Leader: Steve Palincsar. Yet another lovely early spring day: breezy, clear blue skies, 40s at 10 getting up to the mid-50s by the time we returned to Bryans Road. In the group today were Darryl Lowery, Ken Williams, Alan Kurzweil, Jim Hudnall, Richard Harrington, Mike Bivens, Linda Bankerd and Delane Rouse. The route was a reversal of the usual Chapel Point ride: up Locust Grove and across 301 to a rest stop at Wills Memorial Park (Johnny Boy's BBQ not being open yet) and then Glen Albin and Springhill Newtown to The Big Decision Point. At Wills Park, most seemed inclined to go left on Bel Alton Newtown to 6 (the 35 mile route) with only 3 wanting to go right to tackle the infamous "Beast of Bel Alton" on the 38 mile route, but at the T all were persuaded by Jim's explanation that there were more downhills going right. Perhaps the fact that going right provided a rest stop at St. Ignatius with bathrooms and a nearly unlimited supply of free ice might also have had a bearing on the decision. So, how bad is "The Beast of Bel Alton?" RidewithGPS shows the climb to be 0.4 mi long, gaining just over 100' of elevation. The steepest grade of the climb is 11.8%, with half of it at or above 6%. The worst thing about it, of course, is that it looks like a vertical wall as you approach it. It is considerably easier in the opposite direction: maximum grade only 7.6%, and although you gain more elevation you get an additional 0.3 mi to do it, most of it at a gentle grade. As expected, I was the last one up The Beast. There's a price to pay for having a Special Relationship with Gravity, after all. Total distance, 38 miles, my average 13.8. Lanterne Rouge.
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