I've done some hilly rides on the Stiletto and had seen folks going up hwy 101 from San Luis Obispo to Santa Margarita, about a 7 mile grade from 7-10% continuous, and always wondered how I would do on that. I headed downtown where the upright guys hang for their Saturday training ride to see if I could tag along. They all agreed on the Cuesta grade run to hwy 41 to Morro Bay and I joined the ride, synchronicity. They looked at my bike and one person remarked "you're riding that over the grade?" and I said " all I can do is fail, so?" That seemed to be the prevailing attitude as in "are you crazy?" (or was that my own voice)
So we headed out of town by way of one small dirt trail that joined the freeway, I lost some ground not knowing the terrain and carried the bike through a few spots, this gave them a few hundred yard lead that I made up on the shallow grade before the real hill began. They started the ascent at about a 10mph pace that slowed to about 9 and I stayed with them until I realized it was not "my pace" and slowed to a 7.5 pace that I knew I could keep and watched them pull away into the distance, 1.5 mph difference adds up quick! Still, I made it without stopping or whining and met up with them at the first stop and I felt a certain accomplishment and they all commented on the bike with a bit of surprise. It was a feeling of respect. Maybe I can't keep with you but I can finish!
We headed out on a long flat route and the paceline was cruising at a comfortable 21-22 and I knew I wanted to stop for a gatorade,lacking the right supplies for this trip, so I passed the paceline asking for the next stop and picked up the pace to about a 24 avg. Soon I put a considerable distance and pulled over to down my drink and waited and waited...they must have taken an alternate route, they never showed. So much for wanting a group ride!
Headed home back over the hill for a nice ride of 50 miles or so and a job well done.
sloji
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Calfee Stiletto
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