Climbed a mountain yesterday...by accident!

[KathiCville]

Wow, Starfish! 16,000 feet of climbing! I confess that I can't imagine doing that, BUT on the other hand, a year ago, if you'd asked me if I would ever be on a bike on Skyline Drive in early December, I probably would have hooted with laughter!..........

My cycling BF, who is proud as can be of my little accidental "mountain" adventure, keeps telling me that by next summer I'll be right back up to where I was in my late 20s, early 30s---pretty comfortable doing 30-40 mile rides (note, rides, not races!), on rolling roads. (I'm turning 50 in April.) Anything more in terms of length or difficulty will be sweet icing on the (birthday) cake!

As I was looking up at that (to me) daunting stretch on Saturday, I was definitely grateful that I'd pushed myself recently to do a little bit of "hill work" at one of our local parks. Just a stretch that is at most a 1/2 mile long, but steep enough at the mid-point that I really have to hang on to make it from bottom to top. (At which point, I'm always saying to myself: "WHAT was I thinking???" or "Whose bright idea was THIS?")........If I hadn't enjoyed the "success" of that small climb a half dozen times or so, I almost certainly would have wussed out on even trying the climb on Saturday. So, the lesson is that every little bit of positive experience DOES count in fueling the "Hmm, let's give a shot! What have I got to lose?" mindset.

Now, if I can just get my 50-year old buns and my new Terry saddle to make friends!

[Starfish]

If I hadn't enjoyed the "success" of that small climb a half dozen times or so, I almost certainly would have wussed out on even trying the climb on Saturday. So, the lesson is that every little bit of positive experience DOES count in fueling the "Hmm, let's give a shot! What have I got to lose?" mindset.

Now, if I can just get my 50-year old buns and my new Terry saddle to make friends!

You are so right. Take enough baby steps, and keep on taking 'em, and you will surprise yourself. You only have a very small handful of years on me, and before I started riding my bike, I had not ever ridden as an adult. Not since I was a child, under 10yo. I hear you about the saddle, too!!

I love your enthusiasm. It is going to be great fun hearing from you as you keep on having fun and surprising yourself.

[IFjane]

As I was looking up at that (to me) daunting stretch on Saturday

Kathi, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I know those hills intimately and hate them every time I climb them. What an awesome accomplishment! Not only were you climbing big hills, but you were climbing them on the TOP of the mountains - where it is decidedly colder than down at the bottom in town. Keep it up - we'll plan a ride up there in the spring and I will whine every pedal stroke of the way with you.

[IFjane]

Oh yeah - what overlook did you start from? Did you climb up to Big Meadows?

[KathiCville]

Hi Jane! Welcome home!.....I entered the Park at Afton (Milepost 105), parked at Beagle Gap Overlook, mile 99.8, just north of Milepost 100, and headed north. Gentle downhill for first four miles. I think it was Sawmill Run Overlook, at around 95.3, where the climb started. According to the sign at the overlook the elevation is 2190'. I hit the top somewhere between Wildcat Ridge parking lot and the Crimora Lake overlook, where the elevation is just shy of 3000'. Once I hit the top (whew!), I kept going for almost two more miles--the stretch was relatively "level" there. (Emphasis on "relative".....) I turned back when the Drive was about to take a huge dip again---I think the spot was just beyond Riprap Overlook at 91.4.

When I got back to where I'd parked my truck, I actually went past the spot for just a little bit going south, because I thought mayyyyybe I could hit 20mi for the day. But between fatique, dropping temps, impending sunset, not to mention hints of a wicked downhill stretch that I was going to have to climb to get back to where I had parked, I cheerfully and contentedly tossed in the towel at that point.

I should have mentioned that part of the reward of that terrific ride was driving back down the Parkway five miles to the exit, thoroughly enjoying a beautiful Valley sunset from the comfort of my cozy, WARM truck, LOL!!! Gorgeous!

[IFjane]

Thank you Kathi!

I realized after I posted on Thursday that you would not have climbed to Big Meadows because you would have started from Rockfish Gap (Afton) instead of Swift Run Gap (where Rt. 33 crosses the mountain). DUH!

It sounds like a wonderful ride and I hope to be able to do it with you soon.