Fifty Plus (50+) - My first mountain climb

I took off work Friday to ride my bike and was not sure where I was going to, either Washington DC from my house and take pictures of monuments and stuff or Skyline dr in Va where I would have to drive 2 hours to get to.

Well I woke up and decided to go the the mountains. I started my ride at the bottom of the mountain and did a 7 mile climb in about 48 minutes, I am not 100% sure of altitude but esyimate around 2600-2800 hundred feet.
Here is wherre I entered the Drive
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f66/kr32/009.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f66/kr32/005-1.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f66/kr32/006-1.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f66/kr32/007.jpg
Right after I took this picture just as I clicked the shutter the wind blew over my bike! Ouch

The winds were howling up on the drive and I was blown around a few times.
When I coming down the mountain I was a little scared to be honest as the speeds were a little crazy and there were some wet spots on the roads so I was a careful to not just blast down. Also I was not too sure just how to decend but figured it out pretty good as I went.
It was a blast and I think overall I climbed some where around 3200 hundred feet.
Thats pretty good since it was my first real test of climbing. I did 31 miles with a 13.5 average.

Don't get too hooked on Mountains- they can get addictive.

But mountains have to be trained for- You are supposed to do hill repeats up the 15% slope for 1 mile to get the body prepared for them. You are supposed to go out for 4 hours nonstop in the saddle to get the legs and butt ready for all that sitting down you have to do. And you are Supposed to eat for a week beforehand to get the energy to do them.

Better if the eating is done in France with all that French Cuisine and better if you can train on the short 3 mile climbs up from your hotel to the big ones.

But not bad for a first attempt:innocent::innocent:

Well done- but watch out for the Addictive nature of the Mountains. It is like a siren calling you back and they have to be done as often as possible.

So what gearing and did you ever get out of the lowest gear once you got into it? I know I was 28/28 and once there- I stayed there. Camera didn't get used much though- The fog is the view from about 1 mile from the top.

Thanks for sharing! Great ride and great pics. You've learned the first lesson of riding in the mountains -- you *must* always take pictures of your bike in front of the elevation signs.

Ride/bike pics are always welcome on this-here gabfest. Thanks. I love to see where other people ride.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f66/kr32/007.jpg

One of the best parts of climbing a hill is the view from the top. :thumb:

Descending does take a little getting used to. Although I'm competent bombing down a mountain, I always try to anticipate what I'd have to do if an animal (or child, or car) suddenly bolted out of the trees in front of me. That helps keep my speed in check. Besides, you've earned a lovely cruise down the mountain, so why rush it? ;)

About 2600' over 7 miles? I come up with 7 miles of 7%
Way beyond anything I can do, at least without stopping 5 or 6 times. I'd be gasping like a fish out of water
Way to go!

About 2600' over 7 miles? I come up with 7 miles of 7%
Way beyond anything I can do, at least without stopping 5 or 6 times. I'd be gasping like a fish out of water
Way to go!

The Skyline Drive isn't that steep. It averages around 4% though there are short sections above that grade. For the most part the grades on the Blue Ridge parkway are steeper than the SLD.

Congrats! That's a fun section (especially coming down, and zooming through the tunnel.)

Next time keep on going up to Skyland. That's the highest point on Skyline Drive.

I've ridden the entire parkway numerous times. It's my "go to" destination when I don't have anything better planned. It's almost always a pleasure.

The far south end has been pretty badly chip-sealed though, so that's kind of unpleasant.

You made a great choice to do the climb. Great pictures and hope the bike forgives you soon. Picking harder over fun, are you moving up another level on the cycling ladder?

So what gearing and did you ever get out of the lowest gear once you got into it? I know I was 28/28 and once there- I stayed there. Camera didn't get used much though- The fog is the view from about 1 mile from the top.

Whern I started I was in 50/19 and started to drop gears till I went to my 34,I got to 34/25 near the top and stayed there for some time but did go to 34/23 and 21 for short times as well. The most was 34/25 and 23.


About 2600' over 7 miles? I come up with 7 miles of 7%


I do not think it was ever 7% might have been for a very short turn on a switchback but that was only on the climb up the mountain and not on the drive once I got on top.


The Skyline Drive isn't that steep. It averages around 4% though there are short sections above that grade. For the most part the grades on the Blue Ridge parkway are steeper than the SLD.

Agreed the Drive is not steep but going up was where it was steeper. I agree with you though about 4% from some mapping sites I looked at.


Congrats! That's a fun section (especially coming down, and zooming through the tunnel.)

Next time keep on going up to Skyland. That's the highest point on Skyline Drive.

Jim , a post you had inspired me to do this and I was thinking of the ride thinking no way I could have done his entire ride. I was mad after I finished not going to Skyland because I was only a few miles from getting there and knew it was the highest point. I was getting a little worried about the wind though because it was howling and blowing me around and I wimped out. The tunnel was scary going but cool coming back for sure! Thank for the inspiration.




You made a great choice to do the climb. Great pictures and hope the bike forgives you soon. Picking harder over fun, are you moving up another level on the cycling ladder?

Never really thought of it as picking harder over fun but you may be right. After the ride, and halfway down, I was thinking I could keep going because my legs felt so much better. Rest helps. I did learn to not go too hard and just ride within myself.
It was a blast after all was said and done.

Thanks for sharing! Great ride and great pics. You've learned the first lesson of riding in the mountains -- you *must* always take pictures of your bike in front of the elevation signs.

One of the things I so like about the forum, peoples pictures of their rides.
I knew I had to show elevation signs as proof.

Woohoo!!!! Great ride and pics.

Looks like a fun ride. would have to agree - go on up to Skyland, I use to approach it from the south end of of the Drive.

Don't get too hooked on Mountains- they can get addictive.

Stapfam is right kr32,

Truer words have never been written:thumb:! I'm a mountain climbing addict, I admit it. But I'm not trying to quit!

Here in Sothern California we have lots of great mountains to climb. Then I do double centuries in other parts of the state, so I get a chance to climb those mountains. Wish I was better at it, but I'll continue to keep trying.

Great climb and thanks for the photos :)!

Rick / OCRR

Great Hot Rod, post more pics of the roddie, please.

Great Hot Rod, post more pics of the roddie, please.

Just because you asked, a peek at the Winters Quickchange rear,
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f66/kr32/MyCar1932afterrepair2004001-1.jpg

and then this one, but this is my avatar and before the recent wreck, I now have a drilled and chrome I-beam front axle. Just noticed also that this is way before accident. I also have added outside door hinges and door handles as well. I do not have too many pictures to be honest.
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f66/kr32/MyCar1932afterrepair2004008.jpg

Looks like a nice day. Here's an elevation profile (http://www.flickr.com/photos/38397894@N06/4012924284/sizes/l/) of that section of Skyline. It's most 6-7%, over 8% in a few short spots. Very nice place to ride, especially on a weekday when there isn't much traffic.