First morning we had to use base layers and even full-fingered gloves, although the latter wasn’t really a requirement and got a bit toasty going up Kings. But the balmy days of “Indian Summer” seem to be gone as we near November. Guess it had to end sometime!

What also had to end was me being able to out-climb Kevin. He’s back. He’s not up to the speed of the fastest guys on the ride, yet. But he should get there. And this morning, there were a number of fast guys. Besides the usual suspects (JR, Eric, George) we also had Karl, MarkP, Joe (who’d moved to Colorado earlier in the year but will apparently be out here once a month to torture me) and, yikes, Keith. Haven’t seen Keith in quite some time, not since he had to take a full time job a while back to support his racing and bring some income to his upcoming married life. Guess he didn’t want to “live the joke” (What’s a Cat1/Pro without a girlfriend? Homeless.)

It was quite beautiful up on Skyline, and I would have had some great photos if I’d had my camera set right and I wasn’t fumbling around with klunky gloves. As if I didn’t have enough trouble just keeping up with everybody. –Mike–