Sunday I had my first real ride with the new bike. I rode down to the waterfront and met some crazy bike bastards for the FHR or Fucking Hills Race. Actually I also was riding another ride called the Chilly Hilly, but under the banners of the FHR. The easy way to explain it is the FHR is pirates sacking the Chilly Hilly. It is a 33-mile ride around the quite hilly Bainbridge Island in February (hence the “Chilly Hilly”).
Actually I should back up a little. It was fairly cold and rainy on my way down to the waterfront. I figured it was a sign that the rest of the day would be similar. Turns out I was wrong…
Anyway, I also met up with my friends Laura and Sasha at the ferry. The ferry ride was nice, we were all very excited to get in the saddle. When we got off the ferry, the weather was great. Cool, but not cold. Probably in the upper 40s or low 50s, no rain, and mostly cloudy. Beautiful cycling weather. The beginning of the ride was fairly easy. Rolling hills and the climbs weren’t that steep or long. A good warm-up. We could really bomb down some of the hills, which made it a lot of fun to ride. About 1/3 of the way through the ride, I got a flat, which was also my first flat with the LHT. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring a spare tube, so it took a little finangling and remembering how to patch a tube. I was high on endorphins, too, so I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly. Anyway, a roadie came by and helped me out lickety-split while Laura and Sasha waited patiently and snacked.
Some hand-pumped air later, we were on our way, and hit the first of the Fucking Hills. Some pretty steep ascents (and descents, too) that left me huffing and puffing. Did I mention that I haven’t been riding much lately and was totally out of shape? Yeah, I was doing this ride pretty much totally unprepared, physically. By the time I hit the final hill just before the halfway point/rest area, I was not in a good way. My blood sugar levels were reallly now (despite my enormous breakfast of 3 scrambled eggs, a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter, orange, and coffee), and my front tube was under-inflated. I had to walk the last 50 feet or so up that hill, and I felt really bad about it. At the rest area, I was able to use a floor pump to get the front tire up to a good pressure. Also we got some food and a lot of water in our systems. Then we headed off again.
At one point I passed a lady who was talking with her friends about forgetting her albuterol [asthma inhaler] at home. Of course I had mine, and I said so. We pulled over and I let her take a couple puffs to get her lungs working again. They took a picture. It was funny.
Again, some good rolling hills, but there were also some steep ones. It was tough. I typically want to go balls-out when climbing steep hills, because in Seattle, most steep hills are also pretty short. This works out pretty well for me in those situations. But on long, steep climbs… I’m just not that experienced. I was going too fast and accomplishing nothing but getting my heart rate up too high and wearing myself out. So I started using someone else to keep pace- anyone who was going way slower than I would have wanted. That worked like a charm. Those hills were still very hard, but at least they were doable. Very glad that I had the granny gear on the LHT, I really needed it!
Then there was the Panultimate Motherfucker of all hills on the ride, Baker Hill. It’s the hill that Bainbridge cyclists use to train for hills- much higher than any other on the ride. I guess it is an 8.5% grade and about 305 ft. high. I don’t know if that’s right, I just know it sucked. I considered walking it partway, but it was a pretty long hill, which would have taken forever to walk up. Plus I had my pride. I eventually made it to the top, and Sasha and I bought a brownie from some enterprising people at the top of the hill (there were people along the way selling treats to benefit various Bainbridge Island charities and organizations). Laura made it a little later, she took it slow and steady. After drinking some water and catching our breath, we found that we had a descent, at about 8.5% and 305 ft. down, pretty much to sea-level. I wish I had a cyclocomputer so I knew how fast we went down that hill. At least 40 mph I would say.
The last portion of the ride was the worst. There were a few steep hills and I was exhausted. But we all powered through it and finished. I only walked 50 feet, and we only stopped a few times. Though I guess those added up, because we pretty much missed the .83 afterparty. Ah, well. Next year I will be stronger and faster.
The ride was gorgeous. Most of the route is through forests and along the waterfront. There are some great views of Seattle from the eastern shore. A really fun ride.
We grabbed some much-needed lunch and a beer at a brewpub, and headed back to the ferry. I took the bus home, took a shower and chilled out for the evening. I slept for 10 hours straight, best night of sleep in recent memory.
