What kind of self-respecting cycling blogger am I to not write even a single post during the Tour de France? Disgrace! I tell you.
Although I have been a completely lousy blogger, I have been a good cyclist. (Relatively speaking.) I've been riding consistently. And, I might even say that I don't hate climbing any more.
A few months ago my friend dragged me up some canyon roads that I had been dreading and told me that I should do this sort of ride every week. While the pain of climbing up 3000 feet almost made me cry (not really), I had a great time. It definitely gave me a new sort of confidence I lacked. So the next week, I went and did a different canyon road. It was much easier. I'm not saying it was easy. Just much easier than the first time. So, for a few weeks after that, I just kept going back for more. And, things got a little easier each time.
Then about a month ago, this crazy friend of mine had a crazy idea to go up Las Flores Cyn Rd. This canyon road gives you almost 1500 feet of elavation gain over 3.4 miles. The grade average is over 8%. Everyone who I talked to about this beforehand tried to stop me. They all said, "Mai, but you hate climbing." I should have listened to them. It hurt. It was hot. At one point I was going so slow that there were like 4 horse flies hanging on my leg trying to eat me. I hated my life. And, oh yes. I stopped in the middle. I'm shameless. I walked my bike. Hey, it's UCI legal to do that, right? But I finished it. I didn't turn around. As far as I'm concerend, I'd call this a draw between me and Las Flores. I didn't "conquer" it, but I didn't lose either... Next time, Las Flores, next time...
A little added bonus after Las Flores though was the fact all the climbing became much easier. Again, I'm not saying I love climbing. But, compared to Las Flores, 6% grade for a few miles? It's nothing. Maybe, just maybe, I don't hate climbing any more.
I'm grateful for all my cycling friends who take me up to these roads that are unknown to me and let me discover something new about myself. (Cycling is so much like life itself.)
I'm also grateful for you, readers...
Even when I didn't update anything for months, there were always some people who came and read my posts. Thank you. I hope I'll keep you entertained a bit more from now on...
