Sunrise – Mt. Rainier V3.0
One of my favorite rides, despite my non-climber’s physique!
My nephew Kevin arrived at my house Saturday at 7 a.m., and we were underway shortly thereafter. We were clipped in and beginning the climb at 8:20 a.m. A couple of my friends profess that “climbs don’t get easier, you just get faster”. I’d beg to differ after yesterday. Don’t get me wrong, it was still work. But I never once had to stop to rest or stretch, and I never had to resort to the granny-gear-and-spin mode that got my ass up this 2,800′ climb in years past. I had a great ride, and while much younger and more of a climber, I think Kevin enjoyed the ride and the spectacular views. As I look back at the three times I’ve done this ride, the big improvement this year is directly attributable to the weight loss and strength training.
Comparison of climbing time:
- 2007: 2 hrs 10 minutes / 6 stops
- 2008: 2 hrs / 5 stops
- 2009: 1 hr 46 minutes / 0 stops
The downhill portion? 34 minutes of free-falling bliss!
A few of the views from the ride:
Tags: Cycling, ride_report
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