December 2009
2 posts
Carson Pass #5
So the hardest part about this pass was actually getting to the climbing. From what I looked at on the map, I had anticipated that the point from where Hwy 89 meets Hwy 88 up until Pickett’s junction would be a straight flat ride that would go by fast. I however was competely wrong in my assumptions. While Hwy 88 to Picketts junction did start off flat enough, it started to ramp up fairly...
Transition from Ebetts to Carson Pass (#5 climb)
So once I reached my car I decided that I needed to drop off everything that I wouldn’t need which was about 3 salt packets, all my gatorade packets, bike lights, arm warmers, my make shift beanie/shirt thing, and all of the food that I was carrying. I had a few sips of water, used one of the wet hand towels that I brought, topped off a water bottle and went on my way to finish my 5th and...
July 2009
36 posts
Ebbetts pass #4 (back side)
The descent was nothing spectacular, however it was unbelievably cold. Made my stop at the bottom station to get my sticker, but because I had already filled up/ate at the top I didn’t need to mingle at the bottom so I started the ascent of the back side which was nice since it was short, a sustained climb where I was able to set a tempo and stick to it. This side was the complete opposite of the...
Ebbetts pass #3 (front side)
This pass is the longest pass of the ride and from my avg grade calculations was no more difficult than my Fresno climb. What started to get me think though was that for about the first 3-4 miles there were flats/very short rolling hills (which were beyond annoying). Throughout this part, I honestly thought “where the fuck are the climbs, give it to me already”. I didn’t think that the climb was...
Monitor pass #2 (back side)
Two other riders who had started #2 at the same time as I did soon got dropped extremely fast. I am not quite sure what happened, but it wasn’t like I was hammering it or out of the saddle. Either way, it wasn’t till about half of the way up that I started to see other riders descending what I was now climbing. I passed by the event photographer who took my picture and told me that I was the first...
Monitor pass #1 (front side)
My legs truly felt amazing (just a simple fact). I was climbing in the 39-26 for the most part but it wasn’t like I couldn’t shift up and still keep tempo. I think what got me through this first pass for the most part in the beginning was seeing blinking red lights in the distance. My goal was to catch and pass everybody while still staying in the saddle. As the map of the grades shows, it states...
Wrap up Intro
So now that I have time to write (Sitting at the Fresno Air Terminal for about an hour or so), I will finally be able to write about my death ride experience in more detail.
First off, getting up at 130am was not as hard as I had originally anticipated. Not sure if it was the adrenaline that was already running through my system or if I did in fact get enough sleep by turning the tv off/shades...
07-07-2009 (3 laps up the usual climb)
Definitely behind on documenting the last of my training Something about the day not lasting as long as it used to since I am going to sleep around 8-9pm to get my body accustomed to waking up at ungodly hours. Talked to a cancer survivor when I was finishing my third lap and he told me about his experiences on the death ride. Definitely cool to get some tips from him and just a general...
And I am off
Off to Markleeville & South Lake Tahoe. Hopefully the altitude doesn’t affect me that much. (Never sure when to use affect or effect) Hopefully the advertised wireless internet at the hotel works. If not, no pics or updates until Saturday night/Sunday morning when I get to the bay.
Cheers.
07-05-2009 (77+ miles, 12,800+ ft of climbing)
Usual stuff. Second to last ride. Felt good. Started at 540am and finished at 1220 so did some okay time considering that I took some 4-5 min breaks at the top as well as a 5-10 min break between the 4th and 5th lap.
07-02-2009 (77+ miles, 12,800+ ft of climbing)
I guess I never did a post for this ride. I could have sworn I did though.
Weird.
07-05-2009 (Thoughts)
Only one ride left after today’s ride. I am not sure how prepared I am but it is easy to say that I am as prepared as I am going to be. Things left to do are to buy another rear tire since it appears that the climbing/descending/braking has significantly worn down the tire that I just bought about 4 or so weeks ago (approx 7-800 miles), buy front and rear lights since I will be starting...
Pre-ride breakfast
I think I found my wonder-drug. It is called carbohydrates. All my previous rides had pre-ride breakfasts consisting of protein powder, handfuls of peanuts&raisins, and black coffee. Taking a suggestion from my mom regarding adequate carbohydrate consumption, I decided to try her breakfast out with a minor modification. Her breakfasts consist of a hand blended shake with a 1/2 cup of some...
6-30-2009 (61+ miles, 10K + of climbing)
Today’s ride was fairly nice. For some reason I was blessed today with cloud cover. Almost my entire ride was done under the clouds which essentially meant that my sun-battered arms and knees were spared from darkening further. Not to get overly excited about my conditioning but my legs were almost perfect today. I would put my form/fitness at just about where I want to be with just over 10...
June 2009
23 posts
Motivation
is back.
ENough said.
06-28-09 (tidbit about today's ride)
Now I remember what I wanted to write about during my last lap today. How hot it really was. Even with my jersey fully unzipped I couldn’t escape the heat, there was almost no benefit to having the jersey unzipped. I honestly contemplated taking off my jersey and riding just in my bibs, but that would have looked weird and would have likely resulted in a horrible sunburn. Anyways, 2 16...
06-28-2009 (77+ miles, 12,800+ ft of climbing)
Started earlier today. I woke up at 4am just so that I could hopefully get be parked, clipped in and pedaling by 6am. I ended up starting at 620ish am. Today/this morning/this afternoon was exceptionally warm/hot. Having taken two days off I thought that my legs would be ready for clibing this morning but unfortunately they felt sluggish, heavy, and without energy. However, I did find that after...
6-25-2009 (61+ miles, 10K + of climbing)
4 laps. I need to start earlier because the heat recently has just been zapping all of my energy. Also, I find that my motivation has been waning a little bit recently. I get out on the bike and I do laps up this climb, and with the more breaks that I take, the less I want to keep climbing. I think I need to get back to what motivated me before in order to reignite the motivation that I need to...
06-23-2009 (77+ miles, 12,800+ ft of climbing)
Started exceptionally late (in my opinion) today. Something about starting riding after 8am means that I have the pleasure of riding the last two laps (out of five) in the low 90s. I think that my motivation drops however with each time (I usually stop after lap 2, 3 and 4) that I physically stop at my car (at the bottom of each lap) which is why I stopped one less time during today’s ride....
6-21-2009 (61+ miles, 10K + of climbing)
4 laps up the usual route. My left hip was bothering me so I decided to cut my day short. Hopefully tomorrow’s ride is better.
6-19-2009 (88+ miles; 14500- ft of climbing) →
One word to describe today’s ride: hot.
The goal again was to do 6 laps up and down. I started a lot earlier this time around so that I could get as much climbing in before the heat really set in. Started at and around 645am and was able to finish three laps before it started to get significantly warm. I think when I started the temperature was already in the low 70s. THe weatherman...
