GOBA should be a cakewalk
I was never too worried about how hilly GOBA would be this year, as I'm used to doing hills and have even done a GOBA in the same general area. I was planning to take my carbon fiber bike, but am now considering taking the touring bike. I didn't think it would be a good choice, but after today's ride maybe it is.
The Polkadots had their "Corkscrew Criterium" today. Corkscrew is the nickname of a rather nasty hill near Bellefountaine, OH, about 35 miles from Columbus. It's called that because it has 4 alternating turns in about .6 mile of rather steep climbing. It's a fun ride with various challenges: fastest time up the hill, highest gear used, number of times up. The touring bike was the one that was in my van, so I reluctantly rode it, not having time to go home and switch bikes. It's much heavier, of course, but maybe the gearing is better suited to that hill. I found my time up the hill was about the same as when I did the criterium on the Trek.
That really surprised me, as I didn't think I was even feeling that great. I made the first climb, rested briefly, and rode the loop to do it again. Again, the time surprised me, and I felt pretty good. When I did it before, I rode up the hill 5 times, winning the # of times prize. Last year Joe rode up 7 times. I wasn't yet psyched for that, but I took off for climb # 3. That felt pretty good, and I didn't even stop after that climb (and the next one), cruising through the snack/rest area to report my time and heading right back out.
After 5 climbs, I sat down for a drink. Five was all I really planned to do, to match my previous number. Then, with a little prodding, I took off for #6. That went well. I hadn't eaten much so I had a sandwich after that one. Climb 7 was about a minute longer, and I was feeling like I could cramp. After a rest and a beer, I headed back out for #8. It was actually a little faster, and no cramping!
Maybe it was the climber's jersey I was wearing, le grimpeur. I felt pretty good about being able to do it, and without hurting myself. And especially for breaking Joe's record.
The Polkadots had their "Corkscrew Criterium" today. Corkscrew is the nickname of a rather nasty hill near Bellefountaine, OH, about 35 miles from Columbus. It's called that because it has 4 alternating turns in about .6 mile of rather steep climbing. It's a fun ride with various challenges: fastest time up the hill, highest gear used, number of times up. The touring bike was the one that was in my van, so I reluctantly rode it, not having time to go home and switch bikes. It's much heavier, of course, but maybe the gearing is better suited to that hill. I found my time up the hill was about the same as when I did the criterium on the Trek.
That really surprised me, as I didn't think I was even feeling that great. I made the first climb, rested briefly, and rode the loop to do it again. Again, the time surprised me, and I felt pretty good. When I did it before, I rode up the hill 5 times, winning the # of times prize. Last year Joe rode up 7 times. I wasn't yet psyched for that, but I took off for climb # 3. That felt pretty good, and I didn't even stop after that climb (and the next one), cruising through the snack/rest area to report my time and heading right back out.
After 5 climbs, I sat down for a drink. Five was all I really planned to do, to match my previous number. Then, with a little prodding, I took off for #6. That went well. I hadn't eaten much so I had a sandwich after that one. Climb 7 was about a minute longer, and I was feeling like I could cramp. After a rest and a beer, I headed back out for #8. It was actually a little faster, and no cramping!
Maybe it was the climber's jersey I was wearing, le grimpeur. I felt pretty good about being able to do it, and without hurting myself. And especially for breaking Joe's record.