| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
57.06 miles
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Altitude Gain:
4,819 ft
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Avg Speed:
13.57 mph
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Route:
Kitt Peak
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Avg Grade: 147 %
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Max Grade: 166 %
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Max HR: 0 bpm
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Avg HR: 0 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Hills
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Bike: Look 585 Carbon Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Sunny 70 F S wind @ 7 mph |
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Relocated to Tucson and it is finally time to do a couple of big climbs. Nice sunny day with temperatures in the seventies and mild manageable winds. Drove southwest of Tucson on SR 86 to the small town of Three Points where I parked at a Civic Center. The observatory atop Kitt Peak was visible for a good portion of my drive to Three Points. Suited up and had a pretty much straight sixteen mile shot to the access road at the base of the mountain. Grade for the first section was between one and three percent and kept an easy spinning pace. Saw one other rider on the way out and had to pass through a border control checkpoint before continuing across an Indian Reservation. Thought things were going well until I broke a spoke in my rear wheel at mile thirteen. Released the rear brake and spun the wheel. It had a big wobble but didn't rub the brake pads, so I soldiered on with a goal on at least getting a look at the climb. After a couple of miles of riding the wheel appeared to have trued itself a little, if that is even possible, as the wobble became much less noticeable. Decided to head up the climb and vowed to keep the speed down on the descent so as not to blow up my wheel any further. Access road to the observatory is only open between nine AM and four PM. Didn't see any problem as I figured worst case I could walk up the twelve mile climb and still be out before the gate was closed. Signs warned that the elevation at the peak was over seven thousand feet, so doing some quick math I figured I would need to gain a little over four thousand feet in the dozen miles. Started out on defense over the first three miles of the climb which was around a three to eight percent grade. Seemed easy enough but I still feared soul grinding fifteen percent grades that might lurk ahead. At mile three the grade hit eight percent and there it stayed for the rest of the climb. Occasionally there would be a short section of eleven percent but it was hardly noticeable other than the grade readout on my garden. Spent most of but not all the climb in my low gear but occasionally came out of the saddle and went up a gear for a little acceleration. Felt good to do but my broken wheel rear complained a bit during the speed changes. Got a little feisty at mile six as the views were fantastic as the road wove around the mountain. Stated to tire around mile nine and had to grind a little to finish the climb but overall legs felt pretty good. Enjoyed the view at the top then headed back down the mountain. Looked forward to the next twenty-eight miles of downhill. Rode the brakes hard on the downhill to keep the speed down to give myself a better chance of control should my wheel collapse any further and to keep the speed down because the first couple of miles of descent were very cold. Wondered how much braking one could do before the wheels overheated and exploded as I heard occasionally happens. Survived without issue and put some speed on the downgrade back to the start. Actually went faster over the final miles than I did on the mountain as I figured if I did crash I wouldn't bounce nearly as far. Passed back through border security and finished off the ride. Pretty good ride though I miss the days when I could attack a climb rather than just survive it. Still finished in pretty good shape.
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