A First!
Hey another one of my main routes out of town was back open again. I thought I'd check today to see if I could once again get to Manitowoc Rd. cleanly, if perhaps the road blockage the last time I was out that way had been cleared.
I'm not sure what they did because it looks the same to me, but the road is now passable once again.
So I took it upon myself to take advantage and hit the High Cliff Climb in the late-afternoon sunshine.
Here's the first though, which happened before I ever rolled out. I've been cycling for almost 20 years now and this has never happened to me. I topped off the air in my my tires before the ride, and as I went to spin the front tire valve closed the entire pin portion just broke off in my hand. The tire remained at pressure, but with no pin sticking out. I'm guessing that will have to be replaced before my next ride....or will I need an entire new tube? Anybody know?
Anyway, as I rode out to High Cliff I knew there would be a price to pay on the way back because I was riding out in a tailwind. I tried not to think about that, just saving my legs for the climb, which was interesting this time around.
I remained in the big chain ring longer than usual as I approached the base of the climb, and when I shifted into the small ring I felt I heard some chain noise and was uncomfortable with the shift, as if it wasn't clean. So I shifted into another harder gear in back to set things right. But in doing so I had already hit the climb and lost all momentum at this point.
Slow and steady and I got there, with only that final late steep stinger portion of the climb getting to me. I just can not pedal out of the saddle up there more than 10 seconds or so before my quads feel like they are going to burst wide open. So I sit and finish weakly.
Not my best climb of the beast today.
Not my worst either.
Once up there the reward is a short break to take in the view of the lake while throwing back an energy bar and some water before taking on the descent.
On the way back as I rode along the portions of the road where you can see the lake on my left the water seemed to shimmer brighter than ever, a dazzling display of light dancing atop each wave. The enhanced view must have had something to do with the later in the day angle of the sun.
Legs tired a bit into that wind at about mile 26, but all was good...except for overheating while I had to wait in the sun for the draw bridge to go up and back down just a few blocks from my house.
RIDE ROUTE
High Cliff Climb
30.0 miles
Average Speed= 13.3 mph
Sunny, 84,
Wind 10-12 mph
2020 SEASON MILES
Indoor: 125.6
Outdoor: 1,242