Finding myself with a little time on my hands Sunday afternoon, I decided to drive the Elves & More 87-mile route to get a feel for the terrain. Here are my thoughts on it:
1. It's pretty. National forest, farmland, long two-lane country roads. Downright idyllic, in fact.
2. It's hilly. There is no part of it which is not at least slightly hilly. And from about mile 17 to mile 38? SERIOUSLY FUCKING HILLY.
I mean, I knew there were going to be hills. I've ridden some of this route before. I remember climbing some, and coasting some. I knew it was going to be a tougher route than what I usually ride. However, I have never ridden that little piece that daggers out to the west, and after driving it yesterday, I can say that I am woefully underprepared for what I found there. I can also totally see why the route map refers to it as "Hell's Gate". I've been on roller coasters that were tamer than some of those hills. Good God.
So, in light of the fact that I have done no real hill training whatsoever, I've decided that there is not a chance that I am going to be able to ride even 50 more miles after that stretch of road, let alone over 70 more. No. Way. At. All. Even trying to do another 25 is pushing it, but I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I wussed out of the "real" hill section completely. So, this is going to be another metric century for me, and I am completely, blissfully, totally content with that.
Now, to focus the rest of my training this week on working the granny gear.
Posted by Joy at October 3, 2005 09:07 AMHow'd it go?
Posted by: Frazier on October 10, 2005 08:24 AM