Team Nature’s Path Racing Blog

The physician’s assistant released my arm and gave me The Look.  “This shoulder is still pretty stiff.  You need a cortisone injection.”

“Okay.  I can come back Monday or Tuesday…whatever works.”

“Take off your shirt.”

Moments later her fingers held a hypodermic the size of a baseball bat (apparently the really big one was unavailable.)  She smoothly inserted it into my back and squeezed.  I tried not to squirm as the viscous fluid slithered into me.

“Given that this uncomfortable event is necessary, I’m pleased that you are the one administering it.”

She smiled….a little…not much.

Eventually the hypodermic was empty and I was full of cortisone.

“Here’s a copy of today’s medical record.  Give this to Megan at your next physical therapy session.  The cortisone should make a significant difference”

And she was right.  When I saw Megan a few days later, she said I was making good progress.

*******

Climbing is fun but it hurts.

On a recent Saturday morning Dena, Monica, Des and I rendezvoused in a parking lot below Wintergreen, where we prepared ourselves and our machines for the day’s altitude increase.  Dena and Monica are with River City Women’s Racing.  Des and I are members of Team Nature’s Path.  Monica and I have climbed Wintergreen before, though for both of us this would be the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery.  For Dena and Des this would be their first attempt.

The ride to the summit is only 6.75 miles, but that includes 2,626 feet of climbing.  The average grade is therefore an appallingly steep 7.4%.  That’s the average.  In three places the grade briefly touches 15%.

The route includes only two turns at intersections, which I explained to Dena and Des based on the likelihood that we would become separated.  In a normal ride one can ratchet the pace up or down to accommodate other riders.  That’s simply not possible on an extended, steep climb like this.  The Wintergreen Ascent is fundamentally a solo effort.

We rolled from the parking area and pedaled in the direction of The Beast.

The first mile is a “false flat.” It seems level but if you watch the brook gurgling beside the road, you’ll observe that there is a noticeable incline.  I pushed through, maintaining a steady cadence, knowing that this was the easy part.  After another half mile the angle of ascent was significant, and at two miles there could be no doubt we were on a mountain.

The bike I rode has a compact crank, which means the gears in front have 50 and 34 teeth rather than the standard 53 and 39.  Moreover, the largest gear on the rear cassette is a 28 rather than the typical 25.  The combination effectively provides two or three lower gears at the bottom of the range.

Over the course of the third mile Des gradually pulled ahead.  I shifted to the 34 and started to work my way up to the large gears on the cassette.  The false flat was long behind us.

After three miles I opened a gap on Dena and Monica, just as we reached the first 15% section.  I tried to pedal at a steady cadence, pushing the pedals around in slow circles.  Consciously cranking through a circular stroke delivers more power through the entire pedal stroke.  Every minute or so I stood for about 10 seconds.  I doubt this provided any real benefits in terms of applied torque, but it made me feel better.

There’s a right turn at 3.5 miles, at the enormous WINTERGREEN RESORT” sign.  The 15% grade continued for another hundred meters, then eased slightly at the guard house.  The road turned for a long, straight climb at about 9%.  I stayed in the saddle, intense and focused, thinking of nothing but the climb ahead.  Ahead of me, Des was beyond visual range.  Behind me, Monica and Dena were beyond auditory range.  I rode in deep, contemplative solitude.

A switchback can be good because it breaks the tedium of a long unrelenting climb.  A switchback can be bad because often it is steeper then the comparatively straight sections both before and after.  I saw and heard no traffic, so I navigated through the switchback in optimal fashion, crossing the double yellow line as necessary to maintain velocity, such as it was.

After the switchback a roadside sign warned against feeding the bears.  Now there’s a comforting thought.  Outrunning a bear should be no trouble when careening downhill at 35mph.  Climbing at 5 mph, however…   And come on, what sort of nitwit would actually try to FEED a roaming roadside bear?

An electric speed detection device sat on a trailer at the side of the road, five and a half miles from our starting point.  As I approached, the flashing digits read “6 MPH”…most impressive.  Just past the speed limit sign I turned left toward Devil’s Knob, struggling to climb.  It is so steep here that beside the roadway there are stairs instead of sidewalks.  I stood in the pedals for more than the traditional 10 seconds, forcing the bike forward. Together, my bike and I weigh 161 pounds, but we felt much heavier as we trundled through this second 15% incline.

The road leveled out momentarily turned left in front of a tourist restaurant.  With one mile left I drank deeply from the water bottle, then I tossed it to save a little weight.

The road turned sharply right, then it slapped me in the face with the final 15% climb.  I powered through, sitting back in the saddle for increased leverage.  For an instant my front wheel lifted from the pavement, so I shifted my weight slightly forward.  This helped me keep the rubber on the blacktop where it belongs.

As I struggled past the scenic overlook I smiled in the knowledge that I was nearly finished.  The angle eased, then reached a plateau. I pedaled through the final hundred yards, saw Des smiling and yelling encouraging things like “Where have you been?  I waited for a while, then strolled over there for a haircut and a beer.”

“Arrgghhhh,” I replied with perfect enunciation.  After 1:07+ on the bike, I reached the summit.  That’s the worst elapsed time of any of my in seven attempts….sort of a reverse personal best.

But I did it, and I felt good.

Monica arrived moments after I did.

Not so very long ago, Monica and I underwent similar surgical procedures to repair torn muscles in our right shoulders.  This was a significant test for us both.  Speaking for myself, I thought I could reach the summit, but I was less than certain.  Perhaps Monica was more confident than I was. The photo that Des took consisted of 2 friends, 33 lbs of bicycles, 4 torn muscles sown together, 6 titanium screws penetrating scapulas and humeri, at the summit of Wintergreen.

I learned later that after 5.2 miles Dena pulled over and stopped. She waited for us there and we reconvened for the somewhat terrifying descent.  There’s no shame in not quite conquering Wintergreen Mountain the first time out. Next time she’ll reach the summit with us.