cw with GPS

Really cool website with his clockwise ride loggged with GPS ride GPS

ccw 2008

This counter-clockwise from 2008 is of interest because the circuit had not yet been completed and a strong southerly wind played into the decision to ride CCW... from 2008 Descending rapidly down the water culvert is decidely suboptimal. One has to duck beneath the low overhanging bridges to avoid getting seriously hurt - there are about three of these, and there are several short detours that avoid access gates...which requires split second timing spinning downhill. Going clockwise (CW), one still faces the culvert, however, the pace is a slow slog uphill, and the low overhangs make for great rest stops providing relief from the hot sun. Going with the wind is a great decision, much better to have it on your back as you hit the hills. "overall, a good experience with great weather-wise timing... and probably do it clock-wise, since it seemed like the climb up in Boulder City would be easier than the gradual climbs in the counter-clockwise route. "

ny times reporter, counter-clockwise 2012

Googling I found this interesting article about RMLT from 2012 2012 Article in NY Times Matt Villano, the writer, decided to cycle the counter-clockwise route and ended up walking and tugging his bike alongside.

CW 2016

This past Sunday, I decided to bicycle the entire River Mountain Loop Trail. This is not a particularly unusual decision as I bike about 13 miles of the trail most days. However, what was unusual was that I awoke with the decision to bike the entire 36 mile trail. Last year, I biked it and I ended up completing it at sunset half dead. Literally, half dead.

The first decision is to circumnavigate the mountains clockwise or counter clockwise. Last year, for want of any intelligence, I chose to bicycle counter-clockwise. This year, after much thought I chose clockwise. The trail is marked with milestones at each half mile. I started at mile six. There are two main passes through the mountains. From mile six, if one traverses clockwise, one descends rapidly downhill through the "three bitches" at Lake Las Vegas. While if one takes the counterclockwise path, one descends rapidly downhill at Railroad Pass. Naively, one would think that since you have to end up in the same place after your cycle, the direction wouldn't make much difference. You would be wrong.

The basic reasoning is that if one chooses the counter clockwise route, one necessarily encounters the impossible climb of the "three bitches". These slopes are impossible. But if this year, I choose the clockwise path, I must make the same ascent. However, I can ascend gradually. Difficult, but do-able.

Or at least that was the plan...