Saturday Ride Report
 

Well I did my first real mountain today and was humbled beyond all belief. Started at the mouth of Provo Canyon and road to the Summit of Alpine Loop. We had intended to continue on descending through AF and then back to the mouth through lindon, but I was sooooo slow it turned into an out and back to save about an hour. here is the link to the ride.

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6103992

here is the profile

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/c...&xy.height=450


This is honestly the hardest thing I have ever done. I had no idea you could keep a bike upright and 3 mph. I do not have the body of a climber that is for sure. Descending is another story. I hit 62 MPH between Sundance and the turn on to Provo Canyon. That was hairy. In total it took us (because of me) 4:05 hours to go 32 miles. Pretty shameful to post that but I had a blast and I assume I will get better when I don't have to tow 260 pounds uphill.

How about you guys?

I've never cycled up a mountain. Hope to do it one day. I have a feeling I will bonk however.

Attaboy, Coach. I need to give that a shot one of these days.

I am hoping to ride to the top of South Fork this evening. 26 miles roundtrip from my house, but not nearly as brutal. The Vivian Park - South Fork part is very steep, just not as long as the Alpine Loop route.

I should add that sometimes I have to go down to my granny gear (bike is double with compact crank) just going up mere rises in roads here.

you have to try it. It has changed the definition of cycling, and my amazement of the pro's.

I should have done that one first. I had no idea what I was in for. I think I am a little more lenient with my stance on the dopers in the sport too. I would have taken a blood transfusion half way up if it had been offered. ;)

Was that your speed info? You hit 62.5 mph coming back down the mountian? Wow. that is pretty fast.

yea it was. The grade on that particular stretch is very steep and I just let it hang out. It was awesome and scary all together.

I think my all time fastest was 53. 62.5 seems insane.

I think my fastest is 50 or a shade under.

That's in the drops, pedaling as fast as I can, down the steepest hill in Dallas.

Pedaling at 50mph didn't do anything. I would not be able to pedal to 60.

I snuck in a quick 32 miles this morning before my son's swim meet. Nothing very exciting. Mixed in some sprints and intervals for fun.

The fastest I have gone is 54 or 55 mph, which I've done 3 times. I was pretty edgy when I did it, and once had some speed wobbles. I can't fathom going 62.5 mph, as there is a huge difference between 45 and 55 for me.

Congrats on a good ride Coach. I know what you mean about 3mph. I've had some grades that would have been much faster to walk and felt like if I were going any slower that I would fall over.

A few more of those passes and you'll be ready for the death ride in no time.

you guys have me questioning my Garmin. Next time I do it I will see what the speed is again. I do know that I ditched a car that turn in behind me at sundance and caught a group of cars and had to slow down so I didn't run into the back of them. I couldn't see these cars when I passed Sundance and caught them about half way down, once I caught them and slowed to their pace, I was in the high 40's.

What kind of GPS unit do you have?

I don't question your speed so much as your HR. The sensor must not be staying in touch with your body. About 15 years ago I rode from Rexburg to Jackson, Wy and just outside of Jackson is a huge pass. We got going down the other side and at one point is a section of straight road. We were flying by cars and just barely got it into the 60's. It made me nervous and once was enough in my life.

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6107830

I'm trying to up the distance that I can average over 20 mph and Friday evening I made it to 50 miles. Saturday I was looking to do it again but as I got going I could tell my legs were shot so I took it easy and saved myself for some golf after.

A quick diversion from cycling to say that your route is one of the most beautiful drives on the planet. Swan Valley is amazing.

Unless there is another route that I don't know about.

This route goes up through the Teton Valley (Driggs) which is right at the foot of the Tetons which is pretty spectacular in itself. About once a year we will do a ride up in Swan Valley and I agree with you that is one beautiful area.

It sounds like I need to try your route some time. I'm all about the mountains.

Garmin 305 Forerunner

Yea the HR was way off. There were times it was reading 0. I tried to reconnect it to the garmin but I think the battery in the strap was dieing.