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
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
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