Cycling/Hiking Climbing Adventures ...

Machka9

I've been a cyclist for decades, but have spent most of my life cycling in relatively flat terrain, or maybe the occasional gradual climb.

Then I moved to Tasmania.

At about the same time, I also hit my highest weight so cycling up the 1001 hills around here was a huge challenge. Lots of walking, tears, wheezing, gasping, pain ...

I'm also a long distance cyclist and even when I was gaining some weight in the few years prior to moving to Tasmania, I could still participate in some long distance cycling events and make the cut-off time. But here in Tasmania, I could not.

I remember doing a bit of training and then trying the route of one event a few weeks before the actual event to see if I could do it. It was only 100 km, but a very hilly 100 km, and I ended up going a full 2 hours over the time limit. Given that the time limit on a 100 km is 6 hours and 40 minutes, 2 hours over was huge. I was so upset.

For several months, I decided to resign myself to the fact that I wouldn't be able to do the long distance cycling I loved anymore. I was obviously too old to increase my speed and strength ... and I was carrying too much weight to get up the hills.

And then I one day in early December 2014, I decided that I didn't want to be too old yet and I was going to give training another go ... and attempt to lose some weight. I did lose a couple kg, and I did start to feel a tiny bit more comfortable climbing some of the hills in my area, but two surgeries in mid-January kind of put an end to training for a bit. Then in February 2015, I joined MFP.


In February 2016, 25 kg lighter and some stronger, I celebrated by cycling up Mt Wellington ... the big mountain behind Hobart!!

And then ...

Machka9

February 5, 2017 ...

My husband and I cycled up Mt Wellington again ... the long way up this time. 73.4 km with 1636 metres (5367.45 feet) straight up the side of the mountain. Not an easy ride!!

We started with a 10% climb out of our suburb, and set of rolling hills, and then the real climbing began. Climbing from 8 km to 39.6 km ... there's even an HC category climb in the middle.

I was doing all right at first, all the way to Fern Tree (about 29 km into the ride), and then there's a turnoff for the main part of the climb to Mt Wellington, and it's steep in the first kilometre or so, reaching 17% at one point. With what strength I had, I kind of chuckled when I heard the kookaburra start up in the tree next to the road. Isn't that the way, just when I'm dying on a climb that bird had to start laughing at me!

It kind of eases off a bit at The Springs, and then goes into a long and steady climb of about 9%. That's when my lower back and right hip started giving me trouble. I also kept wishing for an easier gear ... one gear easier is all I wanted ... but one gear easier is not what I had, and no amount of wishing magically conjured one up.

3 km from the top it eases slightly ... to only about 6% or so.

Tired, and with various and sundry aches and pains ... we successfully made it to the top!!

And then the descent.

I find descents quite challenging ... as do my poor brakes ... but we made it down and faster than the last time we did it.


We weren't sure about the weather. All week, the forecast had been iffy for Sunday and even this morning, it had rained and they were indicating strong winds on top of the mountain. However, fortunately the wind wasn't a factor on this ride. It wasn't bad at all. And although it was cloudy, we didn't get any rain until we were nearly home, and then only just a little. It's raining more heavily now.

But one interesting thing was watching the fog come up over the Derwent and bay from above ... it rose as we descended until we were among it at one point. Mist hanging in the trees just above us.

Machka9

February 25, 2017 ...

I wanted to do a bit of a climb this weekend. I didn't know what I was getting into!

The warm-up was a circle around to Salamanca Market to pick up a leather belt we had a conversation about with one of the stall holders ... it's a pretty dark brown leather belt I plan to use with dresses and skirts.

Then we had about 30 km of relatively flat road northward to get our legs prepared.

And then the climb began.

I knew there would be a climb, but I didn't realise quite how steep the climb would be. At first, it wasn't too bad, and I was cruising along at about 13 km/h which I figured was pretty good.

And then it got steep.

