A Cold Ride

[Veronica]

Okay, so it wasn't Shefly cold!

We rode the last two climbs of the Devil Mountain Double today. It was only about half of what we had planned to do, but we couldn't bear the thought of starting before we hit 40 degrees. When you don't get started until 11 AM, it's probably not a good idea to do an 85 mile ride without lights.

It was a good recon ride. We had both ridden Palomares before; it climbs about 1,000 feet in five miles. The descent off Palomares though was SUPER cold. It's nearly all shaded and I hit my top speed of just over 38 mph on it. I was so glad I had stolen Thom's REALLY warm gloves.

The last climb is Norris Canyon, which neither of us had ridden before today. It's a 500 foot climb in two miles. Once you crest it, it really is downhill or flat to the finish. Neither climb is especially daunting, until you consider that they come at the end of a 206 mile ride and with more than 15,000 feet of climbing already in your legs. Still if we can make to the top of Sierra Rd (the Sierra Rd. if you're Phil or Paul ) we'll be good to go. I hope. But I have no illusions about this ride - it is HARD!

Just as aside - we tackled another nemesis of mine last week - Patterson Pass. It's the first time I've ridden up it and felt good! No wind and only twenty miles will do that. I crested the top the first time and was saying in my best scary voice in my head, "Patterson Pass, you are mine! I shall no longer fear you!" I swear when I did my repeat up the last two miles of it, the hill cringed in fear of me.

Veronica