The day started slow. My energy was low and so was Nicole's. We rode out of Dinosaur to a chorus of prairie dogs shouting “Go Loren, Go.” We were heading for Steamboat Springs which is 138 miles away. We knew we wouldn't be pedaling all the way, so before heading out we decided to treat ourselves to an early day and enjoy the resort town. We planned on doing 50 miles and being off the bikes by 2 p.m.

While at the Dinosaur welcome center we were given a Colorado bicycling map. It shows traffic patterns, road widths and elevations of mountain passes. Our planned route has two major climbs on Sunday, so that gave us more ammunition to have an easy day today.

Once we got rolling, the day warmed up and so did Nicole and I. The entire ride was either up or down. There was no flat riding today. We had fun flying down the biggest hill. Dan went over 47 MPH, I went 43.1 and Nicole went 42.9. That is the fastest any of us have ever gone. It is wild going that fast. Our bikes started shimmying so we hit the brakes or we would have gone faster.

It ended up being a beautiful day, sunny with temperatures in the low 70s. We said it was too bad we weren't going 100 miles, but it was good to get a bit of a break.

Steamboat Springs is a great mountain resort town. They claim the oldest ski resort in America and the downtown is a classic ski village. We ate dinner at an Italian restaurant recommended by the hotel desk. Dan had the best lasagna he ever ate, and wants to return to Steamboat just to get more.

Back at the Dinosaur welcome center, Nicole had picked up a Steamboat Springs magazine that mentioned a mountain bike race in town. It is a 24-hour race up the ski slope. We stopped by to see what it is all about. They do it several ways: teams of four or five, duos, or the total maniac solo rider. The course goes up the mountain and a lap takes a little over an hour. The teams switch riders each lap, but those maniacs go nonstop for 24-hours.

We were wondered why anyone would do that. Then I guess people are wondering why we are riding across the country.

Nicole poses for the sun..

The wide open road of the Colorado high country. The day was spent riding up at down hills at over 6,000 feet altitude.

Nicole tries to get away from a bear in Steamboat Springs.