Hello Summit Bikers,
Next week's ride, July 11, takes us out of the county to Turquoise Lake near Leadville. Be ready to ride at 10 am. This is a beautiful ride with great views of the lake and surrounding mountains. We will meet at the Maid of Erin parking area. Please plan to be ready to ride. To get there take route 91 at the Copper exit toward Leadville. As you enter Leadville there will be a Safeway on your right. Take a right just past Safeway (Mountain View Drive) and follow the signs toward the golf course. As you near the golf course there are signs for Turquoise Lake. Follow these until you reach road 9C, take a right here and the Maid of Erin Parking area is on the left. (If you reach the dam you have driven past the turn.) There is a small fee, reduced for those with Access Cards. Fee envelopes are available as you enter the parking area. Please bring a pen to complete the envelope and some dollars to pay. If this area is full there is free parking near the dam (which is a short bike ride or walk back to the picnic area). To reach the dam go out of the Maid of Erin parking area and take the first right, go past the road you drove in on and park on the left just before the dam. To walk back to the picnic area after the ride follow the path along the lake, it takes about 5 minutes. We will be having a potluck lunch and riders are asked to bring something to share. Also bring your sandwich and a drink so you can socialize with your friends after the ride. Some may prefer one of the downtown restaurants. Bug spray may be needed as mosquitoes are sometimes around.
I normally ride counterclockwise, control my speed and look ahead for potential problems. Since this is a circle those that want a shorter ride should plan to turn around. Remember this is on a road so stay to the right and watch out for potholes. The road often has a spot or two that could use some work, so do pay attention.
Since we have so many new people this year, I thought I should give everyone some of the basic info. If it is raining when the ride is to start, there will be no ride. I do look at several forecasts and will send out an email the night before, especially if we are going out of the county. Rides out of the county start at 10 am and in Summit County are at 9:30. All riders are required to use helmets (although this is not a state law it is a rule of the club). Earphones are not allowed due to safety concerns.
We expect the new section of recpath to open going up Freemont Pass on Wednesday at 4 pm. We will meet at the ribbon cutting at 4 and ride the new section. Those that want to continue up the pass are free to do so. For those that do ride on, the road down is steep as often has gravel on the edge, watch your speed coming down.
Most of all ride safe and have fun!
John Bowyer
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