Missed yesterday’s post? Be sure to read Part I.
Admittedly, my reason for wanting to go to Copper Mountain in the off-season is because I have been dying to bike the portion of the Ten Mile Recreational Pathway that runs from Copper Mountain down to Frisco (about 13 miles round-trip.)
This extensive network of trails in Summit County is among my favorite in Colorado. A few years back, I biked with the kids from Frisco along the reservoir to Lake Dillon (one of my favorite days ever). Another time, I biked from Dillon up to Keystone and also we did Frisco to Breckenridge.
All that remains are for me to do Copper Mountain to Frisco and then Copper Mountain up Vail Pass, the latter of which is a 1,000-foot climb.
It’s no wonder I saved the best (or rather, worst) for last.
But on Saturday, I was determined to bike to Frisco and so I woke up at 6 a.m. It was still pitch-black outside.
I dozed until 6:30 a.m. It was barely starting to light up.
I fell back asleep hard, awaking at 7 a.m. I tried to talk myself out of going and stay snuggled up to Jamie but I had come on this trip for the express purpose of biking the trail. All other portions have been glorious and why should this one be any different?
Turns out, it was. Different, that is. As in bad-different.
It wasn’t the actual trail that was bad. In fact, a beautiful smattering of lemon-lime trees lined the path and the moderate decline to Frisco should have been a breeze.
But it was awful for two reasons: the weather and my bike.
Daytime temperatures were 60 degrees but nighttime hovered around freezing and that’s what it was when I started out. I had only worn a light fleece and Capri biking shorts and cannot ever remember being so cold on a bike path.
But I wouldn’t, I couldn’t turn back. For me, the only thing worse than quitting is having unfinished business and so I pressed onward, slowly.
The sluggish pace was due to a problem I am admitting publicly for the first time: I have an aversion to pumping tires. I’ve always felt this way and if you factor in my bike’s presta valve (that requires an adapter to pump), I avoid it at all costs.
That morning when I started out, my tires weren’t firm but still rideable. By the end, they were nearly flat.
Have you ever biked 13 miles in freezing temperatures with near-flat tires? It wasn’t pretty.
I couldn’t even fake a smile here.
But I did it and now the only portion that remains is climbing from Copper Mountain to the top of Vail Pass.
Lesson learned: Wear winter clothes…and fully pumped tires.
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 