feeling isonobe's pull

2011年5月31日 21:41 andy | 個別ページ | コメント(0) | トラックバック(0)

What is it that draws me to Isonobe? Other climbs are nearer. Komura Pass or Ishikawa Pass can be reached in about 20 minutes. Isonobe takes about 45. Staying closer to home I could get more climbing done in less time. But Isonobe isn't just any climb.

I've said it before, if you can climb Isonobe, you can climb any hill. You can't just ride it. You have to take it on. Take it head on. Attack the steepness. Fight the roughness. Drive through the tight hairpins.

You'll never beat Isonobe. In fact you'll never feel comfortable on the climb. That's what draws me to it. It'll work me over and I'll be all the stronger for it.

I was feeling good on the way out today. Nice smooth pedaling. Fully recovered from TOITO. Time to fine tune the engine. Get the spark back for Tsugaike.

Today I do two climbs of Isonobe:

Climb No.1 – intervals. I did a ratio of 1:2, 40 seconds hard / 80 seconds easy. Isonobe is great for intervals. You feel like Pantani for a few seconds. But reality and the gradient hit you, the legs start to burn and you are praying for the time to elapse.

Heart rate doesn't have time to respond to intervals. At the end of the work interval, the heart rate rises to about 180. It continues to rise a few beats even after you ease off. Then it starts to fall. How low can you go? Not very low on Isonobe! By the time it drops to 160 or so, it's time to go again. 10 sets today.

Climb No.2 – 170HR keep. Again easily done on Isonobe. I was pleased to make use of a few gears today. A good sign. As the gradient eases near the top I put it in the big ring and kept it there all the way to the top.

Armstrong named his TREK “Madone” after his favorite climb. Maybe I should name my VITUS “Isonobe”. I'm certainly enjoying climbing on this bike. Usually it gets overlooked for hillclimbs in favor of my lighter carbon bike. Maybe I'll give VITUS a run out at Tsugaike this year....