Sunday, February 24, 2013

288 KM in 3 Days!




Wow! I have so many amazing things to write about from the last 2 days!

As I wrote about in my last blog Kevin and I were headed off to conquer Mt. Fig HC category (so many 18% gradient climbs) and that we did! I completed it in 1:46.04 and Kevin did it in 1:41.00. I am so pumped because some of the pro women times for the climb is 1:27.00. I know so many sections where I can easily make up that time, but the first time you ride a mountain, you don't really know it, which has its benefits mentally, but also knowing the mountain allows you to push on the sections that are your strong points as a rider.

The times above were to the "snow line" on the mountain. BUT being Canadian and all we weren't going to let a little snow stop us from getting to all the way to the top. So I attempted a little ride on the ice and obviously my bike slipped all over the place so I got off and started walking I knew Kevin was up there somewhere, I saw his bike tracks in the snow so I had to find him and I admit I was a little worried he was gonna get eaten by a Mountain Lion. So anyways, it was only about 5 min of walking on ice and carrying my bike before I found some dry roads and make it to the top after 15 more minutes. IT WAS AWESOME! One other guy met us at the top, the 3 crazy canadians of course, I would hardly call that snow! It was however a little scary coming down as our cleats froze and we couldn't get unclipped, we both got one foot out in the nick of time before we had a major bail down on the ice. Kevin's right foot was pretty much locked in his shoe the whole decent of the mountain and the ride home which totalled about 40km.

Descending Mt. Fig is just as fun as climbing it! The wind out here in California is nothing like i've every experienced before, one little gust could easy blow you right off your bike. There is no way we could ride our wheels here this time of year (Cosmic Carbone SLR), the crosswind would take us out, not to mention the majority of the roads are insanely rough. Not gonna lie, I sure which I had my Cannondale EVO frame here, for many reasons some being. the smoothness and stiffness of the bike for climbing, descending and bumpy roads. My upper back and shoulders have never hurt so much on a bike! However, I do really love the Ultegra DI2 and the feel of Shimano hoods but I could use a nicer frame and the 3 . 5 less pounds of weight on my bike.

On the third day we set out to conquer 160 km and I had no idea how I was gonna do it as I just had my toughest ride ever the day before but I wasn't gonna let anything stop me! I drank a ton of fluids, loaded up my pockets with food and we headed out. Overall we ended up climbing more on this day that the total of Mt. Fig. The day we did Mt. Fig had a total of 1,488m of elevation and this day had 2,150m just to give you an idea. It was that type of ride where you have to dig so deep within yourself and find something that you had no idea was there. I am completely amazed at what the human body is capable of as well as the human soul guided by God's spirit. Both of these 2 days, I met God in a new way that I never imagined finding him, it was like He was just waiting on top of every single climb that we did. We did about 4 mountains on this day, and there was one point where we had to climb a CAT 2 category mountain, down the other side, back up, then down again, this was the 3rd mountain of the day. The other 2 were the roughest roads I have ever been on, on a road bike, my descending improved dramatically, those steep grades and corners with 100ft cliff edges and insanely bumpy roads, one miss handle, and off the edge you could go.

Back to the mountain with a CAT 2 category (and this one had some of the first smooth roads of the day). I bonked, it was about 3 hours in we started going up the first side, I have never done steady exercise for over 3 hours straight and my body just wanted to stop. However there was no way I was not completing the ride I set out to do, even if I had to pedal at 6km/hr up the mountain. So I spun, nice easy gear, one pedal stroke at a time, lowered my heart rate, waited for the banana to kick in and up the mountain I went, I thought, well at least i'll make it to the top, and then maybe not do the other side. Before I knew it, I was up the mountain!!! Then I saw the amazing decent down the other side and there was no way I was gonna miss out on that! So after all the descending we had done up to that point, that felt like the reward! My handling skill have improved so much, the corners, the smooth road, the beautiful scenery was was UNREAL! It was about as perfect as it could get! Kevin said that was easily the best decent he had ever been on! Then to top it off we had the friendliest horses come visit us, and we got some awesome pics. Then we headed back up, a steeper grade % and down the other side, somehow through all that I started to feel much better and my legs started moving again!

6 hours, 5 bananas, 6 bottles of water, 3 bars, 1 pack of electrolyte later we completed 140km! I was upset we didn't get the full 160km but we were suppose to head out a little further on one of the roads and didn't realize it, to get the full distance. But oh well, that was my biggest ride ever, with an insane amount of climbing! I still have so much more to write, but i'm gonna be late for my ride today! All I can say is without Kevin's constant encouragement and monitoring of my safety these rides would not be as great as they are. I am so blessed!

Lovin life on the road!



Pic 1: Horses came to visit on the other side of the mountain I almost didn't make it over!
Pic 2: Top of Mt. Fig! Conquered an HC climb
Pic 3: Loving life on the road with Jen, one of the Trek employee's

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