Big Pete 1982

OK, here's the deal. Overall, I've been riding for about a year. I've made a ton of progress and lost a ton of weight in that year. I've ridden a few metric centuries, 1 full century and a few thousand training/fun miles. But in my year of riding, my toughest hill has been about 2 miles of 5-6% grade. Yeah, it's tough and I'm out of breath at the top and when I tell non cyclists that I ride up it all the time they act all shocked and impressed. But honestly, I feel like a huge poser! I've yet to do a true "climb". It's time for me to nut up or shut up!

So I think I've picked out my climb. I don't know how familiar most members here are with Washington, but I'm going to ride from Packwood to Chinook Pass via Highway 123. I mapped it on MapMyRide and it says its 50 miles round trip and 5032 feet of elevation gain! I may be a bit over-confident in my abilities and might have picked something a bit too hard, but I'm sure as hell gonna give it a try! I might fail miserably. I might crap myself descending. But I'm gonna ride it like Phil Liggett is narrating my every pedal stroke! Well, maybe not that way, more like slow and steady!

So, opinions? Advice? Words of encouragement? Am I crazy?

tergal

Yes you are crazy.... now shut up and go ride it . The rest of us know you will be fine you just have to convince your self

Big Pete 1982

Well, I'm working this weekend and the weather sucks anyway. But Monday is supposed to be a somewhat nice day. I think I will try it Monday.

TrojanHorse

If it's any consolation, I was the same way... avoiding climbs like the plague. Last month I rode up a local mountain and I assure you - you will feel a sense of accomplishment that will make your head spin. Now I look for hills on my weekly rides. Heck, I didn't have time to go for a "real" ride tonight so I rode around the block 3 times (each lap has a nasty 600 feet of 6-10% climbing) and I actually did all 3 laps.

So I say to you - DO IT! Bring spare stuff though, getting stuck in the mountains is no joke.

Big Pete 1982

Well, I wouldn't say I'm ducking any hills around here, it's just there aren't very many big ones around here. The 2 mile hill I mentioned is one of my regular rides. But that's the biggest paved hill around here. There is another hill that is brutally steep but also very short. I even posted a thread a while back about that one kicking my ass every time. But even that one seems fairly easy to me now. I want to climb something that has a road sign announcing a "summit".

Beachgrad05

I know where Chinook Pass is...grew up in Washington. Can't wait to read the ride report.

Mr. Beanz

Yes please, MAN UP! Even Gina has done the GMR to Baldy ride (5000 ft in 42 miles/21 mile climb) and she is not a good climber.

Be a "Just do it" kind of man!

Posers make excuses why they can't even show up or do a ride but give great training and gear advice while telling "bigger fish" stories on the forums.

TrojanHorse

you talking to me Gramps?

Pump up your tires and let's go. I'm fishing around for a ride idea for Sunday... GMR is lurking in the back of my noggin. Hate to do it alone though, it's so un cell phoney.

Mr. Beanz

I said "great training and gear advice", that would leave you out!

I'll tell you what, you & me on Breathless Agony "OR" Ride Around the Bear next year, $100 bet!



CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON!


Profile BreathlessAgony by gulpxtreme, on Flickr




Profile Bear by gulpxtreme, on Flickr

Homeyba

Yeah mister "I don't want to do the Cool Breeze Century..."

Mr. Beanz

But I don't give great training advice.

TrojanHorse

Bah, it's on like Donkey Kong! I might even be able to climb a hill like that next year. Might need to put the actual compact chainrings on for BA, ride around the bear looks more manageable. Sign up for Cool Breeze and I'll join you for that one too - you can spend the entire duration of that one dinky climb explaining how much harder BA is.

Mr. Beanz

Meh! You don't need compact gears for the Bear or BA. See, I did it on a standard 39/25 and boat anchors for wheels (Deep V's).

I did the double metric on Cool breeze. Like Amtrak, Solvang, and Palm srpings, over crowded and nothing really worth spending the money for an entry fee. I did 2 other centuries in the Cool Breeze area with friends. We rode, Gina drove support then a BBQ a the end. Much better than CB imo. All I remember at the end of CB was the post ride meal of cold macaroni and cheese.





Bear1 by mrbeanz1, on Flickr

cohophysh

Big Pete, I have actually hiked part of that route when the road was closed during the winter...We went from 410 to the junction with 123, then hiked up and up and up...good luck to you, have fun, and watch out for the RVs

TrojanHorse

I see you're in second place in that first photo.

Let me know if you're serious about BA or the bear, I think that would be good fun.

We really need to organize up a SoCal Clyde GMR ride... it'd be fun to put some faces to some names.

Public Service Announcement: This has been an official Thread Hijacking. Please remain seated and stay calm. The thread will be returned to you shortly.

Mr. Beanz

I was passing that dude with one hand.

Yeah I am serious. It's the only way I can get myself to get serious about getting back into shape. I did it 3 years ago (?). I start training in Oct/Nov then drop 30-40 lbs by June.

3 years ago, last Bear ride. 228 lbs vs my 260 present .


GMR51509 by mrbeanz1, on Flickr


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FrenchFit 

Hold on, I have to wipe some off some of that testosterone (synthetic) that's seeping through my screen. Makes me want to shave my head.

Seriously, be careful coming down. I'm not a fast descender and got caught into a 30-50mph downhill last weekend, was burning up those pads pretty bad. If you're just a let it roll guy, fine...but I forgot that I don't like fast downhills and was hands on levers the whole way. Make sure your brakes are in good shape.

Big Pete 1982

Well, it doesn't look like I can tackle this ride on Monday like I planned. There's snow in the forecast this weekend and Monday is my only day off. Maybe next weekend. In the meantime I'll just have fun watching everyone hijack my thread.

Mithrandir

Uhm.

That's a true climb. Don't listen to the insane here who claim it's not, because it is.

Mr. Beanz

It's all motivational trash talk to get you out there climbing.

Mr. Beanz

That's the second time I've seen you respond that way in the last couple weeks (give or take a few). Who are these insane people that claim the hill in the OP is not a true climb? Maybe you can point out one of those claims FTR sake?

Mithrandir

Obviously someone did if the OP is under the impression that it's not a true climb, despite his admission that it wears him out.

Mr. Beanz

Like I said, you've mentioned this more than once, way before the OP. Just curious as to why YOU have this attitude?

Odd that many of the clydes that climb try to motivate other clydes up any hill, starting with small hills and working their way up if desired. Seems you take the motivation then turn it into something negative.

Big Pete 1982

You're mountains look all sunny and inviting. Mine are covered in snow. That's really the only thing that makes me hesitate!

Mr. Beanz

I would too. I rode up GMR one time surprised by black ice. Prety scary.

We get snow but I don't go up although it looks inviting.

GMR when it snows (photos by member Rallison)