While visiting my brother-in-law in Boise I took a ride up Bogus Basin Road last Friday. It's a 16-mile climb out of the desert into high woodlands. You know it's a bad ass ride because part of the route is named after a cyclist named Armstrong. No, not the
Tour guy, but the
Olympics lady who also
lives in Boise and used this climb for her Olympic training.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWcrkMvwQkSfNUa69vElBLItwOsSeApdVIAjE8zdgnn-5uHxXYldg4A2Oevm78hA9qM4DZDn-I0r7glA0ZiWH6JqQOW2flSz0ZDZamJlHOaEgwg66_EoQEuYnj2KlKnAb92loIWfbfTA/s400/IMG00230.jpg)
The lead off sign that informs you of the bad ass ride you're about to go on.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ci0UmA6UmKIcLGRF4SzjwB5lqYf5sCobG88i6Q4cb4L2lJ0fYTeWHZHFgy5ANAQ8f8TzcKdJSwyi37tH8lMkwWwD1VB7OrlEBHrEyF0BLMYvMFOcikmxRLo6WEo6IUMAF7fHp98apLA/s400/IMG00227.jpg)
I kept the safety on for the first two miles. That gives you a chance to warm up before you enter the free fire zone.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFMCdaNVm_ZzS1kzUguzy1LZIclg-uy6ISBsn1zk8x9y5Fl5y3Zpuf6O9JAAGlfsBXs3mVtnRuliFhXnQ58v_jsbUES2utiNsgMmrsKb6FRxSY8pyEijNWNT46nr8WXkE0wpOhDNwPZg/s400/IMG00226.jpg)
Another clue for how bad you are for doing this ride. This is great for those who ride without some sort of electronic tracking device--unless they're on probation.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrymGqufPKS45PPXXyMKpPsxyok9hhHMoObJ9tgm-V37opV7RO0QuTi7X3aYtfgTq9GP210PKAy3MQa_kuFiYaWk3eEFl_59IaOpGBExAMriQrzCnB4fM-PMDsk1d7sAMeFGWSI5KNU4k/s400/IMG00203.jpg)
You know you've reached the top when you pass this sign and then run out of pavement at the ski lodge. If you're even more bad ass you're on a mountain bike and you continue on the trails.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCjPBkMMXquR3fMgqudxzwzBGIj9B7TxWA5YvxKnTc54CGcgJrrcynlLLcEeTxFzkjS2VVouAx-emn-IfLfQatX1qt5LxuF7vnBPo_2g_p0eMebbsCABZl33EKSMUWr134niSCmrneZw/s400/IMG00222.jpg)
A view of the route from the top. Sorry for the rotten Blackberry photos.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIih9yyPYLbJuOy6MgACGLDZC7y6fZv4ra3inPnQHrcWG53yolsyo5L1wXxpUfW6djmBcQ41GowfqkgjQ7RKv7hfgcGZyGgKYEHh1jYhWI7enP22l7h74kCHer-o04ykfU8JEVIJtTlM/s400/IMG00223.jpg)
Another sign at the eight-mile mark on the way down to remind you how bad ass you are.
I recommend doing this ride early in the morning. If you wait until 1:00 pm and it's 97 degrees outside, then you'll probably run out of water three or four miles from the top. A white foamy crust forms in both corners of your mouth, your dessicated body wilts, and your addled mind starts fantasizing about hamburgers and ice cold colas. And if your brother-in-law doesn't tell you about the water fountain that's near the ski lodge, you'll have a dry coast back to town.
No comments:
Post a Comment