The Interstate 11 pre-opening bike ride on Saturday, July 21, 2018 was incredible! If you ever have the chance to ride on a freeway or interstate before it opens to vehicular traffic, do it!
Several friends and I joined more than 500 fellow cyclists for the chance to ride a new bypass outside Las Vegas. The Southern Nevada Bicycle Coalition expertly organized the ride from Veterans Memorial Park in Boulder City.
I arrived by 5:30 a.m. and luckily secured a parking spot next to a leafy acacia tree, and a short distance from the registration and mini-festival area. This shady spot (as well as the flush-toilet restrooms) would be a life-saver to me later in the morning. The predawn temperatures were already in the upper 80s and with humidity over 20 percent.
After gearing up, I met up my cycling buddies for selfies. We chatted excitedly about the upcoming ride, the route, and the scenic views waiting to reward us for our efforts.
The ride got underway around 6:40 a.m. Our tight little group waited for an opening to move out. I quickly lost sight of my friends in the crush of cyclists.
Once I saw an opening comfortable enough for my Nervous-Nelly self, I joined in the last of the throng. We pedaled away, forming a long snake-line out of the park onto Buchannan Boulevard.
Passing the Southern Nevada Veterans Cemetery, I spotted a man kneeling at a gravesite. Small planes flew overhead to land at the Boulder City Municipal Airport. I heard the engines of helicopters warming up as my widely-scattered peloton headed toward I-11. A hummingbird zipped by. A bumblebee paced me for some thirty yards then swung away to blooming wildflowers.
The well-maintained roadway quickly changed into a rough patch of asphalt, streaked with cracks and worn holes. The once elongated line of fast-moving cyclists quickly slowed, bunching, shouting and jostling to avoid flying water bottles and wheel-to-wheel clashes.
- Tip: Bikes don’t have brake lights! When cycling with a group, pay close attention those around you. Don’t get distracted by helicopters and bumblebees!
Merging on Interstate 11
Moments later, I veered right and up the off-ramp to access I-11. I pedaled easily to the top and let out a “Whoop-whoop!” in immense satisfaction. I finally felt some improvement in my ability to ride uphill…without changing gears, grinding the pedals, or losing my breath…even on such a small distance and grade as this one.
I adjusted the bike’s gears and then settled in for what looked to be a long but gradual climb. Tour helicopters buzzed overhead on their way to Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon. Two ravens, perched upon fencing, watched the cyclists go by. I cautiously pulled my insulated water bottle from its cage for a long swig. Much of the ice had already melted. In my jersey’s back pocket was a second bottle. I figured the once frozen-solid water was by now half thawed.
My plan was to ride 12 to 15 miles, entirely dependent upon how hot the morning got and how quickly I was going through my water. Because this was not a supported ride, whatever I had with me would have to suffice.
My pace felt excruciatingly slow but my pedaling cadence maintained a consistent rhythm. I only changed gears a couple times during those first few miles on I-11.
A New Mental Trick
To deal with those annoying “When will this end?” thoughts that pop up on long climbs, I kept my eyes focused a few lengths ahead on the roadway. I watched passing cyclists, noting a number of e-bikes and fat tire bikes. The vast views of the desert lit with early morning light were gorgeous!
The effort of “staying in the moment” worked. Time sped up and I crested the grade in what seemed to be moments instead of minutes.
The roadway and vistas stretched on.
I shook off the numbness in my hands, and wiped the sweat off my palms onto my shorts. I chanced another drink from my water bottle, and successfully secured it back in the bottle cage on my bike’s down tube. Two women riding together and I seemed to take turns passing each other. We even chuckled about it.
Keeping Muscle Cramps at Bay
Close to my Garmin’s four-mile mark, I felt that all-too-familiar twitchy sensation of muscles wanting to cramp up. I’ve been struggling with this for the last few weeks.
I breathed away two small spasms – an upper thigh and along the left side of my rib cage. I started looking for a gap in the median to make an easy turn around. The access appeared passed mile marker 6 just as the roadway curved into a wonderfully tempting downhill.
I paused there at the median, taking a drink of water and admiring the view. About a dozen cyclists slowly climbed the hill from the valley below. An older man cursed with each breath as he continued to grind his way up the road. When a gap opened up, I mounted up and rode off but staying to the left of the rumble strips. When safe to do so, I rode over them – ouch! – and over to the right side of the road.
My upper left thigh spasmed, forcing me off the bike. When it eased a bit, I began walking and pushing my bike. I took the opportunity to suck on an energy gel, and drank more water. I squirted what remained through my helmet and onto my head. Gosh, that felt good!
The temperatures must be well into the mid-90s, and I was feeling it.
A number of cyclists asked if I was okay as they passed by. Whether I gave a thumbs up gesture or shouted, “Just a cramp!” I always said “Thank you!”
Don’t Look, You’ll Bonk!
I climbed back on the bike, and pedaled deliberately for the last two hills. Just as I was about to look further down the road, a little voice inside my head shouted, “Don’t look up or you’ll bonk!”
Uh, where’d that come from? Oh yeah, a not-so-subtle reminder about that trick I tried earlier in the ride.
I thoroughly surprised myself by doing what I told myself to do. I kept my focus a short distance ahead of my bike’s front wheel…just enough to dodge the odd, scurrying lizard. My headband kept the sweat out of my eyes. The grips of my handlebars grew slick with wetness. I kept breathing into muscles that wanted to cramp up.
Damn, it’s getting hot!
Taking a Break
Interstate freeways do not have shady spots for cyclists to stop and enjoy. I kept going, knowing I’d recognize the last crest of roadway.
The descent brought welcome relief. The wind quickly dried the sweat on my face, shirt, arms, and hands.
After a bit of a bumpy ride on that rough road, I pulled off into a parking lot at the Southern Nevada Veterans Cemetery, and picked a shady spot to dismount at. There, I drank from my second, fully-thawed water bottle, caught my breath, and shot a funny-faced, blathering video for posting on Facebook.
By the time I got back to the car, I felt a bit light-headed and very thirsty. First, I secured my bike on the rear rack, and then pulled out icy-cold red cherries and water from the cooler. That revived me enough so that I could head over to the park’s splash pad and get doused with water.
Oh man, that felt soooo good! Just as much as spending time on a bike and seeing my pals post-ride!
Thank You, Southern Nevada Bicycle Coalition!
A big thank you to SNBC volunteers for their work in organizing a fun, safe ride that I will remember for a long time! I also appreciate their permission to use and share many of their photographs here. Learn more about their mission and work at snbc.org.
Garmin Says I’ve Improved!
- The first long slow segment: Started out at 10-11 miles per hour, slowed to a little more than 6 miles per hour before the crest. I calculated the grade to be about (a measly) two percent. Apparently, I’ve improved more than I give myself credit for because I was actually faster than I felt, and rode this segment non-stop.
- The second shorter climb: Averaged 8 to 9 miles per hour on an estimated three to four percent grade. Again, a faster pace than perceived, especially given how hot it was.
- Total distance: Between 12 and 13 miles. I truly didn’t think I went that far!
- Total time: About 2 hours from start to finish, much longer than I imagined but then the time includes the stop at my turnaround and again at the cemetery’s parking lot.
The tracking wasn’t 100 percent accurate. I forgot to start my Garmin watch until I was already on I-11. I paused it at the turnaround and at the parking lot. Didn’t use any of the fitness apps on my phone so not to use up its battery.
Originally published as “Bike This: Don’t Blink! You Might Bonk on July 25, 2018 | Edited and feature image added Sept. 7, 2023.