SaiKaiTai
11-13-07, 10:46 AM
Sometimes it's about facing down the unknown.
I went out on Saturday and took a ride up one of my tough climbs (a little over a mile that runs 3.5% to 5% to 13.5% to 6% to 14%. These are rough averages, short stretches are even worse. Here's a profile) out of town.
Where I would normally break off the climb and head off to the more-or-less level right I decided to keep going up and over the top. I've driven down (and up) this highway soooooo many times and lately I've started to wonder what it would be like to ride it up on a bike. So, even though that climb out can really suck it out of me, down, down, down I went with the intent of riding on into Golden Gate Park and back home. Until it started to rain 3 hours ahead of schedule. The highway drops down, goes level for a mile or so then drops some more to sea level. I made it through the first drop and started getting pretty wet so I turned around early and rode back up the highway. My legs got some pretty good rest on the way down, I guess, and I found it MUCH easier going back up than I anticipated. I just fell into a rhythm and watched the rain drip off of my nose and helmet. Caught a couple of very short breaks when the lights turned red but I didn't really need them. I really got into it, actually... just steadily ground my way back up, up, up to the top. In the end, it was only about 15 miles but now I know what it takes and I know I can do it. Nothing can stop me now.
But that's not all.
In the past, after a hard climb, it would take me a few days -maybe a week- before I could attempt it a second time. I know, I tried once. It was pretty easy the first time so I thought I'd do it again 2 days later and I got creamed. Well, yesterday -just two days after the ride above- I took another hard climb (http://www.heywhatsthat.com/bin/profile1.cgi?src=profilermapplet&curvature=0&metric=0&axes=1&pt0=37.6432,-122.486490,,,ff0000&pt1=37.64321,-122.486220&pt2=37.64333,-122.485850&pt3=37.64341,-122.485740&pt4=37.64483,-122.484340&pt5=37.64483,-122.484340&pt6=37.64484,-122.484440,,,00b000&pt7=37.64537,-122.485480&pt8=37.64543,-122.485700&pt9=37.6454,-122.486070&pt10=37.64529,-122.486440&pt11=37.64528,-122.486670&pt12=37.64551,-122.488940&pt13=37.64595,-122.490190,,,0000ff&pt14=37.64591,-122.490040&pt15=37.64591,-122.490040&pt16=37.64912,-122.489440&pt17=37.64912,-122.489440&pt18=37.64913,-122.489490,,,ff0000&pt19=37.6493,-122.490730&pt20=37.64936,-122.491600,,,00b000&pt21=37.64933,-122.491130&pt22=37.64933,-122.491130&pt23=37.64641,-122.491910&pt24=37.64609,-122.492140&pt25=37.64609,-122.492140&pt26=37.6456,-122.492610&pt27=37.64542,-122.492690&pt28=37.64511,-122.492730&pt29=37.6426,-122.492590&pt30=37.63869,-122.492460&pt31=37.63483,-122.492060&pt32=37.63354,-122.492130&pt33=37.63305,-122.492270&pt34=37.63244,-122.492580&pt35=37.62987,-122.492570&pt36=37.62987,-122.492570&pt37=37.62987,-122.492500,,,0000ff&pt38=37.62987,-122.491490&pt39=37.62987,-122.491490&pt40=37.6298,-122.491470&pt41=37.62945,-122.490980&pt42=37.62915,-122.490710&pt43=37.62888,-122.490600&pt44=37.62856,-122.490570&pt45=37.6285,-122.490470,,,ff0000&pt46=37.62825,-122.489770&pt47=37.62825,-122.489670&pt48=37.62825,-122.489670&pt49=37.62762,-122.489640&pt50=37.62674,-122.489360,,,00b000&pt51=37.62627,-122.489070&pt52=37.62623,-122.488980&pt53=37.62561,-122.488370,,,0000ff&pt54=37.62558,-122.488330&pt55=37.62558,-122.488330&pt56=37.62586,-122.487930&pt57=37.62615,-122.487410&pt58=37.62618,-122.487270&pt59=37.62618,-122.487270&pt60=37.62664,-122.486440&pt61=37.62667,-122.486080&pt62=37.62661,-122.485840&pt63=37.62644,-122.485610&pt64=37.6263,-122.485550&pt65=37.62554,-122.485480&pt66=37.62531,-122.485380&pt67=37.62515,-122.485250&pt68=37.62492,-122.484880&pt69=37.62468,-122.483900&pt70=37.62466,-122.483370&pt71=37.62469,-122.483120&pt72=37.62519,-122.481520&pt73=37.62541,-122.481140