Saturday, August 1, 2009

Willoughby Ride

Good ride today out to Willoughby via Kirtland Hills, Waite Hill, then back on Kirtland Chardon Road. The weather was perfect and there wasn't much traffic most of the time.

The climb up Waite Hill is short and steep. The grade on Markell Road maxes out at 16%, then it's a nice, sunny ride through the estates to Riverside Road. I'm pretty sure the Man lives somewhere in that community, but I didn't see him. No Madras pants. Nobody on their fourth Brandy Alexander at 11AM. Just a nice lady out for a bike ride, and a bunch of Amish Guys repairing a wall.

Willoughby was hopping. The cafe tables along the street were full, and there was lots of traffic through town; all of it angry. I planned to ride down to the Lake, but Erie Street was too busy, and I wanted no part of that mess, so I headed back for home, taking Kirtland Chardon Road from route 306.

I haven't done the whole climb for several years. At the Kirtland Chardon Road bridge near 306, the elevation is 640 feet, at Route 6 it's 1297. The total elevation climbed along the 6 miles is about 1000 feet, though, since it drops back to the River at Wisner Road.

It was a great route, but only about 35 miles round trip.

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