Yesterday I bicycled up Mt. Local near my parents' house out West. I'm on vacation!
When I attempted the same ride a few years ago I'd never been on a road bike. I stopped at around the 1000 foot mark and nearly vomited from overexertion before getting hypothermia riding down the mountain. It was...fun.
Obviously I hoped for a better outcome this time now that I've earned the nickname, "Dr. Nature," from one of the custodians at work.
As it turns out, my n-of-one case study shows regular outdoor exercise leads to improved fitness: I made it 2200 feet straight up to the ranger station, where I met real cyclists before we headed back down.
Nose breathing & staying mindfully in the moment saved me on the way up.
Ate enough. Drank enough. No desire to vomit. Layered up/down appropriately and avoided over/underheating.
Used clipless pedals for the first time. I tipped over a few times, with ego & knee bruises to show for it, but wonder if I would have made it up the mountain without 'em.
Missed my comfy Jamis seat. Ouch.
Saw a group of quail, a hawk, a skydiver, plenty of pretty views, and regular installments of coyote poop precisely deposited on the side of the road.
On the way down, I accidentally ran over a tarantula(!). Avoided two more after that. Mildly questionable brakes + small hands equalled a swirling mix of exhilaration and crash fear.
Made it home. Plan to do it (or something similar) again soon.
Next up: Yosemite later this week!
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7 comments:
You used the correct terminology! It never ceases to amaze my friends that clipless pedals are called that. We get into enormous arguments where they claim I am crazy. Well, who's crazy after we look at Wikipedia huh?
Huh?!@!!i2ojekl
Beautiful ride! Campin' Yosemite?
Staying in tent cabins w heaters -- my mom isn't camping material and when it comes to cold I'm a delicate little flower. :-)
We're hoping for snowshoe weather, tho'!
Awwww yeah!! Sounds *fantastic*!!
Glad you are getting some sweet rides in during your holidays. Looks beautiful and I am sure completely deserved.
Hope you are well and enjoying life...been meaning to write you for ages!
Hugs.
What sort of roadie do you have? :-)
I have this Jamis: http://jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/road/ventura/11_venturasportf.html
Do you ride? Rode my stepsister's old Trek with better components and more gears up the mountain. Not sure I would've been able to make it without all those gears as I was in the lowest one much of the time!
@K8: I think they're called clipless pedals as they lack toe clips, but I'd never thought of that before. Might this settle the question of your sanity? :-)
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