When Icarus flew too close to the sun, it was more than just the heat from the sun that caused his mighty fall; it was also the brilliance of his pride. As I contemplate my next ride up the Haleakala Highway and Crater Road which leads to the summit of Haleakala, I can’t help but wonder if the Road to the Sun together with my own pride won’t carry me too close to the sun as well.
It’s amazing how much of a climb is forgotten despite the fact that every meter is intimately experienced as we turn our pedals slowly up a grade; one gets the impression that each detail is forever burned into our memory. Riding parts of Haleakala in training, I am amazed at how inaccurate my memory of the climb is; sections I thought were short are many kilometers long; sections I thought were easy were in fact steep. Our memories are deeply distorted by our efforts and as such are not to be trusted.
This past Sunday, I did a reconnaissance ride from somewhere around 1,000′ to somewhere around 7,000′. As I rolled onto Crater Road to start the ascent along the shoulder to the crater itself, I was horrified to recognize how low the first switchback was where my body sent a palpable message to my brain to stop moving my legs during my January assault. It was at barely 3,700 feet – about a third of the way up the mountain. By 5,000 feet, I had completed the transition from suffering to death march. At 7,000 feet, with Gianni and my VMH becoming increasingly concerned I would climb in the car at any moment, the only thing keeping the pedals turning (albeit in squares) was the weight of my stubbornness.
The Trade Winds blow strongly on Maui in the summer, and the last thing I find myself craving is a headwind on the lower slopes, where the easier gradient is supposed to allow me to settle into a rhythm and ride into some sort of form. Based on weather reports, we have selected this Thursday, August 11 as the date for Frank vs. The Volcano, Part Deux. I have learned many lessons from both my previous effort and my reconnaissance. The only thing that remains to be done is to apply them, follow the plan, and pray to Merckx that I find good legs.
Last January, I rode the climb in four and a half hours. I hope to accomplish two things this time round: first, enjoy the climb a bit more (or at all) and second, improve on my time.
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@mauibike
That's just fucking brilliant...I'm so keen to get a chance to ride up a climb with road markings some time!
This is keeping me going at the moment cos I've been off the bike for a week & a half with a dodgy back & neck and I'm getting crazy keen to get out for a ride. Physio guided bike fit is upcoming & I'm hoping to get back to a set up that doesn't kill me.
@mauibike
+2
whilst we are waiting for the Air Ambulance to bring Fronk back to sea level, can anyone give me a little advice -
advanced planning stages for 4 day jolly to Belgium in late October (rule 9) - hiring large car at Brussels airport, bikes in the back, drive near Ghent/ Bastogne/ Huy or similar, stay 2 nights in 2 towns and do 125K each day in circuit from each base hotel
Any suggestions for where I should ride? Or where I might get a route/ route maps apart from the Classics route maps from 2011 websites? - can find precious little online in English apart from Cyclotourist stuff for the Panierriazzi
...or just head out and don't come back til fucked?
@Dr C
No specific advice, but let me know what you decide. I'll be in Munich the week before LBL in April, and was planning something similar"”le Col de Stockeu was high on my list, for name only...
Good luck Frank! Sur la Placque indeed!
Holy cow, Jeff, that is NICE work! I want that framed over my bed!
The day is here, huh? Make it happen, Frank!!
Just watching a replay of P-R 2010. Man, Tom chose a bad time to get caught at the back of the group and have a feed. I love the Belgian announcer, "Tom Tom Tom Tom Tom Tom." Funny that I can't understand much of what the guy says but I've heard him call so many races that I know his voice quite well.
I think the next time I'm asked to list hobbies/pastimes I'm going to have to write: watching a cycling video on youtube, then clicking the related videos and watching those for an hour, or two.
@Ron
a healthy addiction to youtube is an essential part of any cyclist's working day - feel no guilt
@Steampunk
thankd SP, so my list is growing, slowly
1. Mur de Huy
2. Roubaix velodrome
3. Ardennes pave
4. Ghent generally
5. Col de Stockeau
....anywhere else?
@Dr C
....and of course
6. the Koppenberg (too look at, as probably couldn't get up it anyway)
7. apparently the cyclocross in Belgium is a hoot
8. Grimbergen Abbey for the Double Ale
@Dr C
...or just head out and don't come back til fucked?
It seems to me that if we are to be guided by what our bike and body tell us and eschew computers that do much more than tell us our speed or to lay down some more V, we should probably take the same approach to route planning. Set out with a general idea of the direction you're going to go but seek the V-locus and Merckx will guide you.
Sounds live a good trip!
@Steampunk
Awesome.
Good luck frank.