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.

2010 Year-End Summary

In 2010, I accomplished my major goal of completing the Planet Ultra King of the Mountains Series. Below is some of the data I compiled over the course of the year.

Total Cycling Stats:
124 rides
3,997 miles
259,200 ft. elevation gain (64.8 ft. per mile)
295:37 hours of ride time (13.5 mph average)


Cycling events completed:
Tour of Palm Springs: finished in 5:45
Mulholland Challenge: finished 10:37
Mt. Diablo Century: finished in 9:00 (including 12 mile detour)
Breathless Agony: finished in 8:15
Heartbreak Hundred: finished in 8:08
Santa Barbara Century: finished in 8:30

California Cycling Events: Part 2

A continued list of California Metrics, Century, Double Metrics, and Double Centuries from June to December 2011:

June
4th: Auburn Century (MC, C, DM) - Auburn, Northern California
4th*: Eastern Sierra Double (DC) Bishop, Central California (East)
Unknown: Ojai Valley Century (MC, C, DM) - Ojai, Southern California
Unknown: Sequoia Century (MC, C, DM) - Los Altos, Central California (West)
Unknown: LA River Ride (MC, C) - Los Angeles, Southern California
11th: Alta Alpina Challenge (MC, C, DM, DC) - Markleeville, Central California (East)
11th: Hayfork Century (MC, DM) - Hayfork, Northern California
11th: Sierra Century (MC, C) - Rocklin, Northern California
11th*: Palomar Challenge (MC) - Lake Henshaw, Southern California

11th: Bike Around the Bear (C) - Redlands, Southern California
11th*: Canyon Classic Century (MC, C) - Modesto, Central California
18th*: Col. Allensworth Century (MC, C) - Central California (East)
18th: Mile High Century (MC, C) - Lake Almanor, Northern California
18th: The Terrible Two (DC) - Sebastopol, Bay Area
18th*: Best of the Bay - Orinda, Bay Area
25th: L.A. Wheelman Grand Century (C, DM, DC) - Malibu, Southern California
25th*: Gene Cerise Country Coast Classic (C) - San Luis Obispo, Central California (West)
25th*: Breathe Easy Rides (MC, C) - Sonoma, Bay Area
25th*: Climb to Kaiser (MC, C, DM) - Fresno, Central California (East)
25th*: Giro de Peninsula (MC, C) - San Mateo, Bay Area

July
Unknown: Three Harbors Tour (MC, C) - Ventura, Southern California

16th*: Windmill Century (MC, C) - Santa Maria, Central California (West)
16th*: Fall Mills Century (MC, C, DM) - Fall River Mills, Northern California
30th*: Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge (MC, C) - Scotts Valley, Central California (West)

August

6th*: Marin County Century and Mt. Tam Double (MC, C, DM, DC) - San Rafael, Bay Area
7th: Shasta Summit Century (MC, C, DM) - Shasta, Northern California
14th*: Tour d'Organics (MC, C) - Sebastopol, Bay Area
20th*: Holstein Hundred (MC, C) - , Bay Area
20th: Cool Breeze Century (MC, C, MD) - Ventura, Southern California
21st*: Tour of Napa Valley (MC, C) - Yountville, Bay Area

September

10th*: Amtrak Century (C) - Irvine, Southern California
10th*: White Mountain Double (DC) - Bishop, Central California (East)
10th*: Siskiyou Century (MC, C) - Yreka, Northern California
10th: Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle (MC, C) - San Simeon, Central California (West)
24th: Tahoe Sierra Century (MC, C) - Squaw Valley, Central California (East)
24th*: Knoxville Fall Classic Double (DC) - Knoxville, Northern California
24th: Lighthouse Century (MC, C) - Morro Bay, Central California (West)
Unknown*: Tour for Woodside - Woodside, Central California (West)

October

1st*: Levi Leipheimers King Ridge GF (MC, C) - Santa Rosa, Bay Area
2nd*: Tour of Poway (MC, C) - Poway, Southern California
8th*: People Powered Ride (MC, C) - Santa Ynez, Central California (West)
8th*: Bass Lake Powerhouse Double Century (DC) - Clovis, Central California (East)
9th*: Riverbank Cheese & Wine Century (MC, C) - Riverbank, Northern California
15th*: Solvang Autumn Double (DC) - Solvang, Central California (West)
15th*: Foxy's Fall Century (MC, C) - Davis, Northern California
15th*: Salton Sea Century (MC, C) - Borrego Springs, Southern California
22nd*: Spooktacular (MC, C) - Bakersfield, Central California
22nd*: San Luis Obispo Gran Fondo - San Luis Obispo, Central California (West)
29th*: Santa Barbara Century (MC, C) - Santa Barbara, Southern California
29th: Death Valley Fall Double (C, DM, DC) - Furnace Creek, Central California (East)

