dark13star

Since getting back into road cycling this year, I have found that I am pretty consistent with my old mountain biking self. I like to climb. I get no real thrill out of descending, and a 14 mile descent can be painful in the neck and hands from braking in the drops through curves and switchbacks. However, the 14 miles of ascent are fun and pleasurable. Climbing goes by quickly, even though it takes much longer than descending. One thing I noticed is that I break climbs up into segments, mentally: this steep part until the next switchback, the slightly flatter spot until the next grade, etc. I spend time looking across the valley at the facing mountainside, watching birds soar, and observing the climate changes as I gain altitude. When descending, I am too focused on holding a line and controlling my speed to observe all of that. I feel like I miss out on my environment. I don't dislike it; I even welcome the breeze and reprieve after a long climb, but I just like the climbs much better.

When I see the sign in the photo, my pulse quickens as I get ready to change from the steady climb to real work (it is 6.2 miles of steady climbing to the sign and 2.1 more, as it states, to the beginning of the high grade). I look forward to the first switchback and I am almost a little sad when the road goes back to a normal 5% climb after the grade.

Anyone else love climbing and ambivalent about descending? Do you ride up, just so that you can ride down, or do you ride down because you have to after riding up?

One note: other Colorado cyclists may recognize the sign above. It is in Deer Creek Canyon, one of my favorite rides. If anyone would like to read a ride description, I have one on my weblog here. I don't have any advertising on the site, just starting to post some ride reports there.

milchad

Sorry, I prefer this sign:

dark13star

[QUOTE=milchad;6851558]Sorry, I prefer this sign:


For some reason, it doesn't show up the way it is inserted. I was able to paste it in a browser and see it though. Pretty cool.

edit: ok, now it shows

ANK

OP, I totally agree with you.

JMT114

I think this is a funny sign, The title of the pic on flickr is "Beware of Jesus"

Dick Rhee

We have these all over Seattle. "Beware of Jesus" is pretty good though, that's kind of tough to beat.

dark13star

Pretty funny, but I can't figure out what it actually means. I will just go with "Beware of Jesus"

deadforkinglast

"Beware: grade changes abruptly underwater."

Snow_canuck

Seedy J

That'd be me. I hate climbing as much as I love descending.

Beaker

Good post, I like climbing and descending. Flat stuff, that's just the gap between the good bits. What I do hate with a passion are false flats though -- those 3-4mile stretches that inexplicably force your speed down to 14mph.

dark13star

Yes, we have lots of false flats on the plains near Denver. You can be going gradually uphill for miles and miles.

tbrown524

waterrockets 

Yep, I too love climbing, even though I've never been very fast. I love the descents too though. Deer Creek Canyon is also one of my favorites. Enjoy!

prehall

I've always wondered why the lil' kid decided to dress up like a teenage mutant ninja turtle before fleeing the homeland.

mindaugas

I want to get into climbing this summer, looks like deer creek might be a good place to start. I don't think I would really enjoy, I just want to be strong up hills. when you climb, about how fast are you going?

dark13star

I have noticed a pattern on climbs. I am faster than about 90% of the other riders going up, but the 10% who drop me on climbs, drop me hard. I mean they are probably twice as fast as I am. I realize that the 90% are probably just recreational riders like me, but less obsessed about climbing 4-5 times per week, so I don't get any notions of greatness when I pass them. I do like to focus on a cyclist ahead of me to see if I can catch up and pass on a climb though. It just gives me a goal to work on while I am pedaling.

milchad

"Watch out for cyclists bombing hills"

dark13star

^^^nice

Wested

Cyclists need not apply

Paul L.

This one's pretty good.


This one too. Gotta watch those bikes sliding sideways.

ImprezaDrvr

I love descending. I weigh 185 and am finding that I'm more of a punchy climb kind of rider. The longer climbs are fun for me, but they become the prelude to the descent after about 3 miles.

I miss being 3 hours from the mountains. But at least I get out to the 4 corners area and southwestern CO pretty often to get my altitude/climbing/descending fix.

bsyptak

Less than 10mph as I recall. Somewhere in the 9s maybe, with short stints in the 6s probably!

I did the Copper Triangle ride with my wife this past Saturday. 14mph avg for the 79 miles (I know, I suck). My slowest section was pushing a 15-20mph wind riding up toward Climax from Copper. I saw a lot of time at 6mph on that section. My wife was struggling in the 4s and she's a far stronger rider than I am usually. 113 lbs is easy to push around I guess

c0urt

my favorites
near the jesus trail

umd

I like both going up and down. There is a kind of blissful pain in a long climb, and a adrenaline-fueled thrill zipping back down. There are some descents that are just tedious, especially if the road is in bad shape. But then there are those with smooth pavement and sweeping corners that hit a special note. Especially when you get some rhythm sections with quick left-right-left-right changes or a nicely cambered corner that you can hit like you're on rails...