The 2023 trip is in the books, as they say. I continue to use this test and the Whatcom Tour as fun measures of my fitness. This may not be an overall measure, but I think I need to be at least somewhat fit to complete either ride. If I end with a smile, then everything is fine; if I crawl across the finish line, I need more work.
So this year I didn’t crawl or walk any part of the ride, whereas last year I got the non-Covid flu during the ride which caused me to walk with several cramps all over my body . This year I felt good, I was just carrying a little more weight this year compared to previous years; too much food. My plan was to simply start pedaling with my predicted heart rate mostly in the 130s. This plan worked and gave me a long, enjoyable workout with great views and I never felt like it It was something I couldn’t finish. The downside was that I finished slower than previous races, although since I’m not competing it doesn’t matter. Next year, same plan, but with a little less weight and maybe a little faster. 😉
Points to note on this route:
- Always carry a hex wrench so that less than a minute into the ride you can dig to the bottom of your bag and lend it to the guy next to you with the front wheel loose and the panicked look on his face. face.
- I’ve noticed a lot more e-bikes this year and I think several of them may have been asking too much of their batteries. None of the few, they were there to enjoy the day.
- Don’t underestimate the long climb up to Nooksack Falls, but it’s fun on the way out.
- When a driver with a chase car passes you like you’re pitting on the track, it could be a famous world-class driver you’ve never heard of before.
- People are driving too fast for the difficult road conditions between Heather Meadows and Silver Fir Campground in the valley.
- Perhaps the most dangerous vehicle on the “closed” road is the official shuttle with a trailer of bicycles in tow. Overtaking a car that is overtaking a bicycle, with a dozen other cyclists around, including yours, is stupid and dangerous. No one needs to be dead or injured for another 5 minutes to return to Glacier.
- There is a bathroom at the Excelsior trailhead.
