Ten Reasons for Not Doing the Napa Century-2007

A couple of weeks later Holstein Hundred and Tour of Napa Valley suddenly upon us, I signed up for neither. Not buzz from the Club as in the past, especially for Tour of Napa Valley, which used to be PREEMINENT--and Holstein is ridden over much of the same Mt Tam course. In truth I was "death" for 1 1/2 weeks from Mt Tam ride so didn't sign up for Napa--but it also has lost much of it's glamor.

Top 10 Reasons for NOT doing Tour of Napa Valley

1. $65. Weren't Century rides $15-20 just as recent as in the late 1990's. Many DOUBLES (200 miles) are $65--and a self supported Century is $7.50.
2. $5 more for a patch that used to be given away free.
3. Tour of Napa Valley has perfected how to get 3,000 riders on most routes to the JAMMED lunch spot at the same time. I can wait on line and see crowds at Wal Mart for free.
4. Though food is very good--more loooong lines for food at end of ride area.
5. Wouldn't miss the afternoon adventure of pacelining down the Silverado Trail--which is now heavy in winery visitor (drinking) traffic. Though nice wide shoulder, it is frequently BLOCKED by 3 people riding mountain bikes/ cruisers who HAVE TO b.s while riding 3 abreast at 11 mph.
6. Parking is terrible--usually wind up on the side of a hill on weed infested field 1/4 mile from the start. At least the paved lots where residents park are now marked off--nothing like getting yelled at by residents a few years back.
7. Though ride visuals are nice, Silvarado Trail much nicer in early morning on Terrible Two/ Knoxville, and Pope Valley much nicer earlier on Davis Double. (and continuation to Middletown on great road past crowded golf course lunch stop is better still.)
8. Napa's Road improvement program consists of putting white chevrons around all the cracks and ruts in the road.
9. The metric course--which stays among the vineyards, actually nicer than the 100 mile course which goes though suburbia.
10. Though Yountville may need money--don't feel like making a donation when local police line up ready to give "chickenass" tickets (thanks Adam Corolla) tickets to cyclists--especially at 7:00 when there is no other traffic .

Good luck to Mike/ Don riding P-B-P Here they are going over route at going away party-"How Does this Course Go Again?"

We're lucky to have Mt Diablo, all 3,849' tall, laying in the middle of the County. Instead of fighting traffic almost all summer I've stopped off gone up on Tuesday--often joined by Ward--at a recovery pace to the top, and then on Wednesday went "balls out" with the Diablo Cyclists to the Ranger Station (2,159'), as we all chase cyclocross champ Mark and mountain bike camp Jason, and then often continuing on to the top. While most of Diablo isn't steep, to the Ranger Station appx 5% and the rest of the way appx 6%, sometimes I do the ending ramp, @1000' at 18%--twice. Midweek the 11 miles of roads to the top is very quiet with little traffic and loads of bikes--especially before the Death Ride and a midyear Time Trial race--which has everyone out. On the weekend there is a line of cars going to the top for the view--so sometimes I "add on" 20 miles to the Ranger Station, pre Diablo Cyclist ride before cars are allowed in. Here are two photos I took at the top of Diablo within minutes of each other mid August. Looking Northeast it is sunny and warm (Sacramento is appx 50 miles away in this direction) Looking to the West there is a thick layer of fog hovering over San Francisco, which you can barely see. Kind of explains the 30 degree temperature differential.

(September 2007) Mt. Diablo -- Sierra Road Self Supported Double Metric 124 miles, 7,852' climbing, 15.5 averagesolo Mt Diablo to Ranger Station Diablo Cyclist Club ride to Calavaras Ward, Rusty, Beth and I do Sierra Road Bonus Loop (Tom also did it but separated from us)

Kind of a depressing week--Don and Mike dropped out of B-P-B, an SUV started an accident that had another car bouncing off mine on the freeway, and apart from Knoxville Double kind of miffed that nothing else has caught my eye or that of many club members (Doug and I will do Auburn Double Metric) . We had a Club ride scheduled for 80 miles out to the gentle Calavaras climb,, Ward suggested we could add the not so gentle Sierra loop, and then I figured I could add some miles before the Club ride to get a DOUBLE metric century, which meant heading up Mt Diablo before they open the gates for weekend cars..

Day started out "great" on Diablo when a cyclist told me he was bitten by a rabid coyote the prior Tuesday @ 30 minutes after I passed the spot of incident. Then some numnut coming up a steep blind turn (the 1000' level) decided to weave up across the whole road while I was coming down--he was flush across my lane, which got me screaming. Nice turnout for club ride though lacks some cohesiveness with Don in Europe and Jack infirmed--so we split up into a few groups on the fast run into Sunol. Then over the beautiful gentle switchback climb on Calavaras--though ruined by Santa Clara saving $$$ and (as they did on Mt Hamilton a few years back) chip sealing the road--so gravel flying everywhere and turns taken gingerly. At one point there was a pile of gravel on the side of the road that the country then painted the lane stripe over. Good deal.

At end of Calavaras we waited around to regroup while Tom started on ahead--thinking we were going to leave in a few minutes. But took awhile to regroup, and then found out that many people thinking about the steep Sierra Road climb earlier now weren't that enthused. On Beth, who had never done Sierra Road, wanted to join Ward/ I while Rusty yelled at her that she was crazy for wanting to do it. We started off and were joined by...."Troublemaker" Rusty, who also had never done Sierra Road."

Not a hot day but Sierra Road steep, especially at the beginning, and wide open, but everyone happy that we did the 35 minutes of hell. Then a fast back, paceline to Sunol where we sat around the porch of the general store and watched life go by before heading back to Walnut Creek. Total cost for this century ride--about $12.

Ride menu--for self supported Century rides I like to keep track of what I ate, and how the food planning went. Albeit to many calories / carbs on Friday (about 400 calories-100 carbs to many) the food intake came off well--and is a good model for an 8 hour ride.

-Thursday (carb deficeny before loading) 1995 calories--280g (57% carb calories)

-Friday (carbo loading) 3265 calories--605g carbs (74% carb calories)

-Sat-Breakfast 2 hours before ride--635 calories-90g carbsWhole Wheat Waffles(3) -Jelly-Yogert-Banana-Liquid on Ride-@7 total bottles & 1 Diet Iced Tea--1180 calories-275 carbs 7 scoops HEED-700 calories-175 carbs3 scoops Perpetuem mixed w/ one shot (Banana) Hammergel-480 calories-100g carbs (drunk cold on run into Sunol)

-Food On Ride--1325 calories-290 carbs-Cliff Bar, 250 calories-40 carbs (@ Diablo Ranger Station)-Bagel, 360 calories-75 carbs (@ Sunol)-Cliff Bar, 250 calories-40 carbs (@ end Calavaras)-Sports Beans & Banana, 215-55 carbs (before Sierra Climb)-Cliff Bar, 250 calories-40 carbs (@ back at Sunol)Total food/ drink on ride 2505 calories---565 carbsTook two Tums and Two Endurolights at every stop 90g carbs for breakfast a little "light," could have gone to 150g. Conversley, on 8 hour ride with good but far from great intensity, 50g carbs an hour is target, so 565g carbs consumed over 400g target, so both breakfast and ride food/ drink combined got me into target ballpark..

MT. TAM DOUBLE-2007

Self Supported Century 1--Extended Diablo Cyclist Ride. Time trial on Mt Diablo today couldn't ride up there before club ride. (F--getting slower, last Wednesday Don and I rode ahead of the Club to Junction w/ young Mt Racer Jason who can bs a mile a minute at our speed. We did it in 36:45, albeit we all slacked off when Ward pulled off at mile 1, didn't pick it up until Dave (always the instigator) rejoined at mile 2, and then Don-Jason and I bs'd about baseball, cycling and drugs after we dropped Dave from mile 4-6, until he rejoined we started attacking the last 1/2 mile. So a good effort but not the steady hard effort of a racing time trial. Still 35:15 (finish @ 1 1/2 minutes before the junction) would have put us 203 of 241 guys. Two years ago, at 32:00, would have been 151st.In any event started club ride through Norris Canyon, Crow (lots of cars) Canyon, and then beautiful Redwood Road. Then Ward, CA Mike, Venini Mike and I continued on through Canyon, over Skyline to Tilden Park (I hadn't done this route in years) through San Pablo Dam, Pig Hill the hard way (2x so we'd regroup) and then to Danville and back to Walnut Creek so could get in 102 miles, appx 6,000' climbing.

Self Supported Marin Century-92 miles-6200' climbing-Joe, Tom, Big Mike, Beth. A week before the Mt Tam Double I wanted to scout out part of the course so we had a fast paced ride from Hwy 101 via Nicasio over the Marshall Wall, stop at Pt Reyes Station and back. Beth hammered the flats, Bug Mike the rollers, and I kept going to the front so I'd get tired from this "training ride. Then Joe, Tom and I went out to Fairfax and to gold course on Mt Tam--where they dropped me on every climb. Good prequel to Mt Tam Double--when I lost Joe/ Tom for the 5th? and last time I chased back to a Santa Cruz racing group who were already po'd that Joe/ Tom had passed them on the climb. Good practice for the Mt Tam double. At the car Joe/ Tom gave me some downhill tips (stand to put more weight on the outside pedal) which I could sorely use. Two days later went back to my ancestral (2003) bike home and did the great Sutter Creek-Volcano-Hwy 88 out and back--throwing in Charleston (3rd hardest climb) in 95 degree heat for good measure. Saw one person all day--a 72 year old Sicilian in Volcano who rode over on his motorcycle.

