lb gorilla on the bike with you. The down was dry enough, for the most part, to get some good speed and scare the poop out of yourself. 2 laps later my quads and calves are swollen, my knees are aching and I can’t stop smiling. Time for the link trail. The link is a steep technical downhill that takes you back to Canyon just before the turnoff for Sugarloaf. Fast switch backs, mini mud wall rides, and a steep loose rock section at the bottom comprise the trail, it can be difficult, painful and a blast. Once we get back to the road it's a smooth ride back into town, to chipotle to refuel then the Walrus for tall PBR's and buck hunter. Man I love it here.