Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Take that, You Stupid Hills

FINALLY, I beat my climbing route <insert smiley who is jumping up and down and doing back flips>

I have a 2.5 mile climb that I have yet to successfully conquer since I got back on a bike back in May. I've tried it on my MTB and two different Roadies, on several occasions, and lost every time. I've made it about 1/2 way several times, but no further, without taking a bail out at one of the hiking trail heads.

After getting my inaugural ride in yesterday on my touring bike and having the best ride I think I've had yet, I found myself thinking of the climb all last night at work. When I got home, I was actually excited at hitting the hills. A little too excited in that I failed to down some fuel before I left, lol.

There are about 1.5 miles of rollers, some pretty severe, but mercifully short, before you start the steady elevation change. I felt good going through the rollers, and used them to get a better feel for the gearing on the Dawes Super Galaxy. As I started the climb, I knew it was possibly my day.

I rode the middle ring for a about half the ascent, then started switching back and forth between the middle and small ring as cadence dictated. I knew the only way I was going to make it was to stay in the saddle and spin instead of getting up and mashing. When I passed the half way point and still had all of my legs left I knew the day was mine.

My plan was to just get to the Ranger station at the lake dam, and stop and down a bottle of water. When I saw the flag, I was still feeling good so as I crested the "summit" I grabbed the bar end actually semi sort of sprinted to the end of the road where the road blocks are for keeping terrorists and 4 wheelers off of the dam. I WAS Mark Cavendish, if only for a moment and in my own mind/little world!

I did my turn around and headed for the Ranger Station to grab my favorite spot under the tree and enjoy my victory water before heading back. I pulled in and hopped off the bike just as the regional lake manager guy (has a title, don't know it) was parking. He gave me a map of the one off road riding area that is at the lake, and also a proposal map for a huge riding area that is in the works. I just passed on my MTB to a guy who wanted to start riding to lose weight. I might need another real soon.

One thing about climbing a one way climb is that it is down hill on the way back! Woohoo was that some fun! When I got to the severe rollers that stand sentry over the climb, I was worried about finishing it off. I just kept spinning on the uphills until I was back on level road, and then realized I wasn't even in my lowest gear! The ride home from there was nice and flat. I like flat.

So yea, I'm getting some Polk-a-Dots for my jersey, if only for a day.

Glad to hear that you made it up that hill. I have a hill route I have planned to. It is 11 miles long but the major climbing is in the first 5.5 miles. Then it is downhill from there. I have yet to try this so we will see what happens.

Awesome! I love conquering new hills, and more hills.

Great job!! Keep riding!!

Glad to hear that you made it up that hill. I have a hill route I have planned to. It is 11 miles long but the major climbing is in the first 5.5 miles. Then it is downhill from there. I have yet to try this so we will see what happens.

Ugh, 11 miles. Someday! South Eastern Oklahoma is probably the closest 11 mile climb I could find, if I were to look for one, that is, lol.


Awesome! I love conquering new hills, and more hills.

Well, I'm geographically challenged in the hill department so I have to take make do with what I have.:o I'm thinking a few more times going one way and working on pace, and then it's time to get to the bottom, and the rollers, and turn around and go back!

Tomorrow I think I'll stay on more flat routes. Have I mentioned I like flat? Flat is good.

Well, I'm geographically challenged in the hill department so I have to take make do with what I have.:o I'm thinking a few more times going one way and working on pace, and then it's time to get to the bottom, and the rollers, and turn around and go back!

Tomorrow I think I'll stay on more flat routes. Have I mentioned I like flat? Flat is good.

Western Washington has no shortage of the steep stuff. There's the Olympic range out on the peninsula, and the Cascades just east of me. Being in the foothills, we've got plenty of hills all around the eastside. Just this weekend was the Summits of Bothell ride: 40.5 miles and 3500' of climbing including the optional Ascent of Anguish. Even my commute home has 700' of climbing if I take the "flat" route.
I'm hoping to do well on the SiR Mountain Populaire next weekend: ~105km, 5480' climbing according to one of the past years' ride reports.

