Haleakalā

Ride up local hill 😁 I had my eye on this ride while looking for interesting training opportunities, but figured it was going to be beyond me. Andy Wiggin convinced me I might manage it, which got me excited. The summit had been closed due to a wildfire for weeks, but reopened last night. So we put it back on the menu and I threw the rental bike in an Uber at 4:30am for a ride to the start. It was an awesome climb (reputedly the world's longest paved climb?) and quite a challenge for me... I took the "slow and steady" approach. I wasn't sure how the altitude would hit me as I climbed. Not too bad but I was definitely huffing and puffing by the end. Every time I started to question my life decisions I thought how this would just be a light morning warmup for Stafford Marquardt . My wonderful and understanding wife drove the kids to the summit to meet me and give me a ride back down. Things I should have brought but didn't: more snacks, chamois butter. Things I brought but didn't need: my large chainring, brakes.