KarenG
08-10-2008, 04:41 PM
Well, Jason and I rolled from his parents house around 6:30am, arriving at the start location just shortly after 7am. A few people were already there, with a bunch more showing up shortly after. Temps when we left were mid 60's and Jason's complaining that if it were any cooler he'd have to have warmers! What??? These temps are perfect for climbing! They did not remain so though.
Lots of people over to introduce themselves to me, I know I'll never remember everyone who did, but a few that I do were, MarkAJ, another Mark (we parked beside you), Luwin, Maria (?), TJ, Horizontal Heath, PaulB, JP, Ron, Bostic (who we met on Friday) see, can't remember any more...It was great to finally meet these guys and put faces to usernames! Of course, everyone here will not know any of the people....
We rolled shortly thereafter, heading down the bike path for a bit then onto Hwy 39. So far, so good. Met a few others as we were riding along here. If I remember correctly, this road is upgrade also and I had Jason pestering me about what was my power and how I was feeling a whole bunch! :) That's ok though, as I needed someone to keep me reined in, otherwise I would have tried to take the wheel of one of these guys/gals passing us and blown up within an hour or so.
Very beautiful out here on this route. Beautiful in it's own way. The high rock faces, the streams/rivers, the lakes & dams, the people. So, anyways, we let the majority of the riders pass us, just riding at pretty much a sustainable pace for me that will allow me to reach the Lodge and maybe, just maybe, attempt the ski lifts. Jason and I are pretty much alone for a while until PaulB and another guy (who's name escapes me) catch up to us. PaulB is a super nice guy! Oh yea, rode with a guy named Chris too, but after a while, he was gone as well. 40min into the ride, I guess a bee or some sort of bug flew into my jersey - stung me! Guess that's what I get for riding with it unzipped. :rolleyes: Fortunately, it didn't bother me any, at least I don't think so.
Us 3 ride together until we reach the first rest stop, where everyone else is already there or moved on. Met a couple other people there, but just can't remember who. :rolleyes: So, I was doing really well - pacing was good and I was drinking enough. Probably not eating nearly enough though. We refilled/topped off our bottles and headed on. The one guy that was with us went on with the larger/faster group and I don't think I saw him again. Paul went inside to the store and we left, with Jason saying he'd catch up to us. He was right.
We continued on 39, passing by lots of people camping along the river. What river was that anyways? Jason, pointed out that we were going to be on this road that was WAY up above pretty soon. Holy Cow! that was up there! Still climbing. And climbing. Nice long descent then a right turn onto East "something or another", which runs into GMR (Glendora Mtn Rd) I think..(guess I've got the abbreviations correct...the socal guys know what I mean anyways). Hell, I don't know where I'm at...just following Jason! I think it was along here that Jason just said climb at your pace, I'll stop every now and then and wait on you. So, off they go, Paul & Jason.
Dang...I keep looking around, seeing the road way off in the distance, always much higher than my current location. Ummm, yea, I'm in for some climbing. I take my time on this route, there's no hurry, no race to finish. I stopped a lot to take pictures...had to get some good ones to show the flatlanders back home! Also, by this time (and I don't remember specific time) it was starting to get warm. Warm enough that I rode on the other side of the road when at all possible to take advantage of any bit of shade. I've come to realize that I do not like riding in the heat, be it in NC, WNC or here. I think the heat was a very big factor on how I felt later on in the day climbing GRR (Glendora Ridge Rd).
So, as I'm climbing this road, there are quite a few motorcycles taking advantage of the twisty-curvy route. I bet Jason's car would love to drive up this route! I made it up one climbing section sorta quickly, as I heard them coming! Pulled off to the side and got the camera ready - snapped a couple pics of the bikes going by. I thought it was pretty cool. The SoCal peeps forgot to tell me to put bug repellant on though...every damn time I stopped this/these damn horseflys or bees or whatever the hell they were, kept buzzing me. I do not like bees or things buzzing me. Stupid damn thing kept following me, circling me, waiting for the chance to get me. Fortunately, never got stung or bit by whatever it was.
Climbing, climbing and more climbing. This part was hard, but I felt like I managed pretty well. I eventually reach the intersection of GMR/GRR, where Joel was waiting with water, bananas, and bars. Thanks so much for doing that! I would not have had enough to get to the Lodge without refilling the bottles there. Ron and Paul were there, as well as a lot of the motorcyclist who had passed by. Paul was turning around here and Ron was contemplating the same. We all convinced him to come along to the Lodge with us. Damn, it was hot up there too!
So, off the 3 of us go...then it's just me & Jason, as Ron just takes off. We'll eventually catch up to him later. This road was/is hard. Damn hard. It looks flat, but lemme tell ya, there ain't no flat here. If it looks flat, then why am I only moving at 6-7 mph??? Oh yea...HOT! Now, it's really getting hot, there's very little shade to hide in as well. It's just beating down on me. I'm drinking less, trying to stay focused on turning the pedals over. OK, so that's not too good. And, not eating anything either. I did drink either 2 or 3 bottles of Perpetuem on the climb up to GRR, refilled with one water and the last of the P. I don't think I drank very much of that on GRR.
