24th ave.

when i moved to seattle about a year ago, i knew it was going to be tough. i knew where i would be living, and knew where i'd be working/schooling. the former location being close to the highest natural point in the city, the latter being at the bottom. a good 500ft elevation change. going down would be tough, but coming up would be tougher. it's not just the hill, either; it's the cars. it's the buses. it's the people who can't share the road.

the first couple of times were epic. i've never spun so fast, never cranked so hard. it wasn't pretty. it just wasn't natural! it had to get easier.

it did.

one of the problems is that picking up speed at the bottom doesn't really matter because the hill is so damn long. nonetheless, i get a high cadence going as i approach the bike shop at the bottom at which i'll often stop for a breather and some shop talk on the way home. not today though. as i begin my ascent i think about my checkpoints along the way. make it to interlaken. then make it to crescent. then make it to the steep curve in the road where i've almost been sqeezed onto the cracked an uneven sidewalk.

at interlaken i start to think about getting off the saddle. nah. it doesn't matter. i don't need to. stay on it and pull up on the bars. clipless is good. gotta use all you've got right now. hit crescent. think about pulling off and circling around for a few. nah. it doesn't matter. i don't need to. shove my water tube between my lips and keep pumpin'. finally, hit the curve. can't look back, can't look ahead. i look down. the sweat is taking my glasses down with it. think about getting off the saddle again. yep. it matters. i need to.

2 out of 3 ain't bad.