2011 Hemet Double Century Ride Report

Distance: 202 miles
Moving Ride Time: 13:15
Total Ride Time: 16:00
Avg Moving Speed: 15.2
Avg Speed: 12.5
Avg Cadence: 69
Avg HR: 146 (75% of VO2)
Max HR: 183 (94% of VO2)

Well, Casey is officially a Triple Crown jersey qualifier, and I am two legs in. Upon finishing, we both decided we need a break from the doubles and that we'll be skipping the Davis and LA Wheelman doubles this year. However, we'll be back in action at the Bass Lake Double in October. Predictably, two days ago we were sick of double centuries, and just now we had a conversation about how the doubles community is so small and we like that we run into people each time, and...that we're looking forward to running into them at some doubles next year. The human capacity to forget pain and re-shape experiences is incredible. But onto the report...

The Hemet Double is very low-key, which was a nice change. We registered in-person the night before the event, for significantly less than the Planet Ultra doubles we've done this year and got some very detailed route information from Jim Watrous, the event organizer. We were alarmed to find that no Hammer, GU or gel products of any kind would be provided, as we'd only brought enough to last us a few hours. If there was one critical thing to improve with the Hemet Double, it would be some kind of energy gel. Most everything else about the ride support was adequate or above-average.

We left our hotel room down the street at just before 4:30am, and during the two minute drive to the start, my engine light went on. Not the way to start a double, especially when there are tennis lessons to teach the following day in Santa Barbara. I spent a good portion of the ride figuring out what to do about my car. However, we were there and we were going to ride, no matter what.

Starting just before 4:45am, we quickly hooked up with a group of riders who we pacelined with for the first 15 miles or so. Eventually, they had to re-group and we went on, but it was nice to warm-up slowly and chat a bit. We reached the first rest-stop without a hitch and were quickly back on our way after some rice-krispy treats and cytomax.

Throughout the day, I was reminded of my college days, not too far away, as we crossed places I had ridden, driven, and visited friends. We crossed the street section of the Santa Ana River Trail route, which I remember distinctly from my ride with Reuben to Huntington Beach and back to school in Redlands. At this point we hooked up with a powerful larger rider sporting a Triple Crown jersey and a smooth-pedaling woman in blue from Marin. We rode with them until the next rest-stop, and a few miles before the stop were absorbed by a group of 8-10 Arizona riders from the Bullshifters club.

We continued on with the Bullshifters and lady-in-blue through the next stop and into lunch. I was impressed with the Bullshifters quick rest-stops, as that can be key to getting on with the ride. The longer you stop, the more you want to stay! Chatted quite a bit with our make-shift group and we made good time, reaching the lunch-stop at 104 miles right around 7 hours into the ride.

Lunch was amazing. Barbequed chicken (fresh off the grill) and pasta awaited us. What an incredible spread for the middle of a cycling event, and we'd get more at the finish. I thought about getting back to that delicious chicken often during the second half of the event. We enjoyed lunch so much that it took us about 45 minutes to get back out on the road (the Bullshifters left about 10 minutes before us), and we were greeted almost immediately with the climb of the day and HEAT!

We knew it was coming. The forecast said 86 degrees, but after seeing a sign reading 77 degrees at 10am, I knew it was going to be a hot one. Several riders with advanced Garmin devices were getting read-outs over 100 degrees, and we hit the 1000ft climb right at the hottest point of the day. In 13 miles I finished two bottles, and we struggled to crest the climb. When we reached the top, 7-8 riders lay strewn about in the shade, resting and taking in water from a SAG van. We grabbed water and continued on without resting. From this point, we were rarely passed, but did a fair amount of passing. By the next stop, we caught the Bullshifters, some of which were tiring and were probably suffering from heat exhaustion. We left the stop with the group, but 15 miles later they stopped at an Arco and we left them behind after using the restroom and grabbing an ice cream bar.

We felt very strong most of the rest of the way, picking up riders one-by-one on long, straight roads. After reaching the rest stop at mile 160 (which was 37 miles after the previous stop -- TOO FAR), we knew we were home free. We kept a solid pace, and though we got lost briefly a few times, we continued to make progress on other riders who had probably gone out a bit too strong. I really appreciated the flatness and good road conditions of the route, as it helped us dose our efforts to perfection.

