Demonslayer

One year ago I rode my first 200 kilometer brevet, which also happened to be my first century-length ride. It featured climbs around Horsetooth Reservoir as well as another one up Stove Prairie. Last year I ended up walking one of the climbs at Horsetooth as well as stopping several times and ultimately walking up Stove Prairie. This was the ride that finally convinced me I need to work on hill climbing...work on it a lot.

After a year of hard work and a bunch of base miles this year, I returned to that brevet and I was very nervous. I've done all the prep work, fitness is great, I even rode the climbs in reverse a couple of months ago. I knew intellectually I could do it but hadn't internalized that knowledge.

The Horsetooth climbs were much easier than I remember, but they are short and steep. Exactly the kind of thing I've been working on. Stove Prairie was still hard but I made it. No stopping or walking this year!

Another significant difference was my finishing condition. Last year I was a basket case at 80 miles. I hurt all over - each turn of the crank was agony. This year at 80 miles I was humming a tune and having a great time with a friend.

The 300k brevet may not be so far out after all.

Here is the ride profile:

"Here's your sign."

I ride my bike at lunch time pretty much year-round. I've been doing this for 3 years now. About once a week it happens: I'm in full kit - bike shorts, Primal Wear screaming orange jersey, helmet, shoes - going to get my bike or fill up a water bottle and someone passes me and says, "Going for a ride?"

Last week my boss did that. I couldn't help it...before my brain had any idea what my mouth was doing I replied, "Nope! This is so comfortable I've decided to dress like this all the time."

Bill Engvall would've been proud :).

Bill Engvall's official site