Top Diablo Cyclist Rides
Unique to the club is that we usually don't have a ride leader, there are about 10 local rides in a rotation-a few out of town rides, all with known regroup points--and Jack does a great job arranging them in a ride schedule. Most rides are great-albeit returning on Danville Blvd in the afternoon (but traffic thins out the closer we get to Walnut Creek.) My favorites:
1) Peets Coffee Ride--Over the Bears-over Tilden-down into Berkeley. Return via Redwood Road and Moraga.
2) Sunol-Calavaras--A long one which usually has 3 starting points dependant on how long people want to ride to long but gentle Calavaras climb with beautiful reservoir off to the side. Added bonus is when we drop into Fremont and do Sierra Road.
3) Sunol-Palomaras-Do all our rides go though Sunol. Rollers out to Sunol, hairy ride in Niles Canyon traffic corridor, and then beautiful and almost deserted Palomaras climb.
4) Tunitas Creek-We haven;t done Pt Reyes or Sierra Gold Country ride enough for these to be best out of town ride so Tunitas Creek remains.
5) Capitola Ramble--We don't see much of Capitola but do see beautiful backroads and hills as we get out to the Coast and back--now better with the Rusty add on.
6) Mines Road--A spring classic--numerous starting points--the Diablo Cyclist bonus mile crazies start in Walnut Creek so we can get a double metric in--rejoin club when long but mostly gentle club to the Junction starts--and then option to STEEP side of Mt Hamilton. Not to be done when hot as out in the open and not much in the way of services.. (August 2007) MT TAM DOUBLE 200 miles, 14,500' climbing, solo, 5:00-6:42, 23rd place-247 starters including Steve Cozza, 60m rests stops

Course-AAA-Albeit the fog on the Coast the best route-enough climbing to keep the riders honest without it being pernicious Support-B+-Well Marked Course, Low Key Rest Stops but most of everything you need. Sometimes spotty

According to the California Triple Crown Website, this is the 6th toughest double (out of 18) based on altitude gain--but albeit the cold weather on the Coast it is the route I love the most. Enough climbing (one big climb, one steep climb and then roller after roller) to tire out the flatland mashers without the pernicious constant long climbs of the Devil Mountain Double or the 20% grades of the Terrible Two.

After two 36th place finishes the last two years, I was hoping to break into the top 25 this time, but it would be hard. Any speed I ever had on climbs is fading fast. More importantly, there would be no teammates to ride with-Steve and Jack suffering serious injury, Don and Mike taking it easy before Breast-Paris-Breast (sic). Joe doing this ride but I'd be lucky to be an hour behind him at the finish, and Kitty, the woman's Triple Crown Champ, rides at a slower pace but makes up time with an insane rest stop schedule. On this ride I'd have to make friends, and unlike our Marin self supported Century last weekend, will be trying to conserve as much energy as possible.Usual 5:00 start which means @ 30 minutes of riding in the dark. Joe way up in the front--which would almost be the last I see him. Two guys driving me crazy--b.s.'ing about their GPS system so everyone at home can follow their progress. Yuppie toy--yuppie toy. I start in the back as not crazy as riding the big downhill off of Big Rock with a huge pack, and the pelaton quickly split by catching a red light on Freitas Parkway. So I'm In the second group on the uphill to Big Rock and I ride about a half dozen off the front. Amazingly on the downhillI I stay with the second group leaders so when the road flattens out (from steep to shallow downhill) I can stay in their draft. I keep envisioning 2001 Domo Farm Fretes Paris Roubaix conserving energy and then I hope at the end of the ride I can catch a spark and have a 2002 P-R Museeuw moment.

Sun finally comes up and some big rollers to Fairfax. Three young guys keep passing on the flats without saying anything and one contests the rollers by attacking at the beginning--I'm getting po'd but just keep riding steady though standing a bit too much so as to beat them over the roller crest. Later these guys from Emeryville would help me, a lot, going down the Coast. Then Mt Tam starts--I'd try to stay with anyone who shot past while I was sitting (when I'm not that fast) and then stand and try to get on a wheel. My impetus is to try to stay with the fastest person on the climb and I think I did well, though BIG no push up the whole mountain with a climber from Fresno as in 2005, and now I don't think I could sustain a rapid climbing pace for long.

Pine Mountain Rest Stop (24miles, 6:33, 9 minutes) Take off big light and want to send it back to the start--after all even with foot problems last year I finished 1:15 before dark. But they are only sagging lights to later rest stops--and I am not planning to stop at Nicasio (final rest stop, just 14 miles from the finish.) Luckily one rest stop worker, Jenny, one of the best long distance riders in California, recognizes me, and says she'll take my lights back to the start.

Can I get the number any smaller on the jersey.

A guy clad in a Discovery kit passed on the downhill to Alpine Dam, but thanks to a downhill tip by Joe/ Tom last week (get off the saddle to put more weight on outside foot) he wasn't speeding away from me as usual.After Alpine Dam downhill steep climb begins--and inversion layer had Mt. Tam warm. I pass one of those "slow" (I'll take this back by the end of the ride) brevet riders--it is Kitty who probably started before the mass start or blew off the first rest stop. On rollers on the top I look down and see heavy fog bank covering the ocean. After Pantoll Cutoff when I still have a way to get to summit I see Joe flying down--he's about 10th. (Also see about 20-30 cyclists coming down before I make the turn around.) Bad thing is that they are doing a paving job on top of Tam so lots of loose gravel, especially on the center lanes--not the greatest for twisty rollers.

Top of Tam (mile 38, ?? time, 1 min rest + 1 minute on downhill to put on vest=11 total rest minutes) I see large group of Fresno Bike Club rides at the top when I arrive, and though I glance at my watch I don't remember the time. I figure I can blow off the next rest stop if I get some water now--so I top off my bottle of Heed (Perpetuem/ Bosco mix hasn''t thawed yet) and have something to eat--so I grab a cookie. Climb back with Lori, the 2005 Triple Crown Champ, who tells me that her Fresno Club is taking it easy today as many people training for P-B-P, then I lose them on the gravelly downhill rollers. Left turn to Pantoll where I stop to put on my vest but still nice and warm on the downhill. Doing OK on the downhill-not may people passing but then 3 guys who earlier I contested climbs with shoot by--and I resolve to skip next rest stop, and hope to catch Fresno Cycling Club and ride with them. All of a sudden descend into 400' level where it suddenly.....

...gets real cold, FOGGY, real wet, and glasses/ handlebars dripping water. Only thing very visable are car headlights. OO

This sucks as trouble breathing when cool and damp and I tighten up on damp, twisty road around Muir Woods. Luckily I decided to wear a tee-shirt and wear bandage over my bad knee. I'm happy when road flattens out so I can push a little and get warm. Skip Santos Meadows Rest Stop (mile 50) though I stop 200' down the road to water a tree a eat a Nectar Bar. 2 minutes=13 total rest minutes. A few more rollers and I hear voices far back, I'm hoping it is the Fresno Cycling Club so I have someone to paceline down the Coast with. I hit the fog shrouded rollers on Highway 1 and one of the guys who attack earlier shoots by and one of his loud friends smiles and says "he loves to do that." They look back to say "bye-bye" but I stay on their wheel and start bs'ing with one guy wearing a Terrible Two jersey. They see that I'm not going away so loud guy starts talking to me, joking that they are training for an "around the world race"--as almost everyone here doesn't think 200 miles is enough, and seemingly are training for something longer. Meanwhile, the guy who attacked earlier is pulling a Big Mike and does 80% of the pulling down the Coast--luckily I can stay with them on the uphill rollers where he has to slack off a little to keep his group together, and then I can hang on for dear life on the flats and off the rollers on the downhill.

Our fastest doubles ride, Joe (#11 on Climb to Kaiser, #34 on TT) -- got bit on this one by going out to fast. Photos from Action Sports International

Highway 1 is cool and overcast but at least soon not damp and foggy when road flattens out. One guy who dropped out after 141 miles last year struggles onto our paceline-latter he'd prove to be real fast. We eventually pass a rest stop for the 100 mile Marin Century--and the Emeryville trio inexplicitly pull into it. I'm left with the the guy who joined us as the rollers again pick up close to Olema. A guy in the Admiral Dewey Triple Crown jersey joins us and when the road flattens to Pt Reyes the first guy who had joined the paceline goes balls out--I stay behind him for awhile but the pace is to fast for 200 miles and I drop off. Admiral Dewey also drops off and says something like "doesn't he know the first 100 miles doesn't count." We see another guy down the road going at a good but sane pace so we hustle to join him--turns out to be Ken--a fixed gear rider who has done the TT 3x on a fixed gear and will be doing B-P-B. Wow. (no coasting and spinning like crazy on downhills, and overgeared for many uphills.) . We all stay together through Olema and no need to attack on the hill out of town as last year as we just have a small group. Fixed Gear Ken does most of the pulling but as I do all day if I sense the speed dropping I'll go to the front to give who I'm with a rest. Cheese Factory climb is much easier than last year as didn't go balls out leading into it--and now sunny and warm. Fast downhill where fixed gear is unfortunately lost-sudden left hand turn and Lincoln School-Mile 84-10:38-11 minutes, 24 total rest stop minutes. I think I've ridden pretty fast up to this point but in 2005 here 7 minutes earlier and in 2006 here 11 minutes earlier.

(above) I'm having fun and luckily would have fun all day--on doubles you can quickly lose it. (below) I came into this stretch (Cheese Factory Climb @ mile 80) with fixed gear rider, Ken, who has done Terrible Two 3x on a fixed gear. Even Don is not that crazy. Photos from Action Sports International

This rest stop is kinda crowded as this is also part of the Century course. Off goes the undershirt. Mix a Sustained Energy--though no Hammergel so use my Apple Cinnamon mix, and eat a mini Cliff Bar and 1/2 a banana.

The practice run last weekend to the Marshall Wall was perfect I hadn't recalled it being so long. Last week I took the lead and tried to hammer to the climb. This time the Emeryville trio come by--I thank them for the earlier pull up the Coast, and then sit again in the back. The same guy who pulled 80% up the Coast is still going balls out at the front. It's warmer so I feel better, so it is easier to hang on as we wind our way around a backroad with no traffic--we're going towards the ocean but sheltered from any headwind by the surrounding ocean. We get about 1 1/2 mile from the start of the Wall and pace begins to slack so I go to the front--when we hit the start of the Wall I thought I was pulling a paceline but the Emeryville Boys weren't behind me. Climb is much much easier than I recalled before last weekend --then fast rolling downhill, and suddenly I'm on the Coast again where temperature easily drops 15 degrees. I luckily had stopped to put on vest.

