Every time I ride east over cemetery hill (where my in-laws are buried), I pass the entrance to a temple that sits about halfway up a good-sized hill. And every time I pass it, I say to my riding partners, “One of these days I’m gonna go up there.”
Well, since it was a bit rainy yesterday morning and I had to cancel the longer ride I had planned, I decided to take a “quick” jaunt out that way and maybe give it a try. I mean, the timing was right, I didn’t have anyone else to go with, and this would be the perfect chance to finally shut up about it every time I rode by. Plus I was trying out a new set of tires. I was concerned because I accidentally ordered a set of Panaracer Gravel King S Plusses, and we’d had a bad experience with their SS-Plus version. Would they be light and supple enough, or would they be clunky and unbearable (like the SS-Plus)?
Turns out I think they’re just a touch better than the SS, significantly better than the SS-Plus, and just a bit worse than the S. I can live with that. The SS’s that I’d been riding before were quite good, so stepping up a notch slightly is a good deal. Next set I need, I’ll be sure to pay attention before I hit the “buy” button and get the S’s.
So… back to the ride. I spent a good portion of the ride out (17 miles) trying to get a feel for the tires. Things were going well, and I was making good time. I got to the climb, took a short break, and started up. Ouch. It turns out, 16% grade is the low end. I reached 24% in a couple of spots, and I’d say the overall average for the climb was about 20. For just under half a mile. This meant a bit of walking. I’ve taken as much as 26% without having to get off the bike, but that was for only a 20-meter section. This was 20% average over about 650 meters, not an inch of it level. So, I pushed my way up for a good portion, and even then, I had to stop a couple of times to catch my breath.
I was rewarded not so much with a great view (although if I’d searched around a bit, I might have been able to see over the trees and buildings from somewhere), but more with a beautiful peacefulness. I was far from any roads, and the place was absolutely quiet (once the golden lab settled down and figured out I wasn’t a threat). It would have been nice just to spend a bit of time there, and I did, but not as much as I could have. It was altogether interesting, but I did have to get back. And that meant a 20+% descent, which meant more walking in a couple of spots that I felt a small pebble could have sent me over my handlebars. It also meant some extremely hot brakes, and I did have to stop a couple of times to let things cool down…and look for a place to go. For some reason, I got hit with cramps on the way down. Fortunately, there as a convenience store out on the main road, and I made it home without too much trouble (another pit stop about halfway).
Here’s the Relive link: https://www.relive.cc/view/vdvm11YgpNv