This post is part 9 of my Best of 2009 Series, inspired by Gwen Bell.

December 9: Challenge

Something that really made you grow this year. That made you go to your edge and then some. What made it the best challenge of the year for you?

Earlier this year, it had been a couple of years since I'd really ridden my bike. In Sacramento, mountain biking had been a regular part of my spring and summer weekends. I pretty much lived for gut-wrenching switchbacks up dusty oak woodland trails and wicked descents down pine-lined singletrack. Evening road bike sprints along the American River Bike Trail were my favorite way to end a day. However, a truthful accounting would reveal that, in fact, I had ridden my mountain bike exactly once since I moved to the Bay Area in 2007. That ride was a lovely descent of Purisma Creek, followed by a miserable assent up a fire road. Ending uphill on your first ride back in the saddle is, in fact, Doing it Wrong. My mountain bike and road bike both gathered basement dust and then in April were moved into storage, where they sat (forlornly, I assume).

Fast forward to this summer, when, with not much very prodding from Ken, I hauled my road bike out of storage, dug up my shorts and acquired a new helmet and ridiculously pink jersey and got back on the bike. One group ride back into it and I was again hooked on drafting and descending. Sometime thereafter, Ken tweeted about Levi's Leipheimer's Gran Fondo. A goal! I had four months to get myself from zero miles to 65 (with hills). By October I had ridden enough to know that I could handle the distance, and I'd done King's Mountain twice, so I knew my guts could handle the elevation gain.

Early in the morning, it was brrrr cold -- as in I-think-I-might-be-blue-cold. The event had a mass start, so everyone  was supposed to line up according to ability. (Note to self: you are better than you think you are, or else a lot of people are worse than they think they are. Regardless, next year, start closer to the front.) I had armwarmers, but no legwarmers, which I would come to regret as the coastal wind froze my little knees right before the main ascent.

My course experience: Rolling hills, wheeeeee DOWNHILL (uh oh, I will have to buy back this elevation somewhere), oh the pretty Russian River, miles south on Highway 1 with a wicked tailwind (zoom zoom), sharp left then up up up, UP UP UP Coleman Valley Road. The cross wind was strong enough to blow me half way across the lane on the ascent. My own little personal narrative then went into full effect: Cattle guards are kinda sucky. I want to stop. No, can't stop. Go. Keep going. Keeeeeeeeep going! YAY THE TOP, I CAN'T BREATH, ZOMG my legs hurt, wow the view! Nom nom salty potatoes. Back on the bike before I stiffen up. Seriously, the view. Yay more downhill! Nom nom Nutter Butters. ZOMG cyclocross on cobble for 2 miles. YAY THE END! Ken! Paella!

So, yeah, a challenge. It was a challenge because I had to be serious about getting in cycling shape leading up to it. It was a challenge because my guts hurt and my knees were whining and I rode through it. It was a challenge because it was a hard course and I rode it hard.

Next year: the 100 miler and King's Ridge. Registration is Tuesday!