Brutal Ride

I don't make new years resolutions because just the name makes me think of goals that get dropped within the first month. However, this year I have decided to make the majority of my diet fruits and vegetables, start at a fairly low running mileage and work up slowly (last year was a string of injuries), and ride my bike more (and do my first Century ride--that's a hundred miles in case someone was unsure of what "century" means). My school schedule this semester, while slightly heavier than last semester, is beautifully laid out to allow all sorts of wonderful things to happen. Like working out, sleeping, eating right, and studying!

So I'm back training with the local riding club. It's not a racing club. I don't do that on a bike. I'm pretty certain that humans where never meant to hurtle themselves through life at deadly speeds. Saturdays and Mondays are my riding days. If there's a club ride on those days that fits my needs, I do my ride with the club. If not, I do it on my own. It's way more fun with the club. I run alone, but I enjoy riding with other people.

On Monday I went on a ride that was categorized as a Grizzly and not a Goat. Grizzlies are fun. Goats go up mountains. That 28 mile ride was the hilliest Grizzly I've ever been on. It was ridiculous. I could not stop eating afterwards. It was rated a 3M. The three stands for how hilly it is and the M stands for the pace it's led at. An M pace is generally about 13-15 mph. A good speed but certainly not crazy race speed.

So today when I saw there was a 4M Goat through the Redwoods, I thought it was perfect. About 20-23 miles (forgot to turn on my garmin at the start). I somehow actually possess a small amount of natural climbing ability on a bike, which somewhat surprises me. I never liked hills in my past life.

I would also like to point out that most of the people on this ride were in their 60's and 70's. They are so inspiring. I can't believe people ride hills like these for fun, let alone well into their 70's. If you think you're too old for something, think again.

The ride started out ok. Certainly doable on my part. The hills weren't too steep and they weren't too long either. I obviously lack the downhill ability, but again- humans, speed, hurtling through space.... you get what I'm saying.

Then there was this really long climb up toward the Summit Store (note the word "summit"). Bikes only possess a certain amount of gears. I've had people comment on my compact double gears. Some people tend to think I need more gears. I figure what I lack in gears I just have to make up in leg power. One of the older guys (70's?) had gearing very similar to mine and he was doing just fine. I watched him climb for a long time in his very last gear. But so far I'm fairly happy with my gear options and wouldn't trade my bike (or gears) for anything else.

The climb went on forever. But boy, it was gorgeous. Huge redwood trees, bright green ferns. Just beautiful. And deer on the side of the road. When I was able to look up and around me, I was just in awe. Then my legs would remind me what we were here for and I tucked my head down again and let my vision blur as I followed the flashing red light of the guy in front of me. That's how I eventually decided to cope. Let the eyes lose focus, stare at the road, and follow that light in the periphery.

Forever. It went on forever. I had been in my easiest gear since the start of this climb. No more options. Head down, zone out. My god I wanted it to end. As much as I could I kept on the tire of the lead guy. I wondered if he could hear my breathing. I heard his wife shooting snot rockets behind me, reminding me how close she was. No slowing down.

Finally we got to the top and waited for the rest of the group. We meandered down a busy road and turned off to a quieter one. Then we headed down a very long and very steep ravine. Weird. "Summit Store"....."summit".... why are we heading down? I'm ready for coffee and the sweet potato wedges in my pocket.

I focused on not crashing and not overheating my rims with the brakes. I finally reached the bottom where the downhill pro's were waiting for those of us too squeamish to go careening headfirst down the side of a mountain.

The ride leader was having a snack so I pulled out my potatoes and had a few. Strangely enough, everyone's bike was aimed in the other direction. As if we were going to go back up that hill. Naah. That would be dumb. Who rides down the steepest ravine in the area just to turn around and head back up?

We do.

I am fortunate that I didn't know this ahead of time. I already had enough trepidation coming down the hill. I was glad I didn't also need to consider coming back up it.

A few people took off to get a head start. My heart was pretty much sitting in the bottom of my cycling shoes. I was exhausted. I had to go back up that thing? I exhaled, remounted my bike and headed up.

I passed one guy. Continued up. One of the girls was in my sights. I crept closer. Man it was miserable.

And then the 70-something lady sped past me. It was still steep people. Not kidding.

And then there we were. Back up to the top of the hill where we started (not traveling very efficiently then, huh?).

About a mile or so down the road was the Summit Store.

As we sat and drank our coffee, I ate a little bowl of fruit and the rest of my sweet potatoes. As we discussed the ride back, several people expressed an interest in more Goats. Are you kidding?! Have we not climbed enough mountains today?! These people make me feel like a wimp. But I tell you what. My pride had absolutely nothing to say at this point and I chose to go with the group heading back to our vehicles and skipping the extra climb.

On the way back I worked on my turns heading down the winding mountain road. Did my best not to die. Now my entire body is hurting and I need to eat again. I took a hot bath and I'm now drinking coffee to try to get myself moving again.

At coffee, one of the guys said if I want climbing I should join the Tues/Thurs group. Thankfully I have school all day on Tues/Thurs. At this point I do not need anymore climbing than what I just did. Running is going to suck tomorrow.