Now it is up the Coast to Tomalas where I hardly see anyone except one guy who wants to get pulled--and I drop him on the rollers. Usual stiff headwind on climb to the Coast off of Tomales. Not sure how we came together but somewhere along this stretch I first ride with Rando Man, Alta Alpina Guy, Terrible Two Girl and Palo Alto Girl--when we make the right turn off the Coast where we're pushed by nice tailwind either I am passed on the downhill or I pass some of these riders when the road straightened out, but in any event we had a paceline going for a few miles before lunch and I feel good as I lead the paceline in when the speed started to drop. Valley Ford #1-114 miles-12:35 (1 minute put on vest after Marshall Wall and 11 minutes at this stop--total of 36 minutes of rest stops.) Coming in 3 minutes ahead of 2005 and though 7 minutes BEHIND 2006--in 2006 this is where I started to suffer and needed longer rest stops.

I see Diablo Cyclist Craig who is doing the century, great to see a familiar face. They make the Doubles riders check in at table way in the back of the rest stop-which is annoying. More annoying are the swarms of yellow jackets near everything--incentive to get out quickly. Mixed up cold bottle of HEED (I had carried powder--they only had Gatorade on this ride), a cold bottle of Sustained Energy, had some good bread--stayed away from some supposedly delicious burittos, and downed a pack of sports beans which go down nicely when it is warm outside. All rest stops have Endurolights and this one also has Tums--the staples for long distance riders. When leaving tall Terrible Two girl and I traded pulls until the headwind climb where I fell apart last year.

A series of long long rollers into a headwind where it is getting cool again as we head to the ocean and my knee is starting to hurt--though under wraps. Then right turn onto Bay Hill ridge which is hardest section for me--the climb is moderate but the cold crosswind really sucks. Before fast downhill I stop again to put on vest--and both Palo Alto and Terrible Two women come by and speed away on downhill but I'm not far behind. Work hard to catch them on the Coast, no horses crossing Highway 1 this year, and then sudden turn onto Coleman Grade.

Most people hate the steep Coleman Grade but I actually enjoy it. We are finally getting away from the Coast for good--warm weather and mostly tailwind for the rest of the day!! Knee hurting and foot sore so don't want to open up to fast on the climb, and I'm also probably a bit lazy, so I don't stand and give it any energy until a sharp left turn where the grade increases about half way up. LEVI and other cyclists names from The Tour of California written on the asphalt--Palo Alto woman surprised that this was part of that race. Seems like I quickly crest the top--which opens up to another series of windswept rollers where I again slack until Palo Alto Woman comes by and I ride at her pace. She's running out of water so I offer her some of mine--but water stop at mile 130 is somewhere??--but never around the next bend. Go past the field Santa Rosa Wine Country uses for their first rest stop--just when we think there is no water stop this year (as cooler than last year) one appears. No need to collapse into it as last year--just plan to top off the bottles and go as it is a fast return to Valley Ford. Grab a mini Jo-Jo bar. Coleman Water Stop-Mile 130-2:12 (1 minute putting on vest on Bay Hill and 3 minutes at water stop-total 40 minutes at rest stops) Guy working rest stop looks up when we pull in and he says "you hammerheads--only 25 riders have come in before you." Hammerheads? I'm just sore and tight and energy starting to decline but the warmth and tailwind will cure this and I'm stoked at our placement on the course. How far can Joe be up the road??


One note before I forget, this is THE BEST marked organzied ride. Arrows for all the routes are promenently displayed) and this year the Marin Cyclists added signs about 1/4 mile down the road notifying something akin to "course change ahead." Kudos.

Back to the course. Now downhill rollers where sun is out strongly but sunlight is broken up by heavily lined trees so hard to see the road, so I take it easy as Terrible Two and Palo Alto women fly by. Then long downhill on Joy Road, where I once got lost on the Santa Rosa Wine Country Century. Thanks to Joe/ Tom, the downhill tips from last week help me not lose much ground on the downhill and I'm able to join the two women when the road has some uphill rollers and then flattened out. I don't recall if this is where we joined Rando Man, but I pulled again into Valley Ford #2-mile 143 -3:03--6 minutes-cumulative 46 minutes of rest stops. 5 minutes off the pace from 2005 and 13 minutes ahead of 2006. Now century riders are gone so rest stop kind of desolate--I grab some more good bread and down some sports beans, and finish the HEED I carried around-mixing two more bottles. Though I was only in the rest stop for 6 minutes everyone had left before me--I quickly rejoin Palo Alto Woman and Rando Man, and we quickly three man past Terrible Two girl.


I told Mike I had to apologize for making fun of all the seemingly very slow riders on a brevet--Rando Man had a huge reflective triangle on his back but took short but strong pulls especially when the road was level or when going down. Palo Alto Woman does a lot of work on the flats (21+) which was fun with the tailwind at the beginning, but my energy was dropping--not in the danger zone but enough to make 23-25 mph hard. I'd pull on uphill rollers. Nice tailwind except for a few half-dozen right turns to the South where we'd do a short stretch with a crosswind until another left hand turn back to the East where we'd again have a great tailwind. As last year--we saw no one in the run into Petaluma.

Foot now getting really sore and energy still low. Maybe it is the heat--only about high 80's but 20 degrees warmer than on the Coast. I figure I just need to hang with duo into Petaluma--and I'll take a long time at the rest stop--actually sit down for first time all day--andI 'll make up the time by bypassing the last rest stop at Nicasio. I rather take a few more minutes at the Petaluma rest stop so I can go balls out to the finish than limp home badly.

Hit a small hill-a subdivision-a few turns--and very fast into Petaluma Rest stop, mile 170, 4:46. Just 2 minutes off of 2005 pace! I'm usually quickly out of this rest stop (8 minutes 2005 & 2006), and do want to beat my 2005 time, but again figure I can spend some time here and bypass Nicasio. After hitting bathrooms (at other end of park) I park myself on a table and the shoes come off. Only notable food is hot dogs and noodle soup (yuck), another table has snacks but no power bars or anything real appealing. I grab some pretzels and watermelon (actually here they act like Planet Ultra and a worker has to give them to you,) put some carbonated water in one bottle, add gatorade to the other. Luckily I have another packet of sports beans. Terrible Two girl had left, Rando Guy/ Palo Alto Woman enjoying noodle soup so we'd leave around the same time. 14 minutes--but if I don't have to stop at Nicasio just an even hour of total rest stop time for 200 miles.

Few steep rollers out of Petaluma and I am cracking up as we get to the spot where Don/ I started chasing down a trio of riders last year. This time first we pass Terrible Two girl and she gets on the paceline that is going into a headwind as we head back SouthWest, then we catch up to Alta Alpina rider a little before a big three tiered climb before the Cheese Factory. I mention to Palo Alto woman that I am skipping Nicasio--she advises that we should quickly pull in to see if it is a check-point, good advice though no way to shortcut back from Petaluma.) I pull to the start of the climb, Alta Alpina guy stands and passes me to start the climb and I stand and stay on his wheel for the first tier--hey this is easy. I comment--"nice pace"--and he kicks it up a few notches on the second and third tier (each tier about 300'-600'), and I fall off badly. F-two years ago I could stay on almost anyone's wheel on a climb--not any more. Over the crest and I am sooo determined to catch the guy--I have him in in sights in the valley below where once the road flattens out we will make a sharp left and get beautiful tailwind. When I get to the bottom the three other riders join-Rando Man takes a pull to the turn--but once we head East I lead out as we are going to hammer back to Mr. Alta Alpina. I catch him half way to Nicasio and then sit on his wheel as I figure he'll kill me once the climbing starts out of Nicasio. One guy flies by but (thanks Don--this year I check) he doesn't have a number on so he is probably a local coming back from a short run.

We pass Nicasio rest stop/ check point, mile 186, and luckily someone taking numbers at the entrance as we pass--so no having to go inside and search for worker like at Valley Ford. Unfortunately while Alta Alpina guy also passes rest stop--three other riders pull in, so I'm left with someone faster than me on the climbs and not the cooperative riders I've done the last 60 miles with. It is almost all climbing from Nicasio to the finish--albeit a great tailwind and road isn't that steep until the Big Rock section--and from this direction (unlike the morning) that climb it isn't too long. What I'm worried more about is while I flew off of Big Rock downhill in the AM (what we'd be climbing now) in the direction we are going now it is long and twisty, and not a straight shot like in the AM.

Deja Vu to training ride of last week

We go thru Nicasio and make the left turn on Lucas Valley Road--which is how we started ride 13 hours ago. I quickly lose Alta Alpina's wheel and he stays 100' ahead of me when the climb thru the Redwoods begin--it is now or never so I put in a big effort to get back to his wheel, just as I chased down the Santa Cruz paceline last week. I rest on Alta Alpina's wheel until his speed slacks off around the place the bogus Gruppo Pumpkincycle photo was taken--so to make sure no one catches us from behind I go to the front and do some work. This means I lead into Big Rock where road suddenly gets steep--and on Big Rock climb we can see another rider 1/3rd of the way up but color of number (200 miler or straggler from century?) unclear. Alta Alpina shoots by me--and goes over the top (luckily road repair light mushing us into one lane is green for us) when I'm 3/4 up--and I pass the new rider, who is on the double, right before we crest.