There were several times when we rounded a corner, and I looked up at the wall facing me, and thought, "Right ... I'm going to walk that!" But then I'd tell myself to give it a go ... try it ... and if I still felt I needed to walk after a few minutes, I would. And then I'd tell myself that I'd made it that far, I could probably go a bit further ...

I'd like to say next that, "before I knew it, I was at the top" ... but I can't.

Just when I thought I couldn't possibly go any further, the grade would ease ever-so-slightly and I'd catch my breath for a moment before the road got steeper again. And on and on and on ...

So many moments when I thought I couldn't possibly keep going ... so many moments where I thought the road couldn't possibly continue to go up ... but it did, around another corner and more up.

And finally, after an eternity ... the top.

We had put so much into the climb that the descent was a mess. After a bad accident on a descent in 2007, I have been a hesitant and tentative descender but I've been improving lately. Both my speed and technique have improved. I'm still not a great descender, but better than I was.

But on this descent, I felt like a Raggedy Ann doll trying to control the bicycle ... just no strength. The bicycle was bouncing and leaping all over the road.

And when we got onto the flat Cycleway again, we were straight into a headwind ... the afternoon sea breeze had come up. It was a slow plod back to the van.

While I didn't have much leg strength left, I felt pretty good. I had cycled all the way up and over that climb ... something I would never have done just a couple years ago!!

Then we checked Strava. Turns out the steepest climb was about 23% and there were at least 2 sections over 20%. Not only that, but both Rowan and I got trophies for placing fairly high on the climb, and I won Queen of the Mountain among the women who have done that climb this year!! Me ... a flatlander!

Machka9

So ... if you're also a cyclist or a hiker ... tell us about your climbing adventures.

CarlydogsMom

I love the pics, and have always wanted to visit Tasmania! I had a unique opportunity to visit Bhutan. Part of the trip included a 4-day Himalayan trek from Gasa to Laya. Hardest thing I've ever done (probably one of the easiest hikes there, but...hey whatever), and very proud of this achievement.







(Tiger's Nest monastery was a separate hike...).

ronocnikral

The Crestones from Humboldt peak this January

Machka9

CarlydogsMom wrote: »

I love the pics, and have always wanted to visit Tasmania! I had a unique opportunity to visit Bhutan. Part of the trip included a 4-day Himalayan trek from Gasa to Laya. Hardest thing I've ever done (probably one of the easiest hikes there, but...hey whatever), and very proud of this achievement.







(Tiger's Nest monastery was a separate hike...).

That would be quite an experience!! Well done!

Machka9

ronocnikral wrote: »

The Crestones from Humboldt peak this January

Nice!

CarlydogsMom

@Machka9 it was a trip of a lifetime. I did blog about it if you're interested in more photos and a description of the trek here

Machka9

CarlydogsMom wrote: »

@Machka9 it was a trip of a lifetime. I did blog about it if you're interested in more photos and a description of the trek here

Thanks for that ... I'll have a look.

Machka9

My husband and I were in Canada a couple years ago, and did a hike to the top of one of the mountains in lower mainland BC ... just a day walk but one of the bigger hiking efforts I've done in years.

Atop Mt Cheam ...
http://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/mount-cheam/













Then not too long ago we did a hike up Mt Wellington, here in Tasmania.

We're hoping to go to Canada again soon, and I'm hoping to do 1 or 2 more climbs there. I've got one in the Rockies I'd really like to do, and maybe also one in lower mainland BC.

CarlydogsMom

Machka9 wrote: »

My husband and I were in Canada a couple years ago, and did a hike to the top of one of the mountains in lower mainland BC ... just a day walk but one of the bigger hiking efforts I've done in years.

Atop Mt Cheam ...
http://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/mount-cheam/













Then not too long ago we did a hike up Mt Wellington, here in Tasmania.

We're hoping to go to Canada again soon, and I'm hoping to do 1 or 2 more climbs there. I've got one in the Rockies I'd really like to do, and maybe also one in lower mainland BC.

@Machka9 that is stunning!!!!