Went out there this evening ... 51 minutes. That's about the same time as the slowest rider in the low key hill climb ... and I felt good climbing out there. I guess that tells where where my gage is.

Went out there this evening ... 51 minutes. That's about the same time as the slowest rider in the low key hill climb ... and I felt good climbing out there. I guess that tells where where my gage is.

Ron, stick with it. Do it once a week between now and the start of the LKHC and you *will* improve. Part of doing well on any climb is knowing where you can go hard, where you can catch your breath, etc., and this is especially true on Montebello with its extended "false flat" section near the school (there are other parts, too). Keep at it and I promise you will get a lot better. It might help to climb with people who are slightly (but not ridiculously) faster than you; use them as a kind of carrot.

The first time I ever attempted Montebello I didn't even finish. I turned around at Ridge (stupid, I know...I was almost there!). Next attempt, I eventually made it, but it was probably over an hour. I kept doing it and eventually noticed I was coming in around 40 minutes. When I was in (my) top climbing form, I was around 33 and thinking maybe I could get down to 30 or so (never did, but tried a lot!). I avoided thinking about the fact that some people were able to do it in 26 minutes or less...it's inspiring off the bike, but when you're in the heat of it, not so much. You have to do it at your own pace...

Ron, stick with it. Do it once a week between now and the start of the LKHC and you *will* improve. Part of doing well on any climb is knowing where you can go hard, where you can catch your breath, etc., and this is especially true on Montebello with its extended "false flat" section near the school (there are other parts, too). Keep at it and I promise you will get a lot better.

Thanks for the encouragement. Yeah, it helps to know the climbs, and I've done it enough to know when to recover, and when to push it.

It might help to climb with people who are slightly (but not ridiculously) faster than you; use them as a kind of carrot.

I guess that leaves Bostic out ... :roflmao2:

I'm contemplating going again this Saturday, but not sure yet. What I would love to do is go across the dirt trail, and come out the other side of Page Mill, but not by myself. Otherwise, I may opt for the casual ride in Pleasanton.

I'm contemplating going again this Saturday, but not sure yet. What I would love to do is go across the dirt trail, and come out the other side of Page Mill, but not by myself. Otherwise, I may opt for the casual ride in Pleasanton.

Ron, when do you need a final commitment? I'm still slogging through the schedule for this weekend, but I definitely would be interested in this ride.

Ron, when do you need a final commitment? I'm still slogging through the schedule for this weekend, but I definitely would be interested in this ride.

It could be as last minute as you want ... it will for me. It's either this, or doing the casual ride in Pleasanton. I just haven't done the ride across the dirt trail once you get to the dead end at the top of Montebello.

I think I'll do this Sunday instead.

Sunday....that might work. I think Reid was thinking of doing OLH and Kings in one day on Sunday to prep for Mt. Ham, and I think I sort of committed to that one. Perhaps that might not materialize, and I'll pop on the Montebello ride if that is the case.