The Climb

Just for the record, I'm not a Miley Cyrus fan; however, after last Saturday's ride (May 30), I can totally relate to her new song "The Climb". (Click my title "The Climb" above to see the music video). I logged 46.1 miles that day and honestly didn't know if I would make it ... but I did. These lyrics are so fitting ...

'There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb'

Chrissy and I rode with the Blair Bicycle Club. It was my first time to ride with the BBC ... what a great group of people! We also had a few people from "Team Link" join us - Alex, Art, and Thomas.

We rode the first two legs of the MS ride (Hollidaysburg Jr. High School to Ritchey's Dairy, then Ritchey's Dairy to Williamsburg), then we rode from Williamsburg back to H-burg Jr. High via Scotch Valley. Between the hills on Reservoir Road, the hills on Cove Lane & Cross Cove Road, and the hills on Scotch Valley Road, I could not have pedaled up one more hill if someone would have been pushing my bike! Here's a shot of our map and the elevations. Click on the image for a closer view.

I was ALWAYS the last one to get up the hill, and numerous times, the group was waiting for me at the top (again, great people!). They would not let me behind, even though I was slowing them down. I did lose the battle on one hill towards the end of the ride ... I ran out of power about halfway up, and had to get off the bike and walk. (It wasn't the hill in this photo though.)

About half way through the ride, I declared that I would be buying a new bike. Yes, I just bought a new bike (my Cannondale Quick comfort bike), but in hindsight I should have bought a road bike. More on that topic to come in a separate blog entry!I have seven more weeks to train for the MS150 ... it will be a challenge, but one I am looking forward to!