I finally did it. Late yesterday afternoon I had to get away from the computer so I hopped on my bike and headed south. I thought I would try, yet again, to see if I could get up the App Gap again. Having gotten past the first of two critical points last time, I knew exactly what to expect; so when it got extra hard, I knew that it would let up around the next bend. To make a long story short - I MADE IT! When I pushed past the place I gave up last time, I had my head down and was focused on staying upright (that gets hard when you are going 3 mph LOL) and the next time I looked up I was astonished to see that I was just a hundred feet from the parking spot.

Thanks Andrew (who I know will read this) for your advice. I kept my butt in the saddle the entire time until I saw the parking spot, then I got up and used the rest of it up (just because I could).

Plus I *did* suck down a ClifShot before I left; but since it took me 17 minutes just to get to the start of the climb, I think that was long gone by the time I got to the hard stuff.

What a great feeling. I was definitely drained and sat on a rock admiring the amazing view for about 15 minutes before heading down. It's scary and dangerous going down and I didn't want to do that when I was a little shaky and lightheaded. Which I was. Stupid me only bringing water rather than something like Gatorade to put some electrolytes back in my body.

I actually LOVE to go fast and when the road isn't windy with hairpin turns I go for it. It's one of the few times that my excess baggage is a benefit. (I discovered another benefit on a tour through the colorado rockies years ago during a bad rain storm. All of those skinny people were getting hypothermia but not me!) But I definitely brake most of the way down this road. A few weeks ago a bright young star in the cycling world who we are all SO proud of - Anders Newbury , crashed and broke his hip coming down. I kept thinking about that as I descended.

Anyway, now I know I can do it. Which means I can plan rides that go in that direction. Maybe next I'll try one of Andrew Knight's App Gap Ping Pong rides, since the other side is "easier". I remember when Andrew "discovered" that he likes to climb and was pretty amazing at it. Heh.

So I wouldn't say I dominated the mountain, but I did make it to the top...somehow.