On Saturday, I decided I was going to go for a little bike ride on Sunday morning. It has been a long time since I've ridden (see previous post - "Endless Bonk"). I din't want to start out behind the 8 ball so I ate something. See I do learn from my mistakes. The plan was to ride up to the top of Usery Pass the "easy" way (up to 2200 feet at 3% grade) on the single speed. Only about 1000 feet of climbing and not too steep. This hill has kicked my butt before, but I was going to kick it's.
I started out and at mile 3, my legs started to ache as if asking, "seriously? You're going to do this to us?". I told them yes, this was happening and they'd have to suck it up. A little self massage (while pedalling) and I was good to go. I continued on past the dairy farms as fast as I could. The weather was warm & muggy. A nice thick cloud cover held in the warm smell of cow urine & poo. I've riden past and smelled the poo before, but never the strong smell of urine. What an overwhelming stench! Finally past the farms, I gradually start climbing. I was actually feeling pretty good and enjoying the views. It was 89 degrees when I started out and, as I stated before, muggy. It actually started sprinkling a little as I rode, but not enough to cool off. I stopped a part of the way off to take a picture of the Phoenix sign, dump some water on my head and get rid of some extra water I was carrying. After my bio-break, I headed back up the hill.
"I'm almost to the top" I realized. That was enough to give me the extra energy I needed. I made it! No down shifting, no walking, just hammering.
I turned around and headed back from whence I came. I turned west on McDowell and planned to go to Lindsay Road, head south and then home. That was the plan. As I approached the stop sign at Hawes/N. 84th street, I contemplated. Do I go up to Las Sendas, or go straight? "Eff it, it's go time"! I headed North. The climb isn't very long, but it's steep. 6% grade steep. Keep in mind, I'm on the single speed; no downshifting. As I climbed, I felt pretty good. I told myself to stay in the saddle until the first round about; and I did. After that, I was up, pulling my bike side to side to help with the pedal strokes. My left quad started to cramp. Aw hell no. I pushed through and made that climb too! I paused briefly at the top to look down at what I'd accomplished. Not bad for an old guy on a single speed. I headed down the hill and enjoyed the wind blow drying me.
I headed West on McDowell towards my original route. I turned south down Recker instead of the extra 4 miles to Lindsay. Recker has less traffic and it was already in the high 90's. I actually stopped at a Cricle K to refill my water bottles as I had just drained the last one. "Shoulda brought the CamelBak". Refueled and rehydrated, I continued home.
When I got home my bike computer read 104 degrees. Toasty! It was a good 35 mile ride. I averaged 15.9mph and topped out at just over 30mph.
I learned a few things along the way too. 1. When you ride by yourself, it's harder to be dropped by the pack. 2. The little "honey straws" from Sprouts are a good source of quick energy, but unless you have piranha teeth, they're hard to open. 3. My last ride, when I was dropped like third period french, was a fluke. I wasn't preparred then. I know next time I will be.
Was I crazy to ride in that kind of heat? Maybe. Was I crazy to try those clims on the "SS"? Probably. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat!
Stay safe out there!
No comments:
Post a Comment