February 18 rides

[Veronica]

We did a mountain bike ride at our local regional park. Gorgeous weather and the hills are so green.

I was upset that I didn't make it through the switchback on the second climb. I HATE this switchback. Any time I make it through it's a glorious day.

It's steep - probably 18% and in the spring is always churned up the cows, in the summer it's always very loose. I had picked what I thought would be a good line, but I couldn't hold it. I started veering off into the really chopped up stuff and managed to power through it for a bit, thought I might make it, but I couldn't keep my balance right and the front wheel came up.

And of course it's too steep to start up again. I tried, because I'm obstinate. Looked behind me and thought about going back down to the flat just below the switchback to try again. I HATE going down this switchback, almost as much as I HATE going up it. If you fall to the outside, it's a pretty big drop off and the best line is to the outside. I decided to be a wuss and walked up a bit to where I could start up again. I pedaled a little bit up the hill. But I was PO'ed and I don't like letting the hill win.

I turned around, went back down around the switchback. I took the same line I had wanted before, held my course through it and continued up the hill.

We call this section of trail the wall. It climbs 570 feet in about 9/10 of mile. That's an average grade of 10.5%. I know there are sections much higher, like the switchback, because there are also a couple of relatively flat sections. Those are NICE.

I had a screaming descent down the other side and hit a high of 33.

V.

[mimitabby]

Rode from near gasworks to Sandpoint and back (that was where the Bike Expo was)
It was nasty windy and cold but it never rained. I was really encouraged to go as fast as I could: the weather and the fact that i was with people with tens of thousands of miles on their bikes... gasp gasp gasp.

that was about 12 miles total. a "recovery" ride sort of. Hahaha

[uk elephant]

Had a very nice ride, and the longest ride ever! 56 miles. Overcast day, but now wind. Perfect for riding. And because I knew where I was going most of the time, I didn't have to stop every half mile to check the map. Peddaled through scenic villages with thatched roof cottages and rolling green hills. Stopped for lunch in Lavenham, a village full of mideaval buildings. Well worth going back for a proper visit some other time. Headed towards home along the train line in case I needed to give up and take the train home. But I kept going and made it all the way home without cheating.

[7rider]

I did 35 minutes on the rollers.
No headwind.
No tailwind.
Just lots of sweat!
Kept at bay, of course, with my slick AV buff!