&pt74=37.62574,-122.480900&pt75=37.62632,-122.480680&pt76=37.62664,-122.480480&pt77=37.62677,-122.480340&pt78=37.62693,-122.480010&pt79=37.62699,-122.479660&pt80=37.62703,-122.478680&pt81=37.6271,-122.478430&pt82=37.62727,-122.478120&pt83=37.62765,-122.477850&pt84=37.62798,-122.477830&pt85=37.62887,-122.478090&pt86=37.62914,-122.478040&pt87=37.629562,-122.477818,,,ff0000&pt88=37.631091,-122.47668,,,00b000&pt89=37.632399,-122.477217,,,0000ff&pt90=37.633351,-122.476659,,,ff0000&pt91=37.633844,-122.4752,,,00b000&pt92=37.633776,-122.472882,,,0000ff&pt93=37.634643,-122.471166,,,ff0000&pt94=37.636019,-122.467067,,,00b000&pt95=37.637616,-122.466338,,,0000ff&pt96=37.63889,-122.464080,,,ff0000&pt97=37.63886,-122.464170&pt98=37.63886,-122.464170&pt99=37.63875,-122.464080&pt100=37.63881,-122.463910&pt101=37.63881,-122.463910&pt102=37.6401,-122.465130&pt103=37.64015,-122.465250&pt104=37.64122,-122.466300&pt105=37.64437,-122.469230&pt106=37.64447,-122.469240&pt107=37.64584,-122.470540&pt108=37.64587,-122.470630&pt109=37.6474,-122.472000&pt110=37.64776,-122.472140&pt111=37.64794,-122.472150&pt112=37.64921,-122.471870,,,00b000&pt113=37.64914,-122.471890&pt114=37.64914,-122.471890&pt115=37.64917,-122.471680&pt116=37.64914,-122.471600&pt117=37.64926,-122.471040&pt118=37.64926,-122.471040&pt119=37.64948,-122.470520&pt120=37.64956,-122.470480&pt121=37.65023,-122.469480&pt122=37.65038,-122.468960&pt123=37.65038,-122.468960&pt124=37.65042,-122.468980,,,0000ff&pt125=37.65087,-122.469230&pt126=37.65143,-122.469320&pt127=37.65237,-122.469350&pt128=37.65261,-122.469330&pt129=37.65363,-122.469020&pt130=37.65416,-122.469030&pt131=37.65475,-122.469230&pt132=37.65729,-122.470450&pt133=37.65749,-122.470490&pt134=37.65862,-122.470460&pt135=37.65898,-122.470540&pt136=37.66022,-122.471140&pt137=37.66153,-122.471420&pt138=37.66227,-122.471730&pt139=37.66269,-122.471980&pt140=37.66335,-122.472500&pt141=37.66369,-122.472840&pt142=37.66468,-122.474170&pt143=37.66534,-122.474750,,,ff0000&pt144=37.66533,-122.474740&pt145=37.66533,-122.474740&pt146=37.66496,-122.475270&pt147=37.66464,-122.475560&pt148=37.66403,-122.475830&pt149=37.66379,-122.475860&pt150=37.66334,-122.475820&pt151=37.66213,-122.475530&pt152=37.66144,-122.475170&pt153=37.66115,-122.475170&pt154=37.66093,-122.475270&pt155=37.6607,-122.475490&pt156=37.6607,-122.475490&pt157=37.66061,-122.475620&pt158=37.66057,-122.475840,,,00b000&pt159=37.66051,-122.476070&pt160=37.66051,-122.476670&pt161=37.66045,-122.476950&pt162=37.66007,-122.477580&pt163=37.65971,-122.478030,,,0000ff&pt164=37.66044,-122.478740&pt165=37.66047,-122.478830&pt166=37.66092,-122.479110&pt167=37.66158,-122.479350&pt168=37.66272,-122.479450&pt169=37.66308,-122.479570&pt170=37.66375,-122.479980&pt171=37.66444,-122.480630&pt172=37.66468,-122.481110&pt173=37.66471,-122.481360&pt174=37.6647,-122.481670&pt175=37.66458,-122.482350&pt176=37.66462,-122.482960&pt177=37.66473,-122.483280&pt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out of town. I was amazed to find a rhythm pretty easily and, while, yes, I had to stop a couple of times to collect my wind and gather my HR in, I made it to the top with 2 fewer stops than I've ever taken before. A hard climb following a hard climb and it wasn't that bad.
It's just so gratifying to learn you're capable of more than you might believe. It's even gratifying to think that you are capable and then learn that you were right. And this is what keeps me motivated.
If you just keep at it, good things come.
Every time I think I'm as good as I'm gonna get, I get better. Can't say that about many things in life.
edit: Oh, how nice. Seems when you edit your post, you lose the URL info so no more first profile. I did update the second one, though, to cover the whole ride rather than just a part of it. Well, who cares, really? They were both testers of my abilities and I came out on top, more or less.
