~ William Butler Yeats
Since first hearing of 6 Gap, I've wanted to ride those 6 North Georgia mountains. Everyone wants to do well and perhaps complete the century ride in a specific time frame, but I simply wanted to complete the ride. That desire was satiated this last weekend, and everything was right for it to happen.
Neels~
The morning was cold to start with the temperature hovering around 60 degrees. BK and I got a bit of a late start at 7:50 with the official start at 7:30, but we made that time up over the course of the day. With just 18 miles into the ride and at the base of the first climb, the first indication of what was to come was beginning to dawn to me: my legs were not wanting to spin up to my regular cadence. Reserving energy is always key to climbing these moutains, but I couldn't put enough out to keep a comfortable speed going. The suffering was just beginning, however.
At the top of Neels Gap, I told BK to roll-on without me as I planned to cut-off at Wolf Pen to do the 3 Gap option. He was disappointed for me, and I felt terrible that he'd waited on me at the top. I rolled down the hill and BK filled up his bottles. On the way down off of Neels Gap, however, I realized that there may not be another opportunity to complete 6 Gap. The weather was perfect, the forecast was sunshine all day, and I'd traveled to Dahlonega to ride all 6 mountains. I didn't turn off afterall. I pushed on to Jack's Gap.
Jack's~
BK caught up to me just past the steepest part of Jack's and gave me that "so WTF do you think you're doing?" look. I just grinned, told him I may not get the chance again, and kept mashing the pedals.
Unicoi~
At the base of Unicoi Gap, we got a great view of a young ladies personal mountains as she cheered us on in her own way by flashing us. WOOOOHHOOOOOO!!!!! I bet she has a nice bead collection from Mardi Gra....... Anyway, halfway up Unicoi I started cramping a little around both knees. Not bonking, just cramping. I ate and drank as much as could along the way, so this wasn't suppose to be happening yet!
Looming in the distance was the beast that nearly destroyed my desire to ever ride a bike again.......HogPen Gap. By itself, it is a tough mountain to travel. After 3 decent mountain climbs, it would take everything I had to conquer it. I'd traveled this way the previous year on a solo ride over Jack's, Unicoi, and Hogpen, and I knew what was coming. I knew the suffering I would have to endure, but I also knew the elation I would feel on the descent.
HogPen ~
The first 1.5 miles of climbing rolled by, and then I rested on the 1/2 mile descent before reaching mile 3. Mile 3 to 5 is the section that takes all you have and then ask for more. The cramping started immediately, but I shifted back and forth on the seat to work different muscle groups and hoped to perhaps ride through the pain. Right. Mile 4 came and I was standing on the pedals for all I had. I was only able to shift weight from left to right to left to right...... just to transfer heft to the pedals. 42 cadence and 5.3 mph! We're cooking now baby! My iPod began to feel like it weighed 50 pounds. I hated every song running through the headphones. I wanted to throw away everything that was weighing me down just to lighten the load. Screw that little engine that could! (Note to self: Laughing out loud at your own mental thoughts is disconcerting to others around you on a tough climb such as HogPen.) And, just who in the hell were these people passing me at 6 mph?! In the distance I finally saw that wonderful green sign that has a 5 on it! Just 30 yards past it is a down hill section where I could rest, and boy did I. At the top of HogPen is a slight rise that is nothing compared to what I'd just ridden and it last no more than 75 yards. It was to be the most difficult part of the ride for me, because only 50 feet from a blue line representing the end of the climb up HogPen both legs locked up. The front of my thighs, my glutes, and both hamstrings locked up in one gigantic knot of burning flesh. I had to dismount. But, I was not about to push my bike one damn inch on these climbs. I was going to ride the entire route that day, so there was no giving up now. A few of the volunteers at the top of Hog Pen were cheering everyone on as they finished the climb, and a few asked if I was alright or could they do anything for me? I thanked them kindly and declined. BK was also there yelling for me to get back on my bike and ride damn it!! Or at least that's what it meant to me. I was almost there. Slowly and carefully I clipped in and turned the pedals to complete the climb.
That was all I had to offer those mountains and could not muster another ounce of fight. It was time to give in. But, amazing things happen when you gaze through the blur of pain, see other people just as tired and whipped as you are, and you start to hear them talking cheerfully about how bad they'd suffered on that climb. Everyone was suffering on this ride, except a few who are definitely genetically gifted and more fit than I, and realizing that made me feel more of a part of cycling than ever before. What is this sport I love so much that provides unimaginable suffering everytime I clip in, and yet I can't wait to heal so I can go out and do it again? I was there because I love to ride, I'm addicted to the suffering, and I was going to complete the entire route now no matter what. There were only two more mountains to go.
WolfPen~
We stopped briefly at the base of WolfPen and then began the twisting non-rythmic climbs of Murder Mountain. I ate my last gel and began the what turned out to be a 4 rest-stop climb for me. I made it to the 180 switchback that marked the halfway point, and both legs did the rigid dance for me again. Stop, stretch, clip-in, and repeat every 1/2 mile to the top. My heart rate was not an issue at this point and I don't think I went into the red except for one time before Neels and of course on HogPen. I was greeted by the Bike Store riders at the top as well as my own personal coach and cheerleader, BK. Poor fellow was waiting on my slow ass all.......day.......long! I hate to ask for anything from anyone, but I begged a gel off of Charles. He gave me an extra, I must have looked worse than I felt, and I needed it. Many thanks to Charles! Those gels got me through to Suches and on to Woody Gap.
Woody~
Woody Gap was nothing more than a speed bump at this point. A slow 8.5mph climb of a speed bump, but over the top was a nice, long, and restful descent. Of course, I did ride the brakes on the turns on Woody as well as all the other descents. And unfortunately, someone actually crashed on the exact turn I crashed the year before, and he was only a minute in front of BK and me. He was alright, however, just bruised a bit but able to ride down the mountain. Not the case for me last year.
It was a good day on the bike. Not a great day for me, but a good day. BK and I toasted our accomplishment with a cold beer once we got done. I'm glad he waited for me, even though he could have hammered for sure and been done a lot sooner. Diana took 15 minutes off her time from last year's 3-Gap loop also. She could have done much better if she could ride more. Her goal for next year is to take more time off of this year's performance, and I'm sure she'll do well.
After downloading my Polar data, I've realized that perhaps my cardio just wasn't at the level it needed to be or my diet was wrong the week prior. I'm still tired from that ride, and it has been 5 days. Either way, I'll be back next year to suffer once again.
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