Great job!

You didn't even need to point out the change in bikes... you are getting stronger and that's all you need.

I lived in Port Orchard for a year and half back in my Navy days when our Sub was going through overhaul at PSNS. I took part of my first re-enlistment bonus and bought a brand spanking shiny new Cannondale Black Lightening at the LBS in downtown Port Orchard.

I was younger, way thinner, and much more fit in those days. I never really thought a Criterium bike would climb that well. It was nice and stiff, but the stock gearing wasn't really designed for the area:eek:

What road were you riding on? Which dam?

That's so cool!:thumb:

What road were you riding on? Which dam?

The road is Skyview, out to the Lake Lavon Dam like you are going to East Fork or Avalon park/campgrounds. I came in off of Parker Rd. There are some other ways in off of Hwy 78 that pick up the road to the dam in various places.

It's not the biggest hill, that's for sure, but it's more than I've been able to do in a long long time, lol.

A nice challenge would be HWY 205 from Hwy 78 in Lavon to Rockwall. It's not really steep but it's long.

Awesome. There's nothing like beating a previously unbeaten hill :)

It feels good to beat that hill into submission, doesn't it?

Great recap, I could feel the excitement in the ride and the confidence. It is amazing how these things build. I had a short 9% grade that I was avoiding. Once I tackled it, I did it twice in one week and now I have a lot more ride routes, because I don't have to avoid that hill.

I am looking for a longer climb, a little nervous, but hey I can always call it quits one is 7 miles and the other around 10. Just a challenge before its too cold to ride, and then I have a standard for next spring.

I need to learn how to determine grade. Then again, not knowing might be a blessing!

My legs haven't felt like this since in May when I first started back up after all those years off. I really need to sensibly push my self over the next two weeks to get ready for the Wounded Warriors ride on September 13.

It looks like tomorrow may be a short recovery type ride after the last two days and having been off the bike for a little over two weeks. I did say sensible somewhere didn't I? :innocent:

I never really thought a Criterium bike would climb that well. It was nice and stiff, but the stock gearing wasn't really designed for the area:eek:

Guilty! My Canni is a crit bike, but a 39 instead of the 42. I like climbing on a stiffy!:D



http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/Canni.jpg

Mine is stiffer

Mine is stiffer



Hunh!:twitchy:

I need to learn how to determine grade. Then again, not knowing might be a blessing!

My legs haven't felt like this since in May when I first started back up after all those years off. I really need to sensibly push my self over the next two weeks to get ready for the Wounded Warriors ride on September 13.

It looks like tomorrow may be a short recovery type ride after the last two days and having been off the bike for a little over two weeks. I did say sensible somewhere didn't I? :innocent:

I found this link that explains percent grade vs degrees. I was suprised to find a 9% grade is only 4 degrees. In my thinking <3% is mild resistance an incline, 5-6% is a hill if walking you would need to lean a bit for balance, 9 or 10%% this had better be short, , >10% haven't done this yet, maybe next year in the TdF:lol:

http://www.geocities.com/sidestreetluge/grade.html

Sensible what's that? The other day on my "recovery" ride I found myself doing a personal time trial, because I found myself on glourious smooth blacktop instead of chip/seal. I'm my own worst enemy sometimes.

Great Job! Woo HOO!!

OK not sure I get the polka dot reference - can someone fill in the Bee?

Also- Question for you and the gang - Is it cheating to ride up the hill in an S or snake pattern so it's easier as opposed to straight up? I did this this weekend when the hills kept coming - and I decided to go zig zag up them to make it easier on myself...Any thoughts?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polka_dot_jersey


http://z.about.com/d/bicycling/1/0/s/0/-/-/polka_dot.jpg

Also- Question for you and the gang - Is it cheating to ride up the hill in an S or snake pattern so it's easier as opposed to straight up? I did this this weekend when the hills kept coming - and I decided to go zig zag up them to make it easier on myself...Any thoughts?

That's called tacking. Everybody's done it at some point. Here in L.A. we have Fargo Street (a 33% grade) and most folks go up it in S-turns.

