There’s really no singular aspect of cycling that I’m (sager) worse at than racing at 10,000′.

So naturally, when given the opportunity to join Blake for a few stages of the Breck Epic, I jumped at the chance.

Breckenridge is where I first sampled the mountains when I was a young lad straight out of high school in Louisiana. A 24hr non-stop drive brought us to Bald Mountain, which is here in Breck, and we promptly hiked it, and then succumbed to massive altitude sickness.

I’ve generally avoided this place since then, but it was time to get back on this pony and see what these trails were all about.

These guys are on day 3 of their adventure, yet that didn’t slow down the start pace, or simmer down anyone’s aggression in the group. What’s the big rush, Maaaaaaaaaaan?

The trails started off simple enough, Tahoe/Rubicon-esque jeep roads that despite being smooth, took the Gibson brothers off their bikes.

Somehow our 120lb rock crusher Blake managed to flat our unflat-able TNT tires, but in a stroke of genius, he did it within 10 seconds of the feed/tech zone. What’s most baller about his spare is the brand new _still_has_the_fuzzies_ tire that he grabbed. PRO. Is that thing armor-all’ed?

Later, things got pretty, then steep, then cold, then wet. I hate numb fingers in August.

Heavy gravel.

I’m a slow walker/pusher at 11,000′.

Thanks for waiting, guys.

Brady and I stopped at the top to warm up and put additional clothes on, eat Oreos, lube chains, and such…..a good idea in some regards, but then the trails and roads were empty. Empty roads are boring, but

Empty trails in the high country without any fear of on-coming traffic is a true gem to enjoy. Snyder would be proud as I over shot a turn full of large boulders (something to do with not being able to feel my brakes) so in a quick decision to choose riding over crashing, I ALS’d* it OVER the rocks, into the wild country, and Canadian Line’d* it back to the trail. We need a glossary or footnotes on this page, now.

What made today rad was we saw/experienced a little of everything here in Breck. Crisp sunny mornings, long walks on mountain goat trails in cloud mist, rainy/greasy dirt roads with numb fingers and inoperable thumbs, Little Colorado Trail with the perfect amount of dust and grease, hand thawing temps at the bottom of the course, and a big vat of Ruffles potato chips at the finish.

Proper.

*glossary:
ALS – Alternative Line Snyder. To take a line that isn’t on the map, rule book, or approved of by USAC. Not to be confused with:
Canadian Line – to create one’s own shortcut, without malice, but clearly bending the rules such that they work in your favor.