Ok, first off I’m hardly a fast driver. Now while it’s not like the truck is made for racing, and even less the bus, I’m just not in. The gas pedal to mpg relationship is a strong one and for the time saved, I find the increased consumption and corresponding cost is simply not worthwhile.

Along the way, you get to see how much risk people consider acceptable when passing the bus on the single lane, twisting highways.

I rode the Pronghorn Loop again today. 1:26 to the last peak and 1:46 total time. It was definitely fun, with great scenery to boot. Wouldn’t you know the greatest concentration of the rocky rock ends where M O and I turned around last time!

No doubt these are the Two Trees of Valinor. Is the shadow that of a balrog?

Another view of the super cool stratified rocks.

On the way to the top of the final climb. What a place! See those switchbacks? Best guess at what was my heart rate wins a special prize.

This was actually the first ride since Pike’s Peak where I used my full kit. I am so appreciative of the backpack with the water bladder I fought getting for so long.

Along the route, I figured out that on right turns I wasn’t unweighting my right leg as I do on the opposite turns. This meant that I was never really in the right position, an issue that’s been dogging me forever.

During the gnarly parts of the climbs, I found it best to keep my seat down a lot more than usual since I needed to stand anyway to move my weight around so often.

I didn’t spin out once and even did some funky fun mini front wheel lift to make a sharp, uphill turn. How much is my super star technique versus the new rear rubber? I like that Specialized tire.

Music and preferences and time. I used to rock out to Led Zeppelin and even paid to see Peter Gabriel. Nowadays though, if a song of theirs comes on during the shuffle, the odds are it’ll be fast forwarded. Even Bruce Springsteen, save for a few, has been overtaken.

Then there are the groups which have stood the test. Pink Floyd for sure. The Who doesn’t disappoint. And Van Halen too, especially when washing dishes. Girl Gone Bad came on during the trip to the trailhead and, holy smokes, that intro is stunning.

Always enjoyable looking at the changes over the years.