A day with Henry and Thomas

Joined the gang to do Thomas Grade and Henry Coe in 45 degree weather. What the heck I was thinking? Oh yeah, the plan, the plan -- Weenie Woman in Training. S acted as my chaperone getting me up. He and I kept waiting for some excitement, say, like extraterrestrials in a mod looking UFO (preferrably heated with hot cocoa and marshmellows) to swoop down and take us away. I stopped to take the photo above and then S was gone around a bend.




About a mile to the summit, they came from nowhere, about 25 of them. Sure, you think you're looking at turkeys. I'm telling you they were aliens who abducted me before I reached the top of Henry Coe. I ask you, if they're not going to look like little green men, why can't they look like Chippendale Men? As Frank says, "That's life, baby."





Well Frank, "I thought about quitting and cutting out but thanks to S, I picked myself up and got back in the race."

We did about 28 miles total from our start in Morgan Hill. I forgot to record my time for this ride. Oh darn.

Break on Through to the Other Side

The light bulb came on. Weenie Woman is in training.

I returned to Mt. Hamilton. The goal was not to slug it out and get to the top but to climb strategically and practice technique. Like I said, uh the light bulb finally came on.

Not many cyclists out. It was a bit windy (but not like yesterday's gusts) and chillier than the LKHC event last Thursday. No one to play with but that'll have to wait for another day.

In any case, I had too much fun playing with gears and taking corners. This little gear will get me up, this little gear is tough going, this little gear will cause me to topple over, this little gear feels just right. Cut off point was mile 9 to give me some numbers to play with for all the next times. And I'll keep at it until I break on through to the other side.

Meanwhile, please keep your giggles to yourself. :)

Stats:

18 miles, climbing 7.3 mph avg.

1 hr. 12 m (next time I will shoot for a faster time) to reach mile 9

24.5 max one way, 30 mph max the other way on descents

Mt. Hamilton -- The Final Frontier

(photo by Josh Hadley)

Mt.Hamilton, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Low Key Hillclimbs. Its 9 week mission: to explore strange new climbs, to seek out new roads and new gradients, to boldly go where no cyclist has gone before....

I took it as a sign when Captain K told us to “haul our ass” up the mountain. And that I did along with 171 other LKHClimbers on a warm sunny Thanksgiving Day.

I met a guy around mile 9 who decided to push me up for 5 minutes or so. And now I know what it feels like to go 12 mph up an incline. Beam me up, Scotty, the rest of the way, please.

As I closed in on the finish line, I shouted, “Eh, Mister, here comes my ass!” Of course hardly a soul was around by the time I reached the top. Sigh.

Thank you P and D for encouraging me to do this climb and for being there at the top waiting. Thanks also to my other teammate R for turning around at mile 17 and climbing with me for a few minutes. Thank you Captain K for waiting for me to finish and for a wonderful line: We know it’s over because you’re here. And to H for recording times. And to M for riding down the mountain with me.

I finished 172 out of 172, climbing 18.4 miles (4300+ feet). Second highest turnout in the history of the LKHC! And yes, last again but my mom is still proud of me.

And so our 9 week mission comes to a close. Until the Mega Monster Enduro in February. See you there. Maybe I’ll come in second to the last….