But now I have to negotiate the long curvy downhill (which was a long curvy uphill in the dark 13 hours ago) and guy I just passed comes around about half way down--and when road straightens out Alta Alpina and new guy are two manning about 200-300' up the road. I'm getting slower on the climbs but better revving it up on the flats, and like last week I'm determined to join up with them. About half way to the Galindo turn I get close--I then go into a sprint and am ON THEIR WHEEL--YES--I REJOINED. . I recover in the back and close to the Galindo turn the pace starts to drop so I go to the front to rev it up--which may be a tactical mistake as the Galindo turn is about 10 blocks of gentle climbing--but I am stoked. We make the turn and I go hard--this time Alta Alpina guy is on my wheel as I yell out "CLEAR" as we pass every stop sign on the quiet short surburban streets--and the new guy is dropped. We actually get a green light at Lucas Parkway but Alta Alpina guy gets blocked by a car right after . I roll in at 6:42--4 minutes faster than 2005. Guy marking the time indicates that only about 20 riders have come in before me. I tell him that Alta Alpina guy was with me but he got stuck behind a turning car. I'm stoked that hard riding at the end not only preserved my position but let me move up two places--makes up for me becoming a lazy ass on Eastern Sierra. I check when Joe finished (noon?) but they don't have him down as finishing, whiich is strange?? Luckily no accidents reported. I am dehydrated like crazy and ride over to grab a Diet Coke--yippie--no more water/HEED/ Gatorade. Ride to car as Rando Man/ Palo Alto Woman come in--she yells out "good job." Thank ride organizer but joke that he should charge doubles riders less than century riders--as we are in/out of rest stops in 5 minutes--if we go in at all.

Luckily Craig hanging out from the Century ride so I join him for chicken and pizza fest in the quiet finsihing area--which unfortuantely they start packing up within an hour. I hang out to see if Joe or Kitty come in--don't see either so eventually split when just a few tables are left alone. Getting into car I see two of the Emeryville Boys getting out of a car--one had missed the LAST turn into the school and rode straight past San Rafael. His friend went to pick him up.

I'm real real happy about how ride went but all of a sudden the ride I like the best is over, and this marks a sudden end to the competative double season for me (Knoxville is untimed) and no real century rides coming. I also have a feeling that i'll never ride as hard as I did today again. Getting California Triple Crown Status--which was so important two years ago--is now just an afterthought. First timed double in last two years where really not "downtime/ energy loss/ dragging" and first time didn't tape my injured fingers since December 2005 accident. Yippie.

Results finally posted--they have me down as finishing at 6:43 (t) 23rd of 247 starters*(*21 early starters who are not doing ride for time43 did not finishes including many from the early starter group) The winner at 3:50 Steve Cozza, is a 22 year old Team Slipstream racer that finished 3rd in the 2006 U23National Championship Road Race. At 3:50 I was a one-third to Petaluma.

CLIMB TO KAISER-2007

Post Eastern Sierra Double. Following Week, Self Supported Century--Up Mt. Diablo pre Diablo Cyclist ride--then get hammered by Livermore Brian and Joe on the Bears and Tilden into Berkeley (Peets Coffee Ride)-then back up to Skyline where Jack, Ward, I took off for Castro Valley Golf Course. 105 miles, 8020' climbing. The next week, another Self Supported Century, as punishment for missing Terrible Twos (my baby's high school graduation) rode up Mt Diablo and did the 18% ending ramp 3x--met Diablo Cyclists for breakfast--then Jeannie, Ward and I took off for Sunol. After racing a guy with a tri setup to Sunol Ward and I continued over Calavaras--a very long 3% climb--where I promptly ran out of water in the middle of nowhere as temperatures hit the 90's. Found a regional park, life saved, then fast back with tailwind. 109 miles, 7500' climbing. SO IN TWO WEEKS ALL OVER THE EAST BAY AND DIDN'T SEE RUSTY--I HOPE HE DIDN'T SELL HIS BIKE


(June 30, 2007) CLIMB TO KAISER 155* miles, 13,500' climbing, 64th* of @304 riders 11:28* 5:30-4:58*with Jack, sorta with Joe (he drove in, said hello in parking lot and we never saw him again as he went off to finish 11(T), and Doug *i got lost on a downhill and shortcut the course 3 1/2 miles, or by 10-21 minutes, so would have finished 70-78th, and WORST CASED finished under 12 hours

Course-B: Grueling course--like a mini Terrible Two with "pernicious" climbs--but road surfaces are much much better and traffic is much much worse. Support-B+ The greatest (tied with Terrible Two) rest stop support, efficient but low energy check in and post ride meal, and though not a lot of turns course markings are inconsistant/ nonexistant. Overall-B

After doing Death Ride for four years in a row--ridden almost any imaginable way possible (self supported--bonus passes--for time--taking photos) I kind of lost my desire to do that overly produced but overrated ride this year. Jack's "Climb to Kaiser" jersey--with the elevation of 75 miles almost straight up and then 75 straight down was intriguing, so I decided to sign up for this ride. As doing this ride in lieu of the Death Ride, constant comparisons were in order.

While the Death Ride has longer climbs at a higher altitude (affecting thirst and breathing) I found Climb to Kaiser MUCH MORE DIFFICULT, with it's shorter but more frequent climbs that had a much harder grade than the Death Ride. Not an overcrowded merchandising machine like the Death Ride, but Climb to Kaiser had the best (on par with Terrible Two) rest stops for the far fewer riders. Unfortunately, instead of having to contend with Death Ride cyclists all over the road (much fewer riders who are more well behaved) , there were a few spots on the narrow roads that remain open to traffic that were covered with jeeps, boats and RV's all escaping to the mountains from Fresno. The other BIG negitive was that though few turns the Climb to Kaiser course is poorly marked.

Bottom line-the Death Ride is like a Rollings Stones concert in a mega-stadium, hyped like heck, THE event of the summer, production is incredible, and you can tell everyone you felt like a rocker though the band could only be seen on the Jumbotron and the sound from the well rehersed numbers kinda echoed around the venue. Climb to Kaiser is like a Patti Smith concert a a tiny venue--almost off the radar and you spend a good deal of your time in the standing room only crowd working hard to protect your space--but you wind up 20' from the stage and the music is so good you kind of ignore a few of the production problems

Going in I was kinda pissed at myself--been enjoying riding with a big group all spring--whereas 6 minute rest stops turn into 20 minutes. I had vowed to end my laziness on Eastern Sierra Double, but after 60 miles rode it more like a century than a timed event. My favorite timed event coming up, Mt Tam Double, so knew that I needed practice putting in a constant effort all day and to take care of business quickly and leave rest stops. Also knew that on a pure climbing ride it would be hard to stay in a group, so expected to do this solo.

Didn't know much about the climbs on the ride, and had trouble getting psyched for the ride (unlike the Death ride or a timed double)--but still spent the last two months riding to the top of Mt Diablo each Tuesday-Wednesday nite--but though Mt Diablo @11 miles long, and I'd try to go hard with the Diablo Cyclists to the Junction (midpoint) on Wednesday where I'd then continue on myself(side note--not coming close to the times I posted in 2003 & 04, but at least put off another year of decline as I was easily beating my 2006 times) the gentle 5-6% average grade of Mt Diablo would not adequately prepare me for the Climb to Kaiser. Hard finding this information out on their web site (would probably scare off folks) but here is the list of the Climb to Kaiser climbs, as you make you way from sea level to 9,200'.

Climbing Comparisons

Mt Diablo 11 miles-6% average-two parts:
N Gate To Junction 6.5 miles-5%
Junction to Top 4.5 miles-7%

Climb to Kaiser
(mile 23) Wildcat 4 miles-5% average
(mile 31) Burroughs-2.5 miles-5%
(mile 39) Tollhouse-8 miles-7%
(mile 47) Pine Ridge-4 miles-6%
(mile 63) Big Creek-4.5 miles-10%
(mile 73) Kaiser Pass-8 miles-7%
(mile 89) Tamarack Ridge-9 miles-5%

Death Ride
Monitor(1)-8 miles-6% average
Monitor(2)-9 miles-7%
Ebbetts(1)-10.5 miles-5%
Ebbetts(2)-5 miles-6%
Carson-14.5 miles-4%

To put it in perspective-the steeper 2nd part of Mt Diablo and Big Creek are around the same length. Mt Diablo goes up to 3849', if the 2nd part of Mt Diablo had the same grade as Big Creek, Mt Diablo would go to 4610'! And average grade doesn't indicate that Kaiser Pass starts out gently--so the final section is much worse than average. Up to this ride I was wondering how some of the Fresno Cycling doubles riders are great climbers coming from pancake flat Fresno--not realizing the foothills to Yosemitie start @15 miles to the East.

Driving in I wound up on surbruban nightmare Shaw road ringed by strip malls and parking lots while stuck in traffic. Had to laugh when I passed the bagel shop next to the mosque where I ate breakfast years ago when all the other soccer parents on my daughters traveling team were pining for Denny's. Luckily ride starting in Clovis--which is a continuation of Fresno but has a real "small town" downtown where I was staying. At dinner Jack told me that Climb to Kaiser harder than the Death Ride--funny, I never heard him say that before. School/ ride registration up the road--one of these big Fresno-Clovis mega complexes which guarentees your kid will never walk to a neighborhood school. A good farmers market in downtown Clovis, with the boutique stores staying open--lucky for me the rock band that was supposed to show had to cancel so when a country band took their place--I could go back and get an early sleep.

Scenes from Clovis, an oasis from mega suburb strip mall Fresno



Mass 5:30 start--and already around 70 degrees--beautiful. Joe and Doug say hello in parking lot--after doing so well on Terrible Two I don't expect we'll see Joe, and Doug indicates lots of business traveling/ lack of training so he wouldn't be riding hard. First 23 miles go East into the rising sun along flat farm roads with a few turns, and with a police escort out of town to get us thru intersections. Pace is much faster than start of Davis Double/ Brevet but still has a lot of yo-yo'ing with riders instinctively slowing near intersections or riders on the left (wrong side) of the road suddenly needing to cut in as a lone car approaches. I'm riding more aggressive than usual, watching out for spent riders/ groups so I stay solidly in the rear of the first group leaving town. At mile 23 the Wildcat uphill rollers start so more riders die out that I can move around--but with so much climbing in our future I am just riding pace. Area looks like what you'd find in the Gold Country. Jack catches up to me--he had gotten stuck in the second group on the road--we'd ride together about a dozen times. I knew Jack wasn't going to stop at mile 28 rest stop but stupid me had solidy frozen a Perpetuem bottle that hadn't begun to thaw, and I had already downed my one bottle of sports drink. So I pull into rest stop @6:59 w/ an 18.2 average.

