50 miles, a good climb and weight goals met
 

In a previous thread I talked about not being a good climber. Everyone suggested to get better that I just needed to climb.

Well today I decided I would start doing that. I didn't want to cut my mileage so I rode from my house across Tucson to Mt Lemmon.

Here is a shot of the beginning of the climb:
http://images.quickblogcast.com/6695...0313asmall.jpg

I think the grade is only about 4-6%, but it was pretty difficult. I rode about a mile and then I would rest for a few minutes and go again. I made it about 3.5 miles. I didn't want to do too much because I still had to ride 25 miles home.

Here are a few more shots:
http://images.quickblogcast.com/6695...0321asmall.jpg

I asked a family to take this photograph. One of the women in the family asked me if I was crazy and the father said that 25 miles didn't seem too far. Then he got in his big gas guzzling van and drove off. :roflmao2:

http://images.quickblogcast.com/6695...0322asmall.jpg

I ended up going just around this turn and then head back down the mountain. What a rush that was! I ended up hitting 41.3 mph. That is a new record for me.

I had a great time and want to try it again, but go farther. Today was one of those days that just makes you happy to be alive .

In non-ride related news, I dropped enough weight that I am no longer considered obese and I dropped from a size 42 pant to a size 36. Feels darn good to say that.

Damn good. Keep at it. :)

Bravo, keep it up. That is terrific you took that much off your waist.

Here's my take on climbing. The mile counting in this sport can be a little seductive and could potentially be an impediment to really taking on the hills. (I'm not saying this is you, but a person might think to him/herself: "I need to ride 60 miles today to meet my goals so I'll make it a nice flat ride.")

What I'm trying to focus on right now is how many minutes did I work out at what average heart rate. I'm also tracking miles, but my goals are more about the minutes and heart rates, as well as the amount of work I can do at a set heart rate. That gives me some extra incentive to take to the hills. Plus I get to give myself more credit for shoveling snow than I usually do riding my bike.

Great work! Great news! And great photos!

I use to be an absolutely horrible climber. Roads that appeared to be completely flat would send my heart rate into the stratosphere, but I kept working at it. After 3 or 4 months of riding every day I attempted a hill near my house that was about a 10% grade. I only made it half way up the hill. A woman stopped her car and come over to me and asked if I was having a heart attack.

It took me another 3 or 4 months before I could climb that hill and another 2 months to climb the 14% hill on the other side.

Well, I can climb any hill near me now as long as the climb is no more than two miles. However, I am still not a fast climber. I think little old ladies can beat me up hills, but in day they wont.

Hill climbing just requires persistence and determination. I made the mistake in the beginning of trying to climb every day. I have been told that I want to keep the climbing to one or two days per week at the most. This gives your body time to recover.

Judging by your picture, yeah, you can climb!:thumb:

Great pictures of your competition. I really like the lines of the Jamis! It's a handsome ride. Inspired somewhat by Beanz exploits, I too have lately sought out the occasional hill. Thanks again...

Good job!! Keep at it. Mt. Lemmon has a definite reputation.

I had one hill near me, in the spring, it was low range, 3rd, gear, 2nd gear, 1st gear, uh, what there is no zero gear, I'm freaking dying here, I'll just walk the other 90% of it.

Mid summer, your powering up that sucker like nobodies business, your waving at younger and skinnier guys, as you pass them walking up, still pedalling.

By fall, what hill?

I think I might try to park a little closer so that I can go farther up without having to worry about also riding all the way home.

It won't be this week though, I am riding in a 65-mile organized ride.

Great idea. I'd like to get out to Tucson once to climb Lemmon myself, but I only ever come out for el Tour and Mt. Lemmon doesn't fit into my plans on that 3-day weekend. Maybe I'll bump into you at el Tour next year? I think you could definitely do the 109-mile route (if you haven't already).

I haven't done it yet. I am going to do the Tour of the Tucson Mountains in April (70 miles), then I'll begin focusing on El Tour.

Mt. Lemmon seems like it would be great in the summer because you'd get a little relief from the heat, well after 10 miles or so.

I understand Lance rented a cabin at the top and rode it each day while he was training for the Tour de France. He actually came into a coffee shop I was working at. Decked out in Postal Service gear, 2 black SUVs with bikes on top. He told me name was Luke when I asked for it to attach to his coffee order.