I hate riding in fog. It is cold. It is wet. It is bleak.

But there I was, riding north out of Salem in the fog. My glasses were covered with water, my bike was getting wet and there was a head wind. Looking left and right, I could not detect any signs that the fog was lifting, so I knew I had perhaps two more hours to "enjoy" the fog.

I was riding with Mel Lucas and Joanne toward the Donald Cafe, 30 miles north of Salem. From there, I would "go long" while they returned to Salem. We were on Manning Road, when suddenly Mel's Litespeed Duraace 10 bicycle fell apart. The non-drive crank arm disconnected from the bottem bracket axel. I looked over and saw Mel holding his left leg up with the crank arm dangleing from his shoe. We stopped at a driveway and reassembled his bike.

After a small breakfast at the Donald Cafe, I continued north. My goal was to ride a century, 100 miles. So, I needed 40 more miles before I turned back toward Salem. I rode all of the way up to the boat ramp on the Willamette River near Boone Bridge. There, I turned around and rode through Butteville and then pass Champoeg State Park. I then passed the Heirloom Rose Garden and headed toward the Wheatland Ferry. So far, I had ridden 75 miles with 1200 feet of elelvation gain. But this was about to change.

I had made the decision earlier, to climb some hills in the last 25 miles of the ride. In addition, I had not taken any breaks since the Donald Cafe, 45 miles ago. I guess I had decided to punish my body.

After the ferry, I headed toward Spring Hill Rd. This road goes up and down along the east side of the West Salem Hills. My elevation gain started to climb as I headed south. But unless I took a detour, I would come in short of 100 miles. So, I climbed Gibson Road.

Gibson Rd climbs up to Eagles Crest which leads one to Orchard Heights. As the names of the roads indicate, this route takes you up to the crest of the West Salem Hills. The route is just 3.76 miles long. Beginning elevation is 330' and the crest is at 1100'. However, after a difficult climb up Gibson, there are some rollers on Eagles Crest before the climbing resumes on Orchard Heights.

After riding a hard 50 miles without breaks, Gibson Rd was a real challenge. My legs were cramping and without strength. Soon, even my granny gear did not seem low enough for the steep sections (10% - 12% pitches). I slowly suffered up the hill with sweat running in my eyes. It was just about all I could do, but I persevered and reached the top in 31 minutes, seven minutes slower than the last time I climbed Gibson.

I turned around and flew down Orchard Heights toward West Salem and home. After crossing the Willamette River, I limped home with a final mileage of 99 miles and over 33o0 feet of elevation gain. Yes, I nearly tripled my elevation gain in the last twenty-five miles of my ride.

I also succeeded in trashing my body. But it was fun.

Posted 7:50 AM by John Henry