Sorry for the crickets around here … been spending a lot of time with her.
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This past weekend I took part in an annual challenge of sort: climbing 10 of the steepest hills in Los Angeles (we did it in reverse this year starting with #10):
1. Mt Washington drive / Self-realization (Mt. Washington)
2. Eldred st (Highland Park)
3. Amethyst st (El Sereno)
4. Thomas st (Lincoln Heights)
5. White Knoll/Marview (Echo Park)
6. Echo Park ave/Baxter (Echo Park)
7. Micheletorena (Silver Lake)
8. Silver Lake blvd/Duane (Silver Lake)
9. Fargo st (Echo Park)
10. Stadium way/Academy/Boylston (Elysian Park)
I have given this casual “race” two separate attempts, but this year was the first that I actually was able to make it up each climb (in descent positioning) and complete the entire challenge. Things were good the 5 or so climbs were good, then we started to get the rain that was forecasted around climb #6 or #7. Then downpour on the last 3 climbs, which were nasty anyway. Feeling content, but soaked (the Rapha wind/rain jacket is NOT very waterproof). By the time I got to the block before home, my arms decided to cramp up. What a painfully good day. If you ever want to torture/challenge yourself, give it a whirl. I did manage to get some good Strava achievements in (PS this thing is like crack!).
Here is a link to photos that another rider took, I hope they show you how brutal these grades were (most in excess of 30%). Looking forward to FML2013. Tailwinds!
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Rad photo Jordan took of me after a race in Long Beach last year. It was the only mud I saw last year in Southern California (aside from the races in Oregon). Beer in a glove, very stealth.
