Col du High Cliff

First of all let me be clear here. These are the days that I dream about all cold winter long. Sunshine and 90 degrees on 4th of July Weekend! Fantastic.

Knowing I HAVE to get out and ride in this despite nursing a groin/muscle injury, I did everything right in the morning hours leading up to the ride.

I ate a bowl of cereal and a banana.

I took a couple of IB ahead of time to help loosen things up.

I drank extra water.

I watched the first stage of climbing in the Alps at the Tour de France.

I took the time to properly apply sun screen before the depart.

I even took the time to stretch pre-ride.

There is nothing quite like the adrenaline rush of a beautiful, hot day after watching le Tour. Injury comeback be damned, I was riding.

On the way out I had a steady 10-15 mph tailwind, so I knew coming back was going to hurt.

After watching the climbs in the Alps today, I had it my head to ride out to High Cliff State Park and attempt the climb there. I had no business thinking I could do the climb in my current physical state. The injury is about 70% back, but felt pretty good due to the easy noodle out there for 13 miles with tailwind.

Then the climb.

To my surprise, I did okay right up until that last super-steep stinger right at the end. I tried to get out of the saddle but my body would not let me. So I say down and barely kept the pedals moving. But I did it! With no training in my legs and a gimp left side, I DID IT!

As I sat on a bench up there eating a Cliff Bar the temp had now hit 90 degrees.

It was hot.

Not a bad hot, but hot. The kind of hot that can drain you down the road.

I had a major issue on the way back. Sweat poured into my right eye and it basically burned shut. I rode much of the way home using only one eye open. Then my nose, because of the eye situation, starting running non-stop.

Between the buckets of snot I had to keep trying to swipe away and the burning eye and the twitching quad muscles it was a slow chore getting back.

Again, not having miles in my legs recently due to the resting of the injury, I could feel my quad muscles ready to lock up in massive cramps any time there was any pressure on the pedals. It felt like I was at the end of my 62-mile birthday ride last year and I was only working mile 23 of 30!

Did I mention that I was now going INTO that same wind that made things so easy on the way out to the park!

Yuk.

I nursed it home and when I got there I just dropped the bike onto the grass of my yard and then I too just laid down and took my helmet off, totally exhausted and probably with an elevated body temp.

Burning eye.

Running nose.

Cramping legs.

Barking groin injury.

Sore neck.

I had it all going on.

But by GOD I did it. I made the climb already on the comeback road from injury. Despite all the negative stuff, this was better than I could have imagined for today. I did the climb!

Now it's time to rest, hydrate, eat and cheer for the Milwaukee Bucks tonight!!!

2021 OUTDOOR RIDES

RIDE ROUTE: High Cliff Climb

MILES: 30

AVE. SPEED: 12.1

WEATHER: Sunny, Hot, 90, Wind, 10-15-10 mph

TOTAL OUTDOOR MILES 2021 SEASON: 628