Re frozen Perpetuem bottle--I knew that on a hot day when I put in an effort I tend to lose my appetite, so my plan was to down 4-6?? bottle of cold Perpetuem with a shot of chocolate Hammergel--BOSCO. Luckily they had Perpetuem/ Hammergel at the later rest stops--as my solid food for 12 hours consisted of @4 fig newtons, 1 real cookie, 1 popcicle, 1 small bag sports beans, 4 1/4 bananas, and 1 (yes 1) slice of bread.

A fast tailwind aided section took us into the gentle Burroughs Grade--still felt like I was in the Gold Country. No traffic except for sag motorcycles that passed frequently on the nicely paved roads. Another rest stop at mile 39 that I was out of in 8 minutes after handing bike off to voluenteer who parked it, seeing Jack leave, getting more drink, and getting seasick in the rocking porta poties on the trailer on the side of the hill.. First serious climb of the day--a huge rocklike peak with a giant bolder perched on the top. This one reminded me of the steeper portions of Diablo. With so much climbing I had vowed to sit in the seat, but after getting passed by enough riders I'd get my dander up and stand more and more so I could repass the group--I wound up climbing with one other guy until I caught up to Jack--then we rode together .

Photographers at event took photos all day-at end of day only 2 photos found--Action Photos

Getting close and closer to the boulder in the sky--when Jack pointed out in the distance a road filled with campers and RVS that was also going up--Highway 168--and he said we'd merge in with the traffic in a few more miles.

Quick 2 minute in and out of a waterstop right before the traffic merged and then a grind (not a bad grade but still uphill) on Hwy 168 with nary a shoulder as campers and RV's and pickup trucks pulling boats consistantly passed by on their way to Shaver Lake--which remained hidden from view.. This went on for about 5 miles--damn-- not the greatest part of the ride.

All of a sudden a downhill, voluenteers stopping traffic for a sudden left turn into the Shaver Lake rest stop. Mile 52--9:40. Another voluenteer grabs my bike but instead of parking it she held it until I was ready to leave--another great voluenteer mixed me a HEED and BOSCO PERPETUEM dirink to my specifications. This is where drop bags were sent, but as ride had HEED and now PERPEPETUM I didn't need what I has sent (along with extra Tums and Endurolights) and as we come here again on the return trip I didn't even look for my drop bag--that had just arrived. Had to ride up a hill to get to the bathrooms that were used by park patrons--so took 13 minutes to get out--first double digit rest stop of the day.

Photos from ALL ACTION SPORTS--so many photographers ers on the course and then a crapshoot finding photos which took 2 months to get-- I don't know where this was

"Bathroom hill" let me leave the park already 100' up the next climb--and I didn't know if Jack left before me, as he usually does, or if he was still searching for his drop bag. After a short climb the road flattens out around the lake, and then a twisty descent--which I took slower than usual as I expected the BIG CREEK (10% climb, max 20%-4 mile) climb to start after every turn. One woman from the Western Wheelers who I had briefly chatted with on the last climb came by and said with a latin flair "you don't decend very fast do you?" but then she added that neither does she...and she told me we still had awhile to get to Big Creek so I opened it up a bit and we rode together.

Besides doing Climb to Kaiser before she had also done the Death Ride, and when I told the story of how people on last year's Death Ride looked half dead and would complain out loud about how hard it was, I would smile and tell them it's a "FUN RIDE." Latina rider laughed and said "exactly"--she told me that Climb to Kaiser was MUCH HARDER than the Death Ride. I started getting a little apprehensive as I left all lights behind, but she told me not to worry as last year she finished at 7:30--so as we decended at the same speed and I climbed a little faster, I figured that minimally I had an hour of "fudge factor time."

Soon a scene right out of Italy, a huge powerplant in the middle of nowhere--making a constant loud humming noise as an (ironic?) sign on the road said something like "Quiet--Residential Neighborhood." Mile 63-@10:55, another 2 minutes at a water stop. Then BIG CREEK began.

I don't spin on climbs, I muscle up on them. As such I don't care how steep the road is--actually the steeper the better as long as their is added flat sections where I can get some relief until the next killer uphill portion. But Big Creek offered no relief (except for one 100' that was probably 3%)--it always went straight up while very little shade was offered. Nature of the climb was like the one at Riverbank to Mocisson--but just DOUBLE the grade. One guy passed me on the climb but in a mile he was off the bike stretching as I do on Ft Ross Road. (Ft Ross, coming at @160 miles on the Terrible Two, is the hardest climb I know, but this may be harder if it also came at mile @160.) Otherwise I passed a dozen+ riders, many of whom had stopped. Last year I know I would have stopped also but there was no fn way I was getting off the bike this year--but I contemplated next year going back to a 34 chainring for the TT and this ride. . My back was starting to hurt when I made the sitting/ standing transition, so I stayed "miserable" for the first two miles and stayed seated most of the way--my odomoter mocked me by registering many 3.? mph's.. On the last two miles I opened it up a little, felt a twinge when making the transition, but then felt great for a 30-40 standing pedal count. And when the climb was over and could stretch out in the drops I felt really good. Unlike the Death Ride--no fainfare-rest stop-stickers at the top of the climb.

Now at 7,000'--and getting off the sunny climb felt refreshing. Lunch stop at mile 71 in a nice shaded Bear Creek Cove--I was amazed how many riders were already there, but may looked like they didn't want to leave. I was a little "out of it"--as my Tums were in my left behind drop bag I bummed some from the rest stop workers, kept trying to take two but spilling a bunch all over. Not hungry for sandwich, and as I felt good wanted to get out of there. But made another cold Bosco/Perpetuem special and I was good to go--though line for bathroom. See Jack pull in and I set out, as I am going to do a "Sierra Club Dedication" down the road. But about 300' away is a day use area with great EMPTY bathrooms--at both rest areas for 13 minutes, pull out at 12:06 as one rider comes down the road--it's Jack.

Some rollers around Huntington Lake where I draft Jack's wheel and plan to return the favor on a straightway, but we immediately come to an UNMARKED (I would have probably missed it) left turn onto Kaiser Pass Road. Jack indicates the 8 mile climb starts off very gradual, but picks up as you go along, and is very steep at the top.

Now 12:15, so am about 60-90 minutes from the 9,200' Kaiser Pass, and the turn around point. All of a sudden we see cyclists already coming down--about two a minute. Then we see Joe in the middle of this elite group. This goes on for ten minutes-holy crap--there are LOADS of riders way in front of. But all of a sudden the deluge stops--in the next half hour we may only see another half dozen riders coming down this ski ramp (nicely paced-perfectly straight shot.)

OK-Action Photos make it hard to locate your photo and eventuaaaaaaaaaly send it, but they do take good pictures--this is one of my cycling favorites, as guy in back of me reflects that the climb is hard but I look calm.

Grade increases and I start pulling away from Jack--which is OK as on the downhill return trip--that looks just like a long ski ramp on the CTK jersey-as I told him "once you call out on your left and pass me I'll never see you again," which will happen if he passes me on the downhill at the 7,000' level. But if I can make it down to the 2,000' level before Jack passes when the ski ramp changes to downhill rollers, then I have chance to stay with him. Though average grade is supposedly 7% much much more gentle on the open road/ski ramp area--but with about 2 miles to go the open road pinches into an oversized bike trail, starts curving UP through the forest, and the grade dramatically increases.

This is only place with poor roads all day--and not that bad except for one chewed out section, but with sand piles along the edge that sometimes bleed deeper onto the road. Meanwhile bikes and jeeps are coming down this curved road while bikes and jeeps are going up--twice traffic grinds to a halt. (Just imagine the ending ramp on Diablo, but it is curved, a little bit wider for two way traffic, and 8 times as long and maybe the grade is 15% instead of 18%) Now a few cyclists coming down, one yells out "not far to go" another yells "your seconds away"--so I get anxious every time I turn a bend but his seconds going downhill are long minutes for me. Might be almost as steep as Big Creek but at 9,200' much cooler and easier to climb. Finally see a gathering just off the road--some cheers--low keyed placement of the sticker. Mile 83-1:10-a blazing 11.9 average speed.

Man making sandwiches to order but I am not hungry--in fact I'm sick of Perpetuem, but knowing I need carbs I get a slice of bread. I'm also sick of Heed so rest stop worker fixes me one diluted Gatorade. Want to stay hydrated and they actually have Diet Coke. Unlike Carson on the Death Ride where you can lounge at the top as the ride is essentially over, I am eager to get started on the, what I envison to be, the 72 mile downhill, so only hang out for 8 minutes--next year I lounge out for at least a half hour. As I pull out Jack is coming in.

I decide I might as well stay calm and count the number of cyclists who will pass me in the next 72 miles on the endless downhill. Right away, on the shandy twisty ramp with loads of traffic--two cyclists zoom past near the centerline--15 seconds later they would have become the hood ornament of a jeep. Then hit the 6 miles ski shoot--but it is nice and straight surprisingly no one comes by. Around same place I saw Joe coming down about an hour ago, I see Doug now going up.

Get to T intersection by Huntington Lake, am moving fast and there are NO ARROWS marking which way to go. I vaguly recall that we go down in another direction than we came up, so I make a quick left which heads me to the last climb of the day Tamarack Ridge But I don't see anyone in front of me and start wondering if I went the right way when 3 guys shoot by, one inviting me to get on his wheel for the climb. At first I don't, but then decide to do so and work to catch up.. Tamarack Ridge may be 9 miles but it is a relatively gentle 5% and I feel great. We all trade pulls, and second time around I am really zooming, at one point look back and everyone is far off my wheel. I figure that I might as well press on as they'll eventually pass me on the downhill--which they will.

