So with my new extra awesome bike, new found confidence, and an understanding wife, I’m branching out of my comfort zone and doing a true hardcore (by my standards) ride this weekend – Loop 2 of the upcoming Breckenridge 100. Up to now, I’ve mostly limited myself to the familiar rides in the Denver Foothills, and weekend rides at Buffalo Creek. Now I get to see if I can handle the stuff above 11,000 ft. It’s gonna be interesting to see if my body and brain can handle the extra 2 hours of riding and 1000 ft. of climbing beyond what I’m used to.