I went out on Saturday and took a ride up one of my tough climbs (a little over a mile that runs 3.5% to 5% to 13.5% to 6% to 14%. These are rough averages, short stretches are even worse. Here's a profile) out of town.
Where I would normally break off the climb and head off to the more-or-less level right I decided to keep going up and over the top. I've driven down (and up) this highway soooooo many times and lately I've started to wonder what it would be like to ride it up on a bike. So, even though that climb out can really suck it out of me, down, down, down I went with the intent of riding on into Golden Gate Park and back home. Until it started to rain 3 hours ahead of schedule. The highway drops down, goes level for a mile or so then drops some more to sea level. I made it through the first drop and started getting pretty wet so I turned around early and rode back up the highway. My legs got some pretty good rest on the way down, I guess, and I found it MUCH easier going back up than I anticipated. I just fell into a rhythm and watched the rain drip off of my nose and helmet. Caught a couple of very short breaks when the lights turned red but I didn't really need them. I really got into it, actually... just steadily ground my way back up, up, up to the top. In the end, it was only about 15 miles but now I know what it takes and I know I can do it. Nothing can stop me now.
But that's not all.
In the past, after a hard climb, it would take me a few days -maybe a week- before I could attempt it a second time. I know, I tried once. It was pretty easy the first time so I thought I'd do it again 2 days later and I got creamed. Well, yesterday -just two days after the ride above- I took another hard climb (http://www.heywhatsthat.com/bin/profile1.cgi?src=profilermapplet&curvature=0&metric=0&axes=1&pt0=37.6432,-122.486490,,,ff0000&pt1=37.64321,-122.486220&pt2=37.64333,-122.485850&pt3=37.64341,-122.485740&pt4=37.64483,-122.484340&pt5=37.64483,-122.484340&pt6=37.64484,-122.484440,,,00b000&pt7=37.64537,-122.485480&pt8=37.64543,-122.485700&pt9=37.6454,-122.486070&pt10=37.64529,-122.486440&pt11=37.64528,-122.486670&pt12=37.64551,-122.488940&pt13=37.64595,-122.490190,,,0000ff&pt14=37.64591,-122.490040&pt15=37.64591,-122.490040&pt16=37.64912,-122.489440&pt17=37.64912,-122.489440&pt18=37.64913,-122.489490,,,ff0000&pt19=37.6493,-122.490730&pt20=37.64936,-122.491600,,,00b000&pt21=37.64933,-122.491130&pt22=37.64933,-122.491130&pt23=37.64641,-122.491910&pt24=37.64609,-122.492140&pt25=37.64609,-122.492140&pt26=37.6456,-122.492610&pt27=37.64542,-122.492690&pt28=37.64511,-122.492730&pt29=37.6426,-122.492590&pt30=37.63869,-122.492460&pt31=37.63483,-122.492060&pt32=37.63354,-122.492130&pt33=37.63305,-122.492270&pt34=37.63244,-122.492580&pt35=37.62987,-122.492570&pt36=37.62987,-122.492570&pt37=37.62987,-122.492500,,,0000ff&pt38=37.62987,-122.491490&pt39=37.62987,-122.491490&pt40=37.6298,-122.491470&pt41=37.62945,-122.490980&pt42=37.62915,-122.490710&pt43=37.62888,-122.490600&pt44=37.62856,-122.490570&pt45=37.6285,-122.490470,,,ff0000&pt46=37.62825,-122.489770&pt47=37.62825,-122.489670&pt48=37.62825,-122.489670&pt49=37.62762,-122.489640&pt50=37.62674,-122.489360,,,00b000&pt51=37.62627,-122.489070&pt52=37.62623,-122.488980&pt53=37.62561,-122.488370,,,0000ff&pt54=37.62558,-122.488330&pt55=37.62558,-122.488330&pt56=37.62586,-122.487930&pt57=37.62615,-122.487410&pt58=37.62618,-122.487270&pt59=37.62618,-122.487270&pt60=37.62664,-122.486440&pt61=37.62667,-122.486080&pt62=37.62661,-122.485840&pt63=37.62644,-122.485610&pt64=37.6263,-122.485550&pt65=37.62554,-122.485480&pt66=37.62531,-122.485380&pt67=37.62515,-122.485250&pt68=37.62492,-122.484880&pt69=37.62468,-122.483900&pt70=37.62466,-122.483370&pt71=37.62469,-122.483120&pt72=37.62519,-122.481520&pt73=37.62541,-122.481140&pt74=37.62574,-122.480900&pt75=37.62