It wasn't a smooth start. When we got there, my front tire suffered from performance anxiety. I hadn't gotten it off the rack and it was already flat. This was a tube I'd patched 4 times already, and the failure was where I least expected it: on the inside of the wheel.
5 minutes and a new tube later we started the ascent. But instead of going up the regular route my coworker went for the challenging Corkscrew. I made it up that section eventually after pushing my bike for a dozen feet in the middle of it. Then I had to catch my breath for a few minutes. I could feel my heart working overtime to keep up.
The rest of the climb was demanding but doable. I didn't stall much and was able to maneuver through the narrow path the rocks and vegetation allowed. In all it was a 4-mile ride and the descent was definitely worth it!
