Yesterday, Sunday, July 15, 2012, my friend Ferdie and I cycled the 60-mile hilly road bike course by the Charles River Wheelmen “Climb to the Clouds” bike tour.

Together with approximately 850 other cyclists, we climbed the gruelling 1-mile 9% grade climb to Mt. Wachusett. As an amateur rider, I felt the pain on my legs and back during the climb, but it was well worth it. The feeling of satisfaction when we reached the top was incredible.

I’ve been joining bike tours for the past couple of years, including the fun Five Borough Bike Ride in New York City,  and the Maine Lighthouse Ride in South Portland, Maine.  But the “Climb to the Clouds” bike tour is the longest and most difficult tour I’ve joined so far.

My goal is to ride a century course (100 miles or more) in the next couple of years. I’m looking at the Pan Mass Challenge, or the Harpoon Brewery2Brewery 150-mile ride from Boston to Vermont, as my next goal. It will be a tough ride. But just like anything else in life, if you want to reach your goal, you have to work hard for it.

Some photos: Climb to the Clouds, Maine Lighthouse Ride, Bike New York