Hey, did I tell you guys? On September 1st, I'm riding in the West Elk Bicycle Classic. It's 134 miles and 9 gazillion feet of climbing from Gunnison to Crested Butte, the long way around.
Ok, maybe not 9 GAZILLION. Maybe more like 9 thousand. But whatever. Most of that climbing comes AFTER the 100 mile mark and involves an unpaved pass.
Hm. I have ridden centuries before. A few times. I have never ridden 134 miles and I have never ridden 134 miles with a climb over a 10,000ft. pass AT THE END.
In response to this, I have been trying my darnedest to get my butt on a bike as often as possible. I don't need to win this thing (though it would be super awesome to have the fastest female hill climb but whatevs). I just need to finish.
A wise man told me that to get ready for this thing, I need to be on a bike 10 hours per week. Ten seems like a low number until you factor in the whole kids thing. If I have both kids during the day, it's next to impossible unless I arrange early mornings or evenings. So I have been taking advantage when I can and where I can- mountain bike, road bike, I do not discriminate.
Because ultimately? Kebler Pass is mine. No biggie. I'll just jaunt up that thing like I do it every day.
This month's training did not start off spectacularly. I spent the first Saturday night of the month drinking waaaaaay too many drinks at Tim and Sarita's house. This resulted in a slow, painful slog down the Contour Trail the next day. I found the end of the trail. And then I wondered if it went further. Nah. Probably not. Time to go home.
After vowing never to drink ever ever again because drinking is terrible for training, I went out with Brian on Monday night AAAAAAAAAAND I drank too much. For crying out loud. I have the will power of an ant. For real, I am never ever drinking again. Ever.
The next day's ride at Hartman was-you guessed it- SLOW. Pretty sure I set a PR for slowest time ever on every single uphill. BAN THE ALCOHOL. ALL OF THE ALCOHOL.
The next couple days involved a road bike, a baby, and a bike trailer. Have you ever hauled a 17lb. baby plus bike trailer around at altitude? I am convinced mileage and altitude climbed automatically double. I did manage to rub half of Tygh's scalp off when he fell asleep in the trailer and rubbed his skin off on the side. Oops. Indeed, I am Mother of the Year.
I have generous friends. Sometimes they even join me for road rides when I am pulling the trailer. It's like a recovery ride for them. When I rode with Sarita, she felt the need to mix it up with some single track. THAT'S how bored she was. Sorry, dude. I can't help the million pound albatross. It just follows my bike EVERYWHERE.
We found some hills to climb. That was fun for her, not so much for me.
To end the week, Alexandra and I found another West Elk victim. Rebecca rode it last year, so she knows all the secrets. Or something like that.
We spent our Saturday morning going up Ohio Pass, up to Lake Irwin and back around through Crested Butte. 67 total miles, 20 of them dirt, 1 pass, 1 lake and sheared off water bottle cage (thanks Ohio Pass).
It was such an awesome ride, I almost did it again, just to get my 134 training miles in.
No I didn't. But it would be badass if I did.
Rebecca sheds clothes before the start of the (dirt) climb.
Selfie on top of Ohio Pass.
Heading out towards Lake Irwin.
Approaching Lake Irwin with Ruby Mountain (?), a 13'er, in the background.
Shameless group shot.
Oh yeah. And this is what Ohio Pass did to my water bottle cage. I can confirm that this has never happened to me before. Looks like I will be getting a new water bottle cage in the very near future.
Well, that was an okay week of training. Back on the bike I go. Because dude. 134 miles. 9000 feet of climbing. I've got work to do.