After downhill, and beautiful view of Shaver Lake (nicest view of the day) the endless downhill I imagined is broken up by some sharp uphill rollers--good--will delay Jack's arrivial until we get closer to my 2,000' goal. Go into nearly empty Shaver Lake rest stop, now nearly empty, as on worker grabs my bike, and another mixes Heed Perpetuem. My drop bag is still here--I leave the powder I was carrying--take out the bars (but still not hungry) but down a pack of Sports Beans (what a marketing ploy--jelly beans with sodium). Another 1/2 can of Diet Coke--just to drink something else--8 minutes and I'm back on the road,

Here's where things get f'd. It is a little after 3:00 and back on Highway 168--but unlike the morning not a lot of traffic going back to Fresno mid afternoon. Yippie. Fast downhill. I know we go down to the right of how we came up in the morning--next rest stop is in a town called Auberry. So I'm speeding along and there are a few roads that go off to the right and left, I figure the turn will be marked and/or if it isn;t there will be a road sign that says AUBERRY--x miles --->. As it turns out there is neither--there is a directional sign that says to Alton Springs (>) but that name wasn't on the CTK map. One intersection has street sign leaning at an odd angle--it looks like I am on Auberry Rd. I continue on speeding downhill, when the 2 lane country road I've been on changes into a divided 4 lane road with wide shoulders. I'm waiting for the turnoff to Auberry but it never comes. You can see the vallety from the ski ramp downhill and no other cyclists are visable. My feeling grows stronger and stronger that I'm off course.

Luckily I don't mind riding on the main road but have loads of thoughts skampering thru my head. Apparent that I'll be back in the Valley at about 130 miles-25 miles short--so obviously DQ'd, but what the hell, I saw Kaiser Pass anyway and the finishers jersey isn't that great (prepaid for a while ago but just unveiled by Volar yesterday.) Of course I can wind up anywhere in Fresno/ Clovis (not knowing 168 runs a few blocks from the finishing high school)--so once I'm back in town how the hell do I get back. Only real disappointment is I wouldn't have a real finishing time.

The T ramp splits and off to the side is Millerton Road, and I know the last water stop is at the Millerton Store, so I make turn. Just riding pace as I'm not sure if I am back on course/ what I missed, when someone creeps up and gets on my wheel. At this point I don't care--I'm feeling good, and figure my chance for being back on course has gone up. Eventually look back and it is a woman in pink. We keep going and somewhere she asks me something about the course and I tell her I have no clue, I might be lost--and she freaks "Stop, we have to look at a map, you don't know where you're going." I know where I'm going, back towards Clovis, but slow (mistake) to hear her rant as she pours over the map. Hey--I didn't force you to follow me and sit on my wheel. Soon another woman with a DMD jersey is traveling down the road who indicates we are on course--figuring I did enough pulling I just sit on their wheel until the Millerton Rest Stop. Temperature has shot up from the high 70's at higher altitude to mid 90's.

Funny water stop where I am for about 6 minutes (only 68 minutes of rest stops for the day) and many other riders sitting around looking half dead. . I'm thirsty (altitude didn't effect breathing but thirsty all day) so I just want a popcicle. Bur rest stop workers keep asking "do you want a wet towel," "you sure you don;t want a wet towel..." finally I take one. Webcore racer says he saw me take wrong turn; and he almost did also as turn was not marked. He then wanted to know if I wanted to paceline in, which I was game for--though I asked workers 2x how we got back, as I did not want to get lost again. "Don't worry--a straight shot back"--they said. We head back hard--Racer Frank keeps looking at his watch--as he wants to complete course in under 12 hours, and I tell him lets go for it. Someone who started with us dropped out. Eventually we hit a T intersection that is also unmarked. We have no clue which way we should go, Frank asks me what I think and I laugh as I'll pick wrong. After we both think we should turn right, and have our bikes pointed for a right turn, Frank looks at his map and sure enough we have to turn left. Spotg huge school football towers in the distance. Get back to the school and check in at 4:58--total time 11:28. I tell lady that they need to put an asterisk by my name as I missed Auberry, but after she asks if I did all the climbs I get checked in as a finisher. I'd wind up 64th of 300+ starters.

Call Joe, he is almost halfway back to the Bay Area--winds up he finished (11th) I'm still dehydrated--I'd love a shake or some diet sode--but all they have is homemade tea that isn't quite doing the job. Venue isn't very crowded as most riders still on the road. Good tri tip with pear-mandarin salid that really hits the spot. Large group over by ride photos--as we're told photos wouldn't be posted online (eventually they are), and I only find two ride photos as binders are passed around and around and around. See Jack while he is eating and join him--he doesn't remember Big Creek being that hard and he confirms Auberry turn wasn't marked and he started going the wrong way until he caught himself.

I like that I finished but not knowing how much of the course I missed bugs me--and if I would have finished under 12 hours if I did the whole thing. Almost first thing I do when I get home is take out a mapping program and see that I only cut course by 4 1/2 downhill miles, which at 25 MPH is only 11 minutes, and I wouldn't have slowed to look at witches map and would have ridden harder if I knew I was on correct route.

On a worse case scenerio, the 25.4 miles I missed were curvey downhill miles with hairpins (est 20 mph). My alternate was 16.8 miles of a straight ski shoot downhill (est 25 mph) plus 4.1 miles of rollers (est 17 mph) Throw in the mph figures in the parenthesis and 2 minutes for a water stop and I would have taken 23 more minutes, so I'd still finish under 12 hours--est . 11:39-11:51, with a 70th to 78th place. Figuring this out made me feel better.

Postscript--ride coordinator did an honorable thing and asked for feedback for the ride--lots of people complained that course was poorly marked and/ or got lost on Auberry turn.. One example: "When I told the event staff that my friend was lost on the course, and that I had been lost on the course, their immediate reply was 'you're not from around here." Somehow being a local makes a difference? Perhaps you should restrict the Climb to Kaiser for locals instead of inviting all riders, that way you don't have to put road signs up anywhere," Ride coordinator apologized for not taking better care to mark the course--a reason to return for next year.

EASTERN SIERRA DOUBLE-2007

(June 2, 2007) EASTERN SIERRA DOUBLE*, 196 miles, @17.3mph, 75th of 245 riders while F'ing around w/ Don, Mike, Rusty, Jack, Steve, 5:00am-6:29pm*not to be confused with the Gold Country SIERRA CENTURY--same weekend-miles, and miles, away...

Course-A-, except for the miles of expansion THUNK-THUNK joints, and loads of left turns on Hwy 395, really nice ghost town route in valley surrounded by snow capped mountains Support-B, some minor annoying things (green bananas, no one to check you in outside motel), but Planet Ultra stepped up for this one
Overall B+, as really really unique worth the long drive

Didn't hear great things about the planned route of the New Sierra Century in Calavaras Country (rough roads) so figured I'd try the Eastern Sierra Double in Mono County, which is wedged in between Yosemite and the Nevada Border, and where Los Angeles steals its water from. It's a Planet Ultra ride and after the clusterfuck in Solvang last year I vowed never to do another of their rides, but Jack indicated they supported Eastern Sierra a little better. Ride starts in Bishop, where the hell is that?? I finally got a map the week before--no real direct route to Bishop--choice is either Hwy 120 through Yosemite--$$$ pay park fee and get stuck behind loads of campers, or circle north of Yosemite on Hwy 108 which is less direct, just as hilly (have to go over the 9,000' level), but may be uncrowded. Either way, a 6 hour drive to the middle of nowhere which is a few hours south of Death Ride territory. And just like the Death Ride, weather forecast gave chance of thunderstorms forming in the afternoon. And just like the Death Ride, as the valley would be at very high elevation, between 4,100-8,200' feet.

Helpful Planet Ultra had on their web site ROUTE SHEETS ARE NOT AVAILABLE PRIOR TO RIDER CHECK IN; PLEASE DON'T ASK US TO SEND YOU ONE. Great. But Mike had his from last year, but hard to follow on a map--loads of turns, crossing Hwy 395 early in the ride. After 29 direction changes, the last 77 miles are only on two roads. Actually (though not all turns marked-another Planet Ultra exclusive) the course is easy to follow.

It loops clockwise South of Bishop (4140') then heads NNW on Highway 395, a lightly traveled highways with large shoulders and wide rumble strips. Then basically any time there is a resort or ski loop off to the West you left turn off the highway, do the loop, (3 loops inc Mammoth Lakes (8,230') and then cut across and left turn back on the highway. In the distance are snow capped mountains. Reach Lee Vining (6500'') next to Mono Lake where you turn around at 105 miles. Up to now had loads of pine trees-kind of remind one of Blue Lakes Road. Return starts SE on Highway 120 you wind up on Highway 120--44 miles a desolate road that features expansion joins/ crack every 50', and endless views of sand and tumbleweed. Another climb-to Stagehen Summit through volcanic rock (8140') then to the ghost town of Benton where you pick up 30 miles Highway 6 for a SSW flat run back to Bishop in a crosswind..

I figured that drive wouldn't be bad, that I'd stop off and kick around SONORA to break it up, and take a lot of photos (Steve had emailed that route we drive in on is a large part of Eastern Sierra.) Hours of driving though ag land to get to Gold Country foothills, then up to Sonora--which had become a little to commercialized, so I didn't stay long. From there it was long, windy, steep (27% grade) drive up to the Dardanelle's/ Sonora Pass, and found SNOW at the 9600' level. In June!!! Sonora-town grid locked with cars--interesting place selling soda was stocked full of hunting knives and guns

Later got rid of most cars close to snow level on Sonora pass

About 75 degrees but air is nice and dry so it feels warmer. Been stopping off at almost every roadside mini-mart and downing a drink. Long curvy downhill to Hwy 395 junction. Going north would run into Death Ride land but now going south for a few hours. At least a flat-straight road. Oh crap, sky is getting dark gray. Wind picking up. Getting close to Mono Lake--what is that?--lightning in the distance. Now 59 degrees and windy at Mono Lake overlook. Next town has mini mart so I stop to get out of car--I'm very underdressed, while cold wind is howling. Gas over $4.25/ gallon (around $3 normally)

Continue South with more lightning strikes off to the side--sky clears a little past Crowley Lake--temperature starts going up--it jumps to 80 degrees and mostly sunny in Bishop, and it is late in the day. What can you say about Bishop--hearing that the ride started in the Sierra's and used to be hq'd at an place called the Outdoorsman Lodge--I pictured Julia Morgan-eque village. Instead Bishop full of Motel 6-Strip Row esque buildings.. (At least gas back down to $3.50) Surrounded by mountains it seemed we were in a real low valley--at 4,140' almost 1000' higher than Mt Diablo (and this was the LOW elevation mark for the ride.)