November

12th: Tour de Foothills (MC, C) - Upland, Southern California
12th: Solvang's Finest Century (MC, C) - Solvang, Central California (West)

California Cycling Events: Part 1

Over the last couple years, I've found one of the most frustrating parts of finishing tough cycling events has been finding them in the first place. No detailed list of the kind of events cyclojunkies like me are interested in has existed. To this end, I've attempted to compile a very complete list of events for the state of California.
For your schedule-building pleasure, my list of California metric centuries (MC), centuries (C), double-metric centuries (DM), and double-centuries (DC) through May 2011:


January
1st: Borrego Springs Century (MC, C) - Borrego Springs, Southern California
15th: Stagecoach Century (MC, C) - Ocotillo, Southern California

February
12th: Tour of Palm Springs (MC, C) - Palm Springs, Southern California
19th: Camino Real Double (DC) - Irvine, Southern California

March
Unknown: Death Valley Spring Double (DC) - Furnace Creek, Central California
12th: Solvang Century (MC, C) - Solvang, Central California
19th: Tour of Borrego (MC) - Borrego Springs, Southern California
19th: Tour de Sewer (MC) - Bell Gardens, Southern California
26th: Solvang Double (DC) - Solvang, Central California
27th: Tour of the Unknown Valley (MC) - Orlando, Northern California

April
9th: Mulholland Challenge (C/MD, DC) - Agoura, Southern California
9th: Julian Death March (MC) - Julian, Southern California
10th: Primavera Bicycle Tour (MC, C) - Fremont, Bay Area
16th: Mt. Laguna Bicycle Classic (MC, C) - San Diego, Southern California
16th: Sea Otter Classic Gran Fondo (C) - Monterey, Central California
16th: Bike Around the Buttes (C) - Meridian, Bay Area
16th: Hemet Double & Century (C, DC) - Hemet, Southern California
16th: Tierra Bella Century (MC, C, DM) - Gilroy, Central California
Unknown: Devil Mountain Double (DC) - Bay Area
24th: Tour of Orange County (C) - Costa Mesa, Southern California
30th: Alpine Challenge (MC) - Alpine, Southern California
Unknown: Avenue of the Oaks (MC) - Fallbrook, Southern California
Unknown: Borrego Springs Double Ordeal (DC) - Borrego Springs, Southern California

May
1st: Wildflower Century (MC, C) - Chico, Northern California
1st: Delta Century (MC, C) - Lodi, Northern California
Unknown: Grizzly Peak Century (MC, C, DM) - Moraga, Bay Area
7th: Breathless Agony (C/MD) - Redlands, Southern California
7th: Wine Country Century (MC, C, DM) - Sonoma, Bay Area
7th: Tour de Cure - San Diego, Southern California
7th: Central Coast Double Century (DC) - Paso Robles, Central California
Unknown: Anderson River Park Century (MC, C) - Anderson, Northern California
Unknown: Cruisin' the Conejo (MC, C) - Ventura, Southern California
Unknown: Tour du Green - Ventura, Southern California
21st: San Diego Century (MC, C) - San Diego, Southern California
28th: The Heartbreak Hundred (C, DC) - Frazier Park, Central California
29th: Great Western Bike Rally Century (MC, C) - Paso Robles, Central California

The Santa Barbara Century

A few months ago, I got wind of a new century event coming to Santa Barbara in the fall. What I know now is that the Santa Barbara Century is an epic event and it will be a popular one for those of us endurance cyclists looking for one last hurrah before the cycling season winds down.

Being a first year event, I waited until pretty late in the game to get signed up (it was also a struggle getting time off work). I was worried their might not be many riders, or that the route would be somehow deficient -- wrong on both counts. In fact, the healthy 800+ rider turnout is a testament to just what a great place Santa Barbara is for cycling, something I've come to cherish since moving here. But on to the event!