Damn. Where's the shade?? Am I gonna ever go downhill or have any flat on this road?? I was moving along, but slowing down as well. The heat was really getting to me. I had plenty of cramps in the quads, but wouldn't stop riding, just push on through that pain. If I stopped, they would have just locked up (been there, done that) and I would not have had too much of a chance to finish. So, keep pedaling. Did I mention the heat??? HOT. I'm not liking this at all. The cramps started around 5-6mi into this climb. It's 11mi to the Lodge.
Jason and I eventually meet up with Ron and someone else who I can't remember his name now, stopped in some nice shade taking a break. Both are contemplating turning around at this point. Turn around? Hmmm, I thought about it for a second, but no way in hell was I coming this damn far to turn around 3 miles from my goal. Hell no. Cramps and all were going to the Lodge. But, I did decide to not attempt the ski lifts. Riding long enough to know my legs and I knew I wouldn't be able to make it. Ron, myself and Jason motor on. The other guy turns around I guess.
Eventually, Ron leaves us and it's just me & Jason again. We finally reach the point where he tells me we are at the top and it's a fast descent to the Lodge. It was fast! Wish that I had been able to get pics, but moving too fast to take hands from bars. Reach the Lodge and everyone else has already been there for an hour or so, eaten, and are now ready to head back the way they came. I tell Jason that we're gonna have to take the Bombing Route back...I just don't think I have 1000' more of climbing left in my legs. Not that 600' we just bombed down to the Lodge.
Get inside, Bostic (Ramon) shows up after going to the lifts, and we eat lunch with him & Ron. That bacon cheeseburger sure was good. As were the 2 cokes I drank. Finished up lunch, refilled bottles with water and headed out. Holy Cow! That is one fast descent. Not sure I'd want to climb that. Caught up with a woman in a Hammer Kit and us 5 rode together for a while. This descent was great! The bike felt a bit wobbly though - not sure what was up with that. Max speed was something like 40mph...just didn't feel comfortable enough to go faster.
Made it down the descent, pass right by Jason's parents house, then turn and take lots of different city streets back to the start location. Boy, was it really hot now. (I have to hurry up writing this...bout time to get dressed and leave, will edit & add pics later). Make it back to the cars, Jason pulling us along the whole way back. Thanks a bunch!
Overall, this is a really great ride, I loved the climbing! But, the heat was hell. Never did get to try one of those margaritas, but I did get a couple of beers.
Pics to come....
Lots of people over to introduce themselves to me, I know I'll never remember everyone who did, but a few that I do were, MarkAJ, another Mark (we parked beside you), Luwin, Maria (?), TJ, Horizontal Heath, PaulB, JP, Ron, Bostic (who we met on Friday) see, can't remember any more...It was great to finally meet these guys and put faces to usernames! Of course, everyone here will not know any of the people....
We rolled shortly thereafter, heading down the bike path for a bit then onto Hwy 39. So far, so good. Met a few others as we were riding along here. If I remember correctly, this road is upgrade also and I had Jason pestering me about what was my power and how I was feeling a whole bunch! :) That's ok though, as I needed someone to keep me reined in, otherwise I would have tried to take the wheel of one of these guys/gals passing us and blown up within an hour or so.
Very beautiful out here on this route. Beautiful in it's own way. The high rock faces, the streams/rivers, the lakes & dams, the people. So, anyways, we let the majority of the riders pass us, just riding at pretty much a sustainable pace for me that will allow me to reach the Lodge and maybe, just maybe, attempt the ski lifts. Jason and I are pretty much alone for a while until PaulB and another guy (who's name escapes me) catch up to us. PaulB is a super nice guy! Oh yea, rode with a guy named Chris too, but after a while, he was gone as well. 40min into the ride, I guess a bee or some sort of bug flew into my jersey - stung me! Guess that's what I get for riding with it unzipped. :rolleyes: Fortunately, it didn't bother me any, at least I don't think so.
Us 3 ride together until we reach the first rest stop, where everyone else is already there or moved on. Met a couple other people there, but just can't remember who. :rolleyes: So, I was doing really well - pacing was good and I was drinking enough. Probably not eating nearly enough though. We refilled/topped off our bottles and headed on. The one guy that was with us went on with the larger/faster group and I don't think I saw him again. Paul went inside to the store and we left, with Jason saying he'd catch up to us. He was right.
We continued on 39, passing by lots of people camping along the river. What river was that anyways? Jason, pointed out that we were going to be on this road that was WAY up above pretty soon. Holy Cow! that was up there! Still climbing. And climbing. Nice long descent then a right turn onto East "something or another", which runs into GMR (Glendora Mtn Rd) I think..(guess I've got the abbreviations correct...the socal guys know what I mean anyways). Hell, I don't know where I'm at...just following Jason! I think it was along here that Jason just said climb at your pace, I'll stop every now and then and wait on you. So, off they go, Paul & Jason.