Mono Lake-cold & windy -thunderstorms moving in

Came in right before 5:30-time where Mike, Steve, Don, Jack and I planned to get together for dinner--while Rusty, who I thought would be the first to arrive from Tahoe, had not yet shown up as he was doing a lot of last minute prep. Then off to the formerly named "Outsdoorsman Lodge" where we ran into Nevada Doug who did last week's Planet Ultra Double where they ran out of ice in 90 degree weather--wouldn't sag riders etc...., and he bitched a storm as he recounted the highlights. Then a huge board with loads of rules and regulations and justification--must have been written by a lawyer--later on I found out a lawyer runs Planet Ultra. Then NO NUMBERS where given out-weird; weirder still--Planet Ultra concerned about riders NOT having lights at night but is having a mass start at DARK 5:00-at civil twilight--though sunup is about 25 minutes later. Loads of people making peanut butter sandwiches in the background--someone joked that I should call Rusty and tell him he had to hurry down here to make his two peanut butter sandwiches for tomorrow. When I got back to motel a couple of blocks down Rusty had arrived and he was working on his bike--getting it ready for its first double.

Weather forecast hadn't changed-warm in Bishop--cooler at Mono Lahe, and 30% chance of thuderstorms moving in at Mono Lake after 1:00. Hmmm-if we ride 16mph and take minimum rest stops, that is when we'll be turning around at Mono Lake.

Signs of the times--AMERICAN-THAI-WESTERN FOOD??? combo in Bishop, we didn't eat here

Planet Ultra board with loads of rules and regulations and no post ride meal explanation, and course isn't fully marked explanation etc..

The boys trying to be helpful and letting me know where the return route comes in from--Jack knows I'll probably get lost anyway.

The Diablo Cyclist contingent check the route sheet, Mike and Don wondering where they can add more miles, Steve wondering when he can hammer off the front, and Jack wondering if all the rest stops really needed..

Kind of fun staying at motel row so I can bike to 5:00am start, warm in Bishop proper so I wonder if I'm overdressed with thin rain resistant jacket instead of arm warmers. Yesterday Don 's plan is to start all the way in the back to avoid the clusterfuck of a mass start, but as soon as we were rolling he was zooming up.

To CP#1 Round Valley School @29 miles -Quickly out of Bishop and on flat secondary roads circling the South of town--and temperature dropped quickly. NO sign of the sun yet but a BIG full moon. Roads OK but the sand from the landscape had trickled over onto the road-following Mike who was creating a path along the left edge, with Don on his wheel and me on Don's, was a little treacherous; especially with some riders on the right weaving in the pack. One Marin Cyclist especially couldn't keep a straight line and numerous times he'd cut between Don and I. The topper was when we hit a few controlled intersection and the pack would slow while yelling slowing/ stopping--and Mr Marin Cyclist would take this chance to cut in front of someone to move up a WHOLE bike length. After he cut me off for the 6th time I just sped around him and returned the favor. End of problem with Mr. Wobbly. Saw Sacto Doug II and Veronica from my hometown--who had started a little early as this course had a 10pm deadline to finish--but she is game and had done the Triple Crown last year. Now some rollers started so mass of humanity broke up a bit. First cross of Hwy 395 where some people shot in front of oncoming trucks but were soon caught. Nice surprise--see sag wagon about a half dozen times. Actually the pace had settled down--and I could see Steve itching, about 6 bikes ahead he's riding 2nd-3rd wheel. As soon as I mention this to Don, Steve takes off, the pace picks up, and we go flying into the first rest stop. 19.4 average. Mike had been dropped on rollers--and he shows his endurance by bypassing this stop, Steve out shortly also. Don/ I don't stay long, @ 8 minutes, just in time to try to peel/ bite one of the rock hard green bananas. We left before Rusty and I think we even left before Jack (for once.)

To CP#2 Crowley Lake @49 miles-Now heading NNW but starting a climb from 4620' to 6930' Not a bad climb, maybe 2-4%, but always battling a sidewind or crosswind. Wanted a camera when we passed a front yard of vacation homes with giant "Far Side" characters on the front lawn. A few people would motor past Don/ I but get beaten up in the crosswind and we'd soon repass. Passed Steve and Mike on the climb.There was a steep downhill into a canyon off the part where I expected Steve/ Mike to pass but they didn't, and Don/ I contined another short climb, turn East to Hwy 395, and on to rest stop. 16.1 average. Down a bottle as dry air has me thirsty and haven't been drinking enough, which the Quackcyclist working rest stop confirms--he also likes my combo Diablo Cyclist/ Triple Crown/ Devil Mountain/ Terrible Two jersey. After 12 minutes no one from DC had pulled in and we were off. Now we're at 6920' level, you'd never know it surrounded by snow capped mountains towering ahead of us.

NEXT YEAR HAVE A 11-25 CASSETTE--AS NO KILLER GRADES AND SOME STEEP DOWNHILL ROLLERS WHERE I CAN'T CATCH UP WITH A 12 postscript-this will bite me in the butt next year

To CP#3-Crestview Safety Area @mile 72-Now we were at the 6920' level, would gradually go to 7300', mostly on Highway 395, and then make a left turn across and increasingly busy Highway to do the Mammoth Lakes Scenic Loop, where we'd reach 8230'. Don and I making great time--blowing by lots of riders. It is now mile 60, on a side road to Hwy 395 that I wouldn't have gone on but Don knew about. Time to celebrate an ez metric century with the Johan jingle. "JOHAN-JOHAN"

Don quickly fell apart--though he blamed altitude sickness and not my singing. Unfortunately we still had to do a little more climbing on Hwy 395 and then start the Mammoth Lakes climb--which was the worst place to feel bad, but that is what happened. Don didn't look bad, like he did at TT last year, but obvious that all power was gone--and I couldn't help pull on the uphills. At one point a bunch of guys sped by, didn't say anything, so I kick it into gear and flew past them on the climb--and then looked to kill some trees at the top while Don struggled in. Mercifully now starting the Mammoth Scenic Loop (aka evacuation route), as series of downhill rollers. Get to mile 68 and hear the first cyclist who shouted out a warning all day, a familiar voice, "car back"--it is Jack. He was surprised to have caught us--but he may be the most consistent doubles ride--adding to his ability to fly out of rest stops, if there is any faltering Jack is usually on the spot.

We continued on the downhill rollers and on the straight portions I'd try to go to the front and pull hard, and then draft Jack/ Don on the downhill sections--but Don not fully recovered and he'd fall off on the flats--which NEVER happens to probably our fastest doubles rider on varied terrain. Another left back on Highway 395, a Furnace Creek 508 rider pulls a fast turn in front of a truck bearing down while we luckily stop. Another left across the roadway, we pull in into to the rest stop none to soon for Don, the first actual checkpoint where they take your numbers-oops, I mean names. Average speed down to 15.2. Nice park but like most rest stops only one small regular bathroom--but we were no longer in any hurry so 20 minutes here while Don recouped, Steve pulls in, almost flying off his bike. Jack leaving but much to early to try to ride with him and his insane rest stop pace. Mike/ Rusty pull in. About 75-80 but in dry air feels warmer so tee shit gone. Rest stop, like the others, is well stocked with Sustained Energy, Hammargel, Eundurolights, and carb snacks--only thing missing are YELLOW bananas, tums and Heed. Another left on Highway 395...

Eric Smith missed Don/ I but got Rusty, Jack, Steve and Mike.

To CP#4-Lunch, Mono Lake Park @mile 105 Another left turn where we cut across Highway 395. We are at 7500', and we'll stay on Hwy 395 as it gradually climbs the next 8 miles to Deadman's Summit, 8040'. On the 500' climb Don is still not at full strength but we soon leave Mike and Rusty behind as we pass a bunch of riders jamming the shoulder. Then a downhill where we have to scurry across the Highway again, and another loop to the west around June Lake. It starts off with gentle climb, where a few people pass us as Don recuperates. Then the majority of the 15 mile loop is mostly downhill roller. Don and I taking it easy when all of a sudden Rusty and Mike bridge up to us--way to go. We continue on and around mile 95 we run into Steve who had a dropped chain problem. A new record-on a timed double, 5 Diablo Cyclists riding together at mile 95. Another left on Highway 395 where our paceline has some "Postal" (non DC) riders hang on--so Steve attacks on the flats and downhill sections and I go hard on the uphills. The volcanic outcropping in the east end, and Mono Lake begins. Oh no, a fast downhill which means when we leave the turnaround we'll have to climb. It is 12:00 when we are about to pull in and Jack is leaving--so if we get out at a reaonable time we'll only be 12 minutes behind him. It's mile 105--I didn't even notice the mile 100 mark.

F, we're not leaving in 1 minute--the gruppo found a beautiful spot in the shade next to a brook-Mike has his shoes off and his feet in the water. Park bathrooms 300' away. I have my last Sustained Energy shake of the day. Lunch stop features premade Subway sandwiches dripping with mayo so I pull off one piece of deli and chuck the rest. "Chuck" wearing a Planet Ultra shirt comes by and I thank him for the support--albeit green bananas it has been fine. But Chuck goes over the top in his response "OF COURSE, IT IS A PLANET ULTRA RIDE." I respond "wait, how about Solvang last year" and Chuck says "well, the weather had a lot to do with it." Before we start debating how a ride organization should step up in emergency situations, a giddy Rusty, who has now experienced a whole 4 double rest stops, starts gushing on endlessly thanking "Chuck" for everything--not wanting to ruin the love I just stay quiet.

