These Hills are Made for Walkin'

[laughlaugh18]

Is it kosher to say that you completed a 25 mile ride when you spend at least a couple of those miles walking your bike up hills?

Yesterday was the Solvang Prelude, and I’m very proud to say that I actually did cross the finish line of my first 25 mile ride. But oh my goodness, I have never been so tired in my life! The ride was rated as “easy”, but if that's easy, then pigs can fly!

I managed to get up and down the pretty, rolling terrain until we hit this hill right before the sag stop. I was so tired already that there was no way I was getting up to the top on my bike. So, I walked. No big deal, I'm thinking . . . I'm sure the rest of the course will be easier . . . HAH!

A volunteer at the sag stop says there's a hill right after the stop, some rollers, and then one bigger hill right before getting back into Solvang. He said he thought they weren't too bad. HAH! I walked up that first hill after the sag stop, I walked up 2 or 3 of the rollers, and I walked up the at least 4 hills (not 1, darn it, 4) on the last 2 miles into Solvang. So, walking counts, right?

I'm sure to more seasoned riders, my hills were mere inclines. But, geesh, they were hills to me. My friends were supportive and stayed with me on my very, very pokey pace. They rode up the hills and waited for me at the top, and they even stayed with me near the end when all I could manage was a blistering speed of 6 mph on the flats .

Amazingly, I'm not sore today. I learned that Clif Shot Bloks are my friends, and that actually training for a ride might be a good idea. I can't quite say it was "fun", but I'm ready to try it again.

[ClockworkOrange]

Hi to my ol' SS.

Well done, isn't it a great feeling, agreed, not always enjoyable at the time but a great personal achievement.

Sounds like you have some really great friends but isn't that what it's all about. I bet you secretly laughed your way all up the hills.

Does not matter if you walk your bike some of the way, at least you got out, so easy to sit about doing nothing.

I hope you wore your socks..........

Sally

PS Did you get my last PM OK?

[Kalidurga]

laughlaugh, the one thing that's been driven home to me about cycling time after time is... it's all relative. I tell the folks at work that I go on 20-30 mile rides and they look at me like I'm Hercules (and crazy). I then come here and read about other women riding centuries as a matter of course. I go out and grunt and gasp my way through 9 miles of what I think are pretty tough hills and think I'm getting pretty strong, and then I ride what's considered an "easy" 25 mile loop of hills and get so worn out that I wonder if I'm gonna make it back to my car. Oh, and then, of course, I come here and read about the ladies in the western half of the US who climb 3000-4000 thousand feet on just about every ride...

So I say, darned right it's kosher to say you completed that 25 mile ride! You and your bike both got to the end, and that counts

[Thorn]

Under your own power you and your trusty steed did 25 miles. You did it. Period. Congrats! It doesn't matter that occasionally you had to get off and help your bike up the hills. If you keep at it, soon, your bike will be strong enough to make it to the top of more of those hills. Give her time, she needs training, too!

On a related note: after a complete summer of never succumbing to walking a hill, I took a trip to Texas and discovered "Crankbender Hill". I'm never too proud to walk--better that we're out there and, sometimes walking, than sitting on the couch.

Thorn
When the hills get tough, I have my granny gear; when granny isn't enough, I have my feet.

[Bad JuJu]

The important thing is to get out there and give it a go--which you did. Stop doubting yourself and start patting yourself on the back. And here's to many more wonderful rides!

[wannaduacentury]

laughlaugh, the one thing that's been driven home to me about cycling time after time is... it's all relative. I tell the folks at work that I go on 20-30 mile rides and they look at me like I'm Hercules (and crazy). I then come here and read about other women riding centuries as a matter of course. I go out and grunt and gasp my way through 9 miles of what I think are pretty tough hills and think I'm getting pretty strong, and then I ride what's considered an "easy" 25 mile loop of hills and get so worn out that I wonder if I'm gonna make it back to my car. Oh, and then, of course, I come here and read about the ladies in the western half of the US who climb 3000-4000 thousand feet on just about every ride...

So I say, darned right it's kosher to say you completed that 25 mile ride! You and your bike both got to the end, and that counts

I second that. You made it to the finish. I walk a few hills too if I need to. Jennifer

[LAB]

Are you kidding.......I've gotten off my bike to walk up what some people would consider to be mole hills! You go girl! 25 miles is 25 miles!

[Trek420]

Congrats! All self-propelled forward motion counts

[CyclChyk]

25 miles of MTB?? I am impressed no matter how much you walked it!!!

[laughlaugh18]

Thanks all - I really am glad I finished! I did make up a new song during one of the walks (sung to the tune of "the song that never ends"):

This is the hill that never ends,
It just goes on and on my friends,
Some people started climbing it, not knowing what it was,
And they'll continue climbing it forever just because . . .
This is the hill that never ends . . . (keep repeating until top of hill)

Cathy

P.S.:

CC - thankfully, it wasn't all hills, and I was on my trek hybrid (with no knee or joint issues -woo hoo!)

Sally - I just pm'd you again. I haven't received any pm or email from you

[bikerchick68]

laughlaugh... the fact that you crossed the finish line, without having a vehicle drive you across it, means you completed that ride! YOU ROCK!

I have ridden Solvang and I think the reason it may have been deemed "easy" is due to the distance not the climbing... this is a heck of a ride to choose for your first 25 miler good for you!!!

and yep, it IS all relative... after being off the bike for 3 months I have to say, that what were "easy" climbs last year are mountains again right now so I know I have to go out and do hill repeats to get back to where I was. Oh joy.

Congrats on completing your ride... and on NOT being in pain!

[RoadRaven]

You finished...



It counts!

[bcipam]

Laugh... GREAT JOB!!! Riding around Solvang, no matter the distance, is tough. And there is no shame, ever, in walking up a hill pushing a bike. It's still exercise! And I can remember when you were worried about a little bike path going up hill. Keep it up. Set a reasonable goal like the metric at Cool Breeze next summer or the 55 at Palm Springs in February. Should be a piece of cake!!!!