Great Job! Woo HOO!!

OK not sure I get the polka dot reference - can someone fill in the Bee?

Also- Question for you and the gang - Is it cheating to ride up the hill in an S or snake pattern so it's easier as opposed to straight up? I did this this weekend when the hills kept coming - and I decided to go zig zag up them to make it easier on myself...Any thoughts?

The Polk-a-Dot Jersey is worn by the leader in points and the eventual winner of the Mountain points during the Tour de France. Points are earned in the Pyrenees and the Alps.

Tacking is not cheating. Often it is survival, so I guess you call it cheating death for your legs, lol.

I picked up an older Crit series Canondale off of Craigs List. I'm ditching the crank and RD and going with a Triple and a 9 sp RD that are already in the box inventory. Best of both worlds, I figure.



Guilty! My Canni is a crit bike, but a 39 instead of the 42. I like climbing on a stiffy!:D

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/Canni.jpg

I picked up an older Crit series Canondale off of Craigs List. I'm ditching the crank and RD and going with a Triple and a 9 sp RD that are already in the box inventory. Best of both worlds, I figure.


Mine is a 98 CAAD3. My Lemond is a triple but the Canni climbs much better eventhough it's a double because of the stiffness. I'll bet you'll climb like a goat with the triple stiff!:D

Congrats on your milestone event!!!
What roads out in Wylie are good (safe) for riding during the weekdays?
I'm looking for a good ride to do on Thursday for my Birthday. I'd actually ride out to Wylie (I normally ride to Murphy rd on Sundays from RBM and Wylie isn't that much further) but don't feel like Renner Road is my cup o' tea during weekday traffic. So I'd probably drive out there to start.

Oh yeah!....Congratulations on your new bike too.
I'm sooo jealous.
:thumb:

I usually start my rides by 7:30 in the morning, so I have traffic no matter what I do. With school starting, I'm winding my way through lot's of residential areas the last couple of days. After 2 days, I really hate doing it. It is maybe more dangerous than the regular roads:eek:

I think that once the morning rush hour, and now school, traffic is done, most are OK traffic wise. The major problem with ridding 1378 out to Lucas, Lovejoy, Allen, etc is that it is so narrow. Off of 1378 you can ride down the back way over Lake Lavon and out to toward Princeton. There is also a left turn that takes you out to the McKinney airport. Nice rides, but again narrow.

I am seriously tempted to try 78 down to Lavon, and South on 205 to Rockwall. 205 is more wide, and there is a shoulder if needed. It isn't really steep, but there are some long sections which are up hill, either direction. Another possibility is the back way out toward Lake Ray Hubbard off of Ballard and Pleasant Valley. The roads themselves aren't the smoothest in sections, but they aren't that busy.

I know the RBM and PBA rides seem to head in our direction a lot of the time. It's nice area to ride in except for the narrow roads, which plagues all of the Collin County area.

Most of these distances are beyond what I can really hope to do, but I have to start trying sometime. With a slow pace I can probably go much further than I realize, I just tend to get caught up in pace more than I should and burn out way too quickly, lol. I would be happy to ride with you for as long as I can hang, then you could continue on your way. I can also be your SAG if you need while your out. I sleep during the afternoons, but could get to you pretty easily and quickly if you needed some assistance.

If you have any questions, let me know. I'll be happy to get what ever info I can. We've lived out here for about 10 years now, so I know the area pretty well.



Congrats on your milestone event!!!
What roads out in Wylie are good (safe) for riding during the weekdays?
I'm looking for a good ride to do on Thursday for my Birthday. I'd actually ride out to Wylie (I normally ride to Murphy rd on Sundays from RBM and Wylie isn't that much further) but don't feel like Renner Road is my cup o' tea during weekday traffic. So I'd probably drive out there to start.

Oh yeah!....Congratulations on your new bike too.
I'm sooo jealous.
:thumb:

I did a search on mapmyride.com and found a route like you talked about 78 to 205.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/tx/wylie/835065285

What kind of distance are you up to now?
I never get a chance to ride with the RBM people due to my chaotic schedule and working on weekends.
The only days they don't have rides are the days I'm off....go figure.

