First of all I needed to understand some things about how grades are measured. By grades I mean road grades. I’d failed to appreciate what a 18% grade was.
I knew it was steep. They give tours taking tourists up here promising they “won’t have to peddle at all” to ride bikes DOWN this road. I drove it before. I knew it was steep. I did not however appreciate what that would mean on a bike.
I’m new to road biking and admittedly was no where near ready for this ride. It’s on most top 10 hill climb bike ride lists not because it’s pretty(which it is) but because it’s amazingly hard.
In 10 miles you’d clime 4200 vertical feet. You’d do most of that in the first 6.
The steepest mile averages an 18% grade..... averages!!!!!!
I was so optimistic and confident as I left the parking lot. Ice in my pack melting on my back, munching on my Luna bar, in hind sight I was a moron. I hopped on the bike in front of the construction site at sea level and playfully like a child road down the street past houses and schools. Finally reaching a slight uphill section where for once I downshifted. It wasn’t hard, my legs were fresh and warming up. Around a couple bends and up and up I went. Coming around a corner to an awesome view of the town of Waimea below. I’d stop(because here that was actually possible-explanation to follow.). Snapped a couple photos. Adjusted my leaking water bottle. Clipped back in and up I went. A few more corners more hills. Hills on hills. Hills. Does it ever flatten out? No. No it does not. Turning another switch back I am met with the mother of all hills. I’m only 4 miles in to a 20 mile ride. My legs are literally on fire. I look down again and again to check. I’m in my second to last gear and my lowest gear in my mind is for emergencies only. Then there harsh reality hits me: you have to have a few seconds of forward momentum to unclip your shoes or you’ll topple over bike on top of you. It’s so steep. Stopping for even a moment is not an option. I start slaloming up hill. Like a skier. It’s all I can think to do. I’m about half way up and I risk it because now both my brain and legs are screaming at me- I slam my right anckle over praying my clip gives way as I feel my body weight shift. I’m now falling. The only hope is if my foot is fast enough and can meet the ground before my knee and precious bike do. It works. Relief streams through me but for a moment. I am thoroughly screwed. This is way, way steeper than I realized. And as good a shape as I imagine I am in I may as well be a couch potato mall walker(no offense). There is no way. I compose myself. Look uphill again look in amazement at how high I’ve already climbed in the brief couple miles I’ve ridden. Wonder how the *%#^ do I get back on my bike?? Just peddle don’t worry about clipping. I point my bike at an angle and shove it as best I could forward. Riding a clip in bike with cleats not clipped in is rather like peddling on peddles the size and made of ice cubes. One foot at a time and requiring more energy that I needed to expend I get feet in. I don’t even want to look up hill finally finally I can see it rounding off. On fire once again all I want is a break. I won’t get it. The flat is no more that a crosswalks worth of pitch change before its right back up it. More out mental need than physical I downshift. The final gear. From here there is no where else to go. I am now actively talking to myself. I’m going so slow is all I can think I can feel my heart beat as if it too wants to unclip and ditch the bike. It’s not that I care how slow I go it’s just I realize how freaking long I will be doing this. I switch my focus to how I’m peddling. Using the clips to pull up with quads giving my hamstrings a break. It doesn’t matter because I cannot shut up my brain. This was crazy. And I’m not ready for it. I know I got lucky getting off the bike last time. I’m now in the middle of a hill that makes the last one look like a pitching mound. I think briefly about going to the edge of the road so I can just fall over into bushes but then decide to unclip while peddling. It almost works. I unclip. Only in my hast I’ve shifted my weight too much to my downhill clipped side. I’m gonna go over. And I do. Laying in a heap on the road.
In a heap. On the side of the road. I am upside down taking a moment to swear and admire the unique perspective, the Pacific Ocean is now the sky.
I’m bleeding, I’ve scratched my precious bike, and there is a car coming so now on top of it all my ego hurts too.
I’m barely into the beginning of this thing and I know I’ve failed. I do that occasionally. ;). I don’t typically publicize that....but it’s part of life and.....
I’ll be back.
....posting this will help keep me to that internal promise made as I sadly descended the hill.
