Today I did a 16.5 mile race in Boulder, CO called the Koppenberg Climb. Let me tell you, it was an experience that I'm not sure I will ever want to experience again. During the race, we had 3 laps that took us up a 17% grade dirt hill with ruts at least a foot deep running down the middle of the road. I am NOT prepared when I see this. I knew that about 1/2 of the course would be on a dirt road, but I did not know that the most difficult part of the ride was going to look like the terrain that Trey and I four wheel up. Anyway, I gather my courage, and start up the best path I could see. I was about 1/2 way up and the hill gets so steep that my back wheel starts to spin freely beneath me. I lose momentum and a fall. I end up hiking the rest of the way up, and I start to think that I do not want to do that 2 more times. At this point, I am the last one in my group, I fell, and I'm getting a cross wind (later finding out that it was blowing at a constant 30 mph) that is nearly pushing me off the road.
2nd lap I'm still alone and can't even see my group they are so far ahead. I'm down in my drops (however you are supposed to say that) and in my lowest gear pushing against the wind. I reach the hill again, and attempt to go up a different path. Not too far up it, the path starts to tilt toward a deep rut and my wheel slips off and I fall, again. Again I'm hiking my bike the rest of the way up only to face the cross wind and try not to get blown over.
3rd lap. The head wind was so strong that I was getting a nice facial from the blowing sand/dirt. I decide not to even attempt riding up the hill this time, I just hike it from the beginning. The cross wind is so bad that even on the fast sections of the course, I'm breaking because I'm afraid to get going too fast.
Needless to say, I was the LAST one to finish. I hated it and wanted to cry. The only thing that I'm happy about was that I finished and didn't quit. Over all, I took me 1:12 to ride 16.5 miles. Not good.
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