Big Pete 1982

Well, every since the Seattle to Portland ride this summer, I haven't spent very much time on the bike. I've been far from stagnant though, as I climbed several mountains and have done a fair amount of backpack camping and hiking. I've also been doing some running in hopes to attempt a marathon early next year. Anyway, I felt like seeing how my legs held up after not riding for a while so I jumped right in to a quad busting 8000 feet in 60 miles ride otherwise known as Spirit Lake Highway (awesome viewpoints of Mt St Helens). Well, I'm sore as hell but I think I did pretty good. Sometimes Strava tends to "readjust" altitudes after a day or so, but as of now it says I climbed 8106 feet. That's like 2000 feet more than my previous biggest climb day (which was on the same road)! I actually didn't make it quite to the end of the road though so there is room for improvement. I got to the base of the last climb, which is about a 5 mile hill and I really just felt like I didn't have the legs to do it and it was getting late. Plus I consumed more energy gel and Cliff bars than anticipated and I didn't want to bonk on some of the steeper hills on the way back. So, I'm a little disappointed that I got so close and didn't make it to the end, but maybe next time. Considering I've only ridden like 30 miles in the last 2 months, I think I did ok. Unfortunately, being that I live in the crappiest (at least as far as weather) place on earth, this may have been my last big hurrah for the year. Here is my Strava results:

https://app.strava.com/rides/23258226

Big Pete 1982

Oh yeah, and I've finally reached the 100 lbs weight loss mark! I'm still a clyde at 6'6 and 240, but I'm looking pretty slim nowadays!

volosong

That's awesome! Way to go!

islandseas

That's great on the weight loss and the riding. I'm just north of you on Vancouver Island...are you getting the same gorgeous late summer weather that we are? It's been great to ride in the sun or at least no rain.

Karen

Big Pete 1982

Yes the weather has been very nice lately! But I've lived here long enough to know it won't last and we're in for a good 150-200 days stretch of crappy, rainy, grey weather.

islandseas

I know what you mean....we are lucky on southern Van. Island in that we are in the rainshadow of the Olympics and the mainland gets way more rain than we do....but we do get the wind.

Jaye

Just because it is gray and rainy doesn't mean it's crappy. I've had some great rainy rides. The right clothes (and fenders) make all the difference for me.

PhotoJoe 

This is AWESOME. Congrats!!!!

Shellyrides

That is great!

Big Pete 1982

I ride a Cannondale CAAD10. I don't think I can mount fenders on it. Last winter though, when I was really motivated to lose a ton of weight I would just bundle up and ride in the rain. It sucks. I think this winter I will just go to the gym and get on a treadmill.

DEW21

Sounds like you should be Slim Pete 1982. Thats awsome!

Big Pete 1982

Thanks. I'm not very muscular. Well, at least not from the waist up. So I could lose a few more and/or tone it up. The hard part is over though!