With the climb looming Steve leaves after @15 minutes--Mike sets out in 20 minutes. Don/ I get ready and we yell for Rusty who is looking for something--then we look over again and he is talking to everyone. Rusty is not allowed to complain about people doing to much talking on rides ever again. We yell out again--Rusty still bsing, and Don I set out 25 minutes after we pull in.. Jack wouldn't probably spend 25 minutes at the next two rest stops combined. .

NEXT YEAR DO NOT SPEND MORE THAN 18 MINUTES AT THIS REST STOP AND 12 MINUTES AT THE FINAL TWO
another irony of life--next year I'd be dead and couldn' spend long enough sleeping a makeshift rest stops


Mono Lake-the next day

To CP#5-SAGEHEN SUMMIT--@mile 130. Annoying 400' climb right after lunch back to Lee "Mitchell" Vining--I'm still passing lots of riders; Don not fully recovered yet--if we are going to catch Jack (30m up), Steve (20m up) or Mike (5m up) we have to start motoring now. We eventually pass Mike, but then we again cut across Highway 395, and go East on Highway 120. We hit a fast descent where we hook up with a few other riders and Mike catches back on. Look around and not many trees here--mostly sand and tumbleweed. After we jump from all the other riders fun is over as we hit the Sagehen Summit climb, only 1000' feet (@6800' to 8139'), but a series of short but steep grades puncuated by less severe grades. Now Don is coming back and we do the climb together. Luckily some cloud cover (rain on the way?) as this section out in the open and very dry. Planet Ultra has a water stop with ICE (thanks Nevada Doug for aggitating), which is welcome. We finally catch and pass Steve .It is about mile 125, appx 6 miles to the rest stop, and the road flatten out for awhile. Don looks fully recovered and is easily spinning down the road, meanwhile I have lost all my power-it is my turn to suffer. I am working so so hard but I lose Don's wheel and he qucikly zips down the road while the endless sand and the tumbleweed are making me sick. Finally see the last short climb to the rest stop, struggle up there and stop at the outhouses 200' before the rest area--then slowly proceed to the rest area--just a tarp over a table and a bunch of chairs--and slump into a chair. It is, 2:20 and I don't even check average speed which I am sure has gone down the toilet. So has any chance of catching Jack as I'll need at least 12 minutes here.

While we are sitting at 8140' the wind picks up--any bikes leaning against the awning posts are knocked over--the sky gets a little grayer, and a few drops start coming down. Mike comes in and says he needs awhile--Don says until 3:00 is OK. We are wondering where Steve is when a guy who just came in says there is a guy with a knee brace down the road, wearing our club vest, barfing away. "Oh that's Steve" we say nonchalantly--to the shock of the informant. Steve arrives shortly (smiling) and to Don's shock scores the only cold Mountain Dew. Rusty comes in with leg cramps and is wondering why we talked him into doing 200 miles.

to CP#6-BENTON @mile 159 .Its 2:45 and Steve left a few minutes previous--all of a sudden Mike, the guy who wanted to sit around until 3:00 slips out. So after 25 minutes Don/ I leave with Rusty. The next section has fast downhill rollers in multiple directions--

at one point I am doing 50 off of one roller, and I have no idea which direction we are headed in. Highway 120 (yes we are still on it, for a total of 44 miles) straightens out, flattens out, and THUNK, the expansion joints THUNK, every 50' THUNK really take hold as now with a tailwind we are doing 17-20. Or at least Don can do 17 to 20, I'm not recovered and I ask him to slow a few times, which he does. I'm still low on enerygy and haven't had a Sustained Energy since lunch--and really haven't eaten much at the stops--so figured now it was time to eat a carb rich & chewy LARA bar while riding. Mike catches up and says something like "oh no, Jay's not talking"--which only happens when I'm hammering (which I'm obviously not), or falling apart, or EATING! THUNK-THUINK-THUNK, we hit some uphill rollers which is a good thing as the expansion joints are less frequent on the uphills, and less annoying hitting them at 15 than 17.

Also, I have a better chance staying with Don on the uphills than on the flats where he is so consistantly strong and can easily spin away. I'm still grateful to Don for doing most of the pulling--but when a "Postal" joins us I start taking the lead to get the new guy to take a pull. Rusty and Mike dropped on the uphill rollers. We hit a section that levels out, I hear Mike? say something, a "Death Ride jersey couple" tandem speeds by with Mike either 2nd or 3rd wheel with a huge shitfaced smile. Don later said this was my motivation-I go into a full bore sprint so I can catch the end of the tandem train with Don right behind me.

We are now on gentle uphill rollers so I get in front of the tandem a few times, and then wait for it to come by again. Suddenly a big climb and Don takes off, but i figure I don't want to outrun the tandem. Stupid me--I soon realize that there will be a big downhill off the "roller" (sign 7% downhill caution comes to mind but I don't know when I spotted it.), as soon as I realized what was up I went balls out on the climb so I woudn't be passed by the downhill gold rush. Crest and see huge curvy downhill and Don already in the distance, and I'm not doing badly on the downhills today so the pelaton doesn't catch up until I'm 3/4 down and a series of shallow rollers are starting. In fact, a second tandem has now joined the fray. The tandems take turns hammering and I stay with them until one or two rollers to go where I can't get in the draft fast enough on a downhill--by that time only one solo rider had managed to stay with them. 44 miles on Highway 120, without ANY cars, and we now reached its end in Benton. I had earlier asked what is in Benton and in unison was told "nothing" and everyone was right. Another park bathroom 100' away which didn't have running water. Pick up lights here that certainly NOT needed--its 4:08. But drop bag had sports beans that were were great tasting in the heat (@88 and dry), and a bag of Perpetuem and Heed. Some wind so when I went to dump bags the powder started blowing everywhere, a great rest stop worker showed me what she does on rides, just bite off the tip of the bag and the powder funnels right into the bottles. Great Stop-- even had rice krispie treats. Mike, I and Don sit around while Rusty pulls in and Steve leaves. We hang out until 4:30--22 minutes., well all but Rusty who left 5 minutes before us.

Back to Bishop-@193 miles per Planet Ultra, 196+ miles on all odomoters. If we took a wrong turn out of Benton we'd be in Nevada, but we go SSW on Highway 6--some traffic so have to stay in wide shoulder, nicely paved, and a favorible wind until road turns SW and finishes W--so the Westerly wind (@12 miles) became more of a hinderance as we got closer to Bishop. 33 miles of Highway 6. You can feel the heat coming off the pavement which was over 100 degrees a few hours ago. I announce my plan to spin easily for a few miles, that is "ruined " when a rider comes roaring past, I get on his wheel and we start to hammar. We catch up with Furnace Creek Spongebob so now we have a 5 man paceline--but guy in the front is doing all of the work until I tell him "thanks, we can do some also." For some reason (shifting winds) our paceline doesn't stay even and there is too much coasting. Also, I've never seen Mike get out of the saddle so much (and so did I) to relieve the pain from the 44 miles of expansion joints on Highway 220. We soon see Rusty struggling down ahead--I jump to him and tell him to get into the paceline to conserve energy. Usually he'd be great to draft behind but he's just hanging on so its good that he can sit in. This part of the ride is kinda tedious; at least the paceline makes it interesting. See another unannounced water stop so pull in with water/ ice--I'm po'd that two guys passed us while we are in the stop so I go like hell to bridge up to them but no one else interested so I waited for Mike/ Don to get back on--Rusty had disappeared.

I announce that no one is passing us any more--and when we start curving West into Bishop--so the pace become harder--I see a rider bearing in on us. I go to the front and pick up the pace for the couple of miles into Bishop, but when I look back Don/ Mike far down the road. I continue riding toward the finish, past my motel, and then past the "Outdoorsmen Lodge" (or whatever it is called) with some finished riders inc Jack who has already showered, standing around clapping. Fumble around to take off my shoes--as NO SHOES ALLOWED INSIDE, and Planet Ultra wouldn't think of having someone outside to check in riders. Person checking in riders is busy-finally takes my name and looks at watch.

Meanwhile Don told Mike to hang on and he started sprinting--the guy behind never hooked on/ or they dropped him--and Don tears through the door--seeing that I give check in person Don and Mike's name and tell them "mark down same time." Cool--so we all finish together.. I had down 6:22 but Planet Ultra time is 6:29

Rusty smiling the next morning in front of the place we should have eaten breakfast

But what happened to Rusty? We all spend a brief time chatting and agree to meet back at 7:30 so everone can shower and then head over for dinner. Then I bike back to the motel, but have to use the crowded sidewalk as on my side of the street I'd be riding against traffic--and get stuck behind a local fixed gear rider talking to his girl while weaving through pedestrians and doing trackstands. Back at my motel I dig out my sandals and cell phone from the car and carry my bike up the balcony. Now looking down the street I see Rusty go by and give him a shout out., He did great-finishing his first double--but Planet Ultra has him down finishing just 8 minutes behind us, which shows that Planet Ultra blew my-Don-Mike's finishing time. When Rusty comes in he is dead to the world and can't join us for dinner--he keeps mumbling about having to beat "Grandma Shmuckers" who had passed him. The rest of us go for pizza, and then go back to the driveway at the "Outdoorsmen," see Nevada Doug, and BS until 10-, interrupting our conversation to cheer when a rider arrives. I'm surprised by how many riders were still coming in. With Don, my, Mike's collapse at different times and our f'ing around at the 4 last rest stops where we waited for our weakest clubmate--I figured we'd be lucky to finish near the top 50%. I was really surprised by the results-Heck we were in the top 33%. Don/ Mike/ I finished 75th of 225 starters, Steve @65th and Jack was @33rd. Rusty did great, finishing 84th.

Next day terrible as we could have gone to breakfast at a cool German bakery but the oldtimers wanted to eat at Jack's--which may have the worst coffee in the Western Hemisphere. One pound of coffee must last a month. Then a loooong drive home. But as the week went on, the uniqueness of the ride made it grow in stature. Now that I know the course--I am looking forward to trying to hammar it next year. .

NEXT YEAR-NO BREAKFAST AT JACK'S this one promise I was able to keep in 2008