Let's Take a Ride

This all started last year, when I missed the summer cycling season. I was having problems this year getting the focus and motivation that I needed to step up my training to regain my normal cycling condition. Steve suggested that we do the Redmond Cycling Club's Marblemount to Mazama tour. Day one, you ride from Marblemount, over the North Cascades Highway to Mazama. Day two, you return. I needed a ride on my calendar that put a little fear in me, so I said sure, I'll go.

The first day of the trip is 75 miles with 6800' of climbing. We drove to Marblemount on Saturday, put our bags on the truck and left just before 9:00. The first hour is a slight uphill to Newhalem. We stopped where they give the Seattle City Light tours.



I thought it was a good time for the obligatory start of the ride photos. This is Steve.


This is Cathie's favorite look for me, The Pirate.



There are three small bumps up before the real climbing starts. This is the view from the top of the second bump. It is the dam and spillway at Diablo Lake.



The next climb was about 5 miles with a little over 1000' of gain. That took us to the Diablo Lake Overlook.


There were lots of motorcyclists around so we found one to take our picture.



We got back on our bikes and rode 8 more miles to lunch. After lunch, the real climbing started. The first climb is 18 miles and 3000' to Rainy Pass. Then, a short descent with a 4 mile climb and 1000' to Washington Pass at about 5400' of elevation.

This is where the pictures of the day's ride stopped. I was okay for the first bit, but after 4 miles of climbing I started feeling a little light headed and nauseous. Due to the beta blocker that I take, it limits my heart rate. I was stuck at about 142 bpm and I needed more. When I stopped and rested for a minute or two, the symptoms went away. When I got back on the bike, they would start up again after a mile or two.

After three cycles of starting and stopping, realizing how long the climb was and the air was just going to get thinner, I decided it was time to call it a day and get in the sag truck.

When you have done the some of the riding I have done over the years (STP, RSVP, Cycle Oregon, RAMROD), you have good days and bad days. The way you deal with the bad days is you become really stubborn and decide there is no way you are getting in the truck, no matter how much it hurts. I've seen people climb into the vans and trucks and for many of them, they don't have a choice. They are broken and they can't go on that day. It's really sad to see.

Well, there I was and I was at that point. I couldn't go on. We found the truck and sent Steve on his way up the hill. The sag driver was really nice. As he said, "It's a bike ride. It's supposed to be fun. When it's not fun, you should stop." He made me feel a lot better.

The original plan was to have me wait for Steve at the top of Washington Pass, then ride down together. It was too cold to wait up there, so we told Steve that I would meet him at the hotel.

I was dropped off at Washington Pass. I put my coat and winter riding gloves on and did the 17 mile, 3200' descent. It was a blast.

When I got to the lodge, I realized that I didn't get rained on all day. In fact, it was sunny until lunch. Steve was not as lucky, he was two miles from the Mazama Country Inn and he got caught in a thunderstorm. The skies just opened.

The most important part of the day, I kept my promise to Steve.



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Location:Marblemount To Mazama