Fountain Hills / Hills of Via Linda metric century hill climbing circuit, shown with start from Roadrunner Park (36th St & Cactus). 62 miles, approximately 3,500 ft of climbing.

January 15, 2011

In preparation for the upcoming Death Valley Double, I’ve been out climbing hills when I get the chance. The climbs of Fountain Hills makes for a good training circuit, and I’ve done something like the metric century route shown above the last two Saturdays.

(For an in-depth description, with photos, of the Fountain Hills climbs see this page. And for the Hills of Via Linda, see this page.)

Along with the usual circuit of climbs in Fountain Hills, including Shea, Palisades, Sunridge, Golden Eagle, and Eagle Ridge, I tacked on the hills of Via Linda as well: Desert Cove, Hidden Hills, and Scottsdale Mtn. On my way up Scottsdale Mtn, I encountered one of my friends riding with the Los Freeloaders group. He wanted to do the extra climb up 135th St (right next door to the Scottsdale Mtn climb), so why not? I did that one too.

The first time (around 2008) I did the climbs in Fountain Hills from my house, about a 50 mile round trip, I’d thought I’d never make it, and was so glad to see the downhill going west on Shea Blvd. But since that time, I’ve done this route enough times that it seems “easy.”

Well, “easy” is a relative term. Let’s just say that when I did this ride last Saturday, I felt like I was floating up the climbs. It’s a great feeling. (I must admit, though, I wasn’t riding very fast. I think my average speed at the end of the ride was a lowly 15 mph.)

I felt so great I tacked on the “massive” climb up Hummingbird on the way back. Funny how that hill doesn’t seem so bad after Fountain Hills.

On another note: After a steady dose of power yoga the past few weeks, plus a now comfortable saddle, this Saturday ride was one of the most comfortable metric century rides I’ve ever done. I felt great afterwards too. Yeah!