As I was wrapping up my laps at Lew Mo on Saturday, a friend texted and asked if I wanted to pedal through Sterling on Sunday. So we did! My legs and lungs feel thoroughly worked out.  Right when we pulled out of the parking lot, was when the rain began. We laughed because last time we rode at Allaire (February) the snow started dumping right when we pulled out of the lot.

Some people say that Sterling is extremely difficult to ride.  It can be. It’s definitely not an easy ride. There is SOME flow that is absolutely gorgeous to ride, but relative to some of the other trails I ride (Lew Mo, Stephens), it’s not a lot. It’s roughly 1200 feet of elevation gain in about 9 miles over lots of punchy rock gardens and tight switchbacks. And that 9 miles is one big loop. So once you pass the halfway mark, there’s no other trail to bailout and you are committed to do the whole thing. It kicks my butt every time. That being said, I love it for some reason! I think it’s partly because my work is so stressful with constant deadlines, but riding in something like this, I just forget all about my stresses because I have to 100 percent focus on the brutality. LOL.  I’d say give it a try though. Don’t rush it. However long it takes you to do 9 miles, add at least an hour to that, and keep that pace, and you’ll be fine!