My roommate Casey and I started just after 6:30am, planning to ride with a group of riders we had been training with. They left a few minutes ahead of us, so we were hurriedly moving along the bike path along the wharf when Casey flatted. Ten minutes later, we were a quarter-mile farther when he flatted again. In the darkness of a foggy, misty morning we hadn't noticed the large piece of glass protruding from his tire. Just before 7am, close to defeat, we left the bike path and hooked onto a group of 50 or so local riders in the hopes of making up time -- and did we ever! By the first rest-stop, which saw the large group all the way down to Carpinteria and over Gobernador Canyon, we had caught up with our group and were feeling better despite a little rain.

The second section of the event featured several short but testing climbs (Toro Canyon @ 7.5% for 0.6mi, Ladera Lane 10.5 @ 0.9mi ), both of which we had scouted ahead of time. Ladera was a nasty addition that saw riders zig-zagging, triple spinning, and stopping along the way to the top. I felt bad for them know that Gibraltar Road lay ahead.

Gibraltar Road was a climb of 7mi @ 6.5%, which puts it firmly in the list of toughest climbs in the country, according to John Summerson's "The Complete Guide to Cimbing (By Bike)." Lance Armstrong puts his stamp of approval on it every year, when he uses Gibraltar as one of his winter training rides. For me, everything went well until I cramped about 100 yards from the top. For almost ten minutes I watched riders pass me as I tried to stretch my right quad enough to get back on the bike.

The next section of the ride featured beautiful views on either side of the mountain as we road down to the end of East Camino Cielo Rd and then back to where Camino Cielo meets Painted Cave. By then the cumulative effect was making the little climbs along the route seem daunting, but as I reached Painted Cave I knew I was home free.

The final third of the ride features a bumpy descent of Painted Cave Rd and the locally-popular Old San Marcos Rd, followed by a long and flat ride out to Goleta and back to the boardwalk. Casey and I used drafting as much as possible, picking up lone riders at a decent clip. As we reached the finish, the familiar feeling of a body delightful spent greeted me and I took a rest out on the grass by the beach.

I cannot stress enough what a cool idea it was to have a Santa Barbara Century, and even more so because at 100mi with 9,800ft of elevation gain, it is a real climbers delight. I look forward to making use of the optional Gibraltar timing chips next year, and making this event a mainstay on my cycling calendar.

KOM Stage 3: The Heartbreak Hundred

Yesterday, I completed the Planet Ultra King of the Mountains Century Challenge and today I took a 40 mile victory lap with Reuben, Sarah, and Johanna. There is a great sense of accomplishment that comes with completing something so difficult, and an equally humbling feeling that comes with finishing 103/111 in the 49 and under category (though I do have the honor of being the youngest finisher this year). But enough about the series. Here's The Heartbreak Hundred breakdown:

Almost all the way to the first rest-stop is spent climbing at what looks like a very minimal grade, but turns out to be a beast greater than the sum of its parts. First, asking me to climb right out the gate is like asking a teenager to take the reigns of a multinational company. It takes me twenty miles just to get warmed up. It didn't help that my riding partner Reuben (all 125lbs of him) climbs like a Nepalese sherpa. I mean that in a very real sense, because this event starts at over 5,000ft of elevation, peaking above 8,000 near the first rest-stop just under 25mi in. We started near the back of the pack and steadily passed riders all the way to the top. By the time we'd reached the rest-stop, I was done for the day. In moving and starting a new job all in the last week, I hadn't done my research properly and I paid the price.

From there, we had a beautiful decent into a valley, a spot that would have made for great pacelining had I left anything in the tank for such efforts. Instead, we spent the next several hours laboring along with Reuben stuck at the front in the role of wind-shield until we reached somewhat of a desert badlands. Every scattered tree we passed seemed to have a person we'd seen all day sitting under it, looking for a bit of respite. The cramping set in right as we reached what we were told would be the most painful part of the day.

It's my belief that the Heartbreak Hill is only painful because of what had come before it. Had I not totally exhuasted myself in the first two hours and begun to cramp, it would have been a pleasurably short climb. Note to self: take it easy out of the gate next time! When I reached the top, around the bend I found the familiar faces of Johanna and Sarah (our girlfriends and KOM support-group) and Reuben (who had dusted me up the hill). It was at this point we started noticing the double-century riders in our midst, and I felt very weak.

