May is Here! An Overview...

Considering all the freak snowstorms and windy days we received, April was a success for Club Hypoxia! The two big rides -- GlassCat's South Side Social Ride and my own Stove Prairie Trainer -- were great fun, if not a bit chilly. Plus, the Wednesday Time Trials have impressed with their ability to improve a rider's speed and stamina so effectively.

May has already begun as of this writing, but there are a couple great rides in store for many of us. Unfortunately, the Devil's Gulch/Estes Park training ride scheduled for Saturday, May 9th has been postponed as too many of us had scheduling conflicts come up. But for those without plans and eager to make some, it's still doable. Meet at the Dam Store at 9 a.m. perhaps? Create your own great weekend, folks!

After a few postponements, Sunday, May 10th will be the day that Deadhead and Howard FINALLY participate in the 2nd leg of the RMCC 1-2-3 Challenge Series. The 200K race will take them from Louisville to the foothills loop west of Loveland, up to Horsetooth and over the Dams Road, then up Poudre Canyon and up 4 1/2 miles of heck to Stove Prairie School, then back the same way they came. Yes, despite all that climbing, it's a timed race. Deadhead should do well.

The biggest group ride event of the month, Buena Vista BikeFest on May 15th thru 17th, promises to be another great weekend at 10,000' altitude. Registration filled up in March, so if you're not in, perhaps another group ride can be organized on short notice, hmm?

The third weekend of May, Memorial Day weekend, is totally open to ideas, although Deadhead will be racing the 3rd leg of the RMCC 1-2-3 Challenge Series on Saturday, May 23rd -- a 300K race down in the Black Forest/Larkspur area. Howard has a HS graduation to go to on that day. No, not his own! Also, Howard, AJ, and BooBee will be running in BolderBoulder on Memorial Day.

Finally, the Downhill Century, scheduled on Saturday, May 30th may or may not still be on, despite Howard's and BalticTiger's absence. We will be moving that weekend. An alternate weekend is possible if it works for enough people -- July 4th! If it was rescheduled for then, I would rename it Independence [from pedaling] Day. Let me know your thoughts about still doing the ride on the 30th versus doing it on July 4th.

Hope you are finding time to train, people, because the new 2009 bicycling season is PRACTICALLY HERE! No more snow! Only sunshine and joy forever more! Or until December, whichever comes first.