(Snip)

Most of these distances are beyond what I can really hope to do, but I have to start trying sometime. With a slow pace I can probably go much further than I realize, I just tend to get caught up in pace more than I should and burn out way too quickly, lol. I would be happy to ride with you for as long as I can hang, then you could continue on your way. I can also be your SAG if you need while your out. I sleep during the afternoons, but could get to you pretty easily and quickly if you needed some assistance.

If you have any questions, let me know. I'll be happy to get what ever info I can. We've lived out here for about 10 years now, so I know the area pretty well.

Just re read your response and didn't catch this bit at first...

What a generous offer to SAG!!! I don't know how hard I want to push it in an area I don't know though.
I'd be proud to accompany you on one of your rides sometime. I'd be nice to put some faces with the screen names in the forum.:)
The longest I've gone so far is 35 miles (worked up from 3 miles in Feb). The bike rallys that I've done gave me the push to get out and ride more. I HAD planned on working up to a century ride by the end of the year...but, mechanicals, heat and general health have conspired against that idea. Perhaps a metric century by year's end....

Hey, you only get one birthday a year, so SAG is my pleasure if I can't do the ride.

The mapmyride site is playing havoc with my work computer. I did read the written directions but I don't know some of those roads. The route I was talking about was a straight shot down 78 out of Wylie heading North Eastish, and turning South on 205. You route looks more interesting though. I'll probably have to wait until I get home to check the map. Most of the roads on the back part of Ray Hubbard are very scenic, but not always the best of roads surface wise. During the day, not much reason for folks to be out there during the week, lol.

I'm not really sure what my max distance is. I just spent almost 3 weeks off the bike with a knee and illness issue, but feel better than I have at all the last 2 days on the bike with a couple of 15 mile rides.


Just re read your response and didn't catch this bit at first...

What a generous offer to SAG!!! I don't know how hard I want to push it in an area I don't know though.
I'd be proud to accompany you on one of your rides sometime. I'd be nice to put some faces with the screen names in the forum.:)
The longest I've gone so far is 35 miles (worked up from 3 miles in Feb). The bike rallys that I've done gave me the push to get out and ride more. I HAD planned on working up to a century ride by the end of the year...but, mechanicals, heat and general health have conspired against that idea. Perhaps a metric century by year's end....

Hey, you only get one birthday a year, so SAG is my pleasure if I can't do the ride.

The mapmyride site is playing havoc with my work computer. I did read the written directions but I don't know some of those roads. The route I was talking about was a straight shot down 78 out of Wylie heading North Eastish, and turning South on 205. You route looks more interesting though. I'll probably have to wait until I get home to check the map. Most of the roads on the back part of Ray Hubbard are very scenic, but not always the best of roads surface wise. During the day, not much reason for folks to be out there during the week, lol.

I'm not really sure what my max distance is. I just spent almost 3 weeks off the bike with a knee and illness issue, but feel better than I have at all the last 2 days on the bike with a couple of 15 mile rides.

I'm even more impressed with your pulling hills after knee issues! Yikes! I remember it took me at least a week off then spinning easy on flats for several weeks before I could even think of a hill again. (pushed too hard in high gear)

I probably won't do anything out in your area tomorrow until 9:30 or 10am....have to drop my daughter at school. Some scenic puttering around the area of the dam sounds like a nice change.
Any good places to park start from? Any particularly good spots for breakfast/lunch?

I met Jtgyk for breakfast this morning after I my ride.

He's heading out to the dam and taking on the hill for his :bday: ride!

Our schedules didn't work out this morning, and I cramped up a bit heading back in and trying to not be late, so he was heading off for the ride after breakfast. I wish I could have gone with him, but hopefully we will be able to get together and ride this weekend.

So, Happy B-day Jtygk and let us know how the ride went!

I met Jtgyk for breakfast this morning after I my ride.

