Pig Farm Hill - CHECK!

[bikerz]

Just got back from a great 37 mile ride with my friend Nicole - we started in El Sobrante and took Alhambra Valley up the dreaded Pig Farm Hill - a hill I have been worried about since I first heard about it. I am pleased to report that I made it up with up with no stops - but I know the three heart-felt expletives I gasped out at various points along the way really made a difference!

Then a lovely descent (max speed - 41.5 mph!) and some rollers and then more climbing up Reliez Valley - wow that's a doozey - but at least it's shady. Then the usual stuff through Moraga and back on the Dam Rd (against a freaking headwind so strong I was working really hard to go 10 mph downhill! )

A beautiful route and perfect cycling weather.

Next BZ challenge in the "Bay Area Named Hills to Creep Up": Wildcat Canyon! (one of these days!)

[SadieKate]

Yeah! Bubba says 10 pts for style and extra credit for expletives.

[maillotpois]

Good for you!! That hill's a doozy!

[tararat]

You'll be ready for the Bike Against the Odds Century ride next year!

[Veronica]

Excellent! Great job bikerz. The secret to hills - well, you already know it - just keep pedaling!

V.

[bikerz]

Thanks! Personally, I think it's the significantly placed f-words - Really, sometimes it feels like it's a choice between stopping or cussing! (And I don't really swear much... but steep hills and strong headwinds bring out the sailor in me!)

You'll be ready for the Bike Against the Odds Century ride next year!

Ha! I think I'd need to start the week before! But who knows what next year will bring!

[RoadRaven]

A belated "woohoo!", bikerz

I love this kind goal being reached

Hills are my nemisis!

I have hills that are named, or i have named, and they are in my list of "things to conquer"

Of course, once conquered, they become "something to get up faster than last time"

[Bike Goddess]

Of course, once conquered, they become "something to get up faster than last time"

Yep! And.. sometimes faster and other times slower!

I train on the other side of Pig Farm hill (the one Ms BikerZ went down). It's part of my twice weekly metric. I've steadily gotten faster on that road and it's made century rides with hills much easier for me this year. (Of course I have a bike that's about 5 lbs lighter too!)

Z- Good for you! I'm thinking of doing that route from the Carquinez bridge- going backwards to Pinole, then over the Bears, up that nasty Pig Farm hill, and then home via Franklin Canyon. Have never done the Bears that way (and You Have!!!!)