Death Warmed Over (Rune's version)

I completed all 5 passes. Unfortunately, I do not have my riding time, as it appears my bike computer got accidentally reset after 90 miles or so (or did not register the whole ride). I used 9 hrs 50 mins to the finish line, and with a 10 minute roll down the hill to where I started, I guess my total wall-clock time was 10 hrs exactly! My riding time somewhere between 8 and 9 hrs. That was my optimistic goal so I am happy with that. I signed the poster at the finish at 3:25 pm.

I camped by the river just outside Markleeville with 5 serious riders who regularly do stuff like Bike Across America, 400-600 Km rides, some crazy ride across the Alps in France, and such. One guy had done the Death Ride 12 times on a recumbent (Larry). I guess I was nervous and hardly slept; heard all the others get up before dawn and take off at 4:30, before I starting seeing a hint of light and decided to get up. After a nervous ride up from the river along a rocky dirt road, I joined the endless stream of riders heading for Monitor pass at 5:30 am.

I quickly determined I had overdressed for the balmy morning, and pocketed my jacket, leg warmers, and long fingered gloves at the top of Monitor Pass before heading down towards Hwy 395. I was taking it easy, making sure I never felt like I was working hard and breathing easily the whole way up. A few fast hot-dogs passed me up, but I knew I had a long long way to go. Going down was fun a bit scary, as I hit 43 mph and had people blast pass me in tight turns where I slowed down. However, I had no death-wish on the death-ride and made sure to take all turns at a comfortable speed. I met David on the way down, and recognized him despite the extra weight on his back (camelback). We spent some time at the rest-stop.

Going back up the backside of Monitor was a lot of fun. I chatted with David for a while, then met Larry (from my campsite), who seemed to be in his own world sitting comfortably on his wide recumbent seat with speakers blasting some guitar solos (Led Zeppelin?) from his handlebars, head thrown back, mouth open, and dream-like eyes. I said hi, and then caught up with Paul and Christ (?) who I also camped with. The scenery was nice, the temperature perfect, and it was still early. I stopped for some water and a horrible gritty double espresso gel, before blasting down the front-side of Monitor pass. I was feeling great. Moved fast through the trees along the river, enjoyed the cheering crowds and was passing up a lot of people ... which, incidentally felt good too, and skipped all rest-stops.

As I started climbing up Ebbets pass I was spinning nicely, had found my pace and enjoyed the warm air, not yet really hot, the granite rocks, and small pine trees. It was a very long climb, and by the time I reached the top I was feeling tired, but had not really pressed hard, still trying to maintain a tempo where I never had to breath hard and never felt my muscles burn. I did not stop at the top (per advice from my camp-fellows) and flew down to the backside of Ebbets. At the rest-stop at the bottom I had some snacks and refilled my bottles. It was now getting hot. Coming back up the heat was getting to me a bit and I was starting to feel tired, but knew lunch was next, and kept pushing to maintain a steady tempo. My legs were getting tired, my butt was on fire, and I was sweating rivers. Again, I did not stop at the top, knowing I could rest on the long downhill.

After screaming down the front-side of Ebbets, by far the most fun descent, I came to the lunch stop where I had soup, a sandwich, refilled my bottles and reapplied sunscreen. There I met Mike K. who had done 4 passes fast and was wiped out. Like last year, he did not think he could make the last pass. I failed to convince him he could do it. We biked together for a bit, through Markleeville and the start/finish at Turtle Rock and I had a good understanding for why people stop after 4 passes: At this point I was tired, the climbing was becoming hard, and my butt felt like it had been hammered with rocks. But I kept going, knowing I could suffer through one more pass.

However, I had not counted on how long and grueling that last pass was. After refilling my bottles at Woodford at the bottom of Carson Pass with water and most welcome ice, I now climbed slowly at 6.5 mph up to pickets junction and Hope Valley. The climb was endless; my mind was repeating the mantra "almost there" "ice-cream" "almost there" "ice cream". More ice and water was welcome at Picket's Junction and the last part of the climb in headwind went a little better as I started regaining some strength. Towards the end I was passing up those who passed me lower down on the hill. I also met a guy on the way up who started doing the Death Ride at age 10, and did the full thing at age 12. He was now 20 and had done it 11 times. We rode together to the top. At the top I got the pin, had two ice creams, and chatted a bit with one of the MVV guys we see at Pete's. They had never passed me but still claimed to have started at 6:15, meaning they must have passed me at a rest-stop and had been going at an impressive speed.