The final stretch began with utter exhaustion, but as we got within a few miles of the finish, I crossed over into the undead and began pulling at the front for Reuben again. We traded turns at the front, each turn becoming stronger, more desperate than the last. We worked ourselves into a frenzy. We yelled and grunted, pedals whirring, tires and chains making their familiar sounds. And that was all there was in the world. We left no reserve unspent, and as we crossed the finish line there was a moment of utter joy. This moment was closely followed by ten minutes of stumbling around, mostly incoherent, as my body fought its urge to collapse.

These endurance events take the human body to a place it rarely goes; to a place where mind-body roles are reversed. The mind gives the body legs to continue, even as the body's legs reach the point of betraying the mind. These event aren't about how far a person can push the body, but rather how far the body can push the mind.

KOM Stage 2: Breathless Agony

Last weekend, Reuben and I completed the second stage of the Planet Ultra King of the Mountains Challenge. Breathless Agony remains one of the hardest things I've ever done on the bike, but this year was definitely easier than 2009. We both felt stronger the whole way, and not cramping this year was a huge morale booster. Both of us also improved upon last year's times, and frankly, I actually enjoyed most of the ride this year, whereas before it had been almost total misery. In fact, the only real bummer is that I seem to have temporarily branded an outline of my saddle into my hind quarters. It's time to investigate shammy cream.

Getting saddle sores isn't the most unusual thing that happens during these things, though. Something very strange goes on in my head near the end of each event, and in the next few days afterward. I go through this cycle of "glad I'll never have to do that again" to "well, it really wasn't too bad" to "I bet if I continue to train I can improve my time significantly." The mind forgets the pain very quickly, and the body follows the mind, much the same way it followed the mind up the mountain in the first place.

While riding the last oxygen-depriving bit of Breathless (some 8,000ft above sea-level) I spoke with a guy wearing his KOM jersey. I said I was surprised how long this last part was taking, as I had expected to be farther ahead of last year's pace. His response was innocuous first, but later became troubling. "You're not supposed to get faster each year...it's the other way around," is what he said. Now given, he was more than twice my age, actually probably closer to three times. Still, what a shame for a man to feel that way while completing one of the toughest events in the country on par with a 22 year old. I have a different philosophy.

Certainly, I will improve with age and experience over the next ten years even without increasing my effort, but who's to say it should stop there; that wherever I am when I reach the conventional peak of athletic performance, that's where my inevitable decline begins. Whether built for it or not, anyone who finishes one of these events is a climber. The only decline I'll have anything to do with is the one right before the next mountain comes into view.

Breathless Gameplan

After discussing how we'd both like to ride Breathless Agony this time around, we've decided to do a few things differently than last year. Hopefully, this will lead to me launching Reuben into the last section of climbing so that he can max-out his effort. He's better suited for these sorts of events than me, so I'm excited to set him up for a good time improvement over last year. Anyway, I was given a 15-minute penalty on Mulholland for missing a sticker stop, so Reuben's already in better position. Of course, we're in the bottom third of the pack for the King of the Mountains, but it'd still be great to see one of our names climb a bit in the rankings.

Section 1: Redlands, across Timoteo Canyon, through Moreno Valley, up Jack Rabbit Trail, ending at the base of the Oak Glen climb. This section took us about 2:15 last year, but we'll look to cut it to round-about 2 hours flat by taking advantage of pacelining on the flats through Moreno Valley. We're also going to conserve our energy going up the back side of Timoteo Canyon, as that's always been a climb that's hurt us.

Section 2: Oak Glen climb/descent. This section features the steep Oak Glen climb at 6.7% grade over 5 miles. The first section of the descent has some very technical turns (last year a guy got bloodied up from a hard tumble near the town of Oak Glen), but then flattens out for some high-speed descending. We've agreed that Reuben will probably go over the top of this one a bit in front of me, but I'm going to absolutely bomb the descent to catch him. Last year, this Section 2 took us 1:40 including rest stop time, but after doing the climb in 52 minutes (1:15 including the downhill) earlier this month I'm feeling pretty confident that we can do the section in less than 1:30. I fatigued a lot on this climb last year, so I will still be cautious!

