Carson Pass #5
So the hardest part about this pass was actually getting to the climbing. From what I looked at on the map, I had anticipated that the point from where Hwy 89 meets Hwy 88 up until Pickett’s junction would be a straight flat ride that would go by fast. I however was competely wrong in my assumptions. While Hwy 88 to Picketts junction did start off flat enough, it started to ramp up fairly fast. There were definitely some points where I felt that it would be so much easier to just turn around, that this false flat bullshit was bullshit. Despite these random thoughts I was determined to gut it out. What I did enjoy though was that I was alone the entire time, just as had been the case during my training. I didn’t have to worry about trying to catch or maintain a pace with another rider. I also didn’t have to push a faster tempo to stay in front of somebody either which was nice.
There was one section of climbing which I remember being like wtf, how am I going to drop down into the small ring if this is supposed to be flat. Despite this, the final turn before reaching the final aid station before starting the actual climbing section was a sight for sore eyes. Reaching the Picketts Junction section felt so good, I actually can’t remember how many helpers I told that this final lead up section should be what is billed as one of the harder mental parts of the entire ride. I reached this part just after 11am and spent about 10 minutes waiting forboxes of clif bars to be opened so that I could carry some food on the last climb for a just in case situation.
The actual climbing part of Carson left much to be desired. While I did end up cramping a bit in my right calf I didn’t feel like the grades were hard at all. What bothered me slightly about this cramp was that I had never felt this specific cramp before. While I have cramped in my right calf quite a few times, the specific muscles that were cramping this time around were something new. Despite this what also affected me on this climb was the wind. I think throughout the ride the wind was more or less calm but for some reason during this segment, the wind picked up and was becoming an “issue.”
From what I can remember, upon finally seeing an aid station after reaching the elevation sign post of Carson pass, I felt that there was still more to go but that I should stop and check to see how far. To my surprise, this was the end of the climb and the end of the ride. It was extremely funny when I rolled in because everybody was more or less astonished that somebody had already finished. I showed up at and around 1205-1210pm.
Once off the bike I chatted it up with about five volunteers about what time I started, what I thought of the ride, how I felt, etc. The lowlight of the ride was that the ice cream bar that was being served as a dessert was absolute crap. While I can’t say that I was hungry, I would have definitely scarfed down a scoop or two of ice cream.
The descent was fairly awesome since there was little to no traffic, no chance of riders coming in the opposite direction, and a slight tailwind. All in all I was finally able to enjoy a descent.
2 years ago • Notes