So I wasn’t really sure how this race was going to go. My expectations were that it would involve carrying stuff, perhaps even a lot of stuff. With that in mind I emptied my bag of all but the essentials, threw in a couple old tubes to use as tie downs, and even went so far as to attach a rack to the back of my bike. I was so not prepared for the epic amount of sheer awesome this race would turn into.

Let me say that again…EPIC. I know that people on the internet like to use terms like epic and awesome casually, but boy howdy this was a fantastic race.

Just ridding over to the starting point I was a dripping sweaty mess, it was about 90 degrees outside with about the same humidity, riding was more akin to swimming through hot water covered in a wool blanket. Before the race started I stopped at a gas station, got two frozen snickers bar ice cream things, and a giant Gatorade, the ice cream didn’t make it past the end of the parking lot, and the Gatorade disappeared shortly after…it was hot.

I got to the starting point early, and was disappointed to see so few actual racers (mostly check point workers), but that soon changed as I sat under a tree and though cool thoughts about 50 other racers showed up! A fantastic turnout for such a geeky themed alleycat, on such a devils nut sack kind of day.

Once everyone was collected we were given the following manifest:

(this is going to be a long post, click below to read the rest)
(more…)

Yet another submitted event, my inbox was so full of goodness today, thanks again Ron.

2009 Tour de Somerville: City of Seven (or More) Hills

Saturday October 17, 2009

We’ll meet at Seven Hills Park in Davis Square (behind the Holland Street Red Line entrance) at 10 am, leaving promptly at 10:15am. The rain date for this event will be Sunday, October 18, 2009.

This year’s theme will be “City of Seven (Or More) Hills”. The ride will visit each of Somerville’s hills, both those that still exist and those that have been removed.

Here is a list of the hills, based on the Boston Bikemap:

Clarendon Hill – back yards between Fairmount Ave and Ware St

Walnut (College) Hill – The actual summit is across the city line in
Medford

Quarry Hill – now Nathan Tufts (Powder House) Park

Winter Hill – Broadway at Adams St

Spring Hill – Somerville Hospital on Crown St, but we’ll probably stop at
Bailey Park instead

Central Hill – behind Masonic Hall @ 125 Highland Ave

Prospect Hill – Prospect Hill Tower

Winthrop Hill (Ten Hills) – Temple Road at Putnam Road

Mt. Benedict – mostly levelled; a small remnant is on Austin St at Benedict St

Cobble Hill – entirely levelled, now (very flat) Inner Belt Industrial Park

More details will be available 3 to 4 weeks before the event, at http://SomervilleBikes.org .

Face flushed, dizzy with that mixture of satisfaction and exhaustion, I finally broke my dry spell yesterday.

And what a satiating way to do it. Biting my lip between panting and gasping for air, goosebumps were shooting up my neck. Even with a cramped up shoulder, there was no way I was going to stop. It felt wayyyy too good.

It hurt, too, but the masochist in me was loving every second. Bent over in a slightly awkward position, all I wanted to do was go harder and faster. Keep going. Don’t stop. My hair was getting sweaty but I really didn’t care. This is what I’ve been waiting for. Finally.

Hills.

It’s been a few days since I’ve ridden to Arlington. And from Waltham north, there’s one particular road that’s a solid mile of pure climb [the pictures don't do it justice]. The first time I did it, it was all I could do to keep my bike upright near the top. I can’t imagine doing it in anything less than clipless pedals, and while I can still barely breathe at the end of it, I’m pretty sure my calves look amazing from the back.

That stretch of road is one main reason I’ll drag my feet before the ride. But once I’m on it, thighs burning, clutching the drops in a white-knuckled grip, ass in the air, I remember why I love this route. And coming back from NYC – a city as flat as it is exciting – I threw myself into the hills, extracting that manic pleasure from the searing pain in my legs. Keeping a constant cadence up these babies is pretty near impossible [without gears], so all there’s left to do is mash [and hope I don't just fall over].

And it’s not just that one mile stretch. It’s climb after climb. Enough to keep it interesting, at least. And enough to have me simultaneously considering flipping my wheel to go at it fixed, but thankful for the ability to coast downhill. Ascend, descend, ascend, descend…it might get repetitive and boring for some, but for me, that moment of cresting another hill is priceless.

I also can’t get enough. The goosebumps and the pain, that feeling of release as your muscles finally relax and blood is bouncing through your veins in an adrenaline-fueled frenzy. Only to speed to the next climb; a modern day Sisyphus on a Bianchi. Well, without the sense of total futility. Because at the very least, I’m gaining huger legs.

I used to think good chocolate was better than sex. Climbing hills on a freewheel definitely beats good chocolate though. Definitely.

See Brookline open spaces on a Brookline GreenSpace Alliance recreational bicycle tour which will follow the path of Brookline’s 10 hills. The moderate pace on the gentle to moderate hills will be led by Ron Brown, treasurer of the GreenSpace Alliance and 14 year participant in the 192-mile PanMass Challenge. The 16+ mile route will start at 10:00 am on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at Amory Park, intersection of Amory Street and Freeman Street by Hall’s Pond Sanctuary, and end in the same location at approximately Noon. Helmets are required. For more information, contact 617-277-4777 or email info@brooklinegreenspace.org. Or see this nice flier (pdf).