SaiKaiTai

...and since I talk so much about Sharp Park Road, I figured I'd put some up of that.
Yes, Sharp Park Road... my benchmark, my yardstick, my proving ground.

From being "something I would never do" just a year ago, to trying it once a month, to riding it once or twice (or more) a week.
From having to stop 5 times in the first mile to stopping once... here it is in its glory... and my pain.

First leg up to Gypsy Hill Road.
About 8/10's of a mile from the start. I do stop here for a couple of minutes to get my heart and lungs back before...


The second leg to Milagra Ridge.
Just a 1/2 mile but after what came before, it feels longer.
I'm seeing a lot of improvement in my ability to cover this stretch.
I used to stop here but no I either turn around and go back down or I turn right and go up another 100 feet or so or I just keep going...


...all the way up to Skyline Blvd.
From here, the world is my oyster.
I can go south down Skyline to anywhere (it's how I went off on my 1/2 century a couple of weeks ago) or go north to San Francisco and beyond.


It all begins with baby steps and these are mine.

Wildwood 

you live a wonderful area for cycling. isn't skyline a bit too busy on week-ends?

SaiKaiTai

I guess it depends on which part of Skyline you're thinking of
Around my part of the world, sure it's busy but with 2 lanes in each direction and plenty of shoulder to ride on, it's not too terribly worrisome.

stapfam

Those profiles over short distances don't do you justice. Those are some slopes you are doing- Well- the way you are riding them- they are no longer hills.

Keep seeing figures up around the 10% and enough higher to say you live in good riding country. Now all you have to do is get the average up to 16mph and and start doing Time Trials up them

Stop knocking yourself. If that is the terrain you have to ride on- No wonder you have to keep an eye on the Heart Rate.