MOUNT ERIE LEG SHREDDING BIKE RIDE

Our hero, Glenn Gervais, suggested we do Ride 6 from my "75 Classic Rides" book.

Sounds great, said I. Which one's that?

Page 42, Fidalgo Island--Mount Erie Leg Shredder, said he.

Ah yes, I remember that one well. Lots of fun, up and down island-esque rollers, spectacular water and island views, not to mention the route's centerpiece, Mount Erie: 878 feet of pointy-stick-in-the-eye climbing in just 1.5 miles. Youch! 

Thus, joined by Pat Skaggs, we found ourselves early Sunday a.m. at March Point Park'n'Ride ready to rock, as it were. We began by crossing the Tommy Thompson Trestle Trail (above), headed into Anacortes and then out toward the ferry and Washington Park. From there we rolled south and thusly began the rollers. Eventually, we pedaled inland (see my book for the exact route) and made our way south where Mount Erie awaited.

Here's Glenn, nearing the top of Mount Erie, climbing so fast up its 18- and 20-percent evilness that he's little more than a blurry smudge.

Here's what he usually looks like.

Here's the three of us, happy as heck that we've made it to the top of Mount Erie. As you can see, weather-wise we seemed to be stuck in a giant damp cloud. Never actually rained but somehow we got sorta wet and it never really brightened enough that I could safely wear my glasses without riding somewhat blind.

Re: Mount Erie, it's just killer steep. Even though I ride it probably once every two or three years and I know what I'm in for, I'm still stunned and surprised when I round a bend and see the road slanting seemingly straight up in front of me. Strava says it's average grade is 10.8 percent but given that there're a couple flat stretches, it's much harder than that. But we came, we saw, we kicked its ...  

(Above is a photo from about four years ago of Titanium Cancellara and I after a Mount Erie ascent. Here's a post on that ride.)

Here, Glenn fixes a flat while I watch.

The route ends with a fun, flat waterside 6-mile loop around March Point.

FIDALGO ISLAND BUTTKICKER

Yesterday, I headed out on a 50-miler suggested by cycling friend Corrina Marote. A true leg-shredder if there ever was one. Basically, the perimeters of Fidalgo Island (where Anacortes is), the Swinomish Reservation, March  Point, as well as a crazy evil thing called Mount Erie thrown in for fun. Started out on the Tommy Thompson Trail, the cool trestle trail (fun to say "twessle twail") that crosses Fidalgo Bay into Anacortes. (See photo at the bottom.) Out toward the ferry terminal then south where Marine Drive (does every town in Washington State have a Marine Drive?) makes like a roller coaster, yanking you up, then down, then up and down again.  

Then a foray to the middle of the island where Mount Erie awaits. I've ridden this hill maybe three or four times--never fails to shock and annoy. Incredibly steep. Climbs 900 feet in the longest 1.5 miles you'll ever ride in your life. Steepest thing around. The Power House Hill that causes all sorts of bother in the Mount Baker Hill Climb is 600 feet in 1.8 miles; in other words, pancake flat compared to Mount Erie.

From there more fun heading south and east toward the Swinomish Reservation (across from La Conner) where a terrific, low-traffic, mostly flat loop awaited. Then north to March Point where there was essentially another one, albeit this one with tidewater--Padilla and Fidalgo bays--on the right the whole way. Super fun 50-miler with 3,400 feet of climbing.

Top photo is Mount Baker above a really low tide on Padilla Bay mit curious eagle checking out the buffet offerings. Middle photo is nominee for the best-named road I've come across so far; it's on Swinomish Reservation.