Northern California - Death Ride Ride Report

It sucked. Seriously.

My chain broke at mile 7 (in pitch dark, since I left at 4:00 am), and because I wasn't sure what happened and kept pedalling, it got caught up in the derailleur and took that off as well. A volunteer who had been bringing supplies out to a rest stop gave me a ride back to the starting point, where the mechanic took one look at it and said, "I can't fix that." So, my death ride was 7 miles long and about 200 feet of climbing.

Once it got a bit lighter, I noticed that the chain also took a chunk out of my seat stay, so I'm probably looking at some pretty expensive repairs in addition to the frustration of spending 6 months getting ready for a ride I never did.

My TnT teammates did much better, on hot, tough day. Many did all 5 passes, and all rode a good race.

Still, I'm frustrated and upset. I'm also trying to figure out a backup plan since I'm now bike-less.

JB

Wow, that sucks Jonathan. Sorry you had a really sucky day. I guess if there was a silver lining, at least it didn't happen while you were bombing down a fast descent.

Wow, sorry to hear that. I'm sure you trained hard for it. Hope you get back on the bike soon.

BTW, there's always the Mt. Tam double coming up in August...:)

I was up there yesterday for my first Deathride...Very sorry to hear about your day after all of your training efforts. I did see TnT jerseys out in full force.

If you are looking for another challenging ride this season, it looks like Auburn Century is adding even more miles/vertical feet w/ a "Lone Ranger" option (126 miles, 13000+ feet) . I haven't done the official auburn century, but the the "Maverick" route through Iowa Hill is one of my regular training rides

http://www.auburncentury.com/

Oh no, JB, how awful! What spingineer said, at least your weren't hurt. But what a huge disappointment.

So what did you do for the rest of the day? Help out your TnT teammates? Drown your sorrows in a large cold beer? I would have done the latter :o

Oh no, JB, how awful! What spingineer said, at least your weren't hurt. But what a huge disappointment.

So what did you do for the rest of the day? Help out your TnT teammates? Drown your sorrows in a large cold beer? I would have done the latter :o

Thanks everyone. and yes to both - I hung out at the TnT tent near Turtle Rock Park (it really sucked to watch everyone riding by, but it was good to see my teammates doing well) and I did have a beer or two as the afternoon warmed up.

In the morning, I was so amped up still that I couldn't sit still until about 9:00, at which point my body realized I hadn't gotten much sleep and I crashed for a couple of hours.

JB

Sorry to hear that, Jonathan. I'm sure you put in a huge number of hours training for the ride. Hey, but it could happen to anybody, the same thing happened to Levi Leipheimer the same day as you in the Tour de France! His chain apparently tore the derailier right off his bike.

I was up there yesterday for my first Deathride...Very sorry to hear about your day after all of your training efforts. I did see TnT jerseys out in full force.

If you are looking for another challenging ride this season, it looks like Auburn Century is adding even more miles/vertical feet w/ a "Lone Ranger" option (126 miles, 13000+ feet) . I haven't done the official auburn century, but the the "Maverick" route through Iowa Hill is one of my regular training rides

http://www.auburncentury.com/

That looks like a great ride. Boy, that weekend is tough, though. I was originally going to do the Big Sur ride that weekend, but family obligations are taking over.

How did your Death Ride go?

JB

Well, I just got word back from the bike shop - the seat stay is cracked (I was pretty sure it was), and no longer structurally sound. The rear triangle is permanently bonded to the main triangle, so I'm looking at a new frame. Kestrel will sell me one at a 35% discount as part of their no-fault frame replacement plan, and the LBS will offer me the TnT discount on the labor and parts that need replacements, but I'm still looking at spending a fair chunk of change to get back on the road. I really liked the bike, so I'll stick with the Kestrel, but this is not good news.

JB

That is really too bad. If it was me, I would immediately sign up for something, to keep morale up. The Auburn Century is a good one. Or, you could do the Mt. Tam Double (about the same climbing as the Death Ride).

this is probably the wrong time to advocate a steel or Ti bike but um...that wouldn't happen on a steel or Ti bike.

