Texas Canine Ambush   
 Ride Stats
Distance: 46.60 miles Altitude Gain: 4,176 ft Avg Speed: 14.91 mph
Route: Hornby-Chambers Avg Grade: 118 % Max Grade: 152 %
Max HR: 0 bpm Avg HR: 0 bpm Terrain: Road: Steep
Bike: Look 585 Carbon Road Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club
Weather Conditions: Sun\Showers 82 F SW wind @ 11 mph
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 Hornby Climbing
Had a good time on my last climbing day in the hills west of Montour and decided to return and maybe repeat a couple but also wanted to check out the climb to Hornby that I remembered as being tough going. Was a little disappointed with the climb out of Montour via Cemetery Hill as didn't spend much time out of the saddle and weakened over the top rather than accelerating as I did last week. Climb across the flats to Moreland was also a bit slower but that was partially do to a headwind where last week was a tail wind. Continued straight through Moreland and did the little stepping hills rather taking the big steps up Catlin. Wasn't sure what would be waiting on the climb out of Beaver Dams as years past the road had broken pavement and huge rocks sticking out of the surface. Climbing used to be difficult and descending it was dangerous. Progress is headed toward Hornby though it may be awhile before it gets there as the bottom half of the climb now has good smooth pavement. It still turns to dirt after Chambers road but the dirt was hard packed and easy to ride on. Climbed okay on the hill but kept it in a low gear and spun most of it and didn't seem nearly as hard as I remembered it. Of course I probably was climbing much faster twenty years and twenty pounds ago. Made it to Hornby proper in pretty fair shape and decided to do the next hill in too large a gear and try to build a little leg strength. So slowly pushed a large gear up the half mile of eleven percent grade. Legs of course were trashed as I crested the top and was greeted by a large dog that lunged at me. The owner tried to call the dog off but it didn't mind any better than my dog does and I lunged the bike at it as I tried to catch my breathe and get by without getting bit. Owner finally came out with a leash and corralled the beast and I went on unbitten. Had a long coast down into Corning and then turned with the wind and headed back toward home. Thought briefly about climbing Backer Road again but wimped out and headed up Chambers Hill instead. You get the same elevation change but Chambers Road has half the grade. Paid for my weakness as a heavy shower hit me as I made the climb. Looked like I was on the edge of it and probably would have remained dry had I opted for Backer Hill. Rain tapered off as I descended Catlin Hill and roads were dry as I dropped below Moreland. Had a couple decent climbs today but really didn't have much strength on the flat sections.

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Lifetime: 104,688 mi
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Member since: Dec 2009
Home: Montour Falls, NY 
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