Circumstances provided a late season window for some west
side gravel riding. Seven of us who
sport the black and orange carpooled our way to the hinterland known as
Carnation where we unloaded bikes and braced for what would start out as a cold
ride in the lowland fog of the Snoqualmie Valley.
KB Ready to roll
After an all-too-brief warm up on the Snoqualmie Valley
Trail we turned east and headed into the forest on gravel roads. Our collective gravel equipment has gotten
better as time goes on. Gone are the days of dodgy descents on 32mm Cyclocross
tires. Our bike handling skills are also better both from the improved
equipment and from increased experience. Thus we were moving quickly despite the loose
surface on a long false flat as we went deeper and deeper into the dense, damp
forest.
Rounding a corner the grade kicked up and the surface
degraded to wet, loose marbles. Our
chatty group went silent as we all focused on applying power and finding the
best line up the steep slippery grade.
El Chefe’ shouted “left”, “straight” or “right” as we approached road
intersections. Momentum was everything
and we did all we could to avoid stopping.
Curiously the mix of riders at the front and off the back
rotated almost randomly and we regrouped often. KB was at the back, then off the front. It seemed we all took turns at both ends of
the peloton. As we passed through a
clear cut the sunshine warmed our bodies and we rejoiced. Our elevation and the morning temperatures
were on the rise and it was finally time to shed layers. Sombrero commented he was happy with his tire
pressure choices. Welcome Rich, welcome.
A long descent spilled out onto a particularly rough area
of crushed rock and El Jefe’ showed his leadership and took the flat for the
team. Despite an appropriate amount of
sealant his tire refused to seal so we put in a tube and continued. Chilled from the stop we put in some good
efforts to finish the climb.
Soon we were at the Cima Coppi and began a long super
gradual descent on a gravel road with good lines in the vehicle tire
tracks. I felt like Spartacus as we flew
along. Despite the rough surface thanks
to our fat tires we were in control and laying down the power. My heart rate
was right where I wanted it to be and it felt good to push it a bit. I traded pulls with KB and El Chefe’.
The road seemed to alternate between flat and 1% downhill
portions. It was the perfect road to rip on.
El Jefe’ and The Judge went into their own speed vortex off the front. We
regrouped and when we rounded a corner we were nearly seven abreast as the view
opened up. I called for a photo stop and
we took it all in.
On the one hand it was a true Washington viewpoint. Stumps and clear cuts as far as the eye could
see. But the sunshine brought out the
changing colors and the greens looked equally powerful on the mountains all
around us making the vista beautiful as well.
It was warming up and I believe everyone felt good. After some more gravel we came to the gate
that marked the end of this segment. We
paused and regrouped. The ride was so
much fun we were giddy.
A mile or so of pavement brought us onto the Snoqualmie
Valley Trail, which is a rehabilitated rail line and we sailed along under a
thick canopy of green.
Dry leaves and gravel crunched under our tires. I hung with The Cheetah, who was celebrating
a birthday this day.
There was Cyclocross racing elsewhere this day but
increasingly we find ourselves less motivated by podiums and more interested in
spreading our suffering out over several hours with friends. The idea of cramming all of that pain into a
forty-five minute torture session just doesn’t sound as fun as it once did.
We are lucky men to have gravel, friends, good bikes,
sunshine and mild temperatures in mid-October.
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