"Death Ride" 2012

It's funny that something can be called the "Death Ride", and yet be an annual event.

L-R: Tiffany, Angie, Jen, and Marie at the start of DR2012

I guess it's a  Snakebite Racing Team tradition evey Memorial Day weekend to ride 80+ miles and 11 (or so) of the best climbs in the Cuyahoga Valley. This year, I wanted to try it.

There were 5 of us gals who opted to ride an hour earlier than the rest of the group, trying to beat the heat and humidity. We also opted to shorten the route to accomodate family gatherings in the afternoon.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that this was one of my favorite rides, ever. The 5 of us agreed that we weren't going to 'hammer' up the hills, as we assume the guys/rest of the team would be doing. Instead, we realized that the challenge was all about the actual climbing. All of us were of similar ability, and so nobody pulled way ahead or fell way behind the group. It was the perfect ride.

53.7 miles
3100 feet of climbing
(6 ascents: Vaugh Rd, Boston Mills east, Truxell, Everett, Major, and Snowville)

Halfway into the ride, and we're still having fun!