I didn’t get a chance to squeak out a winter vacation so I decided to take yesterday and today off to get a mini-break. Figured Thursday was a good day to put in a long ride, with the option for another ride or recovery before the weekend.   After much deliberation, I decided to do the Climb to the Clouds route from Bolton.  My plan was to drive out there with my wife, and she dropped me off to give me the ability to do the ride and then ride home (for about 100) or cut it short when I returned to Bolton (for about 60).  Got a bit of a late start and didn’t roll out of Bolton until 12:30.

I did the full CTC once before from Concord but this Bolton route is slightly different.  Its around 20 miles to Wachusett then another 40 back to Bolton.  Its a nice route through farm country, mostly rolling or rather hilly.  It was a little colder than I expected since the forecast had been for sun and low 50s.  More like sub 50 and cloudy with occasional spitting.  I had set out looking forward to the Wachusett climb, but by the time I got to Mile Hill Rd I was slightly dreading it.  I was quickly reminded that this approach road is a pretty solid, steady, grade that feels like it will never end.  I saw two guys in kit coming downhill and figured they were on the same plan as me.  As I neared the park entrance one of the guys came past me and I realized that they were using Mile Hill for repeats.  “I’ll show them” I thought. “I’m headed for the top.” Unfortunately when I entered the park I learned that the mountain road was still closed for the season due to ice and snow. I guess I should have anticipated this when I saw people skiing on my way up. What a dope.  With another 40 miles to go and my legs already feeling like wood I left the park to return to Bolton. 

I fondly remembered the CTC return trip from Wachusett as mostly downhill but this proved to be a false, cruel  memory. I once again encountered many rollers and many hills, making my progress slow.  I stopped about 10 miles from the park to refuel and field a call from my wife.  She wanted to know if she should return to Bolton to meet me.  I was feeling good and still thinking I could make it all the way back to JP on two wheels, but it was getting close to 3:00 and I didn’t want to blow the evening by getting home too late.  We agreed she would meet me back in Bolton around 4:30 or so.  This proved to be a crucial decision and it is a humbling reminder of the need for a good exit strategy.  Because there were many hills to come.  And of course I got lost — maybe twice.  Even though the ride would have been shortened without the Wachusett climb by getting lost I managed to add another 10 miles.  Towards the end of the ride it began to rain once again, and I pressed on with the knowledge that a ride home was waiting for me if I could find my way back. 

I learned three things yesterday:

1. My wife is my savior.

2. Riding hills alone sucks.

3. Downhill sprints are fun.

Total ride time: 4.5 hours, 67.5 miles (yes, that is slow but a lot of it was uphill!)

I hope to do the group hill ride next week.