After getting done with the Mt. Shasta ride, I thought I'd be toast due to all the climbing. I had climbed almost 12,000 feet. I had not done that much climbing in one day. In spite of that, I felt great on Monday. Legs felt strong. Nothing like my STP experience. I then decided to ride the local century that starts at the High School and rides through the wine country. I have done the Vine Ride 4 years now. I love the route and I know the roads so that makes it easier.
I headed out at 6 AM. I promised Christine I'd be done by noon. I was at the first rest stop before they were set up. I was the first rider to the 45 mile rest stop. I hit 60 mile rest stop and met up the 65 mile lead riders. On my way to the 85 mile rest stop, I passed a lot of the 35 mile riders. When I got back at noon, nothing was ready. All the festivities started at 1 PM. I only saw one other rider there. Christine and Cassie had ran over to meet me so I had my own cheering section as I crossed the finish line. Cool!
I felt like I was on the break all day - solo. I didn't mind. I got to think about a bunch of things. I had been to the Hillsboro Air Show the night before and had the Lee Greenwood song stuck in my head. "...across the plains of Texas..." kept ringing in my ears.
I rode 105 miles in 5 1/2 hours on the bike time. It was a good day in the saddle.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Mt. Shasta Almost Super Summit Century
I have been doing a considerable amount of riding this year in order to prepare for the mountainous Mt. Shasta Super Summit Century. It is 138 miles with 16,500 feet of vertical gain. It has been climbing and more climbing for me. It has been nice to prepare with a few friends as we have suffered over all of the climbs in the area a few times over.
The Mt. Shasta ride was on August 1st and started early in the morning. We met and rode out by 5:30 AM. It was still a bit dark but we managed. It must have been the moonlight off of the snow that helped. The first climb was long (13.5 miles) but steady grade the whole time. There might have been a few spots over 8% but they were not long. I hooked up with another ride doing my pace and we gabbed and rode to the top together. There were great views from the top. Going down was fun but scary at the same time. The roads are one lane narrow with riders coming up.
We meandered from Weed back to Mt. Shasta before starting the second climb. I flatted after I hit some larger rocks in the road. A nice gentleman driving by stopped and offered assistance. He had an air compressor and asked if I needed it. I was impressed - this never happens to me.
The second climb was a bit more challenging than the first. The first 8 miles or so were fairly similar to the first climb. It was the second 6 that caused severe damage. It was steep and it seemed to go on for a while. 6% never looked so good and I hit the top of the climb. At the top of the climb there was pure carnage as riders laid down and rested. I sat down, drank a Pepsi, and enjoyed the view while trying to stay out of the sun. There were times on the steep sections that I had to talk myself into staying on the bike. I am glad that I had rode all those hills. The descent was nice but the temperature rose slowly as we descended. At the bottom, it was hitting 85 degrees.
At the base of the third climb, I took off. I had heard that it was less steep and flattened out at the top. The heat got to me so I stopped for a few minutes and waited for my friends. They caught up and we rode up the rest of the way. It did get flatter but only like 4% to 5% grade. The view at the top was spectacular. There was a high lake that was freezing cold. Mt. Shasta looked like you could reach out and touch it. As I sat there, I realized that I had a decision to make. It was already 3:30 PM. I needed to be finished by 6 PM in order to drive home safely. I didn't take a day off on Monday and needed to be at work. The last climb was the longest at 14.5 miles. It also had the most elevation gain. I figured that I had one descent and back to the car. I'd have to do Mt. Shasta another day. It was a very fast descent. This was a 2 lane road that was nicely paved. We hit 40+ most of the way down.
It was sad to have to not ride the last climb. I was grateful for my riding companions who hung with me. I longed to be with them as they started the last climb and I took the left back to the start line. In talking to them the next day, it reinforced my decision to leave when I did. They didn't get done till almost 8. I was almost home by that time.
I feel like I have some unfinished business with Mt. Shasta. Maybe next year ... there is always next year.
The Mt. Shasta ride was on August 1st and started early in the morning. We met and rode out by 5:30 AM. It was still a bit dark but we managed. It must have been the moonlight off of the snow that helped. The first climb was long (13.5 miles) but steady grade the whole time. There might have been a few spots over 8% but they were not long. I hooked up with another ride doing my pace and we gabbed and rode to the top together. There were great views from the top. Going down was fun but scary at the same time. The roads are one lane narrow with riders coming up.
We meandered from Weed back to Mt. Shasta before starting the second climb. I flatted after I hit some larger rocks in the road. A nice gentleman driving by stopped and offered assistance. He had an air compressor and asked if I needed it. I was impressed - this never happens to me.
The second climb was a bit more challenging than the first. The first 8 miles or so were fairly similar to the first climb. It was the second 6 that caused severe damage. It was steep and it seemed to go on for a while. 6% never looked so good and I hit the top of the climb. At the top of the climb there was pure carnage as riders laid down and rested. I sat down, drank a Pepsi, and enjoyed the view while trying to stay out of the sun. There were times on the steep sections that I had to talk myself into staying on the bike. I am glad that I had rode all those hills. The descent was nice but the temperature rose slowly as we descended. At the bottom, it was hitting 85 degrees.
At the base of the third climb, I took off. I had heard that it was less steep and flattened out at the top. The heat got to me so I stopped for a few minutes and waited for my friends. They caught up and we rode up the rest of the way. It did get flatter but only like 4% to 5% grade. The view at the top was spectacular. There was a high lake that was freezing cold. Mt. Shasta looked like you could reach out and touch it. As I sat there, I realized that I had a decision to make. It was already 3:30 PM. I needed to be finished by 6 PM in order to drive home safely. I didn't take a day off on Monday and needed to be at work. The last climb was the longest at 14.5 miles. It also had the most elevation gain. I figured that I had one descent and back to the car. I'd have to do Mt. Shasta another day. It was a very fast descent. This was a 2 lane road that was nicely paved. We hit 40+ most of the way down.
It was sad to have to not ride the last climb. I was grateful for my riding companions who hung with me. I longed to be with them as they started the last climb and I took the left back to the start line. In talking to them the next day, it reinforced my decision to leave when I did. They didn't get done till almost 8. I was almost home by that time.
I feel like I have some unfinished business with Mt. Shasta. Maybe next year ... there is always next year.
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