Section 3: Ranger Station to Angelus Oaks, via Damnation Alley. This part was the death of me last year. It's only 12 miles, but it's 3000 feet of elevation gain, making it the longest climb in the event. For whatever reason, the miserably long and straight portion nicknamed Damnation Alley does a particularly good job of living up to its name. Last year, my body totally locked up there, with cramps in my quads, hamstrings, and calves. This time, I'm going to stay better hydrated and pop the electrolyte pills beforehand, instead of after the cramping begins. I've climbed this route in 1:35 during training, but it took a little over 2 hours during last year's Breathless Agony. I'm hoping for about 1:45-1:50, but will consider anything under 2 hours sufficient. Again, Reuben will likely arrive 2 or 3 minutes ahead of me, but hopefully I can recover quickly instead of spending 30 minutes working cramps out at the Angelus Rest Stop.

Section 4: Angelus Oaks to Onyx Summit, via Barton Flats. The first half of this section is mostly flat, so I'll sit on the front and let Reuben draft as much as possible. I'll try to hang for the first half of the last climb of the day and then send Reuben on his way to see the reaper. My work as domestique will be done and I can go at my own snail's pace from there. Of course, maybe that won't happen. Maybe I'll have the legs this time around, but there's just no way to tell ahead of time. Last year this section took us 2:30. This year, we'll be looking for just over 2 hours flat.

Overall, we are much better prepared, having done more off-season training and completing the Mulholland Challenge and Mt. Diablo this month. For comparison, last year I did 150 miles of riding in April. This year I'm just shy of 600. We'll be looking to improve last years times from just over 8:30 to somewhere in the realm of 7:45-8 hours. Despite early forecasts for rain and possibly snow at the top, the weather now reads mostly sunny and temperatures in the mid-sixties for most of the ride. Can't get much better than that. Now all that's left to do is let the suffering begin!

Mt. Diablo Century

Despite having done several 3-hour rides since Mulholland, I've been taking it pretty easy overall in the last two weeks. Two days before Diablo I went out for a spin and came back 3 hours later with 50 miles on the ole odometer, which put me in a very confident mood.

Reuben and I decided to ride the Diablo Century unsupported, since it features half the climbing of Mulholland Challenge or Breathless Agony. We didn't think there would be much challenge to 100 miles and 6500 feet of climbing now that we're joining the ranks of the KOM riders. After a stellar first 50 miles that featured a speedy ascent of Morgan Territory and some pacelining to Sunol, things took a turn for the worse.

Realizing we'd forgotten sunscreen and had become a bit hungry from killing it through the first half, we stopped at a store for supplies. Upon returning to the route we missed a turn and ended up riding 6 miles down a valley road into a nasty headwind. By the time we'd retraced our steps back to Sunol, we'd wasted an hour and become noticeably fatigued. Nearly 3 hours later, we followed the wrong marker up a 15% grade. More fun. Sun blazing down on our burnt faces, we crossed the finish 9 hours in with an on-the-bike average of 14.3mph. Bring on the Chipotle and alcohol!

The Diablo Century was an often beautiful, but deceptively difficult event. Hopefully that will translate to the perfect final training ride before Breathless Agony this coming weekend.

Mulholland Challenge 2010 Results

We came, we saw, we conquered! It took 10:37 (9:15 on the bike) to finish, but Reuben and I both successfully completed Stage One of the King of the Mountains Series.

For me, the defining moments were: the sick paceline on PCH in the morning, going up Topanga and Old Topanga like they were anthills, the jarring misery that is Little Sycamore/Cotharin/Yerba Buena, feeling worn out...at the bottom of Decker, making it to the top of Decker and passing riders along the way, taking forever to reach the top of stunt while simultaneously realizing I was one "sticker" short, flying to the finish yelling "there's no such thing as pain," Reuben crossing the line on an entirely flat tire, finding out Mulholland was 13,500 feet of climbing this year.

Looking forward to Diablo later this month, followed by Breathless Agony and Heartbreak in May. Should be epic!

Preparing for Mulholland

Since my last post, I got over the bug I had and went for a mini-camp in the Bay Area with my buddy Reuben. I did Mt. Hamilton in San Jose in the first day, then met up with Reuben for Mt. Tam and Sonoma on days two and three. Totals for that weekend were 126mi/11,000ft elevation gain.

The next week I was on vacation, and though Johanna and I brought our bikes, we didn't do as much riding as I had hoped. Still, it was a great, active week of hiking and cycling, and a much-needed change of pace.

This last weekend, I previewed the Breathless Agony route by tackling Oak Glen and Part of Angelus Oaks. Day two was I cold, epic ride up Latigo/Mulholland/Stunt in the Santa Monica Mountains. Total mileage for the weekend was 77mi/9,000ft elevation gain.

