With the calendar winding down to fall and its’ colder days, a week till we venture to Collin’s for a visit and forecasts again calling for smoky skies my options for a ride to Bogus were dwindling. That made today my best last opportunity.

Departure time was driven by smoky air forecast after 12P, how cool it was up at Bogus and an estimated 4 hour ride. 1030A was set and the temperature told me winter tights and a long sleeve base layer thermal tee under a jersey would be prudent. Got dressed, stuffed pockets with fig newtons and headed down the road at 1015A. Final assessment – I over dressed.

Over dressed or not I made it to the top. Here are the numbers:

• 2:21 bottom to top time for the 16 miles and 3648 feet of climbing.
• 3:58 round trip time for the total 42.3 miles and 4233 feet of climbing.
• Max speed 38.1
• Average speed 10.6MPH

Numbers reflect being off the bike for weeks over the last 2 months due to poor air quality and 6 week bout with bronchitis. Unable to log significant climbs or long rides to prep for Bogus. My longest ride had been 29.7 miles over a basically level route.

[See route details]

Firsts for this ride included stopping, to switch bottles around, during the brutal mile before the last mile of the climb. Within a few seconds realized stopping not a good thing. First number two was thighs cramping. Have to believe this was influenced by over dressing. Taking my normal 2-3 swallows of Gatorade every 15 minutes wasn’t adequate hydration. A third first was developing a craving for an ice cold Coke mid way up the mountain. Adhering to a belief that long climbs are as much mental as physical this helped keep my mind from telling me to point the bike downhill and call it a day.

Already looking forward to next years date with the mountain.

BTW the photo shows my new favorite gadget and a selfie at the top as I sat for a moment munching a Cliff Bar. Can’t recall if the expression was a celebratory yell or a muscle cramp. The roller aided in stopping the cramps experienced post ride. Received it for Christmas 20+ years ago from Paula.

Well, I still have the legs to make the 16 mile 4062 foot climb up to the Bogus ski lodge.  Total miles 42.3 – elapsed time 3:42:31 non-stop.  Time for the 16 miles bottom to top climb 2:07.  Considerably longer then my best but the goal for this day was to simply make it.  On my record time I was packing 20+ fewer pounds and was 20 some years younger.  This was also my first 40+ mile ride since July 2014.  Which was also to Bogus and took 3:27 to complete.  Bike was a little skittish on the decent.  Most likely caused by my lack of high speed descent training.  So far other then sore and tight thighs I feel pretty good.  Now I have a time to beat next year.

Cheers!