Events: Tour of the Catskills 2018
““You’ll feel the breeze down in Saugerties when I hit my stride, hit my stride.””
(2018) I stared at my Garmin as the mileage turned over into the sixties. I texted Mike (yes that Mike), who successfully summited Devil’s Kitchen last year, to tell him I was on the approach. Where I was and where the finish line existed was blocked by an absurd climb. Here is the gist of the conversation:
ME: At mile 60.5
Mike: Go get it
Mike: I’m sending the shark to chase you
Mike: Do not get off that f***ing bike
It is amazing that I, in my last year of official bike racing, obsessed over a 2.6-mile climb averaged twelve percent and kicked up to 22 percent in places. It climbs something like 1400 feet in one mile. This hill has given me the stiff arm each time I visited. Mike’s version of cheerleading was similar to what I probably would have texted him under similar circumstances.
Some two-hundred-sixty cyclists descended upon the welcoming town Tannersville, NY, for the Eleventh Annual Tour of the Catskills. There was plenty of excitement going into this year’s event. The finish line was moved onto Main Street at the Last Chance Antiques and Cafe. If you’ve read Tour of the Catskill write-ups from other years you’ll know the story will end up there. Also different this year was the welcoming of Chatham Brewing as guest brewer. Last Chance Antiques and Cafe set up a private room exclusively for the participants. And then there was one other fact that I missed.
The view from the back of the 72-mile pack. The sun came out for the start of the eleventh edition of the Tour of the Catskills.
For 2018 the start was rerouted. In years past the Tour of the Catskills opened with a winding warm-up into a long shallow climb. Riders immediately spread out. This year Dieter, event coordinator, tapped into his past Battenkill route planning and changed things up. The ride started in the parking lot behind Last Chance Antiques and Cafe, turned left onto Main Street and began a screaming start for the opening twenty miles into Prattsville where we would commence climbing. But first we had to get there.
In its entirety from Tannersville to Prattsville the 72-mile riders had the luxury of being led out by a police cruiser. In years gone by I hitched onto the back of the front pace line down 23A. Often it was too much effort to pull through after having chased back on. This year I insisted on taking a few pulls since I was at the front. Amidst intermittent showers and kicked up spray I decided to take the front a couple times and actually lead the Tour of the Catskills. I chuckled to myself, “I am not supposed to be here!” like I thought during the Trexlertown Derby. Like me, many riders stayed on and the large bunch roared into Prattsville - twenty miles in - in well under an hour. We were twenty miles closer to Devil’s Kitchen.
I snapped this a moment too soon. A few moments later Hunter Mountain's ski runs were revealed to us as we raced down route 23A to Prattsville.
I managed to stay with several riders through the middle portion. Having ridden the velodrome the night before, my legs felt comforted amidst the grinding category four climb out of Prattsville. I bounced back and forth with groups trying to absorb the beauty of the Catskill region. We passed the small cemetery I set out to photograph. I got a photo of it. We passed the new log cabin. I did not get to photograph it, nor did I see the owner to ask him about it. The weather cleared in our favor too. For the middle twenty miles I saw next-to-no people in cars. This is a peaceful place to ride.
With the heavy rains over the last few weeks, the Catskill regions' big and small waterfalls have come to life. Very rarely did a moment pass without the sound of rushing water. It trickled down the center of the road. It bisected the road in waves. Water bubbled in drainage ditches. But in dramatic fashion it crossed beneath roadways or doused the road from higher elevation. Water was everywhere. The sun had come out and the humidity sopped the air. I stayed on top of hydration with the Untapped Ginger Mapleaid. I selected it because of its elevated sodium levels.
The climb out of Prattsville saw many riders still in the group.
I spent the middle portion enjoying the ever- changing views. The sun was a strobe as swirling clouds moved in and out of its rays. I gained immense enjoyment over long descents where varying air currents of warm and cool pockets provided relief. At exactly mile 36 I enjoyed euphoria as all the conditions plus an enjoyable descent into Durham came together. This was one of the reasons I came back to the Tour of the Catskills.
