Day Nine – Kamiah to Lolo

115 miles (114.8 to be exact – nope, didn’t drive the parking lot today) on tap today. The first 100 miles were mostly along a riverbank in a beautiful valley of winding roads among the trees. It was spectacular scenery and a beautiful day to ride. Looking at the elevation map above, you’ll see that there is a gradual uphill ascent for 102 miles with a punchy 7 starting just before the 102-mile mark. Miles 102-107 were a climb – one that we all knew was coming.

The name of the game today was about maintaining a cool and even pace throughout the first 102 miles to ensure that you had something left in the tank for the 5-mile climb to the top of Lolo Pass. It’s also about ensuring that you keep your mind focused on your ability to manage and complete the climb.

We worked well together as a team gradually making our way along the 102 miles before the climb. We switched up groups of riders ensuring that we were with the best riders for our pace. What was noticeable was the gradual decrease in conversation as the day progressed. We were like lambs knowingly being led to the slaughter.

We had several climbs already; this one would be like the others – challenging. What I have come to realize on this journey is that, if you have done the homework, the physical takes care of itself and it’s really more of a mental effort than anything.

I rode up with one of the gentlemen on the trip. He and I had been riding about the same pace and agreed to head up the climb together. He is a stronger rider and was about 200-400 yards ahead of me the entire time. Early on in the climb, I put my bike in the next to lowest gear and started spinning my way up the climb. I told him, “This may not be the fastest climb ever, but I’ll get the job done.” He was encouraging the entire time looking back to ensure I was still moving forward on the uphill road. When he turned back, he would shout out words of encouragement to me telling me not to stop, or saying, “Great job – keep going.” It was extremely helpful. At one point, when he was telling me to keep going – I yelled back at him that I wasn’t stopping and was going to keep spinning even if slowly up the climb.

Throughout the climb, I didn’t look at my bike computer to see what type of grade we had ahead of us. I don’t ever want to know. I’m better just knowing how long the climb is and the average grade. What happens along the way can’t be changed, so it’s best for me to not know and keep riding. Mentally, I count down the distance until the end rather than what we’ve done. I find it helps to say, “Only 2.5 miles left.” rather than “You’ve climbed 4.5 miles.” Seeing the remaining number decrease is a better motivator for me.

As we closed in on 107, I started to feel relief at being close to finished but was also seeing that there wasn’t any flat on the road up ahead. I saw a sign – Lolo Pass 1 mile. I was at 106.5. Darn, an additional 1/2 mile. It’s okay, only 1/2 a mile – you can do it.

While the climbs are challenging, if the homework has been done and the four elements of rest, pacing, hydration and nutrition are under control – the rest is entirely mental and manageable. I realized that since the nasty PTSD climb on the ride into Condon, the climbs have been less challenging. It’s not that they have been easier, but I know I have done the homework, and the rest is really about having dialed in the four other elements and keeping on top of the mental side of the effort. That last part is huge. I never tell myself I can’t do it – ever. And I do my best to remind the others on the trip that they can do it too.

When we are done with each climb, we make a concerted effort to give everyone high fives and kudos for their efforts. It goes a long way to helping build the mental fortitude needed each and every day.