I just watched the world’s top cyclists ride up a half mile long 15% grade on the hogback ridge above the CSU football stadium. My vantage point was perfect, as I was able to watch them for several miles with binoculars.
It was near the end of a long hard day in the mountains, and there were four riders about two minutes ahead of the peleton. The were all very skinny and rode up the hill in about half the time it takes me.
So long as this guy wasn’t there….
http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Tour-de-France-Fans.jpg
He wasn’t, as far as I could tell, but the crowd was still bananas;)
http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2013/aug/21/excitable-crowd-turns-out-usa-pro-challenge-steamb/
“Sheridan, who competed in the Town Challenge Mountain Bike Race Series this summer, was wearing a banana costume because, he said, “All of the riders need potassium.””
My memory of going through Boot Camp and Infantry training is that the big muscle boys faded first and the skinny ones persevered and got through.
You can’t let it bother you, Steve. Do what you can do. At 5,000 feet elevation, I doubt I could Schwinn up the hill at all.
I play golf with a guy who drives the ball 60 yards further than me. He hit one 311 on a par 5 this AM. All I can do is watch and enjoy. And hit my ball. Driver, 3-wood, and sand wedge on to the green. Two putts for par. He hit driver, then 8-iron. Off the green left. 10 feet from the flag on a different green! His pitch was short of the green. Chipped up and made the putt for par.
We both parred. We get it done how we can.
Mass and the exponential nature of the laws of physics.
Personally, I would never reach the top.
When I visited my brother’s deep snow covered property near a peak of a mountain in Nederland, though I was considerably skinnier than him, my sea level legs would not climb that powdery hill!
I image some of them will be heading here to Alberta in a few weeks for the Tour Of Alberta…last stage right here in Okotoks. will be fun to watch.
“peloton” is the correct spelling.
Ha. I wouldn’t make it even going downhill…
When watching professional cyclist on TV and seeing Jens Voigt or Peter Sagan, on would think they are big men. Then when one sees them standing next to a “normal” built person, it’s obvious they are tiny and mostly legs and lungs with no shoulders.
5’5″, 145, perfect for mountain climbing on a bike, helps to have lived at high altitude and have a few guys to pull you along until they drop.
Didn’t see the cyclists. Went to the peach festival in the morning but son needed his nap in the early afternoon.
But having run that whole segment of road, I don’t think there’s any area that averages 15% grade for 1/2 mile. Starting at the north end of the dam by the stadium and heading north, my Garmin data does show ~230 ft of rise in 0.45 mile, which is close to 10%. Going to the next dam south and starting at its north end, that hill is tougher, but I don’t have Garmin data on it.
-Scott
Maybe if you left your bow behind you could shave off a few minutes? 🙂
I enjoy climbing those 15% and better grades via a 159″ track – 150HP mountain machine (in deep snow, of course(-:)
Steve all that matters to me now is getting those endorphins to kick in and to feel a natural high and state of pure joy. Biking does that for me.