As the sport of cycling has nothing but aggrandized in me, so has my curiosity to find out what my mental and physical limitations were/are. So I decided to train hard over the fall and shoot for something I've never done before.
The results?
In cycling terms, riding my first Century, & conquering my first mountain.
So... how did it all go down?
Well, making my way out the door I didn't know where I was going. I had no gps guide, or spare tire or tube in case of a flat, or even company to share the journey with. Worse... I hadn't prepared or made any plans to take on such a task, but in the end it only took a split second decision to steer my course throughout the rest of the day.
Apart from the road signs, my help was depending on an internal compass guided by curiosity which was later fueled by sheer will, determination and fear. Who'd knew..
Without knowing it, I was writing history for myself by myself. This unexpected adventure was opening a new chapter in my life by creating one more story to tell, a story that to this day keeps me humbly satisfied. I had officially subscribed myself to a private mission, one that included, serious distance and altitude.
After 3.5 hours of constant pedaling, I had reached phase two of my independent journey. Perhaps bringing both this writing and my cycling trip to its climax, all thanks to the elevation climb the mountain road demanded.
No more cars to see, no more road signs to read, nothing but the good all sounds and sights this enormous and steep grounds had to offer. It was Newtons Law at its best, this is when they say "gravity will do a number on you," specially when you reach exhaustion at a high level.
And what happened?
Bear Mountain happened.
A steep climb that exceeds 3.22K in distance with an overall steady incline of 5 grueling miles that take you up to about 8000 feet above sea-level. I certainly got lucky that day, that's for sure. And I acknowledge I was at a disadvantage from the very start, one can say it was not a wise move to take such a risk under the circumstances.
But to experience the feeling after defeating the mountain, turning around and gliding down only to see your bike computer read 52mph, making it home and reaching 100 miles for the first time?
Priceless.
“You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.”