Shortly after the last rest-stop, we hit the last climb and night fell, leaving us first with a pink sunset and then darkness to ride on mostly empty roads. The last section of any length was a nicely paved, flat road, but had a fair amount of high-speed traffic. At that point, while not slowing, we began to suffer mightily again. Casey and I did calculations over and over in our heads about how much farther and how long it would take. Every position on the bike felt uncomfortable. Even standing up was hurting me, as my right calf and then my left hip began to cramp.

And then it was over. We reached the finish and it was more chicken and pasta for us. Volunteers were there to make sure we had what we needed and we sat inside the Motel 6 conference room, resting and eating and chatting a bit. We ran into one of the Bullshifters, who was very strong and had continued ahead of his group after the big climb of the day. He was from Minnesota, but lived in Arizona during the winter and early spring. Sounds like a smart guy to me! We talked football and cycling, doubles and other things before heading back to face my beat-up car.

Despite 16 hours of hoping the engine light would just turn off when I started the car next, it did not. We had it towed to my parents house in Palm Springs (thank God for AAA Premier Membership), and since my mom has been recovering from surgery, were able to drive her car back to Santa Barbara the next morning. We'll be without our bikes for the next few weeks, but as I mentioned early, a break was in order. We plan to run and swim a bit to keep our aerobic benefits from the Hemet Double, and we needed to start training for the Carpinteria Triathlon and Xterra Trail Racing Series anyway. More on those developments another time...

Hemet Double Preview

I'm making this quick because I have too many other things going on right now. Casey and I are going to Hemet today to get a good night's rest and an early start in the morning. The Hemet course has been altered to exactly 200 miles and just over 5000 feet of elevation gain, making it possibly the fastest double on paper. The temperature is predicted to hit 86 degrees, which could be a factor, so Casey and I will try to leave early and be more than half-way through by noon. We've each bought sunsleeves to keep cool and avoid burns. Will be interesting to see how well they work. Ride recap to follow!

Solvang Double 2011: My First Completed Double Century

It's been a couple days now since I finished my first 200+ mile ride and the significance of it continues to hit me slowly. My legs feel a bit sore, but pretty good really. I had quite a bit of chafing all over my "nether regions," which I think was due to friction from my tights and the softening of my skin from the constant wetness of a rain-ride. I continue to have weird cravings for foods I would not normally take in very often (garlic, chocolate, soda) and until about two days after, I didn't really enjoy anything I ate. I wonder if anyone else has had these experiences?

Before I get into my ride recap, I have to document the fact that after finishing this double, I feel like I've gone as far into Ultra-Endurance Cycling (distance-wise) as I will ever go. Maybe it's the rainy experiences or maybe it's that post-ride lull before the itch to push farther starts to come, but I feel like I may be done with doubles for a while after this season. I will press on for the Triple Crown Jersey because that's what I set out to do, but after that, I think I'm going to make some changes in my cycling habits. Clearly I'm masochist enough to make it in the doubles world, but I'd like to get back into tennis tournaments and I miss riding for fun more with my fiance. I've also started running once or twice a week and plan to compete in the Carpinteria Triathlon this September. But alas, I want that Triple Crown Jersey to go with my KOM Jersey from last year, so I'll put off those things a few more months.

Ride Stats

198 miles
14.3 mph average moving speed
13 mph average speed overall
14:00 riding time
15:25 overall time
176/379 event placing

Ride Recap

We started with an extra five miles (not included in Ride Stats) from Casey's dad's house in Alisol Ranch, during which we were passed by numerous riders headed out in the other direction having already started. That was kind of depressing, but we didn't let it affect us. We got to the start 15 minutes ahead of our planned 6am go time, and that was a good thing as many had already left!

We arrived at the first checkpoint right on schedule with about 2:40 ride time in the first 41 miles. This was my favorite part of the ride because of the scenery, seen first by bike-light only, and then by a slow-moving dawn. Wine country truly is a beautiful area and it was very peaceful with just the whirring of cranks and chains.

