7 days in Heaven - Riding in Colorado and the Double Triple Bypass

The View from Top of Vail Ski Resort

The last time I attempted to ride back to back centuries (meaning 2 100+ rides in 2 consecutive days) it did not end up so good for me (see here why). It took me a few years to dare and attempt back to back centuries. This time, however, I did it in a much bigger way. After all I do always say "go big or go home". By bigger I mean more mileage, more elevation gain and higher altitude. I wrote about this ride in BikePanel (here is the link to the article) and this is the English version of my article (as always with a some changes). Special thanks to the extremely talented photographer Linda Guerette that met up with us for a photo shoot on the climb to Vail Pass the day before the ride and then again on the second day of the ride. Linda, the photos you took of us are absolutely stunning.  

On the climb to Vail Pass - Max elevation 10,662' (Photo by Linda Guerrette)

In the spirit of my recent years' tradition of picking the most illogical ride for a cyclist that lives in flat Chicago to accomplish, last July I put my sights on a Colorado ride. This time though it was not just any Colorado ride, but the Triple Bypass (the complete opposite of the surgery, but some would claim that you will need one after completing it, like my mom for example, see below). On second thought, why ride just the Triple Bypass if you can do it twice from both directions, so of course I signed up for the Double Triple Bypass. I here by confess that while filling out the registration form, my Mom's voice was echoing in my ears "Come'on Sharon, I really don't understand why you do all this stuff" ... keep reading to see why.

On the climb to Tennessee Pass - max elevation 10,432'

Riding in Colorado

Colorado is a cycling paradise, for any type of riding and in any season. The riding possibilities in Colorado are endless. Basically any spot you pick on the map you can't go wrong and this is the reason why it has become a sort of a cycling Mecca. As appropriate for such a place there are many cycling events to chose from: multi days events (such as Bicycle Tour of Colorado and Ride the Rockies) single day events, road or mountain biking/gravel and in recent years added to this already long list fat bike events. There are, however, a few events that rise up to the level of bucket list rides and the Triple Bypass is one of them. It was certainly on my bucket list for several years now.   

Thank you Linda for the private photo shoot. On the climb to Vail Pass

 Where to Stay

For this Colorado trip we chose to stay in the Vail Valley area where the the Triple Bypass ends and starts. Since we made it all the way to Colorado we added a few days before (for acclimation) and after (just because). We decided to stay in the town of Beaver Creek which is only a few miles up the hill from the first day finish line and second day start line.

Almost at the top of the Loveland Pass - max elevation 11,991'

PM hail

Beaver Creek is a ski resort town located in the Vail Valley about 2.5 hours drive from Denver airport. Like many ski resort towns there are many lodging options. For our group of 6 the most logical option was to rent a condo for the week, and we did not regret this choice. 2 other girls in our group, lets call them the brave girls, decided that their Colorado adventure would not be complete unless they camped. We all felt sorry for them in the afternoon when the rain turned into hail. They did not decline our invite to take a warm shower or charge their batteries. So, here I said it, a camping option is available, but please be forewarned, I think this option is for the brave only or those that are on a very tight budget (and yes, I think there are bears in the woods too).

On a side note I will mention that the Triple Bypass website includes links to recommended accommodations at a special rate.

Typical ski town in Vail Valley  

Getting There

Of course we rented a pickup

Denver airport is the most convenient way to get there. If you are a skier (or a boarder) this is no news for you, but like most ski towns, Beaver Creek/Avon is built so that once you get there you don't really need a car and everything you need is within walking distance, and if not there is always the town's free shuttle, so if you don't feel like driving or renting a car this is a good option. We decided that it would be more convenient to rent a car. So how do you fit 3 packed bikes, 3 suitcases and 3 passengers into one car? oh well, when in Rome (or Colorado), of course we rented a huge pickup truck. After an emergency stop at a Home Depot to buy a tarp to cover our bags in the back from the pouring rain, we were on our way to our destination, soaked but happy (spoiler alert - this is not the last time I'm going to be soaked on this trip).

On the climb to Vail pass from Avon side

The Food

Like with accommodations, here too there are many options. From high end chef restaurants (well after all we are in a fancy ski resort area) to simple bars and local breweries. If you so wish, sadly, you can also find some chain junk food restaurants like the mandatory McDonald's. Staying in a condo allows for more flexibility to mix it up between eating in or going out. We were somewhere in the middle. A compromise that was easy on our pockets, our schedule and the fact that after all we are on vacation and don't really feel like wasting too much time and energy on cooking. Very quickly we settled into a daily routine: breakfast at the condo, head out for a ride, lunch in one of the nearby towns, some Apres Velo appetizers in the condo and end the day with dinner in one of the many restaurants around. The good life. Needless to say we also sampled the local brew. 