632,-122.480680&pt76=37.62664,-122.480480&pt77=37.62677,-122.480340&pt78=37.62693,-122.480010&pt79=37.62699,-122.479660&pt80=37.62703,-122.478680&pt81=37.6271,-122.478430&pt82=37.62727,-122.478120&pt83=37.62765,-122.477850&pt84=37.62798,-122.477830&pt85=37.62887,-122.478090&pt86=37.62914,-122.478040&pt87=37.629562,-122.477818,,,ff0000&pt88=37.631091,-122.47668,,,00b000&pt89=37.632399,-122.477217,,,0000ff&pt90=37.633351,-122.476659,,,ff0000&pt91=37.633844,-122.4752,,,00b000&pt92=37.633776,-122.472882,,,0000ff&pt93=37.634643,-122.471166,,,ff0000&pt94=37.636019,-122.467067,,,00b000&pt95=37.637616,-122.466338,,,0000ff&pt96=37.63889,-122.464080,,,ff0000&pt97=37.63886,-122.464170&pt98=37.63886,-122.464170&pt99=37.63875,-122.464080&pt100=37.63881,-122.463910&pt101=37.63881,-122.463910&pt102=37.6401,-122.465130&pt103=37.64015,-122.465250&pt104=37.64122,-122.466300&pt105=37.64437,-122.469230&pt106=37.64447,-122.469240&pt107=37.64584,-122.470540&pt108=37.64587,-122.470630&pt109=37.6474,-122.472000&pt110=37.64776,-122.472140&pt111=37.64794,-122.472150&pt112=37.64921,-122.471870,,,00b000&pt113=37.64914,-122.471890&pt114=37.64914,-122.471890&pt115=37.64917,-122.471680&pt116=37.64914,-122.471600&pt117=37.64926,-122.471040&pt118=37.64926,-122.471040&pt119=37.64948,-122.470520&pt120=37.64956,-122.470480&pt121=37.65023,-122.469480&pt122=37.65038,-122.468960&pt123=37.65038,-122.468960&pt124=37.65042,-122.468980,,,0000ff&pt125=37.65087,-122.469230&pt126=37.65143,-122.469320&pt127=37.65237,-122.469350&pt128=37.65261,-122.469330&pt129=37.65363,-122.469020&pt130=37.65416,-122.469030&pt131=37.65475,-122.469230&pt132=37.65729,-122.470450&pt133=37.65749,-122.470490&pt134=37.65862,-122.470460&pt135=37.65898,-122.470540&pt136=37.66022,-122.471140&pt137=37.66153,-122.471420&pt138=37.66227,-122.471730&pt139=37.66269,-122.471980&pt140=37.66335,-122.472500&pt141=37.66369,-122.472840&pt142=37.66468,-122.474170&pt143=37.66534,-122.474750,,,ff0000&pt144=37.66533,-122.474740&pt145=37.66533,-122.474740&pt146=37.66496,-122.475270&pt147=37.66464,-122.475560&pt148=37.66403,-122.475830&pt149=37.66379,-122.475860&pt150=37.66334,-122.475820&pt151=37.66213,-122.475530&pt152=37.66144,-122.475170&pt153=37.66115,-122.475170&pt154=37.66093,-122.475270&pt155=37.6607,-122.475490&pt156=37.6607,-122.475490&pt157=37.66061,-122.475620&pt158=37.66057,-122.475840,,,00b000&pt159=37.66051,-122.476070&pt160=37.66051,-122.476670&pt161=37.66045,-122.476950&pt162=37.66007,-122.477580&pt163=37.65971,-122.478030,,,0000ff&pt164=37.66044,-122.478740&pt165=37.66047,-122.478830&pt166=37.66092,-122.479110&pt167=37.66158,-122.479350&pt168=37.66272,-122.479450&pt169=37.66308,-122.479570&pt170=37.66375,-122.479980&pt171=37.66444,-122.480630&pt172=37.66468,-122.481110&pt173=37.66471,-122.481360&pt174=37.6647,-122.481670&pt175=37.66458,-122.482350&pt176=37.66462,-122.482960&pt177=37.66473,-122.483280&pt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out of town. I was amazed to find a rhythm pretty easily and, while, yes, I had to stop a couple of times to collect my wind and gather my HR in, I made it to the top with 2 fewer stops than I've ever taken before. A hard climb following a hard climb and it wasn't that bad.
It's just so gratifying to learn you're capable of more than you might believe. It's even gratifying to think that you are capable and then learn that you were right. And this is what keeps me motivated.
If you just keep at it, good things come.
Every time I think I'm as good as I'm gonna get, I get better. Can't say that about many things in life.
edit: Oh, how nice. Seems when you edit your post, you lose the URL info so no more first profile. I did update the second one, though, to cover the whole ride rather than just a part of it. Well, who cares, really? They were both testers of my abilities and I came out on top, more or less.