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.