What Are The Odds?
Since 2001, I've ridden on the uber famous Mavic Ksyrium wheels. The wheels are incredibly light but are considered "bomb proof" even more my considerable heft. Looking back at my cycling logs, I estimate that two wheelsets (about $800 a pop) have given me a little over 8,000 miles. Ksyrium's have their fans but they also have their critics since Mavic opted for a proprietary machine mounted, bladed spoke that builds wheels at incredible pressures and tolerances. It basically means that if you break a spoke while out on a ride, you are seriously screwed. The wheel would be so out of true that you wouldn't be able to rotate it even a few degrees.
I've broken two spokes on two different wheels in less than 70 miles. Thank god that both spokes broke at relatively slow speeds but it is still incredibly frustrating. I had just completed one of my best ascents ever of NE Ames Lake Rd. when this one bit the dust. When this happens, I have no choice but to call Amy or someone else to come and get me. I am now fresh out of "Amy Please Come Pick Me Up" calls.
NE Ames Lake Rd. profile and stats (click image for a full size version)
Preston Fall City Climb Statistics:
Total distance: 1.30 miles
Climb distance: 1.20 miles
Elevation Gain: 289.94 feet
Average gradient: 4.99% (max 13%)
Personal Best: 7:01 (11.14 mph)
A New Attitude Towards Climbing
The Preston-Fall City Rd. Profile (Click thumbnail for a full size image)
Sure, everyone thinks I'm some in shape athlete just because I ride 5-7,000 miles a year on my bike. But in reality, I'm an out of shape fat ass who likes to think he's good on the bike. I've never really liked hills after I quit racing as a junior (I was only 140 pounds then!) and I always rationalized that if I put enough miles in on the flats that I'll be able to climb when the time comes. I'm not so sure anymore. So this past year, I've been really hitting the climbs whenever I can. My theory is that eventually, my body will become conditioned to the pain and suffering during a climb and will just learn that "that's just the way it's gonna be." Your posture on the bike is drastically different on a 7% climb vs. the flats and it requires different muscles to sit on the back of the saddle and grind through the miles.
It's starting to pay off. On my favorite test climb, the nearly 5 mile climb from route 202 (at the restaurant Dad, Nance, Amy and I ate during their last night here) up to SE High Point Way (Also known as Preston-Fall City Rd.), I've lowered my best time by 4 1/2 minutes. This may not sound like a lot but it's huge considering the short distance. It's shallow enough to let me stay in the saddle yet steep enough in parts to push me above the red line (around 3.8% total average grade which is misleading). I've probably climbed it 15-20 times so far this year and it seems to get (or seem) a little easier each time.
I've started to enjoy climbing and have spent quite a bit of time scouring the USGS topographical maps searching for long and moderately difficult ascents. I'm no mountain goat yet but I'm starting to think like one.
Preston Fall City Climb Statistics:
Total distance: 4.93 miles
Climb distance: 3.43 miles
Elevation Gain: 435.5 feet
Average gradient: 3.93% (max 10.4%)
Personal Best: 17:33 (16.88 mph)
