74th Birthday Figueroa Mt. challenge. 

For my 74th birthday one of the things I decided to do was to ride my road bike over Figueroa mountain.  This was not one of my better ideas.  The over 40 mile loop has a 10 mile section that is all straight up; and I mean up as in 10-15% grades that go on forever.  I knew this ride would be not only a physical test, but also a mental test.  I ended up failing both in certain aspects.

Physically, I know I am not as strong as I used to be.  Therefore, I need to lighten the load I had to carry up the mountain.  I stripped my bike down to the bear essentials.  Water is the heaviest external item to carry.  The day before the ride, I drove over 80 miles from home to preposition water at different places on the mountain. 

Stopping on a steep grade is not a problem; but starting again on that grade can be a real problem.  Getting enough forward momentum to enable you to get the second foot on the bike pedal is a real problem.  Sometimes you can find a wide place in the road to get going sideways before you turn up hill.   Those places are hard to find.  Around home, I practiced going downhill and doing a quick “U” turn to get going back uphill. Sounds simple, but on a narrow steep grade, it is a tricky maneuver. 

I worked hard to develop a plan, and I thought I had a plan that covered all the important elements.  I made one serious miscalculation that came close to ruining everything.  I miscalculated the amount of water I would need and when I would need it. 

Part of my problems was recent rides.  It had been cold lately and I had used very little water on my bike rides.  I started the ride with 32 oz of water in Los Olivos.  I had placed 36 oz of water 12 miles from the start of the climb.  I placed another 24 oz of water at 13 miles and another 24 oz at 16.5 miles.  I thought that would be plenty.  It was not. 

The start of the ride at 7:00 AM was cool enough.  By the time I rode the 7 miles to the mountain climb portion, it was hot, very hot.  At 2.5 miles into the climb my body was pleading for more water.  My 32 oz water was down to 12oz, and I could only take sips of water because I knew it was a long way to the next water supply.  The heat was building, and the beginning of heat exhaustion was also draining my last reserves of energy as the grade kept increasing. 

The last two miles to the Ranger Station where I had stashed the 32 oz of water was a real challenge; but I made it to the water.  I drank 24 oz of water as if it was a sip.  I took a long rest break.  I took 12 oz of water as a reserve for the next mile of steep climbs.  After another mile I had another stashed 24 oz of water.  I drank my 12 oz reserve and 12 oz of my new supply.  I was beginning to feel a lot better.  I met a very nice camping couple from LA that gave me extra water.  Soaking up all this water made me feel great.  It was then only another 3.5 mile climb to the final top.  There was another 24 oz of water.  From the top, it was only 22 miles back to Los Olivos, with a small almost nothing 1.5 mile climb, and all the rest was all downhill or level. 

Everything went great, except for the water over the road covering a very big pot hole. The water across the road had left a slime slicker than snot on a doorknob.   When I braked to avoid the pothole, the bike flew out from under me and dumped me on the road.  I was very lucky, only a small scratch and a little blood, but nothing to be concerned about. 

Very tiring ride back to Los Olivos, but I made it.  At the famous Figueroa Mountain Brewery, I was so tired I could barely finish 1 beer; but I also managed that. 

Pictures and videos of possibly my last ride over Figueroa Mt. can be seen  by  

Clicking here to see pictures and videos 

    © Jerry Pilson 2019