Originally Posted by
Velo Vol
Nice report. Is there enough water along the route?
Yes, but I would use a different strategy if I did it again:
Two bottles: one water, one electrolyte. Drink them both between the start and Kula (3000 ft.). It's really humid and you'll be sweating.
At Kula, stop at the store and refill. Drink both between Kula and the Park Visitor Center (4000 ft.)
At the PVC, stop at the restroom and refill. That's enough to get you to the top.
Originally Posted by nesdog
Great ride and pix! I have this climb on my list for next August and will begin Latigo Hill repeats in the Spring hoping to be ready for it.
I noted your Garmin showed temps no lower than 55. What clothing gear did you take with you and what did you actually wear?
Also, I'm thinking HEED and gels. Anything else?
I wore a sleeveless baselayer, jersey and bibs. In my pockets I carried kneewarmers, armwarmers, a windvest, and glove liners. On the way up, I ididn't put anything on. On the way down, I put it all on. I was a little cold going down between 10K and 8K (passed through a cloud and actually got stung by ice crystals). After that, it got warm again. It really depends and it's probably worth it to bring a wind breaker if it looks like rain.
I took HEED and regretted it: not enough sodium and I cramped pretty badly at 6500 ft. So next time I'll take gatorade powder with me.
For food, I ate a bowl of cereal and banana for breakfast (standard breakfast) and on the bike I ate two packages of Clifshot Blocks, two packages of Sport Beans, and a huge chocolate chip cookie that I bought at the Kula store. I wanted to eat more, but my stomach wasn't having it. I'd say take as much food as you can carry and tolerate.