Day Three: The Scorpion

Today was the best day of riding I've ever had.

Beautiful weather, spectacular scenery and some of the most challenging riding you can do.

Weighing on everyone's mind was Maale Akrabim (the Ascent of the Scorpion), a 5 mile climb with an average grade of 13% with some spots as high as 20%. But before we got there we knocked out 40 intense miles.


Compounding things, we climbed over 2000 feet before reaching Maale Akrabim. We started with an intense 5 mile climb over which we gained 1000 feet. We then hammered the next fifteen rolling flat miles and, thankfully, I was able this time to stick with a group. It made a huge difference to be able to work with a paceline.

We rested at Yerucham and then set out for Maale Akrabim. The way to that challenge was through an amazing descent into Machtesh Gadol (the Big Crater). The view was breathtaking but you had to ride very carefully because the gradient was serious and the speed high.

(Although we've been experiencing wonderful mid-80s weather, the temperature in the Machtesh and climbing Maale Akrabim was near 100).

After the descent into the Machtesh, we climbed another 1000 feet to the lip of Maale Akrabim and began the insane descent. You had to be careful on many fronts. Given 32 sharp switchback turns on a crazy grade on a gravelly, pot-holed road, you had to keep your speed under control. At the same time, you had to keep from squeezing the brakes too much for fear of generating too much heat and blowing a tube. (And, you had to make sure not to mezmorized by the incredible view, lest you end up being "off road").

I made it down and then turned right around. This is without question the most difficult ride I've done and I was thrilled to make it to the top after one previous attempt where I had to walk part way and another in which I pulled out.

Another ten miles in the wind an we reached our hotel in Dimona.
What a day!

Stats: 68 miles, six hours, 4550 feet of climbing, 3030 calories, average heart rate of 149.

Tomorrow a relatively flat 85 miles to Ashkelon, in all likelihood into a stiff headwind.