The Bacon Strip

THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS - I had to get something going, and will fill it in as I have more time to write. I don’t have any pics of the actual race, but hope to poach digital pics from the web. let me know if you/someone you know has some to share. cheers!

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oh boy, for the amount of time and fiscal resources i commit to traveling to race a few times a year, one would think that i’d get better at optimizing my probability for success in said event - finishing it, at least. this latest attempt had me traveling solo again (i must be a handful to roadtrip with), across the Basin and Range, across the Colorado Plateau, and over the Monarch Crest of the Rockies, into the headwaters of the Arkansas River. i knew it’d be more than a day’s ride, but hadn’t done the math. turns out it’s an even 1,000 miles from my abode in Reno to Salida, CO. with fuel typically $3/gal or more, and traveling solo, taking the motorbike was the only sensible option…

“one less car, bitch”

i caught up with Mr. McGuinness and his lady in the Colorado Nat’l Monument campground, imposed on their campsite, and relaxed with some tasty homebrew. the next morning they were off to scout Fruita and Grand Junction and i was back on the road to Salida. i arrived mid-day, had lunch with a friend who traveled out from Summit County to visit, and joined Tom Purvis, Andrew, Margie, and Ed on a spin-down that evening. stretching the legs a bit and huffing the thin air was go-oood.

back in town, the apres ride - prerace party developed at Absolute Bikes. racers streamed into town for the next evenings event and checked in at the shop, many with beers and ambitions of hanging out. Dave Nice really warmed things up with some top shelf whiskey from his distillery. Tom brought in some BBQables and we had a regular feast of beer, whiskey, and beef.

some racers were shacked up in local hotels, others in locals’ backyards (mighty neighborly folks!). in my case, falling asleep behind the shop under the old grain silo was a highlight of the trip for me. the utterly demotivated and discombobulated mental condition i woke up to was not. ooooh well. i had about 16 hours to shake that off before the race was to begin at midnight. i just laid around near the Arkansas River in the shade and tried not to exert myself. it was a while before anything more than water tasted good. that evening, i met up with Sean and Colleen at Amica’s brewery for some Italian food and small talk before scrambling to get my race face on. the mandatory 9pm check-in/racers’ meeting lasted till about 10:30pm. that left just enough time to ride my moto back to camp, put on some cycling clothes, and return to the shop. there i was 11:50, dropping trow in parking lot behind the shop, dressing my chamois with butt’er. i had just enough time to pull the bike from the back of the shop, turn on my lights, and run with the pack of riders to the bridge in downtown for the midnight start. Salida, 11:55pm bars are pouring patrons into the streets, skies were clear and temps were 45F-ish, and maybe 80 racers and spectators were qued up to rally. lights on - check, chit chat, smile at everyone and go!

pic credit from Adam Lisonbee’s blog