My personal favorite and a must for meat lovers (in my opinion) is The Gashouse restaurant in Edwards. The restaurant is located in an old gas station and specializes in game meat. Don't be intimidated by the stuffed heads that will greet you at the entrance and inside, the food and atmosphere are  totally worth it. 

The Gashouse. They do have Jackalope on the menu :-)

Acclimation

One of the challenges of riding in the Rocky Mountains is the altitude. Beaver Creek is located at around 8,000' and we will be climbing up to almost 12,000'. The air is thinner, which makes breathing harder especially while exercising (and just simply walking up the stairs). Some people are affected more by the altitude and suffer from dizziness or nausea, insomnia, etc. and need a longer acclimation period and some are less impacted and just a day or two would be enough for a ride like this. If you have never been to such a high altitude, I highly recommend airing on the safe side and getting to the ride venue as early as possible. If you are gadget freaks (like me), don't be surprised if your heart rate will be higher on the one hand and your watts lower on the other. This is the altitude effect and not your fitness (well at least for some). 

Leg opening climbs

The Riding 

Finally. After all this is why we got here. Just pick a direction from Avon and you will find a great riding option that will include a long climb (at least 10 miles long), you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view during the ride and at the top, followed by a fast and twisty descent. The drivers are very patient and you will see many other cyclists on your way. 

Lunch break

To allow for maximal acclimation (within our vacation day allowance and budget constraints) we arrived to Colorado 3 days before the start of the Double Triple Bypass. After the mandatory visit to the local bike shop in Avon, we decided to follow their recommendation for a warm-up ride. Heading from Avon to Mintrun (typical gold rush feel Colorado town) in a false flat climb and from there starting the official climb towards Tennessee Pass. After about 24 miles of climbing and the obligatory photo at the top, we turned around and headed back to Avon. If you want a longer ride, instead of turning back continue downhill on the other side of the pass towards Leadville (the home town of the iconic Leadville 100 race) and only then return the same way you came. We were welcomed by good weather and a few rain drops on the climb that quickly went away. On our way back, since the sun was out and it was lunch time we stopped at a local cafe for a sandwich and coffee, because after all we are here to have fun.

Typical Colorado town

The Double Triple Bypass

The Triple Bypass is a one day ride that starts from the town of Evergreen and ends in Avon. To get from start to finish you will have to ride 120 miles, climb over 3 mountain passes (Juniper, Loveland and Vail) and in total ascend over 10,000'. If you like to suffer (like me), the next day, you will wake up early again and do it all over but from the other direction, from Avon to Evergreen. These 2 days of riding are called the Double Triple Bypass.

 
The event takes place every year in July and July 2015 was its 27th anniversary. The Double option was added in 2011 and with that another single day option was added as well. Each year about 3000 riders participate in the event.

Day I

Saturday, it go time. We were being picked up by a shuttle at a painfully early time, 4 am (OK, not so painful of us triathletes) not far from our condo. Since we are talking about a point to point event you will likely need a shuttle at some point during the day. It was cold outside and we were all wearing some extra layers that we planned on taking off before the start. Those extra layer will be waiting for us at the finish line. The driver greeted us with a smile (she is almost too cheerful for 4 am) and explained how to arrange the bikes in the bus. She turned the heat on, lights off, maybe we can catch some sleep in the 2 hour drive. I must note that you need to sign up for the shuttle separately through a link on the ride website at an extra charge. If you booked your accommodations through Beaver Creek reservation center the shuttle is included as part of the logging package.

2 hours later we were at the start.

At the Start line

The Triple Bypass is not a race it is a ride so there is no official start time. The organizers ask riders to start between 5 am (yes, you read correctly) and 8 am (OK, now that's much better). Since the ride entails climbing to high altitude and there is always the chance for unstable weather in the mountains late afternoon this time of year, the advice that we got from the locals was to start the ride as early as possible. What's unstable weather you ask? keep on reading ...  Another reason to air on the early start side are the cutoff times along the way. They do, however, give you plenty of time to finish the ride and the finish line is open until 8 pm.

The start line is located at the bottom of the first climb, which means you will be climbing from the first pedal stroke. The climb is about 16 miles long with avg grade of 4-5% (and max grades of 10%) and ends at 11,020' (top of Juniper Pass). The reward comes in the shape of a similarly long descend on the other side.

