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08-22-09, 09:35 PM
It was a bit warmer this morning than forecast, and a touch on the humid side. Nonetheless, I set off to meet up with some folks from a local bike club. The plan was to meet them around 6:50 or so at the ARBT. I was feeling pretty well when I set off, so was planning on a good day. Bottles were full and my pockets full of food and electrolytes.
They were right on time and we set off East toward the Fish Hatchery to pick up a few others and then to the Aquatic Center to meet Clay (VaultGuru). We were held up by the local park service as some big trucks were down the road moving a prefab house. Once the way was clear we set off and headed up Iron Point. We crested the hill without any trouble and proceeded down.
VG showed us another way over the ridge that ends up on El Dorado Hills blvd. This was a much easier way over than Beatty. That one just hurts. Anyway, we went over the ridge and headed up Salmon Falls.
The road doesn't have a bike lane and traffic was (thankfully) light. We saw a lot of other riders. Looked like they were on some sort of ride with a SAG vehicle in attendance. Once we crested the hill, we headed up 49 and stopped for refills. So far, so good.
The ride up 49 is pretty easy with some gentle rollers and then a couple of good descents. The 2nd one is windy and technical. I went to pass a rider on that other ride I mentioned, but he was taking up a lot of the road. Then a hairpin and my brakes glazed over and I lost breaking. Thankfully there was no oncoming traffic as I ended up right through the hairpin and on the shoulder on the other side. I was able to stop ok then.
Finished the trip down the hill and regrouped. By this point it was starting to get pretty hot. The weather forecast was for a cool day (84 I think), but when I got home I found it had hit 96 there. Anyway, we started up Old Foresthill. It's a 3 mile climb with the first 2 miles at about 8%. Then it levels off some and has a steep little kicker up to the top.
On the way up I was riding a comfortable pace, but noticed that my HR was creeping up. Then I got chills and felt the early onset of heat exhaustion. I consumed nearly both bottles full on the climb and ate some of my electrolytes. As I was nearing the top I started to feel a bit better and finished off the water at the top of the hill. But the episode had left my weak and worn out.
We rode down and over the green bridge and up the hill on the other side. It's a steady 8-10% grade for 3/4 mile or so. Tough after all the other climbing. At the top we regrouped at a gas station and filled water bottles. I also had a bottle of OJ for some sugar and drank extra water.
I set off for Auburn-Folsom a little ahead of the others as I knew my pace would be slower on the way back. Got a nice pull from Gary and Bill on the trip back. Most of the others were up ahead by this point. As I was starting off from the light at Douglas, my front tire was really soft. I found a thorn in the tire and replaced the tube. Managed to get enough air in it for the rest of the ride.
When I got to the turn to Bealls Point, Gary and Bill kept going as they were nearing home. When I got up to the ARBT there, I found that I had just missed VG as he had headed out. So the few of us left set out down the hill and for home.
It wasn't to be an easy ride as my right leg started to cramp up and didn't want to straighten (and it hurt like hell). I drank up much of the water I had left and was able to make it through to the Fish Hatchery where I filled up again.
I fell back, which was ok as I knew the way home from there :rolleyes:. I took a short break about 4 miles out and then continued. I was surprised to see our ride leader (Savorn) walking as I neared my turn off for home. Seems that his rear derailleur broke and he had called for a lift back. Hope he gets it fixed up quickly.
Got home and took a nice cool shower and ate lunch, drank a bunch of water and OJ, and had a nice rest.
Total distance was a little over 82 miles and just short of 5100 feet of climbing. Here are my stats: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/11715629
I don't cope well with the heat and have to make sure that I take it easy on hot days. Hope to feel better tomorrow and go for a recovery ride with my son.
They were right on time and we set off East toward the Fish Hatchery to pick up a few others and then to the Aquatic Center to meet Clay (VaultGuru). We were held up by the local park service as some big trucks were down the road moving a prefab house. Once the way was clear we set off and headed up Iron Point. We crested the hill without any trouble and proceeded down.
VG showed us another way over the ridge that ends up on El Dorado Hills blvd. This was a much easier way over than Beatty. That one just hurts. Anyway, we went over the ridge and headed up Salmon Falls.
The road doesn't have a bike lane and traffic was (thankfully) light. We saw a lot of other riders. Looked like they were on some sort of ride with a SAG vehicle in attendance. Once we crested the hill, we headed up 49 and stopped for refills. So far, so good.
The ride up 49 is pretty easy with some gentle rollers and then a couple of good descents. The 2nd one is windy and technical. I went to pass a rider on that other ride I mentioned, but he was taking up a lot of the road. Then a hairpin and my brakes glazed over and I lost breaking. Thankfully there was no oncoming traffic as I ended up right through the hairpin and on the shoulder on the other side. I was able to stop ok then.
Finished the trip down the hill and regrouped. By this point it was starting to get pretty hot. The weather forecast was for a cool day (84 I think), but when I got home I found it had hit 96 there. Anyway, we started up Old Foresthill. It's a 3 mile climb with the first 2 miles at about 8%. Then it levels off some and has a steep little kicker up to the top.
On the way up I was riding a comfortable pace, but noticed that my HR was creeping up. Then I got chills and felt the early onset of heat exhaustion. I consumed nearly both bottles full on the climb and ate some of my electrolytes. As I was nearing the top I started to feel a bit better and finished off the water at the top of the hill. But the episode had left my weak and worn out.
We rode down and over the green bridge and up the hill on the other side. It's a steady 8-10% grade for 3/4 mile or so. Tough after all the other climbing. At the top we regrouped at a gas station and filled water bottles. I also had a bottle of OJ for some sugar and drank extra water.
I set off for Auburn-Folsom a little ahead of the others as I knew my pace would be slower on the way back. Got a nice pull from Gary and Bill on the trip back. Most of the others were up ahead by this point. As I was starting off from the light at Douglas, my front tire was really soft. I found a thorn in the tire and replaced the tube. Managed to get enough air in it for the rest of the ride.
When I got to the turn to Bealls Point, Gary and Bill kept going as they were nearing home. When I got up to the ARBT there, I found that I had just missed VG as he had headed out. So the few of us left set out down the hill and for home.
It wasn't to be an easy ride as my right leg started to cramp up and didn't want to straighten (and it hurt like hell). I drank up much of the water I had left and was able to make it through to the Fish Hatchery where I filled up again.
I fell back, which was ok as I knew the way home from there :rolleyes:. I took a short break about 4 miles out and then continued. I was surprised to see our ride leader (Savorn) walking as I neared my turn off for home. Seems that his rear derailleur broke and he had called for a lift back. Hope he gets it fixed up quickly.
Got home and took a nice cool shower and ate lunch, drank a bunch of water and OJ, and had a nice rest.
Total distance was a little over 82 miles and just short of 5100 feet of climbing. Here are my stats: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/11715629
I don't cope well with the heat and have to make sure that I take it easy on hot days. Hope to feel better tomorrow and go for a recovery ride with my son.