When I was on my honeymoon in Costa Rica with my beautiful wife, a local gave us this reasoning as to why none of the roads were paved in the city of Nosara. I found that to be true in that quiet surf town and I found that to hold equally true on the Grand Fondue ride put on by the Bike Doctor of Frederick.
This was not your typical bike ride. Adventure ride? Back-road ride? However you want to describe it, it was tough and it was an absolute blast. The climbs were steep, the people were cool and the views were amazing. The roads ranged from gravel to dirt to choppy asphalt. I found it hard to force myself to stop the bike and take pictures, but it was definitely worth it. This was hilly, wide open, gorgeous scenery that you simply do not get to experience every day. The mileage was around 35 and the climbing was around 3800 ft.
I was very glad that I was running a triple crankset on my Kona Jake so that I had a very low, easy gear to bail my legs and lungs out when my heart rate was going through the roof on the three most challenging climbs. I chose to run smooth, flat proof, 32 mm Continental tires and they were perfect. Knobbies would have been too slow and anything more narrow would have slowed me down when the pavement disappeared
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The ride started and ended and a winery called Orchid Cellar. We finished up with warm mead spiced with lemons and cinnamon sticks and delicious fondue. A week after "Super Storm Sandy," the ride went on without a hitch and I would do it again in a heartbeat. The Bike Doctor of Frederick put on a great event. Maybe someday I can get out there and ride with them again.
Thanks for reading. Enjoy the ride.
Kyle
