Mojo Slim

There's this hill see. The sign says "15% Grade Next 3 Miles. I've been up to the big switch back -- 1.3 miles. The first time I did that my legs were shaking so much I could barely stand up, and that was with a 30/34 set up on my old bike. I hadn't planned on taking it on this afternoon, but there I was at the bottom and it was mocking me. I put my Giant in low. Set my iPod on Shuffle and my phazer on stun. I started slow'n'easy. When I hit the switchback, I realized I wasn't out of breath and my legs didn't hurt. I kept going. Made it past the steeper part. It just keeps going. The wind came up, a headwind, of course. At 2.2 miles, I was smiling. I'm going to make it. I hit the summit at 3.1 miles as advertised. Jumped off my bike and did the "Rocky" thing. I think that squirrel looked at me funny, but there I was. At the summitin a stiff, chilling wind. But I felt great.

Back down on the ground I pulled up to a stop sign next to one of my riding buddies. "Been up to Meadow Valley?" he said. "No. Bucks Summit. Old road." I said as calmly as I could. He shook his head, "See ya."

Even Mrs. Slim seemed impressed and later, Slim daughter #1 said, "I'm proud of you, Dad."

Me, too.

scottogo

A hill of a good ride.
Congratulations

CrossChain

You really captured that spur of the moment (maybe when most achievements mostly happen), surprized by your own success, go for it moment. Congrats...personal victories can be the best!

stapfam

I often get 15%ers thrown at me but not for that distance.
So how did your legs feel- 3 hours later? Well done and I think you ought to take pics next time- just to show us how its done.

BluesDawg

Way to slay that dragon! You had your mojo workin' that day for sure.

My 11 year old son has recently announced that next spring when we go to see the mountain stages of the Tour de Georgia, we are going to climb Brasstown Bald again, but this time without walking !!

NOS88

I wonder what that hill thinks now! "Hey, hill. Yeah, you. I'm talking to you. Go ahead and mock a 50+ rider. See what that gets you." Nice post.

Pat

Hey Mojo,

Great writing! It captures one of the great essences of cycling and that is the unexpected adventures and challenges and victories that the sport gives out.

Impressing others is nice but impressing loved ones is even better. Congratulations.

Pat

howsteepisit

Wonderful! I know when I do one of those "it did not beat me rides" I generally cannot do the Rocky thing, I just kind of sit with a stupid smile all in my own world. Wonderful!

Mojo Slim

Legs were fine, which made me feel good. Now, the next morning, I'm looking for a ride. Pictures!? That would mean stopping. Here's a picture from last year (early '05) at the bottom of the hill with the "15%" sign.

Mojo Slim

Oops. No picture.

Ksam

Gee...thanks.....now my feet AND my hands a sweaty! Seriously...I'm really impressed! Hills in general are my nemisis...something about slowing and loosing momentum...and the fear of falling over w/my feet clicked in!! Way to to go...gives me hope! Karin

edp773

Great write up and even greater personnal accomplishment slim. Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!

backinthesaddle

that's an inspirational story, congratulations!!!

there's a nearby hill that's been mocking me for a year, I'm hoping to conquer it soon as you have done, I've been building up to it, but haven't yet tackled it.

thanks for the encouragement!

stapfam

Gonna be luckier than that. TDF starts in London and 2nd day passes within 30 miles of where I live. Only problem is that it will be one of the Sprint days so will have to find a good spot to watch the race from. Plenty of Recconaisance rides to do to find the spot but No 15% hills to get there. Just the weald of Kent that only involves one hill from what I can remember. That is about 2 miles long so See If I can train up for Ventoux on my holiday next year.

crtreedude 

Nice story. Your experience is so similar to mine. I had a hill on my way home everyday which kept beating me. I don't know the grade but if I don't shift my weight forward, the front wheel will pop up...

Anyway, I kept getting about half way up and dying and then one day - I got past the bad part and they next thing I knew, heart rate started dropping back down, I wasn't sucking the leaves off the trees and my legs were doing fine.

What is amazing is that the hill is never again hard after you beat it. Not sure why, but once you beat the hill, it sort of just lays down after that.

europa

Thanks There's this thumping geat big hill behind my place ... I'll have to go climb it now

Great story and well done.

Richard

Bud Bent

Congrats, but what the hill were you thinking?

p8rider

Great story! It's fun to slay dragons.
and no one can question your estimation of the grade, there it is in yellow&black
Congrats!

pastorbobnlnh 

Mojo, you looked the curse of the hill square in the face and said, "get behind me satan," and made it so. Oh how I wish I was in California for the winter. Our weather has been dismal for 2-3 weeks. I see too much indoor trainer time in my forecast. At least through reports like yours a bit of sunshine streaks across the country and lands in NH! Thank you!

George

It feels good don't it.We still like challenages even at our age,good going,george

Mojo Slim

P-Bob,

Not all of California is the perpetual sunshine state. It was 23 degrees when I got up this morning and the snow will come sometime in November. I know what it is like to wear layers! But I wouldn't trade it for anything. Great riding and if I get too antsy I can drive "down the hill" to relative sunshine, which I do once or twice a winter.

jppe

Awesome job Mojo!! Isn't fitness a wonderful thing!!!!!!

lhbernhardt

Yes, my parents live in Redding, as the Central Valley ends and I-5 starts to climb towards Shasta and Siskiyous. I usually drive down in the winter (with my bike, of course) and spend a few days in the hills, and they are really nice hills. One favorite ride is out to Platina, where I climb into the Coast Range on narrow, twisty roads, so I can just imagine what the roads around Quincy are like. But I can't imagine 5 km of 15%...
Wow.

- L.

Mojo Slim

Ih-
That ride out to Platina looks like a nice one. I followed along on g-map pedometer. A bit a climbing, not much traffic, I'm guessing. More downhill on the return. My kind of ride.

cyclintom

There are some "Holy CRAP!" climbs in the San Francisco bay area. Now that you've done 15% come down here and do one of the 25% climbs. Maybe only a half mile but you won't forget it.