23+12=21.28 (r226)

Math Is Not My Strong Point:

but I know that this calculation is CORRECT! Let me explain. I had been running my Diamondback mountain bike with only 23 gears having first cracked then broken about four teeth out of my 12 cog. This is the smallest in the cassette of cogs on the back wheel and it represents the 'overdrive' for the bike. I have been without it for months. Since starting this endeavour and especially since taking Sam out in his trailer, this has been a real handicap. I cant pedal any faster than I am yet I could do with a gear change. As I mentioned last week I ordered a new Shimano cassette and the specialty tools to change it. Well it arrived and yesterday it too about five minutes to fit it. It needed 'breaking in.

A Great Route

Sam and loaded the bike and the trailer with all of the stuff you just can't do without and we set off. We arrived at the car park at the southern end of the Mary Carter Greenway. This fantastic trail follows the Platt River from where it runs under C-470 at Santa Fe through Arapahoe County to join with the Denver trail network that leads up to Confluence Park. It is concrete all the way but for most sections there is a gravel path that runs next to the trail for runners and horse use. There are mile posts and the whole system is very well signed. To keep small children riding in trailers interested there are many bridges to cross, tunnels to ride through and tons of interesting stuff to see. The entire trail is relatively flat too so the 24th gear gets plenty of use!

From the carpark at the newly created reservoir (a former gravel quarry used for T-Rex expansion of the I-25 corridor) we set off to the north. There was a good mix of cyclists, runners, walkers and dogs along the entire length of the trail. Everyone was playing well with the exception of two cyclists who seemed to feel this was their own closed road on the Tour de France. They came past us on a wide section of the trail and were not heeding the narrow section warnings and were riding the trail as if they were the only two on it. Most people were just going about their business. By the attire and pannier loads of may cyclists heading south, this is a popular commute route between the Highlands Ranch area and downtown Denver.

The route follows Santa Fe and the Platt River. We passed through the Littleton Greenbelt and the route passed behind the Aspen Grove outlet mall. We crossed and recrossed the river on well maintained and purpose built bridges. The main roads that cross the trail have both ramps to allow access to these roads and tunnels that pass beneath. It's like a freeway. We passed behind the Dish Netwok building and continued north from Bowles Avenue. Sams favourite section was a little north of here. It's the transfer station for Waste Management! He has this thing about trash trucks.

One of the more interesting things about the trail is the way it integrates and passes the chain of golf clubs along the route. At the Columbine, the Centennial and the Englewood golf clubs there is another large bridge that takes the trail over the river to avoid the course. At the intersection of the trail and the golf-cart road there is a roundabout. Everything is orderly and well signed.

t the new development around the Hampden Avenue and Santa Fe Avenue intersection, the trail has been fully integrated into the new builds. There are ramps to all of the facility areas of both shopping and entertainment. Yet another bridge puts the trail on the west side of the river next to the new cinema complex. Another tunnel passes under Hampden and you ride past what was the much lamented and now lost Cinderella Twin drive in. We continued north with the miles ticking off as we went. Eventually we hit 11.5 miles just as we came up to where Florida Avenue crosses the trail. It was here we turned around and headed south. To help keep my passenger happy, we made a stop at a very large park next to the trail that had a really extensive slide and activity set. Sam ran around here for about 20 minutes to help burn off his energy. His dad liked the break and water stop too!. We mounted up and headed south, retracing the trail back to C-470.

The Stats:

In 1:49:18 we travelled 21.28 miles. The average pace was a stellar 5.08 per mile on what was a relatively flat course. Now the Calories burned (according to the Garmin) were 3748. I really am not sure this is accurate. I was able to keep my heart rate up in an aerobic area (140-160 bpm) but still, over 3000 calories????

The last number in the calculation? Oh the r226 (remainder 226) That's my weight this morning. Happy Happy Joy Joy!.