He's heading out to the dam and taking on the hill for his :bday: ride!

Our schedules didn't work out this morning, and I cramped up a bit heading back in and trying to not be late, so he was heading off for the ride after breakfast. I wish I could have gone with him, but hopefully we will be able to get together and ride this weekend.

So, Happy B-day Jtygk and let us know how the ride went!

Thanks for the sentiments and the company for breakfast Txvintage!
And Congats on making it to Rowlett on your morning ride. :thumb:
After heading off to Walmart (teh evil empire) to buy another helmet (forgot mine on the wall as I was loading my bike at home) then I was waylaid by a "Happy Birthday" phone call from my mom. I drove the route first then parked. By the time I started riding...it was after noon. Luckily it wasn't a very hot day today...not even over 100 yet.

It was definitely a nice ride. The roads are narrow...but the drivers I encountered were so courteous!
I was only caught short on one of the steep rollers coming back. I couldn't shift off my big ring and had to try to power up....missed by 3 ft. Stopped. Lifted the back wheel and spun the cranks to change rings. Then went on from there...laughing about the absurdity of the situation. Next time I'll be in the ring I want BEFORE I start climbing that one.:p

8.6ish miles (should have done it again...but Hey it's my birthday and it was starting to get hot)
13.4 mph

FUN :D

I too enjoyed the company, and it was great to finally meet another DFW Clyde! I'm looking forward to getting to ride with you!

Did you head out from "downtown'? I really need to get my computer installed, because I had no idea that was 8.6 miles. Now I wonder how far I went this morning, or any morning for that matter, lol.

Those ending rollers can sneak up on you. The ride back down from the dam is so fun it's easy to forget there is a price to pay to exit, especially those last two. That first one on the way back can really bite, even though it's less than the next one, because you can really crank coming down. After that, you remember the next one, plus it hits right after the first one, Lol. Kind of like this /\/\.

I did some map searching after my shower this morning. If I had taken the left fork, the road indeed runs down to Lake Ray Hubbard and follows the lake while wandering through McMansionville. Hopefully it doesn't have my new best friend, the large yellow Lab's brother on it either! It's amazing what a large dog can do for your pace on a hill.

For the most part, I have found the drivers here to be pretty courteous. I think it's because practically every group ride from RBM and PBA have a route that comes through here, and there are two really large rides every year with hundreds of riders, so everyone is used to seeing riders.

My only bad experience was the first day of school on Monday morning when a lady did a 90 degree turn away from teh curb right in front of me when I was almost home and then scowled at me after locked up everything and came to a stop about 2 feet from her passenger door. Sadly, it was in my neighborhood, about two blocks from my house.

The 8.6 miles was from the Catholic Church parking lot. Map my ride has it at 8.64 or some such - round trip.

I'd powered down the first hill and made it...no sweat. So I thought I'd get the next one the same way, and didn't have quite enough speed. I tried to shift...but my front Der wasn't going to budge until I took ALL the pressure off (tried easing up, tacking, etc.) It was kind of funny, standing on the pedals and slooowwwwly grinding to a stop.
I shoulda stopped sooner to save the stress on my poor chain.

Yep...Dogs can be great motivators.:twitchy:
May have to keep that water bottle handy and get an AirZound.:D

That makes sense. I came in off the loop from 1378 to Parker and turned left onto Skyview. I don't recommend Parker Rd for riding though, too narrow and too many 55 mph one ton pick ups

I'm not sure I want to know the grade on that last little hill before the stop sign. If I lived in that house on the right, I would sit on my front porch and watch the Saturday morning group rides coming out, just for cheap entertainment, lol.

I had a full bottle in my hand on the way back:innocent: I guess the first chase either bored him or wore him out because he was no where to be seen, thankfully.

BTW, I absolutely love the Purple Fade paint job on your Trek. If I had it, it's name would just have to be "Jimi".:D

Oh Great! Now I'll have Purple Haze playing in my head all night!:p
Thanks.....
Thanks very much!
:lol:

now...scuze me while I touch the sky!