First Epic
The SO or 'Significant Other' got her first taste of what a true Epic was all about. Early Friday morning, FFW, myself and Debbie gathered in front of the shuttered bike shop in Acton. We prepped, double-checked and rolled out by the 14 Freeway. Our destination was Mt Gleason and it was mostly going to be dirt. You can get there via Angeles Crest Highway, but I've already done that and I was looking for something different. I've never done it from the dirt side and I had basic directions from a riding bud in my head.
The mining road leading up from the bottom of Aliso Canyon hooks up into Moody Canyon. From there, you start to climb the 11 miles of steep, beyatch fireroad. Numerous rough and rocky sections magically aligned with the steep parts. Even when you were seemingly on the flat, you were still climbing. Deb's been riding with me for about a year now and she has come a long, long way. From an enthusiast rider, she can now hang on the tough rides, but this was going to be the toughest she's ever done.
It wasn't all that hot, but we all had 70 oz's of water in the packs, plus two full waterbottles. We got to Lightning Point/Messenger Flats in about three hours. Stopped to eat and then continued up the steep paved road to the abandoned campground at the absolute top of Mt. Gleason. Deb just couldn't believe she made the top. At a year into the serious, she's still struggling with the very tough, psychological part of the sport. Any of us, who's into this sport can relate. When you've got the serious suffering going, that's when all the little internal demons, crybabies and AR stuff comes out in all of us. It is a discipline of the soul, to get those cruddy little creatures back where they belong and stuff them back, deeply back where they came from. Deb only had to stop briefly two times and she followed the stern STP rule on flogs. "There are only three good reasons to stop and those are the three P's (3P's), Piss, Puke or Pass out". I do allow eating breaks on the epics though. Got to stoke the furnace. I was proud of my girl. She middle ringed the whole thing. 20 miles and over 5,000 feet of climbing at the halfway mark. Gawd... Not bad for a woman in her late 40's.
The temps were pretty cool at the top and as I descended, I started getting goose pimples on the arms and legs. Then the inevitable loss of blood to the extremities as the body looked to keep the core warm. I dreaded what was coming up next. Somehow, during my life, either through frostbite as a very young child in Canada or through this sport, I damaged enough blood vessels and nerves in my hand, that I picked up a condition known as "Raynauds Syndrome". Raynaud's phenomenon is a condition in which blood flow to the surface tissue of the hands and feet is temporarily decreased, usually as an overresponse to cold temperatures. My front brake finger went totally white and numb. It might as well have been a piece of wood. Not good on a rough eleven mile descent. Then the hands went numb. FFW was far ahead, totally bombing it, while I tried to get some feeling and circulation to the hands.
A short while later, the front wheel got in a soft rut and I wrecked at a good enough speed to give my self some great left side road rash, with the usual chunks out of elbow and knee. Pulled the hose from the still-full hydration pack and rinsed all the dirt and rocks out. Sure made me pay attention after that! Still wasn't able to haul like I like to. As I descended, the temps warmed and the finger slowly got it's color and feel back. We passed the mine on the way down and got stuck in the diesel fuel behind a road grader, he let us pass on the down hill, but on the up-hill, it was a different story. FFW and I managed to stay ahead, but Deb found herself pursued on the uphill. She's just climbed a serious mountain ridge of the San Gabes, tired and hungry, with the legs wiped out and now she's hearing the giant diesel engine gaining on her. We made the summit just in time and waited for her. She barely made it ahead of the big yellow beast. Had to stop, just for a couple to let her recover. We were almost to the paved and the three mile climb back to the bike shop by the freeway.
FFW didn't bring enough food and he nearly food-bonked on the way back. He hit the burger stand immediately on arrival, standing there in lycra and shaking from head to toe. We opted for the Cytomax Recovery off've the bike shop counter and with 52 grams of protein, it hit the spot and was easier to digest. The total numbers for the ride were 41 miles and over 5,000 feet of climbing. We did it in just a little over four hours! I was super-proud of my girlfriend and what she pulled off. She's short, she's stubborn, but she is doing so stinkin' well!
Posted by STP  a 45 year old Racer riding a K2 Razorpiggie from P'Dale on 11/07/06
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- Re: First Epic
Nice! I love gloating about, and riding with my wife too... :)
Posted by Crzyridr33 a 34 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a SantaBansheeCruzBlurr on 11/07/06
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- Re: First Epic
wow, that'ssome serious cheerios mangs.
conga-true-lations all around and keep that finger in a warm spot ;~)
Posted by Freaky franky on 11/07/06
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- Re: First Epic
Oh, he will, he will......
Posted by GhostRider a 31 year old Downhiller on 11/08/06
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- Re: First Epic
Another downright wicked floggin' your flogness.
glad ffw made it to the cheeseburger stand.
paz afuera
Posted by Papisimo a Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Gary Fisher 29er mofo from el oeste ese on 11/07/06
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- Re: First Epic
EZ Takeout Burger double-take w/chs, onion strings, lg choc shake & 2 grande pepsis. it's all about after ride nutrition mang...
Belch!
BTW, after that ride I will no longer refer to Deb as STD. She's officially, "The Grand Vizier".
Posted by FFW a Die-hard Enthusiast from Little Compton on 11/08/06
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- Re: First Epic
Awesome man, I always enjoyed reading your stories.
Posted by Unrealtrip a 31 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Superstring from The recesses of reality on 11/08/06
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- Re: First Epic
The start was promising, I mean, referring to your SO and all. As I read on I saw you refer to 'her', and though a doubt crept into my mind, I figured it was your way of disparaging your SO. Then I saw it - her name I mean, Debbie.
Once I realized this story wasn't about Sarge, I just stopped reading. Sorry, looked like a good write up.
Anyways, flog on.
Posted by RightArm on 11/08/06
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- Re: First Epic
Wow. So some of the posters here on this sight actually have girlfriends. I thought you where all wanking it.
Posted by MisterHide a Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Pacific from Compton on 11/08/06
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- Re: First Epic
What a let down that must be for you...
Now get out and ride that wanker...
;)
Posted by Crzyridr33 a 34 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a SantaBansheeCruzBlurr on 11/10/06
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