Ted Glick's Climate Ride, Day 4

Written by Ted Glick

Today was the day with all of the big, steep rides up hills. Last year I walked for portions of 8 of those hills. Today I didn't walk a single one and I didn't even have to stop to catch my breath. I am so pleased with what I was able to do today!

The day didn't start well at all. After having a slow leak tire fixed last evening by the mechanic here, I discovered that the tire he fixed was flat this morning when I went to go get my bike. I spent about 45 minutes with the mechanic team as they worked on my problem, eventually fixing it, but by that point just about 80 to 90 percent of the bikers had left.

I didn't exactly try to push myself beyond my normal pace that I practice at, but I definitely was looking to move up once I was able to get going. Much more importantly I was looking to ride, not walk, up the many hills that we encountered.

After making it up two or three of the first really steep and long ones, I started to think that maybe today was going to be special for me. For 16 months I have been doing long distance bike rides every week, without exception. I have been working on strengthening my ability to go up hills. I have been reading about techniques and the psychology of hills riding, and I have gotten stronger as far as my bike riding up hills. And it all came together today.

Whereas last year I walked up portions of eight hills, today I didn't do that for a single one. I didn't even have to stop to catch my breath on a hill before continuing the ride. There was one particular hill at mile 60, the last big hill before we finished for the day that I was so proud of myself for making it up.

So I'm feeling very good about this experience these last 4 days. There have been many, many challenges, including all day today with these hills, but at the age of almost 64 I found it within me, after many many months of sticking to the training and to the rides every week, to ride them all.

Tonight I feel very fortunate.

Tomorrow is the last day. It’s a long ride, almost 75 miles I think, and we'll end up at the US Capitol for a rally there. Compared to today it's a much easier ride, much more downhill.

I am so glad that I am on climate ride 2013.