RecumBum

Under cloud cover, with rain threatening, I decided to stay close to home, and do a loop around the island at Holiday Island. The northern half of the island is relatively flat, but the southern half is quite hilly. I remembered it as steep, but I assumed I could manage it.

Hardly.

I rode the perimeter of the northern half first, then headed south along the eastern shore of the island. This part has some moderate ups and downs, but I made it through without issue. Then, as the road reached the end of island and began to turn west, then north-west, the grade increased sharply, and I was soon in my lowest granny gear. The road surface here is chip-seal, with some loose rock here and there as well.

I made it up perhaps half the climb, but it wasn’t getting easier, and I wasn’t getting stronger. Then my back wheel spun out, and down I went, towards the right. I got one pedal clipped out before I went down, and the other clipped out as I toppled over. Luckily, I was wearing padded cycling gloves, as that saved my right palm from being torn up from the gravel. I may end up with a bruise, but it’s nothing serious. I checked the rear derailleur and it appeared OK. At this point there was no way to get started again (even if I had the strength), so I walked it the rest of the way up.

After a short downhill, there was another steep climb ahead. This time, I was spinning better, and felt like I was making decent progress. However, sometimes it felt like the front wheel was going to lift off the ground, I was down to 3 MPH, and was weaving all over the road. Then my back wheel slipped out from under me again, and down I went for a second time, this time to my left. This landing was a little easier, though I’m lucky there was no traffic, as I and my bike were sprawled in the middle of the road. Again, I walked it up the rest of the way, this time with rubbery legs.

At the top, there is a nice view over the lake and over the town of Beaver.

Holiday Island View Over Beaver

Holiday Island View Over Table Rock Lake

I rested there for a bit, then headed north, downhill all the way, to home. It was a short ride, 5.5 miles total, but I was whupped. I don’t think I’ll be trying that route again anytime soon.

Even if I had the legs for it (which I don’t), a recumbent is not the best bike for that sort of climb. It would probably be doable on a mountain bike, something with knobby tires, where you could stand up and lean forward.

I entered this as a route at RouteSlip.com (Holiday Island Loop), and it shows 586 ft of climbing for the entire route. Looking at the graph, the big climb is about 200 feet in a half mile or so. Thats only about a 7.5% grade, if I figured it right, but it sure did kick my butt. I’m somewhat dubious as to the accuracy and precision of their data, but it’s probably in the ballpark.

(Note: Later, I went back and looked at this with data from another source, which showed me a 15% grade on the first hill, and 14% on the second hill.)

Oh well , nothing hurt except my pride, and that’ll grow back.