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Over 1,000


The Ride: High Cliff Climb

Miles: 30.0

Time: 2:14

Ave. Speed: 13.2 mph

Weather: Sunny, 80, Wind 5-10 mph

2018 Season Outdoor Miles: 1,004.7

 

The Story

This ride put me over the 1,000 mile mark for the season.

Now I realize that this is a far cry from previous years when I rode 3-4,000 (highest total ever) for a season, from March to November.

But those days are long gone. Now when I ride I ride mostly for the enjoyment, not the training like it used to be. So I'll take a thousand and counting.

I took a different approach to the High Cliff climb today, where riders will be battling one week from today in the Race the Lake event once again.

This time instead of slow and steady I hit the first half of the climb more aggressively than I have in the past this year. I handled it okay until the final spike upward when I struggled. It was clear that had used too many matches on the way up. When I tried to get out of saddle to keep the MO going it lasted no more than 10 seconds and I was back in the saddle after my legs exploded with lactic acid pain.

I hobbled up to the tower and took a rest.

There was a big party taking place in the pavilion, a place where during the week not a soul can be found. All those people inside and outside, coming and going over a meal and drinks.....and do you think anyone came out and offered me something cool to drink on a hot afternoon?

Nope.

I always marvel at this and have written about it many times in past when I rode in Whitnall Park where families would gather on the weekends. That was when we lived in Tosa. No different up here in the Valley I guess.

Seems to me that as a rider, if I was attending that party and I saw a guy in full kit with a nice bike taking a rest up there I'd walk over to say hi and offer up a bottle of water or cold soda.

Anyway....one more thing.

Clean your chain down. Boy my bike was nice and smooth and quiet today after I did that chain cleaning before my ride. I just wipe it down with an old rag first, then use a proper lube on it afterward. And remember, don't use a WD40 type product. That stuff can actually harm your chain by attracting dust and grime, increasing the wear on your chain and cassette.

Rest time now. I have to admit the final six miles today I was just going through the motions without much gas left in the tank.


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