Don't enter...The Bonkland Zone

A couple nights ago cycling buddy Pat offered to drive to Markleeville the next morning so we could ride up, down and back both Monitor and Ebbetts Passes. He had the notion of doing four of the five climbs in the annual Death Ride held in late July. Short notice, but it sounded good to me. I’ve been riding a lot, but not much climbing and no altitude. A definite challenge. I was in.

I left at 5:30 a.m. in the pre-dawn of Sacramento and met him at his house in El Dorado Hills a half hour later. By 8:30 we were starting the climb up Monitor pass in the cool high altitude of the Sierra. We got to the top after climbing around 3K feet, then flew down the other side to Highway 395. After topping off our water and having some food, we headed back up the 10-mile climb exposed to full morning sun. It was a cooler than the same ride I did last July. Nice and cool on the descent but much warmer on the climb with not a lot of wind. This climb is tough, with seven to nine percent grades. Because I’d started to cramp in my legs at the top last time, I drank extra water before the ride and took a couple electrolyte gel tabs. We watered up at the top, then enjoyed a fast, fun descent to the bottom of Monitor where we stopped at the truck to take a break, eat and drink.

At this point, the idea of going to the next phase of the ride -- all the way up the front side of Ebbetts -- seemed like too much ride to Pat, who pointed out we weren’t training for anything. We didn’t have to do this. He’s been out of the country for the past three months and is still working into shape. I’ve been riding regularly, so I figured going all the way up Ebbetts would be a good test. On the same ride last summer, though, leg cramps dogged me. This time my legs felt tired, with only very minor cramping. I was ready to test 'em again.

Pat rode til he reached seven thousand feet of climbing for the day, about one third up Ebbetts, and turned back. He didn’t want to push it too far since he was still a few weeks away from his strongest riding form.

I kept going, and remembered what a rider had said back at the truck. “Monitor is harder than Ebbetts, less average grade.” Both Pat and I looked at each other. We both consider Ebbetts a tougher climb, mainly because it throws very steep pitches at you with punishing regularity as you make your way up the mountain.

This was what crossed my mind as I pedaled up Ebbetts, calling on my will power. I had tired legs as I climbed, while the mountain kept demanding respect, seemingly saying,  “You better have something in your legs if you want to get to the top.” The steep pitches of Ebbetts will try to knock you out if you’re tired.

What I’ve learned climbing the 3,000 feet up Ebbetts, especially, is that there’s a big difference between pedaling with a pair of legs that have just pedaled 6,000 feet of climb, versus a pair of fresh legs. That sounds obvious, but for some reason, I entertained the thought after two big climbs, I might be looser and nicely warmed up for the third big climb! Such is the stuff of denial and self delusion to beat back any creeping doubts about doing this with tired legs.

But as I kept moving toward the top, and the pain was settled through me as I kept eyeing more long, steep pitches ahead, I fought back by flipping on the auto pilot switch in my head: It puts up a firewall to registering negative thoughts, such “Damn, you’re really tired…” or, “I thought I was farther than I am, when is this gonna end?” “You’re out of water,” and all the other little hardship acknowledging thoughts trying to bang through as I pedaled on.

I kept moving moving, moving, moving until that last severely ass kicking steep pitch at the very top. And there I was. Nine thousand feet of climbing for the day.

I sat on a rock and knew very well that I wasn’t going to ride down the back side of Ebbetts, then ride back up again to finish off the four peaks we’d yacked about doing a few hours earlier. That would be too much ride for me. I had hit my big climb limit within reason at three, and was more than ready to ride back down the front side of Ebbetts and call it a day.

At some point, I expect I’ll be able to push my envelop to do the four climbs. But if not, no big deal.

As Clint Eastwood so famously said in one of his Harry Callahan movies, “A man’s got to know his limitations.”

Yes, this is very true. Because if a cyclist, man or woman, doesn’t know his or her endurance limitations riding a bike, there will not only be more than pain, there will also be an ever so unsavory bonk, the ugly physical and mental breakdown that happens when a rider takes on too much ride for his or her fitness level. Like eating too much food on a plate, only to find oneself stuffed to the gills, and not feeling so hot and ready to hurl, bonking is not worth it! There’s a fine line between how much ride we can push ourselves to get improved fitness, and riding too far and into the unstable world of the bonkland zone.

Yes, there's not doubt that erring on the side of caution to stay out of that wobbly, swirling, semiconscious world of pain, is a good idea. But to do that, I tell myself to keep Clint’s wisdom in mind.

Removing, reinstalling you pedals easily, correctly

If you’re taking a trip and don’t want to ship your bike, just remove your pedals, and pack them, your cleats, biking kit, helmet, etc., so you can put your pedals on a rental bike at your destination for an exploratory ride. Here’s a great video on pedal removal/installation. Check it out!

'Til next time, always remember to strap on a helmet before every ride. Then it’s time to keep the rubber side down!

-- Mark Eric Larson

Mark Eric Larson has written two books of essays, "The NERVE...of Some People's Kids," and "Don't Force it, Get a Bigger Hammer. To read, visit: 
http://www.scribd.com/Mark%20Eric%20Larson/shelfHis blog of personal essays is at: http://marksmuzings.blogspot.com/