When I got back to the finish after a scary and blitzing fast downhill with strong side-winds, they had not even started grilling dinner. I packed up and drove to Truckee. I swore I would never do it again, since the last pass was so painful, but after 24 hrs I was ready to do it again next year. What is wrong with me?

--- Rune

Death Warmed Over

I completed four passes.

Yesterday, I had nothing good to say about the death ride, but my memory has pleasantly faded by today. I started at 5am, slightly chilly, but really probably mid-50's. Up over Monitor pass, which is an endless, single grade climb. The worst part of a climb like that is that you can see a line of little ants about two or three miles ahead, and slowly, you become one of those ants. Coming down was significantly more fun, except for navigating the 20-MPH and the 50-MPH riders. Jeez! Just before the bottom, Rune (starting at 5:30) caught up to me. We started back up to Monitor pass, and rode together for about ten minutes. I learned that Paul and co. started at 4am, which might not have been a bad idea.

Back over Monitor, then a left turn, and up to Ebbets pass. This one is nasty. It was a freakin' long climb. Generally, say, like going from gate 2 to gate 3 on Page Mill, but doing it for two hours or something. It was quite beautiful. Just as I got to the top, my legs started to twinge. I rested and contemplated finishing three passes, but I decided that the fourth pass (down the back of Ebbets, and back up just 5 miles) wouldn't be too much. Coming back up, I was glad that I'd filled my water backback with ice -- that saved my life. It was getting quite warm, and the climb is pretty exposed. It was unfortunate that none of the other water stops seemed to have ice. My mantra had become, at this point "the worst thing that can happen is that I'll cry".

Coming down Ebbets was great -- lots of fun zooming down the hill. It really did my heart and mood good to see all those people suffering up the mountain that I was completely done with. Then I started to get massive leg cramps, so I had to stand up in the pedals and grit my teeth. Ow! One notable thing were three women at one cabin who were partying and cheering on the riders -- they added a bit of fun to the ride.

Then lunch, and a lazy roll back to Markleeville. At this point, I was on the fence about going for Kit Carson pass -- I felt wiped out. In Markleeville, the heat came up, and it was hot! I was sweating and drinking -- but not eating enough. By the time I'd climbed back to Turtle Rock park, I was totally done. I rode into the finish area, and stood there dazed. My cell phone had no signal, so I couldn't call Julia, and I was about two hours early. There was a pay phone, but I wasn't about to call for help in front of all these other bikers who'd finished the whole thing already. I took an easy roll down to Woodford's to use my phone there. I was thinking that maybe I'd keep riding, but I could barely pedal my bike across the street, so I SAG'd out (Julia -- kindly -- picked me up about 20 minutes later). 90 miles -- 8 hours pedaling time.

Ultimately, I think the heat, combined with not eating enough, killed me. Timewise, I was doing OK. I called Julia at about 2pm, and I figured the rest of the ride would take me about three hours -- I just didn't want to ride anymore, to the degree that I didn't even want to do anything that would help me feel better. I may have to do it again; I haven't decided. At any rate, I think it was a pretty good achievement, and I feel great today.

Rune had a great ride, but that's his to tell. I heard that he ran into Mike K. at the lunch stop. I saw one of the MVV guys go by me down Ebbets, but I didn't see anyone else that I know.

We stayed three nights at David Walley's resort, in Genoa. We've wanted to test it for a long time. It's a bit weird place. The people there are quite nice -- at lot of Midwesterners. The timeshare part isn't that nice though -- it seems overdeveloped relative to the size of the attraction. The spa is good, with hot mineral pools, and reasonable massages. We ate dinner at this classy French restaurant, La Ferme, in Genoa, so I had to break my temperance rule, and split a bottle of wine with Julia on Thursday night.

Our next ride is the Shasta Super Century. Since I didn't do the whole DR, I'm contemplating the long version here, but not sure about it. I hated getting up at 3:45AM!

David