Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Considering an unsupported double in the desert

I've been toying with going out to the high desert and riding an unsupported double in the summer heat. There will be very little in terms of people, businesses, etc along the route and I will be out of cell range much of the time. My idea is to drop twice as much water as I need plus some emergency stuff twice as often as I think I need it. Every time I come up on a stash, I'll top off just in case the next one is missing. The emergency plan is if I don't finish and call in by darkness, a designated person will look for me. The next day, I clean out the stashes.

My wife thinks I'm an idiot for even considering a plan, but somehow, I can't get it out of my brain. Is it really that dumb? I'm thinking worst case scenario (aside from getting flattened by a truck) is I get hurt, try to make it to the next water stash, and hang tight for awhile.

I have stashed water along routes before and have never had problems. First I hide it pretty well. Then I put a note kindly asking people not to tamper with it. Also, I sign with a woman's name -- the logic is that guys are more likely to screw over another guy. My wife also thinks I'm an idiot for thinking this has any effect.

She's right. And so are you. Have fun. No real advice on this one...

You may want to be careful about signing a woman's name. Someone may wait for a woman to show up hoping to score and beat the crap out of you when he finds out it was you who signed the note. Your wife is right, the desert is a dangerous place to be solo, but, as is often the case, nothing deters the determined. Plan well and stash supplies in more places than you think you will need.

This might be a case where a GSM (satellite) phone could be handy. Maybe there's a place where you could rent one? Not being able to call for help in an emergency is what makes it so dangerous.

Have you done a double century before?

And don't forget electrolyte pills.

What do you expect the temperatures will be, and how acclimated are you to riding in whatever those temps are?

Will you be able stashing ice too, or just water? And what kind of opportunities for shade are there on the route?

I am assuming you have done doubles and unsupported rides before (given your comments about stashes etc). So I am not going to presume whether you can or cannot do this.

But unless it is some short'ish route that you will do multiple laps on, it sounds like a PITA amount of work for a ride just to say "I did it"

-D

This sounds like an awesome adventure.

Sounds like a blast. Sounds like you know what you're doing. Sounds absolutely insane. Sounds like you really, really want it.

Don't get hurt.

I've done doubles before, and I'm good in heat. Having gotten heat exhaustion before, I'm careful about hydration and electrolytes. I would really prefer temps to be over 100 when doing the ride and definitely won't bother unless it's very close.

The furthest I've ridden in over 100 temps is just a regular unsupported century but that was no problem at all. Basically, I just drink water like crazy and pop electrolyte containing gels regularly. Satellite phone isn't a bad idea. It will be a long trip just to get to where I'm going to ride, so the expense won't be much compared to the total cost.

I won't stash ice because it won't last and there isn't much opportunity for shade in large stretches. Strangely enough, I tend to prefer drinking warm water anyway, though I'll dump cold water over my body if I get some. The route I'm thinking about is long and doesn't do loops. Part of the point is to be out in the middle of nowhere. I find my head just works different in a good way if I'm out someplace by myself.

Yeah, well. Still not sounding exactly brilliant to me, but.... ;)

The main issues I'm seeing are heat stroke and getting assistance. Heat stroke can nail you very fast and is very disorienting, and if you're alone it will be difficult (if not impossible) for you to lower your core temperature. And if no one even considers looking for you until after dark, a) it won't be easy for them to find you (especially if you've gone off the route or road for some reason) and b) it may be way too late for them to help you. Chances are you will also be a very long way from the nearest hospital or medical assistance.

Two suggestions:

1) Get a SPOT Messenger. It's a very simple GPS-based beacon and locator system. If you get into a jam, there are separate "help" and "911" buttons. The "Help" will notify contacts both that you need assistance and your current location. Since it's GPS-based, it will work in areas where cell phones don't have coverage.

2) Have a friend in the general area who can get to you fairly quickly if you need assistance. If you want to be really slick, they can carry supplies and drop them off for you at various points on the route.

Challenge is all well and good, but don't underestimate the elements. There are reasons why rides like the Furnace 508 require support, y'know....

Dont accidentally drink a jug full of truck driver piss from the side of the road.

The furthest I've ridden in over 100 temps is just a regular unsupported century but that was no problem at all.

In the last month, I've done two supported doubles -- Davis Double and Terrible Two -- where the temps reached 105+ in stretches. I was using a 50 ounce Camelbak and carrying two 32 ounce bottles, and using Nuuns and gels for electrolytes.

In each case, I felt like I was drinking a fair amount of liquid -- at least 30 ounces an hour -- and eating 250 calories an hour too. On both, I felt great for the first 100 miles, but eventually things fell apart when the heat got hottest (i.e., 105 recorded temps, probably hotter on the pavement). On the Terrible Two, things deteriorated especially quickly. I set off from the lunch stop at mile 110 feeling like I had plenty left in the tank to finish the second half; by mile 118, I was off the bike, cramping severely, and on my way to an early DNF.

Along with the Nuuns and gels (and assorted foods -- potatoes, Odwalla bars, etc), I took some Endurolytes but probably not enough. In addition to Endurolytes, a lot of people were taking Thermotabs (salt tablets), and I'll probably try those next time I ride in those conditions. The sodium content of most drinks and gels is pretty low; in extreme conditions, you're likely to be sweating it out at a much faster rate than you're replacing it via drinks/gels. And what works for a hot century or a moderate double century may not work for a double in 100+ heat.

Is the wife offering to sag for you instead of letting you do it on your own? My wife trusts my judgment on cycling matters as I trust hers on computers.

Is the wife offering to sag for you instead of letting you do it on your own? My wife trusts my judgment on cycling matters as I trust hers on computers.
No, but there is a chance I can get a friend to do roving support. My biggest concern is heatstroke. I've had heat exhaustion once before and like CR said, it can hit you like a wall. Less than 5 minutes before it hit, I was feeling like a million bucks. Then all of a sudden, I practically passed out on the bike and it was all I could do to get to the side of the road.