We took a short break on the leeward side of the pass, watched a couple of rabbits closely study us, and then began the next stage of the climb.We've long planned but never ridden the Boise ridge. From a vantage point on Shaw Mountain, we've seen a Jeep Cherokee struggle up the first section.
We'd used part of rainy Saturday for some maintenance on the LT's bike which resulted in his granny 1 shrinking to 17.5" from 19.1". You'd think a chemist working on his master's would have the gear inch math down pack and would long ago have compared his gear inches to mine, but you'd be wrong. When I talk gear inches his eyes seem to glaze over much like Corrie's do when the subject comes up! He was, however, crowing about the advantages of 1.6" less in gear inches that I nicked named his Super Granny as the cassette seems to skip one size.
The weather forecast was calling for winds of 25 with gusts of 45 MPH in Boise. We think that in the shelter of the trees we missed most of the wind, but temperatures were cold hovering about 46 degrees and gusty most of the time we were on the ridge. We took a lunch break in the timber sheltered from most of the wind, but as soon as the food was consumed, we were back on the bikes to stay warm. Although the LT kept talking about the flat section at the top, I noticed that except for the short steep downhills, I was keeping my bike in my 17.5" gear - granny 1.
We passed the turn off to 8th Street and then Hard Guy and kept climbing and descending without that promised flat spot. Just before we reached Deer Point, we met 5 downhillers who'd gotten to the top in a vehicle, asking where to find the turn off to "Hard Guy". The LT gave them his Google map. That discussion got the LT to thinking he'd rather backtrack and descend single track than descent Bogus Basin Highway, but a few minutes later on Deer Point as we finished our final snack of the day and as the LT ate some of the weekend's snow, we began to realize how cold it really was up there when not ascending in Granny 1. I also realized I was tired of pushing hard in Granny 1 with few breaks (it was too cold to enjoy a break). I had planned to try to talk the LT into descending the trails at Stacked Rock, but that has some Granny 1 climbing in it also, and he didn't like that idea. I put on the balaclava that I'd borrowed from the LT, and we began our descent to Bogus Basin Highway. By the time we reached the pavement, we were both shivering nearly uncontrollably which is dangerous on a steep fast descent (think the Old Lewiston or Old Winchester Grades). We stopped, and I put on some wind pants and found I had two plastic bread sacks to put over my gloves which weren't keeping my hands from freezing. So I was wearing tights, wind pants, a T shirt, sweatshirt, windbreaker, balaclava, winter gloves with plastic bags over them- an outfit (minus the plastic bags) that usually suffices for winter rides, and I was still too cold. I had extra glove liners too that I had lent to the LT.
As we descended Bogus Basin Rd, we met those gusts that might have been 40MPH. We both thought we'd be blown over as a gust caught us from the side coming around one corner- rather dangerous at high speed descents, so we slowed down even more. Then we met a widely disbursed group of road racers ascending- in only shorts and jerseys! What were they thinking? We rounded a corner and met the final racer as wet hail began pelting us. The racer below us quickly did a U turn in the middle of the road. Once the storm had us covered with a light coating of water, it died, but I'm not sure how those scantily clad road racers above us got back. Just before town, the LT insisted we take off the balaclavas as it was 64 degrees at the bottom which made us look strange though we were both still cold. No wonder those racers thought they could climb Bogus in shorts and jerseys! While changing, the pavement of Boise felt warmer on my feet than did my shoes. We were both still cold when we left the restaurant where we had out post ride meal. Finally, with valley temps up to 68 and after climbing two hills similar to Normal Hill in Lewiston I felt warm still in my tights, dry sweatpants, sweatshirt, and windbreaker!
It was a good ride. I don't have a clue how the LT's training plan of one ride a month plus a one mile daily commute on the flat had him ready for it. Next time we may do it in reverse- getting most of the climb on the pavement and most of the descent on the dirt road, but watch for unexpected wash outs if speeding down the ridge road toward Aldape Summit!
50.5 miles 7:13 Riding time 6,075 ft elevation gain
Happy cycling for fun, fitness, and transportation
Steve
