First off I just need to say I bow down to BG's ability and courage to do this ride more than once. I've wanted to do this ride since hearing about it and finally I found someone from Rexburg I could drag over to ride it with me. Bruce has only been riding a year but stays in good shape, I figured it may be slow but no problem for him. We started out in Ferndale about the middle of the pack with the intentions of just taking it easy until the first climb. These forty miles were great, we had about a 4 or 5 mile stretch along 101 but even that was beautiful. Riding through the Redwoods may have been one of the most enjoyable places I've ever been on a bike. At mile 40 the road starts up and it continues up for about seven miles. Most of the grade is a 6-10% grade but one little section went as high as 15% (thanks Garmin for that info). Bruce was starting to cramp already and I knew it was going to be a long day for him. The decent was so long and twisty my fingers and arms were hurting. I was almost as happy to see the bottom as I was the top of that hill.
We stopped for lunch around mile 60 and than continued to make our way to the coast. I thought we would be getting a break but this section was rolling and had a couple of good sized climbs. As we were heading down to the ocean we stopped to talk to some guys and I mentioned how steep the decent was and they started warning us about the wall, the best description was "it's as steep as you can pour asphalt without it running down the hill". Along the coast was beautiful and we got lucky with a slight breeze at our back. That same group of guys kept telling us how lucky we were that we weren't fighting a wind during this section. Next up was the wall and it looked terrible. We stopped at the bottom and guys were weaving from one side of the road to the other to make it up the hill. Bruce knew it may be beyond how he was feeling so at that point I would go on and he was going to go as long as he could and then find a ride. He started up and had to start walking after about 100 yards. I started up after him and it was a struggle not to tip over from going so slow and to keep my front wheel on the ground with every pedal stroke, that sucker was steep. It was only a mile but easily the hardest mile I have even experienced. Once over the top you enter into a valley before the endless climb begins. The endless climb deserves its name. I was ready for a long climb but was shocked by how steep it was. Under my breath I'm calling bluegoose every bad name I can think of for even putting this in my head but I suffered through it. The decent was a nice way to finnish.
All in all this was one of the most scenic rides I have ever been on, it's also the hardest 100 I have ever ridden. I wondered why the times were go slow after looking at last years result but I now understand why. It really is a great ride but come prepared to work hard all day long.
We stopped for lunch around mile 60 and than continued to make our way to the coast. I thought we would be getting a break but this section was rolling and had a couple of good sized climbs. As we were heading down to the ocean we stopped to talk to some guys and I mentioned how steep the decent was and they started warning us about the wall, the best description was "it's as steep as you can pour asphalt without it running down the hill". Along the coast was beautiful and we got lucky with a slight breeze at our back. That same group of guys kept telling us how lucky we were that we weren't fighting a wind during this section. Next up was the wall and it looked terrible. We stopped at the bottom and guys were weaving from one side of the road to the other to make it up the hill. Bruce knew it may be beyond how he was feeling so at that point I would go on and he was going to go as long as he could and then find a ride. He started up and had to start walking after about 100 yards. I started up after him and it was a struggle not to tip over from going so slow and to keep my front wheel on the ground with every pedal stroke, that sucker was steep. It was only a mile but easily the hardest mile I have even experienced. Once over the top you enter into a valley before the endless climb begins. The endless climb deserves its name. I was ready for a long climb but was shocked by how steep it was. Under my breath I'm calling bluegoose every bad name I can think of for even putting this in my head but I suffered through it. The decent was a nice way to finnish.
All in all this was one of the most scenic rides I have ever been on, it's also the hardest 100 I have ever ridden. I wondered why the times were go slow after looking at last years result but I now understand why. It really is a great ride but come prepared to work hard all day long.
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