two craziest things I've ever done
03-23-13, 09:42 PM
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two craziest things I've ever done
Well maybe three.
My previous biggest climb was on my longest ride, just short of a metric century. 143 meters climbing, the kind of climbing you can barely even notice it's so spread out.
So here are the three craziest things:
1. Just outside Chiang Mai Thailand, there's a mountain, Doi Suthep at the top there's a Buddhist temple, and the crazy thing was that without any prior climbing experience or practice, I could jump on an 18 inch rental Trek 4300 and make the climb. I'd mapped out the ride sans-elevation as 16km from my guest house, not unrealistic... assuming it was flat.
2. Given the local heat, I decided I'd set out just before sunrise to start, and given the recovering jetlag that wasn't too difficult. I figured I'd get partway up and have to turn back. But, partway up, a very friendly 60 year old Thai gentlemen on a mountain bike I didn't recognize saw me stopped on the side catching my breath and encouraged me to ride with him in decent English. The crazy part was that after a few more stops to catch my breath especially on the steeper portions which Strava lists as Category 1 climbs (I'm not sure I even know what that means), I actually made it to the top with my new Thai friend.
3. Crazy thing 3, the descent! Over the 11km that is the descent I averaged 38.6 kph (23.98) with a crazy for me on a rental bike max speed of 74.2 kph (46.1 mph). So worth the 2 hours effort into the climb to be able to make the descent.
Here's what Strava says:
https://app.strava.com/activities/45597367
And the photo evidence of me and my new Thai friend at the just outside the temple.
My previous biggest climb was on my longest ride, just short of a metric century. 143 meters climbing, the kind of climbing you can barely even notice it's so spread out.
So here are the three craziest things:
1. Just outside Chiang Mai Thailand, there's a mountain, Doi Suthep at the top there's a Buddhist temple, and the crazy thing was that without any prior climbing experience or practice, I could jump on an 18 inch rental Trek 4300 and make the climb. I'd mapped out the ride sans-elevation as 16km from my guest house, not unrealistic... assuming it was flat.
2. Given the local heat, I decided I'd set out just before sunrise to start, and given the recovering jetlag that wasn't too difficult. I figured I'd get partway up and have to turn back. But, partway up, a very friendly 60 year old Thai gentlemen on a mountain bike I didn't recognize saw me stopped on the side catching my breath and encouraged me to ride with him in decent English. The crazy part was that after a few more stops to catch my breath especially on the steeper portions which Strava lists as Category 1 climbs (I'm not sure I even know what that means), I actually made it to the top with my new Thai friend.
3. Crazy thing 3, the descent! Over the 11km that is the descent I averaged 38.6 kph (23.98) with a crazy for me on a rental bike max speed of 74.2 kph (46.1 mph). So worth the 2 hours effort into the climb to be able to make the descent.
Here's what Strava says:
https://app.strava.com/activities/45597367
And the photo evidence of me and my new Thai friend at the just outside the temple.
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Pakiwi
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
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03-18-15 08:17 AM