Now I'm tapering into this weekend; just a couple more easy rides in Santa Barbara. Getting excited!

Sickweek

As someone who plans far in advance, nothing is more frustrating than when a well-conceived plan goes awry. I've been sick all week, so I've taken time off the bike to focus the energy I have on coaching my tennis team. We had a great victory Thursday, which after 3 hours came down to the final set on court, a tiebreaker that went to 10-8 before our guy could close it out. Exciting as that was, it was tough to miss a week of training.

Today, I was scheduled to do the Solvang Century, a 100-mile event with 5,000ft of elevation gain. I did manage to get out with my girlfriend Johanna for a nice little ride of 26 miles with 3,200ft of elevation gain. We drove to Ojai and parked at the base of the section of Hwy 33 that heads north into the Los Padres National Forest. This is one of my favorite climbs, as it never gets too steep, features quite a few switchbacks, and has some excellent views of the ground covered and on into the ocean even as far as the Channel Islands. It's also a favorite of motorcyclists. In fact, shortly after starting the ride we were passed by all manner of emergency vehicle and finally came upon a fallen motorcyclist. He looked to be okay, definitely breathing, but they were putting him into a neckbrace. None of that for us!

In the past, Johanna has never tackled a climb more than a mile in length, so today was a big milestone for her. Not only did she make it up the climb, she did it pretty easily. Before long, I'm going to have a training partner in her, as well as a recovery or fun-ride mate. I'm excited about that!

The Background

In order to know where I stand and where I'm headed, I'm taking this opportunity to sum up my history with the sport of cycling.

Age 2: Learned to ride tricycle, promptly fell off and cut chin open.

Age 6: Started riding bikes with the neighborhood kids.

Age 11: Watched Tour de France for the first time (half-hour recaps on ESPN, with Bjarne Riis winning and Jan Ullrich, his teammate at Telecom finishing second). Began riding the 4-mile route to school once a week.

Age 12: Topped 40mph for the first time while riding down the only steep hill in my neighborhood. Also experienced high-speed wobble for the first time. Broken elbow and wrist, road rash everywhere. Stopped riding to school.

Age 14: Got my first road bike; it was a bright yellow, bottom of the line Giant. Several months later, had said Giant road bike stolen out of garage.

Age 19: Decided to buy a bike (red Specialized Allez Elite) to help my roommate Reuben train for Habitat for Humanity's Habitat Bicycle Challenge. His trip: 4,000 miles over 60 days, from New Haven to San Francisco in the summer of 2007. Our training: one month of rides 10-20 miles in length.

Age 20: While I had been the stronger rider during our brief training sessions, when Reuben came back, he came back STRONG! I could not comprehend that he had ridden more than 100 miles in a single day, and he'd done it multiple times. Though I'd been a regular follower of cycling for three weeks of July for the last ten years, this was the moment I decided to become a cyclist.

Since that time:

2007: LA River Ride Century (DNF @ 20 miles after snapping crank off...learned I have some high-end power), Tour of Borrego Springs Century (DNF @ 72 miles due to a full day of 20mph headwinds), Tour de Foothills Metric Century (Finished the 62-mile course, but only just, and experienced first cramps while cycling).

2008: Tour of Palm Springs Century (Finished in 7:15, exhausted and sunburnt), San Diego Century (DNF @ 65 miles, having not properly prepared), Inland Express Century (Finished in 7 hours flat), Tour of Borrego Springs Century (Finished in 7:15 and, along with the 190 other brave souls who came back, got revenge on the desert wind in what was to be the last year of this event).

2009: Tour of Palm Springs Century (Finished in 6:40, feeling nowhere near as tired as the previous year), Breathless Agony (Reached the top in 8:48 after experiencing simultaneous cramping in quads and hamstrings beginning on Damnation Alley...OUCH!!!), Road the entire 70-mile Santa Ana River Trail from Redlands to Huntington Beach and back in a single day, Pedaled 350 of the 450 miles coastal miles from San Francisco to Malibu in five days on a family-supported trip.

2010: Tour of Palm Springs Century (Finished in 5:35 and just in time for a USTA Men's League tennis match, but was given a default when my opponent didn't show)

In summary, while I rode bikes in my youth like most kids, my experience with the world of endurance cycling has only just begun. I hope that I can inspire, encourage, or otherwise affect those that stumble onto this blog by sharing my experiences with this uniquely challenging sport.