My progress in the middle excited me. I passed mile forty in around two hours. I did the maths as well as a system check to make sure I wasn’t overdoing it for the climb at the end. I felt good. I took a water bottle from the volunteer at mile 40 and chugged it. That felt good. With an odd sensation I found myself firing along Hearts Content Road, a road which occupied ten percent of the ride’s distance. I was being helped by a comfortable tailwind and new asphalt. I felt as though I had a team delivering me to the base of Platte Clove Road where the ride would truly begin. Here the route deviated from years previous and accessed Bogart Road. Looking ahead and behind I was the only cyclists in sight for its length. I even asked a bearded gentleman with a scraggly dog if he had seen cyclists. He affirmed and pointed their direction but did he really exist? Was that Rip van Winkle himself?
I took advantage of the 60-mile rest stop and helped myself to a can of Coca-Cola. This was the refreshment I wanted to provide extra boost up the hill. We were fewer than fourteen miles from the finish. I fired off that text message to Mike. He responded with enthusiasm. Again the route deviated to a more enjoyable approach. Things looked heavily in my favor. Soon it would be solely up to me to finish the job; all the circumstances had aligned in my favor to this point.
Shortly after the climb out of Prattsville, I remembered this cemetery in an open field. I managed to get this shot off this year.
We turned onto West Saugerties Road/ Platte Clove Road and were immediately greeted by the base of the climb. Perhaps it was the best way to catch the Devil off guard, but the struggle quickly caught up to me. Within three pedal strokes my right groin cramped as it had done in years before. I pushed through and it worked itself out despite the pain descended to my kneecap for a bit. The opening ramps felt easy in a strange sort of way, a positive sign. The climb's resistance returned by featuring a large bed of gravel across the road at the base of a steep portion. I handled that quickly and returned to the job.
I saw more riders on Devil’s Kitchen than any year prior. Each one was making deals with him/herself to reach the summit. I was no exception. I tried reusing the theory that the climb featured flat spots. I counted each steep incline having counted thirteen in total last year. I couldn’t remember if that included the ramps after I stepped off. I played head games with myself. I passed one rider clutching his left hamstring who watched as I slowly rolled by. He was one of the early pacers in the opening hour. I was jealous of his walking. Was he jealous of me?
On the approach to Durham, NY, one of the many scenic portions of the ride.
I had climbed smartly to this point. I struggled with Mike’s encouragement because it entertained the idea of stepping off (just don’t do it). I settled into a rhythm at the half-mile point because of a large flattening out. More riders were scattered across the road that I would have to watch out for. Cars were coming and going. For a brief moment I couldn’t believe I had a tailwind. Sure enough the leaves were metallic and swaying away from me, pointing up the climb. Maybe I slipped into the Devil’s Kitchen unnoticed or was it some demonic finger encouraging suffering?
And then I saw all obstacles come together. I saw the steep, steep wall that bucked me off the last two attempts. It leads into a right-hander. I saw two stopped riders taking in the scene. There were ascenders still working. But the cars that had passed me were stopped. I began cursing out loud at the fact that a full-size Winnebago (with a car in tow) was descending this climb. Not only was it descending but it was also holding up traffic in both directions. (This road is hardly wide.) I made gestures to let the driver know of my disapproval at such a stupid attempt and his putting every person on the road in harm’s way. I thought this was it. Here was my perfect excuse to dismount. I had an out, a scapegoat, a reason to be mad for eternity. I would never be in the club of Devil’s Kitchen climbers.
I bounced back and forth with this group for a while. I was more content doing my own pace for a bit.
But as I got to the jam the RV squeezed down the hill, the cars on our side commenced ascending, and the cars behind the Winnebago plodded down in frustration. I still climbed. Things looked bleak. Unoccupied hikers at the summit of the steep ramp encouraged us. One dismounted rider said to a hiker, “That’s pretty easy for you to say considering you have a beer in your hand” in response to his cheers. Everyone was in damage control. I was still on my bike, but for a brief moment in time I hung motionless on the lip of the spot that had gotten me twice before. The bike continued forward.