Checkpoint two was reached on time as well, but we suffered some minor morale hits during the section. I had to stop roadside for a leak and we were passed by a large group of riders that we decided would be ideal for the flat-ish terrain ahead. I hustled back to the bike, but mud had surrounded my cleats and I couldn't clip in. By the time I got the mud out, they were almost a minute up the road. We gave chase for a few minutes, but realized we'd never catch a group of 20 with just us two and we let up. The second morale dropper was the arrival of the rain, which would stay with us from mile 70 to the finish. We were wet for about 11 hours and it sucked!

The ride to the lunch stop saw us out to Morro Bay and back towards San Luis Obispo and this section was littered with riders stopped for flats. Casey had the good sense to by some puncture resistant tires, so we're both a equipped with Gatorskins or Armadillos. No such trouble for us! I don't understand why people make such a big fuss about the extra weight of puncture-resistant tires. One flat costs more time than the extra rotational weight, and over a 200-mile course, who comes out without a flat? I put gators on this bike when I bought it 16 months and about 6,000 miles ago and I've gotten 2 flats in all that time. No-brainer!!! But I digress...

Checkpoint 3 to checkpoint 5 is where we fell off pace. We were shooting for 14:30 total time, and we lost 90% of the extra hour here. The headwind couldn't have been more than 10 mph, yet it felt like we were going uphill the whole time. Casey and I were both battling bouts of hunger and then fullness, with a few minutes of good riding in-between. I know a lot about nutrition, but it's still hard to get it right while riding. After a while, it starts to become challenging to reach into the back pockets for food, and the drinks just don't taste good anymore.

After getting some mandatory cup-of-noodles and getting to see Johanna at checkpoint 5, we were revived and ready to bring it home. Casey and I both started feeling good a few miles after the stop, and we started passing struggling riders at a consistent rate. I would say this is the only section of the ride where we passed more than passed us, but I was happy because it suggested we dosed our efforts correctly. The climbs in the last section weren't so bad and the thrill of being so close to the finish took over. We had it dialed in. In fact, the adrenaline kicked in so much that I didn't even notice my new sunglasses fall from my jersey (bummer!!!). As we turned off Ballard Canyon onto the main road to the finish, I and a few others let out a relieved yelp. It came so suddenly, after 200 miles of waiting. Casey and I mustered what sprint we had left to get to the finish.

After we got back to Casey's place, the adrenaline wore off, and quick! By the time I was getting into the shower, I was physically incapable of taking my clothes off. My hands were worn out from gripping the handlebars all day and my joints tightened up. I was shaking from the cold, too, as Johanna helped me into the shower. But I survived to write this post...
Next stop: Hemet Double, three weeks!

Solvang Double Gameplan

Casey and I plan to leave his dad's place in Alisol Ranch at 5:30am in order to be at the start a little before 6am. As opposed to starting with the stronger riders at 6:30am like we did for the Camino Double, we'll take an extra half-hour since Planet Ultra is offering it to us. I figure the start is mostly uphill anyway and we'll take a good long while to really warm up properly instead of risking over-extending early on. By the time the fast groups catch us, we'll be primed to follow. The route is supposed to be 198 miles total, but with our extra 4 miles to the start, we'll top 200 officially! Our predicted schedule is as follows:

5am - Up and at 'em
5:30am - On the road towards Buellton and the start

6am - Official start @ Mile 0
2:00 ride time - Top of Foxen Canyon climb (27 miles, almost 2200ft elevation gain)
0:40 ride time - Reach Sisquoc (14 miles all downhill)

8:40am-8:50am - Rest Stop 1: Sisquoc @ Mile 41
2:40 ride time - Top of third minor climb since Sisquoc (45 miles, 1200ft elevation gain)

11:30am-11:40am - Rest Stop 2: San Luis Obispo Park @ Mile 86
1:40 ride time - Rollers with one minor descent (27 miles, 1000ft elevation gain)

1:20pm-1:40pm - Rest Stop 3: Lake Laguna Golf Course @ Mile 113
1:50 ride time - More rollers and possible headwind (28 miles, 1000ft elevation gain)