Dang...I keep looking around, seeing the road way off in the distance, always much higher than my current location. Ummm, yea, I'm in for some climbing. I take my time on this route, there's no hurry, no race to finish. I stopped a lot to take pictures...had to get some good ones to show the flatlanders back home! Also, by this time (and I don't remember specific time) it was starting to get warm. Warm enough that I rode on the other side of the road when at all possible to take advantage of any bit of shade. I've come to realize that I do not like riding in the heat, be it in NC, WNC or here. I think the heat was a very big factor on how I felt later on in the day climbing GRR (Glendora Ridge Rd).
So, as I'm climbing this road, there are quite a few motorcycles taking advantage of the twisty-curvy route. I bet Jason's car would love to drive up this route! I made it up one climbing section sorta quickly, as I heard them coming! Pulled off to the side and got the camera ready - snapped a couple pics of the bikes going by. I thought it was pretty cool. The SoCal peeps forgot to tell me to put bug repellant on though...every damn time I stopped this/these damn horseflys or bees or whatever the hell they were, kept buzzing me. I do not like bees or things buzzing me. Stupid damn thing kept following me, circling me, waiting for the chance to get me. Fortunately, never got stung or bit by whatever it was.
Climbing, climbing and more climbing. This part was hard, but I felt like I managed pretty well. I eventually reach the intersection of GMR/GRR, where Joel was waiting with water, bananas, and bars. Thanks so much for doing that! I would not have had enough to get to the Lodge without refilling the bottles there. Ron and Paul were there, as well as a lot of the motorcyclist who had passed by. Paul was turning around here and Ron was contemplating the same. We all convinced him to come along to the Lodge with us. Damn, it was hot up there too!
So, off the 3 of us go...then it's just me & Jason, as Ron just takes off. We'll eventually catch up to him later. This road was/is hard. Damn hard. It looks flat, but lemme tell ya, there ain't no flat here. If it looks flat, then why am I only moving at 6-7 mph??? Oh yea...HOT! Now, it's really getting hot, there's very little shade to hide in as well. It's just beating down on me. I'm drinking less, trying to stay focused on turning the pedals over. OK, so that's not too good. And, not eating anything either. I did drink either 2 or 3 bottles of Perpetuem on the climb up to GRR, refilled with one water and the last of the P. I don't think I drank very much of that on GRR.
Damn. Where's the shade?? Am I gonna ever go downhill or have any flat on this road?? I was moving along, but slowing down as well. The heat was really getting to me. I had plenty of cramps in the quads, but wouldn't stop riding, just push on through that pain. If I stopped, they would have just locked up (been there, done that) and I would not have had too much of a chance to finish. So, keep pedaling. Did I mention the heat??? HOT. I'm not liking this at all. The cramps started around 5-6mi into this climb. It's 11mi to the Lodge.
Jason and I eventually meet up with Ron and someone else who I can't remember his name now, stopped in some nice shade taking a break. Both are contemplating turning around at this point. Turn around? Hmmm, I thought about it for a second, but no way in hell was I coming this damn far to turn around 3 miles from my goal. Hell no. Cramps and all were going to the Lodge. But, I did decide to not attempt the ski lifts. Riding long enough to know my legs and I knew I wouldn't be able to make it. Ron, myself and Jason motor on. The other guy turns around I guess.
Eventually, Ron leaves us and it's just me & Jason again. We finally reach the point where he tells me we are at the top and it's a fast descent to the Lodge. It was fast! Wish that I had been able to get pics, but moving too fast to take hands from bars. Reach the Lodge and everyone else has already been there for an hour or so, eaten, and are now ready to head back the way they came. I tell Jason that we're gonna have to take the Bombing Route back...I just don't think I have 1000' more of climbing left in my legs. Not that 600' we just bombed down to the Lodge.
Get inside, Bostic (Ramon) shows up after going to the lifts, and we eat lunch with him & Ron. That bacon cheeseburger sure was good. As were the 2 cokes I drank. Finished up lunch, refilled bottles with water and headed out. Holy Cow! That is one fast descent. Not sure I'd want to climb that. Caught up with a woman in a Hammer Kit and us 5 rode together for a while. This descent was great! The bike felt a bit wobbly though - not sure what was up with that. Max speed was something like 40mph...just didn't feel comfortable enough to go faster.
Made it down the descent, pass right by Jason's parents house, then turn and take lots of different city streets back to the start location. Boy, was it really hot now. (I have to hurry up writing this...bout time to get dressed and leave, will edit & add pics later). Make it back to the cars, Jason pulling us along the whole way back. Thanks a bunch!
Overall, this is a really great ride, I loved the climbing! But, the heat was hell. Never did get to try one of those margaritas, but I did get a couple of beers.
Pics to come....