Juniper Pass - max elevation 11,020' - the warm up

What goes down must come up on a ride like this and so at the bottom we turn and immediately start the second climb of the day towards Loveland Pass. It is the longest climb of the day (28 miles) with avg grade of 6% with short (but painful) sections of 9%. The peak is at 11,990'. Despite the fact that we are not dealing with crazy steep grades, the long climb and the fact that it is the second climb of the day did result in some riders getting off their bikes and walking. Loveland Pass is a continental divide point and after the mandatory photo with the sign indicating so it is time to get back on the bike and enjoy the view on the fast and twisty descent.

Before we got to the last climb of the day, we got a bonus short climb (it's all relative of course) to Swan Mountain. This section is one of the most beautiful parts of the ride as we ride along Lake Dillon with magnificent views of the lake, the mountains and the giants houses (a glimpse to how the other half lives).

After a flattish section we pass the town of Frisco and start the last climb of the day towards Vail Pass. This is the shortest climb of the day, "only" 5 miles with avg grade of 4%. The entire climb is on a bike path completely separated from the highway. WOW, this is most impressive to me, such an incredible investment in cycling, building a special road just to facilitate riding over the pass (as the main road alternative is a very busy highway and too dangerous).

Miles and miles of newly paved bike path

Riding in the rain ...

At the bottom of the climb, the blue sky that followed us all day start to get darker and darker. I quickly realized that this is going to be a problem. A storm is coming. I look up towards the top of the climb, and all I can do is keep on going, hoping that this time it will only be rain and not hail. For most of the climb it was only a drizzle and for a minute there I though I've been spared and the blackness in the sky will hold off for just a little longer (hmmm for about 45 more miles). No such luck. As I am getting closer to the summit, it started pouring hard, and with the giant drops came the temperature drop. This is exactly why the ride organizers say - be ready for any type of weather because in the summer in the Rockies anything can happen.

This is what it looks like when the storm is coming (taken at the top of Vail ski resort)

I'm freezing and not wanting to risk getting even colder I decided to skip the last aid station hoping that the half bottle of water I have will be enough for the next 30 or so miles. As I descend towards Vail, I loose feeling in my hands, my teeth are clattering, and I can barley see through my glasses - not ideal on such a long descent. When I am a few miles from Vail, I start to shiver uncontrollably and I am almost hypothermic (well at least that's what it felt like to me). It's time to use the Phone-A-Friend lifeline (or in other words call Michelle and Patricia who did not ride that day). Help, I ask in trembling voice. Please come pick me up, I give up, it's too cold. Immediately they realize that the situation is bad. I put my phone away and get back on the bike. I must keep riding to try and stay warm. Fighting the uncontrollable shivers, I ride slowly, looking for that pickup truck. About 10 miles before the finish I see them. They stop the car, but this is when I decide to keep going. I am not giving up. Thank you for coming to my rescue ladies, but I will take it from here. I'll see you at the finish line. I connect with a rider from Italy and the both of us are working together to the finish line.      

Hiking at the top of Vail resort

Day II

Sunday, the second day of the Double, it all starts again. In the direction of the ride on the second day the climbs are longer and slightly steeper. Add to that the fatigue from the first day to make this day harder. On the bright side, the weather was nice, the sky was blue and stayed blue for the entire 120 miles. Also Michelle and Patricia were riding that day so I had company for at least part of the ride.

On both days, the ride organizers did a great job. Aid stations positioned where you needed them, in addition to a few extra water stations. The aid stations were fully stocked and we didn't really need to carry our own food (I always carry some food with me just in case). You can also find a mechanic in each aid station for any mechanical issues on the fly.      

The finish line. The Double Triple finishers get a bottle opener shaped medal 

The finish line on both days was it's own party. Food, beer and music. Massage tent and changing tents. On Saturday due to the weather they even had a big tent for everybody to keep warm post ride.

The Dessert

After a recovery day that included a short hike at the top of Vail resort, we decided that if we came all the way to Colorado we had to check out the mountain biking trails. We rented mountain bikes and chose the valley to valley trail that was recommended to us by the locals as appropriate for the beginners in the group. True the trail itself was probably good for beginners but we never got there. It turned out that the way we chose to connect to it, hmmm, not so much for beginners. I guess what's true for ski trails is true for mountain biking trails and a green trail in Colorado is NOT similar in difficulty to a green trail in Chicago. OOPS. Sadly we had to cut our ride short when some of the ladies did not like the feeling of riding on a narrow single track exposed to the side of the mountain. I guess checking out that killer Yeti that I rented will have to wait for another time. So yet another destination was added to my "to do" list. I must return to Colorado for a real mountain biking ride. I think 2016 is the year.  

The start of the single 

Thanks for reading