2023 Baker Hill Climb

The 2023 ride is in the books as they say. I continue to use both this and the Tour de Whatcom as fun measures of my fitness. That may not be an all encompassing metric, but I figure I’ve got to be at least somewhat fit to finish either ride. If I finish with a smile, then I’m good; if I am crawling across the finish line, then I need more work.

So this year I didn’t crawl or walk any part of the ride, whereas last year I had the non-Covid flu for the ride which had me walking off several whole body cramps. This year I felt good, just carrying a little more weight this year compared to the last few years; too much food. My plan was to just settle into some pedaling with my heart rate planted mostly in the 130’s. That plan worked yielding me an enjoyable long workout with great views and I never felt like it was something I couldn’t finish. The down side was that I finished slower than previous rides, though as I am not in a competition, who cares. Next year, same plan, but with a bit less weight and maybe a touch faster. 😉

Things of note on this ride:

• Always pack a hex wrench so that with less than a minute to start of ride, you can dig to the bottom of your bag and loan it the the guy next to you with the loose front wheel and the panicked look on his face.
• Noticed a lot more E-bikes this year and I think more than a few of them were perhaps asking too much from their batteries. None the less, they were out there enjoying the day.
• Don’t underestimate the long grade up to Nooksack Falls, but it is fun on the way out.
• When a rider with a chase car passes you like you were doing a track stand, it might be a famous world class rider that you’ve never heard of before.
• People ride too damn fast for the rough road conditions between Heather Meadows and the Silver Fir Campground down in the valley.
• The most dangerous vehicle on the “closed” road may be the official shuttle van with trailer of bikes in tow. Passing a car that is in the middle of passing a bike, with a dozen other cyclists around, including yours truly, is stupid and dangerous. Nobody need be dead or injured over taking 5 more minutes to get back to Glacier.
• There is a bathroom at the Excelsior Trail head.