WOW Ride #14 - 16th Annual Butterfly Ride
Report by Erica
Every year, the WOWs welcome all FCC riders to tackle a climby ride known as the Butterfly Ride. Only a few showed up tonight. Corrine did a warm up ride and decided she wasn’t feeling well and bailed (she still handed out the promised cookies). Nikki showed with her gravel bike and the intention to split off to ride some gravel. Alisabeth showed (she was still recovering from the long version of Saturday’s Gravel Grinder). Glenn also showed but bailed shortly after the ride started (he had attempted Soggy Bottom race in the Kenai and was still recovering). I was feeling tired, but I wasn’t recovering from any big races/rides. It was also sunny, and temps in upper 70’s with a slight hint of smoke in the air.
The ride started, and we all pushed up Summit. Corrine drove up to take pics of us looking strong at the top before she headed home. Since Glenn had bailed, it was just Alisabeth, Nikki and I. We zipped down Skyline and at the bottom Nikki split off to go ride gravel up Ski Boot.
Alisabeth and I continued onward up McGrath, to Old Steese then up Skyridge. Skyridge was a grind but we made it and were rewarded with a nice descent down Summit. Alisabeth had to pause at the bottom of Summit a short while for me but not for too long (I'm not a fan of riding skinny tires TOO fast). We regrouped and rode to Skyline, then started up that hill. Partway up we waved at Nikki zipping down. Once we made it to the top of Skyridge we headed down to Old Steese.
Once back on Old Steese, I led the charge up. When we got close to McGrath, Alisabeth took back the lead and we zipped down. I was able to stay with her so when we got to the bottom we just kept going. We slowed to drink more fluids and I told her we just had Plant Kingdom hill left (almost done)! We cruised back to Musher’s Hall to finish the ride out.
The ride was uneventful and not the fastest for either of us, but we were the only two to have done the whole route. Nikki gets partial participation credit for riding some of it.
Distance: -25 miles
Elevation Gain: -2800 feet
Max Speed: 40+ mph from Alisabeth.
Another great ride! Hope to see some folks next week!
Pics by Corrine
