Rolled out yesterday about 1 PM after attending an AM rally. It was 65 degrees which is my ideal temp. The ride starts with a 1.5 mile warmup of flat and gently rolling hills before the climbs begin. Today did not attack the climbs, conserving energy for the return climbs toward the end of the ride. The initial hills pitch from 12 to 15% but are shaded by the surrounding fir forest. The road curves and weaves with a nice 1 mile downhill reprieve amidst the climbs before the 15% for the next mile. Kept telling myself to go easy and not push, but it was hard not to do as I watched my HR climb to the high 170s.

Reached the false flat for a half mile, enough to catch my breath and watch the HR come down to the 160s as I cruised by the local mountain bike park (Duthie Hill) where I used to bound down the single track for hours. The next climb was a gentle 5% for the next 1/2 mile again in a forest area, with a nice little downhill before turning right into a large sprawling residential area with broad shoulders and no driveways entering, only other streets. Having rested on the downhill, I gave a bit of a push up the 4% before another nice mile long downhill, almost keeping pace with the cars exceeding the 25 MPH limit. At the bottom of the hill, I was able to roll the stop which gave momentum for the next climb at 6%. After resting and having the legs well warmed up, the climb was a breeze, even with a slight head wind. Turning into another residential area, was greeted by the most beautifully shaped cherry tree in full bloom. Had to stop and admire.


Wada cherry tree

After just a bit more climbing had a fast downhill (always have a front blinky light on in residential areas) to a main drag which leads to a shebanging downhill to the lake. Hitting the downhill after snaking around for 3 miles, it has to be on of the best ones in the Seattle area. It’s two miles at 10% with lots of curves, excellent pavement and good sight lines. Since I can keep up with the cars, I take the lane and use all of it. Hitting 30 is no problem, but with the 20 MPH curves keeps the speed tempered. Hitting the bottom of the hill, had to stop at a traffic light which quickly changed, got me on a lakeside MUP for 7 miles. The lakeside MUP was not very busy since it was overcast and a little cool.



Grabbed a bottle and an energy bar as Varia alerted me to someone coming up from behind. Eating half the bar, I got back to business and picked the speed back up to 19-20. The rider behind me surprisingly did not pass but hung on my wheel - which I have no issue. After 5 minutes, he pulls along side and says, Thanks mate for the pull, but I am really spent since I am finishing a 100 miler. Then he jumped ahead and pulled me for 5 minutes and we traded pulls for the remaining 5 miles. He was a Kiwi and was amazed at his strength at the end of his century ride - and I didn’t doubt his honesty since he was relating some of the challenging parts of his ride which I have done. He broke off and we said our good rides as I headed into a major local park for a quick rest and refill my bottle. The park was swamped with people and had numerous people directing traffic into parking lots. There was a band playing Indy-pop, with dancers in native Indian (not the Merican type) garb and probably 500 people watching. Found out it was the Festival of Color with people covered in bright colors of what I can imagine is chalk. It was quite something.

Heading back out of the park, had 2 miles of flats before heading up one of my least favorite climbs back up to the plateau. The climb is 1.5 miles from 10 to 12%, but at least it is shaded. I really backed off on the climb, since my energy was off, probably from the previous 20 MPH jam session. Hit the plateau with some flat areas and more 5%ers. There is one intersection that I came up to that runs into a 40 MPH 4 lane road with zero shoulder. Luckily the intersection is at the top of a fast descent, so when the lanes are clear of cars, I can easily hit 35+ in the left lane heading for a left turn lane below. Sat at the signal for a couple of minutes until the green and swung far to the right to let the cars behind me pass before hitting that road. Was able to roll it with a tail wind at 19 MPH on the flats. There are a couple of punchy climbs of 15% before leveling off again, heading to a small lake (Beaver Lake) which I circumnavigate. The road is mercifully flat since my legs were starting to feel it.




I then had a few options for the final 5 miles home. One has a fast twisty 2 mile descent which I can easily hit the mid forties but dumps me out on a busy two lane state highway.. The other involves a pretty fun downhill, but then climbs back up at 8% to another crest, but is followed by a twisting forested descent where 35 MPH can be hit on the final straight away, which is a great runout on a fast descent. I chose the later even though more climbing was involved. I ate the other half of my energy bar and had a drink before starting the final climb. I geared down to my lowest gear and kept it at 180-190 watts. Getting up to the top the fun part began with the fast descent. I have done it so many times (local legend status) that I can almost do it with my eyes closed, but the tight turns always keeps me on my toes to not overcook the corners. After blasting through the corners at 25-30 the long down hill straight starts where there is the 35 MPH runout, which then drops down to the farmlands below.

When I hit the farms, it’s only 3 miles to the finish and it is all flat. I roll past horses, cows, “party ponies” (which is a ranch that rents out pony rides for kids events), goats and more cows. Always have to be careful of chickens which can run out in front. Had one bounce off the front wheel and then run off squawking making a helluva racket. After the farms, hit the main road heading into town managing 19 MPH for the last 1.5 miles.

One thing I didn’t do very well prior to the ride was fuel up. I had a protein bar, a handful of nuts and a couple of cups of coffee. On the ride, 1 energy bar and a bottle of electrolyte mix and plain water for the last half. When I finished I felt pretty spent but not to the point of totally wasted which is accompanied by a blank stare.

Ride stats: 2.5 hours, 40 miles, 2100’ climbing, average power 188 Watts with a run into the 700s (my max cause I’m old) with a couple of PRs thanks to the assist from my Kiwi friend, and one 3 mile KOM for my age bracket (no Kiwi help) - but way down the standings for an overall KOM. It was a good ride - but next time, more food up front and more fuel during.

If this is interesting, give it a like or boring and awful, tell me so and I won’t write another. Cheers.