3:30pm - 3:45pm - Rest Stop 4: Leroy Park @ Mile 141
1:50 ride time - Mostly uphill with a 400ft climb and a 200ft climb (27 miles, 800ft elevation gain)

5:35pm - 5:50pm - Rest Stop 5: Collins Market @ Mile 168
2:25 ride time - Extended 1000ft climb, followed by long descent with a few minor climbs (30 miles, 2100ft elevation gain)

8:15pm - Official Finish @ Mile 198

13 hours ride time (15.25mph)
14 hours total time (14.15mph)

Solvang Double Century Lead-up

Well, it's been a month and here I am again preparing to bag my first double. Since the Camino Double (where I road 145 miles before abandoning) I've ridden a grand total of 153 miles.

After having to focus on my tennis business for a few weeks following the Camino, Casey and I got out on the road and blasted our way from Carpinteria to Malibu (62 miles) at an average speed of 19mph. Things were looking good and we felt stronger for having ridden the Camino Double. The next day though, we pushed our way through 15-20mph winds to Ventura (45 miles) at an average speed of 14.5mph and then my body said enough. Within a few hours, whatever virus has been going around had overtaken me and I didn't leave the apartment for several days. For the last few days, now that I'm recovered, I've been somewhat thwarted by rain and wind, but I'm very happy to see the forecast no longer calls for rain this Saturday.

In fact, despite these inconveniences and breakdowns in my training schedule, I'm feeling good about this one. The whole point of ultra-endurance events is to push past what you know and what is comfortable. If anything, I'm more resolved than ever to bag my first double. I'm young and fit, have a beast of a riding partner in Casey, a solid ally at the rest stops in Johanna, and I know many of the roads we'll be riding on. We will prevail!

Camino Real Double Recap

Well, there's no easy way to say this, so I'll just come out with it. I didn't quite make it through my first double. It was cold, rainy, and windy off and on throughout the day, but after 12 hours and 145 miles, the last major downpour got the best of me. After the sun went down, my body just couldn't keep warm in it's soaking wet state and that was it for me.

I'm not too disappointed, because I know I made the right decision for myself. I have people at home who care about me and want me to be safe and I have my tennis students that needed me for lessons the next day. That helped me decide the line between cyclojunkie and cyclocrazy. Everyone has their own limits of risk, and I ran up against mine on the Camino Double. I can live with that. Especially with the knowledge that my legs were still ready for more punishment.

A massive amount of credit to all those that persevered, especially my buddy Casey, who also was attempting his first double and ended up being the youngest finisher. What an epic way to bag your first double. I'm already recovered and excited for the Solvang Double Century next month, where I expect to go the distance.

Tour de Palm Springs and Prep for the Camino Double

Tour de Palm Springs Ride Stats:
102 miles
5:32 ride time
5:45 total elapsed time
18.5 average speed


Well, the season has officially begun, now that the Tour de Palm Springs is wrapped up. It was another perfect day for riding in the desert. Below you'll find my ride report. Rode this one with Casey and he had me on the limit nearly the whole event.

The best moment was about 65 miles in, when a group of 8-10 riders formed behind us, with Casey on the front. With the exception of one female Ironman athlete coming forward to SLOW the pace a few times, Casey put the whole group on his back for 8 or 10 miles. Finally, after a brief break from the lead position, he came back up and just powered right off the front. I saw that the group was hesitating to catch his wheel and I pushed across the gap just before he got out of reach. Thirty seconds later I looked back and saw that no one else had made the jump. He'd ridden off the front without even looking up or accelerating. What a beast!

We picked up 6 bonus miles from my parents house to the start, and another 15 with Johanna after the finish, putting our total for the day at 123 miles. If that's not good preparation for a double, I don't know what is! And speaking of doubles, Casey and I are attempting our first this coming week at the Planet Ultra Camino Real Double Century. Having never ridden more than 133 miles in one day, the Camino Double would be hard enough for me all on it's own. Now I'm seeing that mother nature plans (with 90% certainty) to rain down upon us all day, too. Riding one's first double in pouring rain is crazy and probably a bit stupid...luckily, we've got just a bit of both in us.