At the Bar LY turn off, I didn’t know whether to be pleased or discouraged by the climb into the hills of the upland–
Looking west from Bar LY sign
Notice way off in the distance the road goes over a hill and disappears. Then see the white crescent to the right that’s the same road curving over another rise? A yellow-clad figure, Steve Kanoza, was on top of that hill waving his arms at me, or so he says. (For the full-sized photo check out my Redington Ride Picasa Album and click on the magnifying glass. I think I can make him out.). We had established a pattern in which Steve would leave me on the climbs, then wait for me on hilltops. When he commented that he was dropping under 4 miles per hour on the steep climbs, I admitted to going under 3. He was sort of impressed that I could balance the bike at that speed. Afterwards Steve commented to me that this was the hardest mountain bike ride he had ever done. To Donna he commented he would never do it again, but he’s since relented. It was the second longest and one of the 10 hardest mountain bike rides I’ve attempted, so I was pleased with our effort, despite the cold I came down with later in the week. (more…)
