Denver
We had a serious ride day yesterday from Fort Collins to Denver for our show at the Oriental Theater. It usually takes us about 8 hours to cover 50 miles with stops and fixes and all. But yesterday we had 70 miles to cover with a show at the end. So, we rose before the sun to get everything packed up and got riding…
There’s something about waking yourself up pedaling. My energy seem to emerge slowly rather being coaxed out by coffee or shoved out the door with some type of energy boosting snack. It just slowly reveals itself and the ride takes on a essentially human pace.
We made it 50 miles before noon and made it to the theater by 3pm. A good thing considering the temp was getting up to 95. And for the most part it was an amazing ride, with one exception.
All the new development along Sheridan Rd is the kind that doesn’t really take in to account humans on foot and/or bike. The main thoroughfare is super broad, maybe 8 lanes, and more than intimidating to cross by foot. As for riding bicycle, there is no shoulder. There is no space for our pace of travel without being “in the way” of the speeding motorists. And so there is conflict and frustration. It’s not their fault really. The infrastructure is built to encourage speed rather than inhibit it. So, we had some folks really cut it close with us… but we survived.
The most disappointing part of all this is seeing that this a very new development and knowing that folks my age have to have worked on the project. I hoped to myself that we be bringing the change not following the old lead. We can do better.
