Biking at 9,000 feet

After hauling my bike about 5300 miles, I finally got the chance to use it. ;)
I knew this was a potentially dangerous situation, as I got a bit altitude sick in April when I was hiking in Boulder. But, people have been taunting me with stories of Colorado trails for about 7 years now and there was no way I wasn't going to go check them out.

Felix took me out to Golden Gate Canyon State Park in the foothills of the Rockies on Saturday afternoon for an easy ride. I hadn't been on my bike for two months, and barely got to exercise for the last two months except hauling my suitcase up and down motel stairwells and an occasional run.Felix and his buddy Lou checking out the trail map.

I had a throbbing head from the trailhead onward up to 9,000 feet, but wasn't willing to say anything because it felt good to be back on the bike, let alone back on dirt and rocks and not bundled up in winter gear. I was able to figure out where my threshold was when my head was REALLY pounding.. we were almost at the top by that point. ;)Our easy ride turned into 3.5 hours... but that was bound to happen! My lungs were happy to roll down along the fast pavement on the way back to the car.