That is really too bad. If it was me, I would immediately sign up for something, to keep morale up. The Auburn Century is a good one. Or, you could do the Mt. Tam Double (about the same climbing as the Death Ride).

Actually, this is exactly what I've been trying to do. I have shared custody of my kids, though, and every ride I want to do (I'd been targetting the Big Sur and the Grizzly Century rides for a while) falls on a weekend I have the kids or am out of town on a business trip. I am signed up for the Tour de Tucson in November, but I want to do something in the next month or two.

JB

Ohhhhhh
I feel your pain. That soooo sucks. If i win teh lottery in the next few days, the frames on me.

You might want to try the Mount Shasta Summit Century.

http://www.shastasummitcentury.com/

They claim its harder then the Death Ride. 135 miles with 16,500' of climbing. Its on 8/5. Also check out the Western States ride calendar:

http://www.bbcnet.com/RideCalendar/RideListDate.asp

That looks like a great ride. Boy, that weekend is tough, though. I was originally going to do the Big Sur ride that weekend, but family obligations are taking over.

How did your Death Ride go?

JB

I have a problem with that weekend as well w/ kids soccer, so not sure I'm goint to do it. I chatted with a woman wearing the big sur ride jersey - she said it's great ride, but this might be the last year for the organizers.

My ride turned out pretty good for my first time and I made all 5 passes. Didn't set any speed records that's for sure. My only real issues were hot feet and some stomach issues in the morning from over carbo loading the few days before. I'm hoping to do it next year again - new goal is < 10 hrs riding time.

I have a problem with that weekend as well w/ kids soccer, so not sure I'm goint to do it. I chatted with a woman wearing the big sur ride jersey - she said it's great ride, but this might be the last year for the organizers.

My ride turned out pretty good for my first time and I made all 5 passes. Didn't set any speed records that's for sure. My only real issues were hot feet and some stomach issues in the morning from over carbo loading the few days before. I'm hoping to do it next year again - new goal is < 10 hrs riding time.

Congrats! < 10 hours would be a pretty fast ride - I was hoping to do it in around 13 hours of riding time this year. I only know a few people who got much under 10 hours.

JB

Congrats! < 10 hours would be a pretty fast ride - I was hoping to do it in around 13 hours of riding time this year. I only know a few people who got much under 10 hours.

JB

I came in at 10:39 bike time, and just under 13 hours total. I didn't feel like I burned a lot of time at the stops (except ~30 minutes at lunch) but they sure added up.

I know a few guys who came in around 9 hours riding time (1 at 8:45). We kept seeing them on the descents as we were climbing the next pass. They were moving!

I have a problem with that weekend as well w/ kids soccer, so not sure I'm goint to do it. I chatted with a woman wearing the big sur ride jersey - she said it's great ride, but this might be the last year for the organizers.

My ride turned out pretty good for my first time and I made all 5 passes. Didn't set any speed records that's for sure. My only real issues were hot feet and some stomach issues in the morning from over carbo loading the few days before. I'm hoping to do it next year again - new goal is < 10 hrs riding time.

That is my new goal as well. Did the ride for the first time this year -- 10:10 riding time and 11:25 including stops. I had a relatively slow descent off of Carson due to car traffic so I know there's at least time to be gained there. :D

I did it in 8:20 riding time, and about 9:30 overall. I skipped about half of the rest stops but took 20 minutes for lunch and ate my ice cream slowly at the Carson stop because I didn't want to get out of the shade. I would like to do a sub 8 hour ride but this wasn't the day for me- I got behind on my salt intake and got dehydrated as all the water just sat in my stomach, so I was kind of slow up Carson. Maybe next year.

A guy from my club "won" with a 7:30 overall time. That's fast!

Anyone who finishes is a winner as far as I'm concerned. It's a tough ride and heading into the wind up Carson is a real test of your willingness to keep going.

Congrats on a great time.

I went back to look at my stops...The two big ones were 37 mins at lunch (way too long, but I needed it) and 15 minutes at the top of Carson to enjoy the 2 ice cream bars and wait for a couple of fellow riders. We skipped most of the early stops at the top of passes. I got behind on my hydration as well, but I don't think it was salt related.