The PMS Ride

On Saturday, September 14, 2013, Chris Horner came in second on the legendary Angliru climb in the Vuelta a Espana, thereby sealing his victory in the three-week stage race and becoming the first North American to win the race as well as the oldest winner of a grand tour in the history of cycling. In fact, according to the powers-that-be in the cycling world, Horner is the only North American to win a grand tour since Greg Lemond did so in the 1990's. (Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis have been cast into the outer darkness for using the same performance enhancing drugs that almost everyone else used in their era.) An interesting story about Horner's achievement can be found here. I especially recommend watching the video clip from the race. (By the way, the photo up top shows Horner in perhaps his most famous pre-Vuelta moment. Click on this link to read the story associated with the photo.)

In my own smaller world of cycling, on September 14th I completed a 68-mile ride that hits the hardest climbs and the best views of any road ride in north-central Arkansas. I may, however, need a little reader assistance in naming the ride. I'm not sure I hit quite the right tone in calling it "The PMS Ride," but in this context PMS would stand for Push, Matney, and Shipps--the three biggest climbs on a very hilly course.

The ride started at the Sheid Bridge on AR 341, which has a lovely view of the famous White River and its impressive limestone bluffs. From the bridge my friend Laurie and I headed south on AR 341, first working our way to the top of the 2-mile climb up Matney Mountain. The average gradiant on this climb is only 5.9%, but that is because of a long flat section about half-way up. Most of the climb is in the 7-8% range, and even so it kicks up nastily near the very top.

There are stunning views of the surrounding Ozark National Forest from the top. About a mile after the crest of Matney, we slanted off to the right on Shipps Landing Road. A beautiful descent takes one to the landing, which was fogged-in on the day we rode, but which normally provides agreeable views of the riverfront. The climb back up Shipps is actually considerably longer than the descent since the road continues uphill after the right turn at the intersection with 341. The total climb is 2.4 miles at an average of 5%, but note that the first half of the climb is quite easy. Then the road pitches up very sharply for three-tenths of a mile; parts of this section hit 20% and all of it is brutally hard. After turning right at the stop sign, you climb another half-mile to the very top at an average grade of about 7%.

The 15 miles or so through the Ozark National Forest to the base of Push Mountain contain some of the prettiest (and least traveled) blacktop in this part of Arkansas.

There is the occasional roar of passing motorcycles enjoying what is widely known as "The Arkansas Dragon," but the road is usually empty of all traffic, and loudest noises are the humming of insects and the ticking of bicycle freewheels. (Except that several times a year the entire region is disturbed by the deafening overhead passage of AirEvac helicopters picking up the careless motorcyclists who crash on the descent of Push Mountain.)

Push Mountain is a punishing 2-mile climb with an average grade of 7-8%. It has the switchbacks of the classic climbs of the Rockies and Sierras, but it is a bit steeper. (For comparison, the famous Flagstaff Climb in Boulder, CO, is twice as long but with a gradient of only 6.4%.) Follow this link to a nice web page about Push Mountain Road.

At the top of Push Mountain we turned around and backtracked the 15 miles or so to the Sheid Bridge, crossing the river again and heading north to the intersection with 201 and the right turn toward the "Jordan Loop." This loop of about 30 miles has one big climb of its own (1.1 mile at 6.5%) and a descent of truly stunning beauty with expansive views of Norfork Lake and and the dramatic crossing over the Norfork Dam. Laurie and I added a bit more challenge and a bit more beauty to the ride by taking the turn to Jordan Landing and back.

Once we completed the loop, we finished off the ride with 10 miles of flat pavement on the River Road, enjoying its views of the dramatic bluffs overlooking the White River. 

Here is a link to more data about the ride (for those of you with Strava accounts). I hope to try it again in the coming weeks of pleasant fall weather--perhaps adding to its more than 5,000 feet of climbing by taking a little side excursion up 201 to the spur roads overlooking the White River from the top of the bluffs.