Weekend Ride 8/11

[bmccasland]

Sunday we rode Mt. Lemmon. My husband, who is a much stronger rider than I am, is training for a big hill climb time trial next month and rode for an hour about 10.5 mph. I think I averaged 6.5 mph. He came down and met me, and rode back up hill with me to about milepost 9. During the climb, I counted 60 people who rode past me and I only passed two people.

Yeah, but you made it up the hill without walking! Yay You!

I know Mt. Lemmon road, and can't imagine that it's much better than when I lived there in the late 70's. It's still a uphilll slog.

[azfiddle]

Yes, it's true- it's just a constant climb and I am always proud of myself, whether I ride up 5 miles, 15 miles or up to the top. But it's still a little demoralizing when everyone passes me....

[smittykitty]

We did it last year! What fun. You described the hills really well. Well supported too. More food than I could ever eat (and ride). What a great ride. Maybe again next year. Glad you had a good ride.

We did 52 miles around the neighborhood. Happy to be back on the bike after the STP. It had been 3 1/2 weeks without riding (son's wedding, vacation to ID and MT). Nice to be out in the heat. Love our very short, but very sweet SUMMER!

[luv2climb]

Last weekend was another rental car trip to the Tahoe area, which meant more climbing on the Bike Friday Pocket Companion folding bike. This time I climbed both sides of Luther Pass on Saturday, and the long Carson Valley side of Kingsbury Grade on Sunday. As usual, this was my first time up both these climbs. I am always looking for new climbs to explore.

I also recorded video of the riders in the NCNCA Hillclimb District Championship, which took place on the long side of Kingsbury.

Luther Pass was almost easy. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. The southbound side is the long side. According to my Garmin Connect data, the real climbing is only 4.26 miles. It's a very gradual climb from Highway 50 to the bottom of the real climb. Near the summit it flattens out for a while. The northbound side is the shorter side at only 2.57 miles.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/209415172

Kingsbury Grade was harder than I thought it would be. The first half wasn't too bad, but the last part is unrelenting, so the suffering increased accordingly. Thinking of the riders I witnessed flying up the mountain at 15+ mph in the hill climb time trial only added to it when I thought of my speed that was probably only a third of theirs. I tried to remind myself that they're much younger and aren't overweight like me, but I still wished I could at least climb it at 10 mph. Maybe someday.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/209940083

Here's video of the climbs and descents of both sides of Luther Pass. Top speed was 40.2 mph (caution heavy breathing!).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7d-LBGRW30

Here's the riders in the hill climb time trial up Kingsbury Grade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLNWE6EJJgc

Here's the climb and descent of Kingsbury Grade (caution heavy breathing!). Top speed was 43.9 mph. No speed limits broken, as the speed limit on that side of the mountain is 45 mph. The Lake Tahoe side has a 35 mph speed limit, and I'm not sure I've ever exceeded it by much. The pavement on that side sucks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDJz8nYTqMk

Top of southbound side of Luther Pass


Bike Friday at top of Luther Pass southbound by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

Top of northbound side


Bike Friday at top of Luther Pass northbound by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

About to descend after climbing the northbound side


Luther Pass 6% grade sign by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

Views from the flat area near the summit. Pics taken on the way back down.


view from near summit of Luther Pass 2 by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

view from near summit of Luther Pass 3 by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

view from near summit of Luther Pass by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

Top of Kingsbury Grade


Bike Friday at Daggett Summit by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr