Day 10 Rangely,CO to Grand Junction,CO 91 miles 4000’ climbing

Today’s weather was good…followed by terrible! The morning was warm and I rolled out without arm or leg warmers for the first time! Thankfully, I had a vest and arm warmers with me because our good weather luck was coming to an end! The first 20 miles out of Rangely were nothing special. We gat a bit of excitement at around miles 35 when we had to wait for some road work. In these parts they use “chip n’ seal” as the road surface. Basically, they spray the road with hot liquid tar and then coat it in a very fine gravel! It’s a very messy business and doesn’t mix well with cycling. The Flagman held us until we had most of the group together…then escorted us the 6 or so miles past the road work. It was fun to have the road to ourselves. Next up was a nice long climb…followed by a 12 mile descent of almost 3000’. The descent was pretty hairy!
Neither Chip or I like to bomb the downhills! Craig goes into full-on aero tuck and rarely touches the brakes!! I’ve given myself a new Indian name…”Descends like your Grandma”! I also have to stop for pictures along the way…at least that’s one of the many excuses I use! When I finally hit the valley floor…and the safety of reasonably level pavement…Chip was gone! It had also started to pour rain. Craig had passed me about ¾ of the way down and was still in sight…Mark, Cat and the Team Slausan were just ahead. I worked hard to get back onto them and then get back to Craig. Craig and I worked trying to get back to Chip…but he was over a mile ahead by the time we hit the flatlands. Chip’s bad luck with flats continued at the top of a climb. Craig and I decided to wait for him and roll into lunch together again! The rain continued…so we lingered over hamburgers and pie! The rains finally let up on the final 20 miles into Grand Junction. We rolled thru some beautiful cornfields and horse farm country. It took over an hour to get my bike cleaned! My body was equally filthy!
Unfortunately, there was a “housekeeper shortage” at the motel…so we couldn’t get into our rooms until 4:30. After a shower...the world is good!




















Visit beautiful Rangely, CO...."where there is absolutely nothing to do"!




















Waiting for our escort!



















Craig leading us past the new lane of "chip & seal"

















Most of the group making it's way thru the road work. We had to chase the escort truck. Not sure he realized we were riding bikes...not driving Ferrari's!



















Looking back down at the first section of the climb. The "group" was no longer! Lot's of carnage going up the hill today!



















That road down there is where we are headed!




















about 1/2 way thru the descent! Yes, I stopped to shoot this! Sacrificing for my art!


















NOT what you want to see when you are flying downhill at 45mph! I still yell out "mornin" cow"!




















about 3/4 of the way down as it started to rain. Pretty spectacular!



















clear of the rain...and into the flatlands!

















great road for a bit of time-trialing in an attempt to bring back Chip!



















Mark from Belgium closing the gap (with ease) to Craig and I. It was a fun day!






















The elusive Wayne Riley! Wayne rides completely solo each day. We often see him at the start...and not again until we reach the hotel. Even on the long days he goes back out for extra mileage.

















thru the cornfields and into Grand Junction


















Jon "the masseuse". He wears these slippers (not cycling shoes!!) all day...that's why he won the freaky tan line competition!
He often rides out early and marks the course for us with a "P" and an arrow!