A John McCauley ride!

We last did this ride on March 16, 2023.  It was late winter /very early spring and I just without much thought took a ride out of the BBC past rides.  We had 15 riders and I was not aware that it had the toughest climb within a 50 mile area on this cue sheet (MT opinion, of course-there are lots of 18-21%'s around here but not as tough). (BTW-I am not sure it is true but there is a rumor that a few riders from 2023 are still on Mt. Zion completing the climb?).

The climb is the dreaded Mt. Zion Climb.  It appeared at mile 28 and I thought "oh no-I haven't tried this in about 20 years when I was a skinny young guy and it still destroyed me back then".  I had, and still have, either a 23 or 25 gear in the back and knew I was in trouble.  I continuously looked at my Garmin on the climb and it read 14/15% the entire climb (not sure how long? 1/2 to 1 mile quickly followed by two "easy" 11% climbs on the same road).  I made the decision at least 6 times on the main 14/15% long section to pull over and let my heart rate drop some.  I felt like I was hyperventilating on most of the climb. Somehow, I made it up to the top without stopping and remembered saying "if I tried this climb 100 times, I would probably pull over and walk 99 times".  Becky told me at the top that it was the "hardest climb she ever attempted".  Renee Faison went ahead on the climb with Ray and when Ray asked Renee to wait at the top for the others, Renee said 'most will not make it or it will be a very long time-so I am continuing on".

So-memory has faded some and here we go again. 

So-if you have a large gear, e-bike or just plain crazy and want to try MT's toughest climb in the area, please join us.  Usually "it hurts so good' but in this case "it hurts so bad".

Lunch or snack at mile 20 in Red Lion.

Anyone up for the challenge? (the rest of the ride is your basic moderately hilly to sometimes hilly ride).  Most people will do a 10-13mph pace but all paces are welcome.  

If I come to my senses, I will cancel the ride by 8am (mainly weather related).