We took 2016 off and did only a couple of organized rides, mostly due to finances and family obligations conflicting
with most of our favorite rides, but also to spend a year riding where we want when we want without the pressure of training
for specific rides. Although I didn't get in as many miles as I wanted or planned, it was a pretty awesome year.
This year, finances are playing another heavy role, but so are our work schedules. Lizard works most weekends now.
We're excited to have been drawn for Ride the Rockies, and we're signed up for the Colorado MS-150, but we likely won't
get many chances to train together. For the first time in our marriage, we'll each be training on our own most rides.
Here's to hoping 2017 will provide glorious cycling experiences for both of us, together and apart!
| January 2017 |
| 8 January | 15 miles | Snowy, freezing Waterton Canyon. I didn't have the right gloves and couldn't make it to the top because my fingers got too cold. |
| 31 January | 20 miles | Snowy, bitter cold Waterton, this time dressed for the weather. |
| February 2017 |
| 11 February | 22 miles | Waterton Canyon; good ride, even though I miss riding with my soul mate. |
| March 2017 |
| 3 March | DRAWN!!! | We've been drawn for Ride the Rockies!!! Let the training begin!!! |
| 4 March | 18 miles | Deer Creek Canyon; first ascent for me since 12 March 2016!!! |
| 5 March | 18 miles | Waterton Canyon; stiff, chilly headwind, but beautiful day, fun ride! |
| 11 March | 32 miles | Waterton/Chatfield Loop; cold but beautiful windless ride! |
| 17 March | 14 Miles | Waterton Canyon after a full day of work; not much daylight remaining, first shorts and short-sleeved ride of the year, wind-free. |
| 18 March | 22 miles | Deer Creek Canyon; hot, light wind constantly changing direction, my goal was 10 miles up, made it 10.5, threw in a "Chandler surprise" at the end and rode UP, UP, UP to Deer Creek Park parking lot just for the extra climbing practice. |
| 20 March | 33 Epic Miles | Took the day off to ride with Lizard on his day off; Waterton/Chatfield/dirt ranch roads loop; excellent weather, great wildlife, properly fueled and hydrated, awesome to ride with my true love again. Fantastic day and ride! |
| 25 March | 30 miles | Waterton/Chatfield loop, warm but chilled by wind, had to cut planned 40 miles short due to mouse elbow |
| 26 March | 15 miles | Waterton Canyon; darkness, elbow pain held me at a lower mileage |
| April 2017 |
| 7 April | 14 miles | Waterton Canyon after work to find out if the elbow can handle a bigger ride tomorrow... |
| 8 April | 40 miles | Waterton/Chatfield loop I intended to take back on March 25 but had to back out of due to elbow pain; halfway to a typical Ride the Rockies day! |
| 14 April | 16 miles | Waterton Canyon, short ride after work, GORGEOUS weather |
| 15 April | 10 miles | Waterton Canyon; had to bail early again due to elbow pain |
| April 18 | doctor | Not good when you call for an appointment and they get you in right away... |
| April 19 | x-ray and MRI | I thought it was mouse elbow. Apparently it's not. |
| April 20 | bloodwork | Don't you just hate when you go in for a sore elbow, and they decide something's wrong with your heart?!? And your thyroid??? |
| April 21 | x-ray | Two bad neck discs; Ride the Rockies is in jeopardy. Good thing I didn't sign up for Elephant Rock... |
| April 25 | EKG | But hey, NOTHING'S WRONG WITH MY HEART!!! |
| May 2017 |
| May 9 | biopsy | This could be my shortest cycling season ever. :( |
| May 15 | biopsy results | B9!!!!!!!!! |
| May 22 | Spine Clinic | Permission to ride, but with a rather frightening caviat... |
| May 23 | IDEA!!! | I can ride the stationary bikes in the hotels each night of Ride the Rockies! That's not so bad! |
| May 30? | Arm Nerve Tests??? | Will we finally get down to the culprit for the original reason I went in??? |
| June 2017 |
| date | miles | comment |
| June 3 | 13 miles | Waterton Canyon |
| June 30 | 16 Miles | Waterton Canyon |
| July 2017 |
| date | miles | comment |
| July 1 | 19 miles | Waterton Canyon |
| July 4 | 16 miles | Waterton Canyon |
| July 22 | 17 miles | Waterton Canyon |
| July 28 | 15.5 miles | First time back on the road bike since April, had both bikes professionally fit by PT, halfway commute north, felt pretty darned good! |
| August 2017 |
| date | miles | comment |
| 1 August | 14 miles | halfway commute north |
| 3 August | 30 miles | 15 miles halfway commute north, 15 miles commute south 10 hours later, including the dam at Chatfield. I am pretty darned excited!!! |
| 9 August | 32 miles | halfway commute north, halfway commute south, extra climb of the dam at Chatfield, one minute slower than 3 Aug with 2 extra miles!!! |
| 14 August | 30 miles | halfway commute north, halfway commute south |
| 18 August | 16 miles | Waterton Canyon |
| 19 August | 14 miles | Waterton Canyon |
| 23 August | 31 miles | halfway commute north, halfway commute south |
| 26 August | 19 miles | Waterton Canyon |
| September 2017 |
| date | miles | comment |
| 2 September | 16 miles | Waterton Canyon |
| 9 September | 18 miles | Waterton Canyon |
| 29 September | 13 miles | Waterton Canyon |
| 30 September | 20 Miles | Waterton Chatfield Loop; wanted to do my epic loop from last spring, but will have to work up to that mileage. |
| October 2017 |
| date | miles | comment |
| 7 October | 15 miles | Waterton Canyon |
| 15 October | 13 miles | Waterton Canyon |
| 18 October | 22 miles | Waterton Canyon... BEST MILEAGE SINCE BACK ON BIKE!!! |
| November 2017 |
| date | no miles | the whole blasted month |
| December 2017 |
| date | miles | comment |
| 2 December | 8 miles | Deer Creek Canyon; first big climb since back on bike |
| 30 December | 5 miles | Waterton Canyon, final ride of year, not enough daylight to ride further |