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11-12-02, 12:45 PM
For the 2 years that I’ve been cycling, I’ve ridden in my valley and the valley north of mine. To go to the next valley I’d cycle 12 miles down to the river where the valleys meet, or I would push my bike over the mountain.
That mountain, only a few miles from my door, kept staring at me, it’s steepness and height a formidable obstacle that I would fantasize about overcoming ‘some day’.
This year I trained hard for a two day group ride. I didn’t expect this ride to have any hills, but there were some pretty long ones (still smaller than my mountain), and I did better than I thought I could. I guess that’s the advantage of riding with other people.
Last weekend, remembering the group ride, I decided that I would give my mountain a try. The first 200 yards is really steep. I had to stand most of the way (something I am not good at). The rest of the mountain is not as steep, but it’s long. I was pretty sure that the time out of the saddle would tap me out before I could complete the rest of the mountain. Much to my surprise – it wasn’t all that hard. I made it all the way up without even one rest stop!
I was so thrilled that when I got down to the other valley, I took the hillier routes across it. My legs were sore that afternoon but it felt great!
This winter I’m going to make that mountain part of my training – I went up it again this morning. I know some other (bigger) mountains around here, and their days are numbered!
That mountain, only a few miles from my door, kept staring at me, it’s steepness and height a formidable obstacle that I would fantasize about overcoming ‘some day’.
This year I trained hard for a two day group ride. I didn’t expect this ride to have any hills, but there were some pretty long ones (still smaller than my mountain), and I did better than I thought I could. I guess that’s the advantage of riding with other people.
Last weekend, remembering the group ride, I decided that I would give my mountain a try. The first 200 yards is really steep. I had to stand most of the way (something I am not good at). The rest of the mountain is not as steep, but it’s long. I was pretty sure that the time out of the saddle would tap me out before I could complete the rest of the mountain. Much to my surprise – it wasn’t all that hard. I made it all the way up without even one rest stop!
I was so thrilled that when I got down to the other valley, I took the hillier routes across it. My legs were sore that afternoon but it felt great!
This winter I’m going to make that mountain part of my training – I went up it again this morning. I know some other (bigger) mountains around here, and their days are numbered!