Did somebody say shift up?



Map My Ride doesn't compare to Strava. Especially with the elevation. Won't forget my GPS next time!



Today was one of those days that just come together.  Yesterday I swung into Overlook Bikes to pick up my MTB wheel (broke a spoke back on the Wissahickon Park adventure - Philly).  Steve is one of the wrenches there and his girlfriend Dorothy are two of the area's more serious athletes.  We've been talking training through the long / cold winter here and feeding off of each others motivation. Through conversation, I found Steve and Dorothy have been doing some long rides each weekend.  So with more pressing obligations and hunting coyotes behind me, we worked on a plan to hit some Catskill High Peak hills now that we are graduating out of base training and into the build period.  But from the amount of snow on the ground, it's hard to imagine this would be the time.  Winter seems like it'll be here forever and most cyclists wake up one day and  look around and say "shit, I need to get on the bike."  Not us three.

So we did it.  We made a plan to ride today and we did.  Oh boy did we.  Dorothy does a lot of coaching in New Paltz and is one of those disciplined athletes we all need to know.  She's hard to coax away from 'the plan' and she's a better athlete for it.  In fact, for me, I feel I've finally realized how to put it (training) together in a neat and orderly manner for a season of racing.  I couldn't have asked two better people to come and ride with me with 24 inches on the ground.

After some estimated winter cycle clothing decisions based on the 22F temp, we set out here from Big Indian at around 11am and within 4 miles were working our way up Rt42, which is a looong steady grade between 5-8%.  It goes on for about 5 miles which is enough to get the blood pumping.  But if you're not careful, it's easy to go over the edge.  Which is never good so early in the ride. 

The top of Rt42 is one of the deep notch passes thorough the high peaks, and is East Coast famous for ice climbing.  Of course, there were climbers picking their way up to the top of the ice flows.  Can't blame them.  It was one helluva day for it.

We proceeded along, always keeping our pace, effort, and heart rate in check.  A little effort = good.  Just a little too much = bad.  This is a slack-line effort when riding in the mountains in winter with a little base in your pocket, but the three of us kept it together.

We made our way up and over Rt17 and on into Windham.  We were passed by dozens of cars with skis and snowboards tethered to the roof with the 'people in the glass box' giving us looks of disbelief.  We chatted a bit about when we used to be those people 'in the glass box' and how we would see people like us out on bikes when everyone else was hitting the slopes.  We laughed about how we used to see those cyclists as "some of the most hardcore individuals", and now here we are as those cyclists.  We laughed about how "un-hardcore" it all actually is.  All it takes is gear and motivation.  A lot like hitting the slopes, you know?

Up and over Rt296 we went.  Hill after hill tempted us to hammer like it was summer, but we refused.  All of us kept ourselves composed because we knew there are bigger fish to fry farther on down the road.  Don't get me wrong, getting up and over each hill requires real work, but we all agreed we'll be back for more, and when we get back, we'll show the road who's boss. 

Into Hunter and then up on over the Rt214 notch we went.  It was about this point the body starts doing what it does best - talking bullshit.  And the bullshit it was talking wasn't worth listening to.  Yeah, we've come a good way.  But we had a good way to go.  So without hesitation we got together and worked towards "git'n er done".  I don't know about you, but I like to drown out the BS my body starts with by pushing it a little bit harder.  So by the time we got down into Phoenicia, I didn't hear what it was squawking about anymore.

All we had to do now was work our way West back to Big Indian using Rt28.  Doing this requires gaining roughly 500ft in 10 miles with a full headwind.  The headwind is made worse by the towering mountains funneling it to the greatest treeless area.  The road.  A lot like the wind you might find caused by the skyscrapers in NYC.

Doing this section many times I knew what was required and volunteered myself the designated leader.  I put my self into a pace that seemed to put me in a zen-like trance.  My body was tired by this point and the gusts of wind came along laughing.  They tried to shut me down, but (like a mad man) I'd laugh back and pedal the cadence I required by focusing on smooth pedaling, and not going over the edge.  There were a few times I imagined I may have lost Dorothy and Steve.  I heard the moans and grunting of pain after a early season ride creeping up on 50 miles.  But after snapping out of my trance, I looked under my arm to find them right there with me.  At this point this effort wasn't easy for any of us.  However, it was empowering to all of us to know that no matter how hard the pedaling might be at this point, we have all been playing our cards right.  We weren't about to give up the upper hand.

We made our way back to the good'ol Big Indian with a 4 mile, mellow-ish spin back up Old Rt28.  When we returned back to my place, we took turns enjoying a hot shower and some Chai Tea.  We chatted a bit about our individual plans and peak races, washed the bikes, and made sure we'd get together soon to put in some more Catskill High Peak miles.   

Tour of the Battenkill.  Here I come!

Get out here!