Old Man Pass

QUICK STATS	This Ride	2010 Cumulative
Distance	79.17 miles	3538 miles
Elevation Gain	5650 feet	39.05 miles
Average Moving Speed	14.26 mph	15.00 mph
Dog Bites	0	1

This was another training ride. Well I guess they all are in a way, but the difference is we've ridden this section of road before, this year even, and decided to do it again in order to get used to the long steep grades. Amy had suggested it, remembering the nice climb on the Lewis & Clark Ultra training route we did this spring. Rather than do the whole grueling 140-mile route again, we drove to Stevenson and climbed over Old Man Pass, descended to the Eagle Cliff General Store near Swift Reservoir, and then returned the same route, over Old Man Pass again.

We knew it was going to be hot today, but it was really hard to get up when my alarm went off at 4:44 a.m. So we didn't. Got up closer to 5:15, and out the door by 6 so that we were riding out of Stevenson just before 7 a.m. It was cool, and getting cooler as we ascended. Amy regretted not having leg warmers or clam diggers. I was cool but okay. (As usual! ;)

Even though we took it really easy yesterday, Amy struggled a bit today. She followed me up the first big climb. I think I just saw the Evil Captain Kirk! Okay, goofy alternate universe theory aside, we decided to oil her chain. I was almost out of oil, but put a few drops on her chain while stopped at the halfway mark. She said it helped a lot, and road well ahead of me on the big returning climb to prove it.

Of course, it was quite hot by then and my heart rate was up to and often over my Lactate Threshold, which is well above the climbing range I'd like it to be in. But I've learned to just keep chugging along knowing it will just simply be 5 to 15 bpm higher when I'm hot. I was squirting ice cold water on myself occasionally, which felt good, but not sure it helped my core temperature much. Speaking of ice cold water, the Eagle Cliff General Store had it and I was very thankful!

Reaching the top of Old Man Pass the second time was very satisfying. Knowing the next 30-ish miles are mostly downhill is... awesome. However, by this time it was also very, very hot.

I figure I drank about 75 ounces of water over the whole 79 miles. I thought it was enough, but clearly it wasn't. After the ride Amy grabbed a 32-ounce coke for me from Subway while I was loading the bikes on the car and I drained it in no time. Got whoppers and another 22-ounce coke at Burger King in Washougal about 30-minutes later and still thirsty after that as well. Downed a 12-ounce can upon arriving at home just for good measure.

Forgot to mention my weird calf issue. I've never had a problem with either of my calves, but my left calf was killing me most of the day today. I didn't do anything different today, so I'm not sure what caused it. Weird. Thankfully your calf isn't a huge power contributor in the pedal stroke, so mostly it was just an annoying pain issue and not a speed reducing hindrance.

If and when we do this ride again we will definitely start in Carson rather than Stevenson. Just a bit too much traffic on the 3-mile stretch of Highway 14 between them.

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