Death Ride - detailed

OK so I haven't been back to post in a while, but that's because I've been really busy (work and personal life are quite busy these days and only getting worse).

Anyway, the Death Ride was another amazing ride and much improved over last year (so something is going right). I had a plan in place for how I would make the cutoffs and while I was actually slightly ahead of schedule, cramps settled in on pass three (actually at the top of pass 2) to delay my ascent and thus end up missing the Woodfords cutoff by about 25 minutes :(.

Early morning:
The morning began at about 3:20 AM as I awoke prior to the alarms going off and eventually just jump out of bed to shut the alarms off one minute before the whole room was noisier than hell! I had about 4 alarms set ;). The plan was for a leave time at 4 AM and we stuck to it. Myself, Nahoko, and Glenn (coworker) were out the door of Glenn's father's house in Minden at 4 AM and on our way out to Turtle Rock.

Starting out:
We parked a mile or so from Turtle Rock in order to not have to climb this last hill back to the car (in case I did make 5 passes that is), plus it afforded a nice little warm up. Glenn and I both left at about 5:10 AM, only to be stopped at the Turtle Rock turn off about 10 minutes later because I did not have lights. There was plenty of light out with the sky around blue and yet the officer would not let us proceed with the warning that his superior was down at Markleeville handing out citations for those without lights (I have no comment on this :|). Officially on the road at 5:30 AM I headed for the first climb up to Monitor Pass. Glenn had actually left before me because he did bring his headlight and needed to find the mens room somewhere up ahead so I was on my own for the rest of the ride!

Monitor Pass #1:
The early morning climb was a breeze (though there was no wind to speak of)! There were lots of cyclists around me, just as last year, however, this time I was keeping pace with the bulk of the group and was feeling very strong. The temperature was quite nice given the hour and so I already felt quite warm. The first 3 or 4 miles seem to go for a long time for me, though not tough without being able to see much ahead of those miles it seems to go on a while. After making the bend to the left and seeing the open meadow (not to mention the road following up the mountain side further), I felt energized! I charged up a bit more and maintained a great pace to the top, making it about 30 minutes faster than last year (though still slower than the mass majority I'm sure ;)). Total time up - 1 hour 15 minutes (approx).

Descent to HWY 395 :):
God I love this descent! For those who hate those of us who blast down the hill I apologize, but it's just too much to resist :D! I think I was averaging about 38 MPH (though hard to tell), but quite often was over 45 and maxed out at 52 MPH :D! This year I noticed a significant fewer number of riders already climbing back up as I descended.

Monitor Pass #2:
The first 4 or 5 miles are nothing (basically back up to the "water boys") and just take some time to grind out (though there were some people already falling victim to the climb). I was feeling terrific and so energized that I just kept finding reasons to push just a tad more (likely to be my downfall at the top of the climb). About 2 miles or so from the top, I had just slowed down to get my heart rate down a bit and I hear someone say something in my direction. I turn...it's Granger (my other friend on the ride)! Granger is a very strong rider and had started some time after me, but of course managed to catch up anyway ;). He was surprised at my current position, but of course there was a long way to go overall. I sped up for just a minute to chat, but he was focused on his ride as I should be too so I said to enjoy the ride and backed off. No stops again on this climb. Total time - 1 hour 35 minutes (not sure how I was able to make up so much extra time, but that's 1 hour better than last time).

The descent down monitor west wasn't much to speak of, but before leaving the top I had to get some help from the REI guys to get some dirt and rocks out of my Speedplay cleats and in the process was bending my leg in a very weird position and got a huge cramp...let the troubles begin :(.

Ebbetts Pass #1:
With the cramps that I felt first on the top of Monitor I knew Ebbetts was going to be a long ride. I slowly rode my way up to the first rest stop about 8 or 9 miles from the top. I needed to refuel and stand in the bathroom line so I spent more time than intended, but that's ok, my leg needed it ;). My ride continued with some strain, but it wasn't until about 3 miles from the top that my leg started giving out and I was feeling dizzy. It wasn't super hot, but hot enough that riding in the direct sun was taking it's toll. I should have been popping the eduralites much more often. I was only about a 1/4 mile from the top when I had to stop again because my leg cramped up to the point that I couldn't move my leg let alone peddle. It was at this time that Granger passed by going the other direction seeing me standing there stretching (he figured I cramped up...good guess). Got to the top without much more effort and then looked around for Nahoko. No Nahoko found..."did she go over to the other side?" is what I was asking myself.

I went ahead and started my ride down to Hermit's Valley. Close to the bottom I saw Nahoko (also saw Glenn closer to the top)! She was on her way back up and looked like she was doing welll.

Ebbett's Pass #2:
I stayed a while at Hermit's Valley to cool down. The weather was nice, not too hot and not too cool, and there was still a Pepsi left! Had I left about 30 minutes sooner I might have actually made the Woodfords cutoff, but that's ok. Not much happening at Hermit's Valley seeing as most people had already moved on. I started out and quickly was on my own (again not many riders by this point).

As I was climbing a few people came by and passed along with me passing a few people. On the way up, closer to the top, I heard the thunder crash! I looked up and couldn't believe my eyes; dark clouds, much cooler temperatures, and me thinking, "not again." Arriving at the top, there were the people wearing big garbage bags and the ground was somewhat wet. The guy at the top was warning us to be careful on the descent because it was slippery. All I could think was, "why me??" I have such bad luck with weather and cycling. Had 3 rides last year in the rain, hail, and snow, not to mention near freezing temps average on most of the ride while in Tahoe in September (I missed the snow fortunately, but it was snowing on parts of the ride). I started down the hill...

It quickly started sprinkling and then it started coming down harder! As I was passing the rest stop I saw Nahoko standing there in her own garbage bag :) (so cute). Her brakes weren't working all that well and she was VERY cold. She had decided she couldn't go on, but still 3 passes! COOL! She and others were catching a ride back to Turtle Rock. I told her I wasn't going to attempt 5 passes (though my cramps were COMPLETELY gone following the cooler temps) due to not having enough time. Being the sweet guy that I am I told her I'd go back to the car (her car), get the car, and pick her up at Turtle Rock.

Shortly after I left her, the heavens OPENED UP! It was like the Tierra Bella in Gilroy 2007 all over again! It was coming down so hard that there was a thick layer of water on the road and I could barely see anything let alone potholes (I didn't hit any fortunately). It was actually hurting (besides freezing my ass off) so I wondered if there was hail, but I couldn't see any. Later I was told it was definitely hailing that some could see it bouncing off the road. The lunch stop was kinda funny, I was going to stop and grab a sandwich, but as hard as it was raining, everyone was huddled under the canopy. I laughed, got some water (could have just opened my bottle and held it up ;)), and rode off. I kept it at a reasonable speed due to the rain still falling hard, but it let up after about 3 miles and then I started flying! It felt great! Disappointing that I was so late because I felt like hitting that 5th pass, but no time available :(.

Passing Turtle Rock was a great feeling and as I arrived back at the car that sense of accomplishment settled in (if only accompanied by a bit of disappointment from not completing all 5). I got cleaned up (in the rain that had started to fall there now too) and started driving to to Turtle Rock (remember we parked a mile or so before it).

When I found Nahoko she was very worried about me (so sweet :*) because it was taking me a while, but honestly I was moving pretty quickly, but she had been waiting a while because of getting a SAG back.



Conclusion...
It was a great ride of which I had already forgotten how bad it hurt. I was already thinking about the next year's ride by that evening. The plan of attack is definitely improved once again so I'll be more prepared both in training as well as during ride electrolyte intake (a big issue I think). Till next year...