I haven't done this ride in years. Shame on me. Probably the most spectactular trail in the area. I can never talk anyone else into riding it with me. Too damn hard.
It starts with a 15 or so km ride on the Powderface Trail fire road. Good warm up. I feel like shit today. First one knee hurts, then the other. Then my ass. Just can't get into a rythym. That changes in a hurry when we get to the first climb. Damn, it goes up in a hurry. And steep. Did I mention technical, too? It's my turn to get burned, a woman who ran 45km yesterday passes me on the uphill. Damn.
The climb is never ending. Toughest 3km ever. And it's worth every bit of pain and suffering. Nothing like genuine alpine meadow to make you feel like a million bucks. What a view. I feel like kicking my own ass for not bringing the camera.
The other fun thing about this ride is that you get to experience the pain and suffering twice. Yippee! After a fun descent, it's back to grinding uphill. Wow, this hurts a lot more than I remember. I get to the top and check out the view. You can see Moose Mountain, Yamnuska, Baldy, even Mt Assiniboine is showing today. Fantastic.
The downhill is just as tough as the climb. Ultra technical, fast, my hands hurt from braking. It's over before you can blink, back at the car. Gotta do this ride more often.
Training after a baby
3 years ago
2 comments:
Damn, I did that ride once and it was awesome! Lucky you.
I was preriding the Bow 80 alone a few years ago..when right in the crux of the Cox/ J.P. or down to the road intersection...my rear derailluer went into the spokes and exploded in several peices. I ended up making a one speed and going down to the road, and riding the 40km back to Station Flats with in one gear. uhg.
That was also my first time up on that ridge. Beauty view.
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