We haven't done any centuries in the last couple weeks, but we have done some decent local rides, so I will elaborate on them below this overall map:
| RIDE MAP IN GOOGLE EARTH: |
| Maps showing all rides: 2011 Rides • 2010 Rides • 2009 Rides • All Rides |
KELLY & DOBLER
Sunday, September 4, 2011
| Kelly & Dobler Ride Distance: 64.56 miles Elevation Gain: 3,896 feet Average Moving Speed: 15.66 mph |
KELLY & DOBLER: |
RIVER RIDE W/ GUNSHOT FLAT
Monday, September 5, 2011
| River Ride w/ Gunshot Flat Ride Distance: 54.13 miles Elevation Gain: 1,448 feet Average Moving Speed: 16.14 mph |
This happened to be the same day of a major event occurring on the I-5 bridge called the "Bridge Walk". Thankfully we were able to slip through without too much trouble before there were way too many people on the bridge. We had to maneuver around probably a couple dozen pedestrians on a very narrow sidewalk. And many of these pedestrians were completely oblivious to the fact they were blocking the way, requiring us to stop, clip out, put our foot down, start again slowly, rinse, repeat. When we finally got to the other side and on Columbia Boulevard we discovered how easy we had it. There was a huge line of people, hundreds and hundreds, making their way toward the bridge.
Escaping the madness, we got rolling again, and headed out toward Frenchman's Bar to finish the ride. However, we had not escaped. Only a few miles along Lower River Road and I heard a gun shot. Initially quite startled, it didn't take long to realize it was probably a flat tire when I saw Amy slowing down rapidly. As I approached and asked if she was okay, I was further startled when I saw two things: 1) the rear tube was out and partially wrapped around the rear axle, and 2) she answered that she was okay with a bloody mouth. Okay, so it was just the red coloring of her sports drink, but it was a little alarming when combined with a gun shot sound and an inner tube that needed to be unwound from her bicycle wheel.
She had run over a nail, which was still protruding straight out of the tire. Unrelated to the nail hole, the tire was basically shredded along a section of side wall. My theory is that the explosion was so violent, and these tires are already relatively loose fitting on her wheels, that the tire came off the wheel very quickly and got caught up in her brake pads. It was not fixable. So Janette, along for the ride this day, suggested we call her husband Greg for a rescue. She even said he'd know right where to go since she had a flat at this very location only a few days prior.
So the gals got a ride and, figuring it might be a tight fit in the pickup for 4 people and 3 bikes, I rode home. I tried to beat them back, but alas I arrived huffing and puffing to see them already in our driveway.
On that final stretch my heart rate was showing as 0 bpm. I knew something was dead. Thankfully it wasn't me. A cursory post-ride post mortem revealed that my heart rate monitor suffered acute coronary thrombosis.
RIVER RIDE W/ GUNSHOT FLAT: |
WOMEN'S FORUM OB
Saturday, September 10, 2011
| Women's Forum OB Ride Distance: 71.44 miles Elevation Gain: 2,394 feet Average Moving Speed: 16.37 mph |
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If you don't know, the Women's Forum is basically just a nice viewpoint along the Historic Columbia River Highway. It is where I took the above picture. The cliff you see in the background between Amy and Brian is Crown Point, I believe.
WOMEN'S FORUM OB: |
ALLEN & BRATTON
Monday, September 12, 2011
| Allen & Bratton Ride Distance: 68.38 miles Elevation Gain: 5,342 feet Average Moving Speed: 15.14 mph |
The Allen Canyon climb is very steep. It is over 18% in one spot, and averages 13% for a quarter mile. My comment to Amy after that climb was something to the effect of "We need to do that climb at least once a year. It is a good reminder for how steep steep is."
I had actually ridden on Bratton Road by myself early last year, but in the opposite direction. I remember it well, because it was an awesome descent. Here's what I said about it then:
"Probably the coolest part of this ride was the descent from Pine Grove toward Woodland. Dropped 750 feet in less than two miles, and some of it was very curvy. A car passed me just before heading down and I had to use my brakes a couple times just to avoid overtaking him. It was one of those hills you could almost just let her rip, but not quite, particularly at one rather sharp-ish corner. Very fun though. Looks like about a 40 mph average on that stretch. I was too busy to notice if it would have been safe for climbing in the other direction. That would be one serious climb."One serious climb indeed! I looked over the data before the ride and saw it was an average of almost 8% slope. What I didn't notice was how much of it was significantly steeper than 8%! In fact, looking at the data now, I am wondering if something is inaccurate because while climbing up that hill I remember much more of that climb in the 12 to 14% range than what it shows now. Probably just human psychology. You know, like "that spider was bigger than a small dog!"
The Bratton climb never got quite as steep as the Allen Canyon climb, topping out at 16% maximum slope. But of course it is almost 2 miles long, so much more difficult in that sense.
EDIT: Forgot to mention a little side road that I'd like to explore next time we do this ride: Goose Hill Avenue! After checking Google Maps it appears to be paved, and while it doesn't actually go to the top of Goose Hill, it does reach the ridge line below Goose Hill, so there may be some nice views, particularly if you continue on 394th Street/Maki Road, though that would require some descending and re-ascending. As a reminder to myself and/or Amy or any other interested party, Goose Hill Avenue is a left turn while ascending Bratton Road. Might be really steep! And the descent back to Bratton Road will require heavy braking at the stop sign...
We did this ride on a Monday, and as such it was very low traffic on both climbs, and for that matter on most of the ride. Not sure I would want to climb Bratton on a weekend, as I suspect there would be considerably more traffic, which would be problematic on a very steep and windy road with no shoulders.
ALLEN AND BRATTON: |
It has been a good couple of weeks. We've actually enjoyed switching to more of the 50 to 70 mile rides and less of the full centuries. We can avoid the hardest part of a century: the last 30 or 40 miles (which is what is so hard on your body). Plus by shortening our rides we've avoided riding in the hottest part of the day, and the string of 90-degree days only just ended.
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