I knew it only got harder from here on out. I was rejoicing at having made it farther than ever before. I had trained for this moment since last September! Progress! Every inch was a new victory. The next hill was ruddy in resistance. I moved forward. And then things got dark. On the next steepest portion I felt lightning bolts of cold shock my body. I was very close to vomiting. I continued upward while taking stock at how this could actually be very serious. I started shivering. I stood to add more horsepower to the climb. Just don’t throw up. Just don’t throw up. Just don’t throw up. The rider in front of me called it quits and pulled over. I had to focus on myself.
The typical 'Start of Platte Clove Road' photo. There were many riders together at the bottom of the climb.
It was over I thought. I weaved twice. More bolts of lightning sliced through my body. I turned toward the edge of the road, away from the rocky cliffside and thought, “Here I will set my foot down and end this stupidity.” But then Mike’s text message shot through my mind. How would I tell him that I made it farther, almost to the top, but lacked the ferocity to finish it off? Do not get off the f***ing bike! I made a deal to do two more pedal strokes. That put me over the top of the steep part. I barely rolled forward in the reprieve. Another steep ramp, yet this one wasn’t as bad. I thought I had only two ramps after the left turn! I reached the moment I had prepared for: Days ago I decided if I wanted to quit I would stand and ride harder. I did exactly that. Do not get off the f***ing bike! That ramp was done. This was possible! This looked familiar. Another steep ramp but not as big. I churned. Do not throw up!
Speed crept up. Pitches mellowed out. Steep walls were not as steep and were not as long. And then. And then! There was the last little bump. A minivan had stopped in the summit parking lot to provide me a reference. It was the cheering section for a rider behind me. That was the top! My legs were dead. My heart rate was the highest I ever measured it. Yet there I rolled over the summit where a year ago I had walked my bike. I did not get off the f***ing bike! Did I just sneak up Devil’s Kitchen? I think I did.
Summit/ Finisher beer at Last Chance Antiques and Cafe.
My final miles were pathetic in pace. I was physically spent. I was emotionally distraught. I tried to stand to expedite the final six miles but the groin cramped worse than before. I pedaled with one leg; I even unclipped for a spell. I felt stopping now was the same as getting off the bike. I refused to do that. Since I had no power, I rode at a slow pace. This was how my Tour of the Catskills would finish. I limped home trying to muster happiness that I had just conquered a climb two years in the making.
I heard the finish line with less than a mile to go. Everything hurt. I successfully navigated the signs allocated for the new finish arrangement on Main Street. I saw the green FINISH banner. I rolled through, was handed off a medal, and texted the Missus saying I was off the course safely. I did not text Mike to tell him what had happened. I wanted suspense. I gathered my thoughts, got back on my bike, and headed to the car parked appropriately at Lake Rip van Winkle. My plan was to change and return to Last Chance Antiques and Cafe and do my usual celebratory UBU. I did exactly that. I decided to go against my usual visit and ordered cheese fries to go. Whenever I have gone hard in rides, I struggle with stomaching anything for a long time.
Going into this ride I was worried about elements that could have interfered with my fourth attempt at Devil’s Kitchen. Looking back I am satisfied knowing the amount of obstacles I cleared to summit the Platte Clove Road. This was two years in the making; I have already questioned whether I would return for the twelfth edition of the Tour of the Catskills. I know I’m stubborn, but I can’t imagine how frustrated I would be if I attempted Devil’s Kitchen again only to put a foot down. I’m certain the whole dreadful process would restart. Perhaps the fifty-miler next year? Or better yet, how about the twenty-five miler and I’ll enjoy Chatham Brewing beer and Last Chance Antiques and Cafe food - far from the Kitchen - while waiting for the 72-milers to finish? That sounds like a good plan to me.
