Continuation of Let her rip!

In Cycle Oregon we had excellent route maps, so good that the hills were marked with 5%, 7% or even 9% grades.  I would say I am a shy cyclist.  I am not of the ilk to race down hills.  Maybe cautious. Certainly cautious on my first adventure in Cycle Oregon.

I patted myself on the back for letting myself go 24 mph...  to be humbled by those racing by me, letting her rip!  It was exhilarating to just be going 24 mph! In those eastern Oregon paved forest roads there was no traffic. If traffic came along, our trusty Milwaukie, Oregon, police who were hired to help us, just escorted the wayfaring trucks to move slowly through the weaving and flying bicycles.

The only problem with trying to keep my bicycle beast down to merely 24 mph was that my arms ached from holding onto my brakes.  I would let them go occasionally and find some relief.

Let her rip!

November 14, 2013

Almost two months have passed since I completed Cycle Oregon.  I still have the images of the experience moving through my mind.  "Let her rip" is one!

The roads of Eastern Oregon

The turtle (painted) in the background on the backroads.

The last two days of the ride we had some steep hills to climb, all the time as I was trudging away up hill I kept thinking...whatever goes up, must down.  Up, I had made my peace with.  I used the sag wagon four times,