Cripple Fly Ranch Road

I talked Jim into a ride this evening up Cripple Fly Ranch Road.  No, I did not make that name up, it really is a road in rural WV.  It's a 1 mile climb up non paved, gravel road.  The climb is pretty hard, I used to think it must be akin to Mt. Everest - until I met Vomit Hill.  Now I just call it Mount Everest Junior.

This road was my first ride outside of my yard back in May.  I thought I was going to die before I got halfway up.  I stopped on the way and almost didn't make it back on the bike because it was up hill (and we all know I struggle getting back on the bike up hill.)  I thought to myself, "I will never get the hang of this and be able to breathe at the same time!"  But we kept at it and saw improvement.  Then we ventured out to other trails, Vomit Hill, rattlesnake trail, and of course, the great single tracks at Stonewall Jackson - which were not a success, but still.

On the ride, I realized I can balance myself and adjust my shirt or my sun glasses, without a major spill.  Do you realize what an accomplishment this is?  I've been working on my balance, lateral lunges, sideways sprints on the treadmill, etc.  When I first started, I gripped those handlebars like they were gonna save me from ever falling.  Boy did I get that wrong!!!

I decided to implement my new breathing techniques - in through the nose, out through the mouth, no panting.  The climb was tough - my quads were screaming - but I didn't grip my handlebars. Slow and steady, keep breathing, push down on the handlebars (still don't know why), "lasso" a landmark up ahead.  We made it to the top with our best time ever!!!  I resisted the urge to let go and pant even then.  Wow, what accomplishments we've both made in the past few months!

The ride down was a bit scary, it's pretty dry here and the stones were flying.  I decided to keep a tight grip on my brakes, my whole body tense.  Now that I have the hang of relaxing on the climb, I've gotta work at it on the sail back down!  Jim was flying, and I want to note right here that this is a remote, wooded area.  Sometimes we'll encounter a car.  Jim has made me promise not to ride here without him.  I wonder what he thinks flying down the hill, around several curves, and out of sight is?!?  I could've wrecked and he'd have never known!  Maybe he's gaining confidence in me, that'd be something, seeing as how he's observed me at my worse.

Afterwards, I rode up my driveway and around the house, down the hill and into my mom's yard.  The first time I ever did that I was scared out of my mind.  I split my mom's little flower patch wide open, mowed down a gladiola, unearthed a rock, and fell over. Daughter #1 sitting on the porch above me heard the ruckus, jumped up and yelled, "MOM!!!"  Of course I ran back and propped up the flower before mom saw it.  "Mamw's right there!"  She was sitting on her porch facing the opposite direction, but she can't hear too well, so that worked to my advantage that time.  "I don't know if you need to ride a bike or not...." If only that kid knew what was to come, huh?!?