Let's do the numbers:
Distance: 30.52 miles
Ride Time: 3 hours, 20 minutes, 23 seconds
Avg: 9.14 MPH
Today was a day I have never, EVER experienced in my nine year adult cycling life. Our ride today was scheduled to be 99 miles including a climb up to the summit of 5,477 foot Washington Pass. The climb started at mile 18 and continued for 13 miles. I was going real slow as to conserve energy to complete the almost 3,100 elevation gain on the climb. I would use the end of guard rails as a resting spot the further up I went. I had completed nine miles of the climb when the heavens opened up and it started raining. Really hard. I stopped, put on my rain jacket and continued on when HAIL started pelting me in the head. OWWWW!! :( At this point, one of our SAG vehicle drivers who had been watching me during this time yelled out of his window "Do you want a ride up to the top?" I thought for a moment and then said "yes". I can ride in rain, I've done it before. When you throw hail into the mix on a mountainside, it was a no brainer for me. Of course, ten minutes after me and my bike got into the van and were on our way up to the summit, the skies cleared and sunshine came back out.
So I get to the top which was the lunch stop. I have my lunch, put on all the warm cycle clothes I have with me, take a timid look at the overlook from Washington Pass (I'm afraid of heights) and then decide to ride down. I mean it's all downhill from here, right? WRONG on sooooooo many levels. So I'm at the intersection where I make the right-hand turn to begin my descent. A group of ladies from Montana who were doing the ride rolled up next to me. I asked them if I can ride with them and they say "sure!" So we start down. Just two minutes into the descent, the skies open up again. A minute later, the hail starts pelting us intensely. Then I see this sign:
And boy was it ever windy! In fact, it was all we could do to maintain control of our bikes as we are rolling at approximately 25-30 mph. We pulled into a scenic overlook area and then huddled under a map information board as the lightning and thunder started up. It was right then I know my ride day was over. In fact, Tom Radley our ride director and his staff did a tremendous job in getting all of us (and our bikes) safely into vans and trucks to ferry us down the mountain. Like I said, I day I have never, EVER experienced on a bike.
What did Gary wear today?
My Ace Paint Century jersey. In the midst of fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I managed to be the top fundraiser for the inaugural Ace Paint Century Ride in 2010. I figured it would ba fitting to was this jersey to complete my 50th century ride. OOPS!! :)
What will Gary wear tomorrow?
My White Sox Jersey. I feel it's time to show these Seattle Mariner loving fans a taste of Chicago's South Side! :)
Tomorrow, we head to Bay View State Park in Mount Vernon, WA for a 52 mile jaunt. Here's hoping for better weather!
Stopping!
Gary
"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world." --Grant Petersen
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