Posted by Daniel
Wed, 16 Aug 2006 20:55:42 GMT
So there’s this ride I’ve been meaning to do for about a year now, and the timing was never right. But I decided the other day that I really ought to try it out… I mean, sheesh, if other people can ride hundreds of miles in a couple of days, surely I can manage this local loop. Of course, this particular loop contains a 1.78 mile long climb of 600ft. As far as I can tell 500 of that is in the first mile. It’s not the only upward thing on this ride. There’s plenty of others. But it’s the longest one. Not counting the ups and downs there’s at least another 200ft. to be gained before the trip down begins.
I start out rolling on a slight incline from my driveway. One block later I’m headed downhill to Pomona Road and then onto Camp Hill Road. Camp Hill starts out rolling lightly. Just as you hit the first major intersection is starts climbing, so you have to pick your spot or you’ll be trying to start on incline (more on that later). The chances of hitting a green light are slim to none. I wait for the green which doesn’t take long since there are cars loading up on both sides. A bit of eye contact, and I’m safely through to the first short climb of the day. 1/3 of mile later I’m over the top, but I’m feeling mighty empty. I’ve really got nothing in the tank. Don’t know why… but I’ve committed, so I’m going. Down the other side into the valley before the Harriman Hills as I call them.
I roll along up and down Calls Hallow Road heading toward Willow Grove Road, which almost immediately turn into Gate Hill Road. Willow Grove already points uphill. I make the turn toward the hill and there’s this solid wall of a road. Whose idea was this? I knew I put a triple on this bike for a reason. Trying to remember all the advice I’ve ever read or been given about climbing hills, I start up. I start out solid, not too fast, spinning nicely. Shortly, the road turns steeper, the struggle begins. I do what I can, I keep going, and going… the hill gets a bit steeper yet. Aren’t I supposed to be having fun on this ride? Since I’ve never done this ride before, and I’m by myself, I’m a bit nervous of really wasting myself on this hill and not really knowing what else I’ll have to climb or how hard or long the rest of the ride will be. So 2/3’s of the way up I stop and recover. Of course, I wasn’t thinking about starting on such a steep hill since thinking wasn’t my strong suit right then.
After I stop breathing like a bellows, I decide I can start up here if I just angle my way across… no need to head down hill. Ummm, not so much. Clack, I fall over as I fail to clip into the second cleat and slide off the pedal (trying to muster just enough momentum to get going again). OK. Seat’s a bit sideways and I can’t twist it back, but everything else looks OK. I might be able to ride that way, so I give it a whorl…after walking 30ft. uphill to a side road thinking it’ll be easier to get started there. No such luck… they’re in the middle of a chip & seal job (that is chips are everywhere, seal, not so much).
I find a line I can ride and get started, And ride up to a nice shady spot and stop. No can ride with the saddle pointing west, that’ll really hurt in no time. I get my little tool out, pray toward whomever is in charge of not screwing up one’s carbon fiber frame and seatpost, loosen (feeling for tightness as best I can), adjust, tighten (to the same tension, as much as possible). Seems OK. Make note to check this later. (You’re supposed to use a torque wrench, which, of course, is way too large and heavy to carry for trips like this… but you’re really not supposed to play around with the failure points of carbon fiber, sooo don’t do what I did or else.)
All righty now. Climb back on, get started (the hill has eased a bit in this section), and I continue to spin up and over the remainder of the hill. Now comes the nice part, swinging by the lakes, rolling up and down, and seeing cyclists headed in the other direction only. No one else stupid enough to climb that hill I guess. Not that the hill in the other direction is a joy, but I guess it is more gradual depending on how you get there.
The payoff begins shortly as I start heading downhill, and more downhill, and more downhill. Thinking of my wife and child I take it easy. I never pass 39.2MPH. Some flats, more down hill, etc. etc. Nice all the way through the park. Now comes the ugly section where I’m riding next to serious traffic (meaning it moves fast), sucking exhaust and fumes, and being beaten by the sun. The long and mild grind back up to where I live has begun. I stop once for a traffic light. Once more just to catch my breath before a hillier section and then suddenly 2h16m (of riding time) after I started I’m home. Just over 28 miles, which puts me in spitting distance of 800miles. Tomorrow’s ride should put me over that milestone.
I dropped in at the bike shop after, and had them give the bike a once over, and other than the rear wheel needing some truing things were OK. Yup, most likely from the section of the hill where I flopped over until the end the ride, my rear brake was probably catching the rim once a revolution. Oy. Things of note: That’s the second new route for the month. It’s the fastest I’ve ever moved on a bike. I learned what if feels like to pedal at 30MPH although I couldn’t sustain it for long, but I was able to do some nice sections at 19-23… even though I really felt like I had nothing in the tank. Must of been slight declines or something. It’s the longest ride I’ve done this season by a bit, and my descending skills are better than they should be considering. Must be a left over from the mountain bike. Allez!
