WE DID IT!!!

We made it through Durango, up the hills, over the mountains, and back down to Silverton, Colorado as part of the 2009 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic!

Despite the heavy downpours the days prior to the event, which had us quite anxious but extra prepared for rain and snow at the passes, we had dry pavement and not more than two drops of rain the whole ride. The clouds hovered, and enveloped the mountains we were climbing up into, but the rain stayed away. I sure wouldn't have wanted those screaming fast downhills any colder, let alone wet, so what a blessing it was!

And although I was pretty nervous about the steep, long climbs of Coal Bank and Molas passes, our training rides up the 14% grades of Buffalo Pass and over the hills between Chinle and Tsaile were definitely good preparation. Even though it wasn't easy keeping those pedals crankin', there was definitely the feeling that it wasn't as hard as I was afraid it could be!

The first steep descent after Coal Bank had me shivering, but just when I thought I couldn't be any colder, the sun peeked through for the first time that day. Then back up and up and up until we finally peaked at the top of Molas Pass, elev. 10,867 ft (check out photos of us at the top here and here)! Quick stop for fuel and warm clothes, then down down down 8 miles to town. And what a high for Ryan and me to cruise down main street in Silverton together with crowds of people cheering us in our success!

Check out this article about the race, and this interactive map with photos of the pros racing the same course. And here's a video about the race that gives you a better idea of what the course is like (by the way, that Devil was still there when we came creeping up the hill long after the racers were past, and he sure made me smile)!

Road Race from Josh Stephenson on Vimeo.

A big thanks to Julie, who did an awesome job too, for convincing me to ride this ride. For awhile there I thought I was just crazy in the head for signing up...but WE DID IT!