Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Gold Rush Randonnee (2009 edition)

See http://www.davisbikeclub.org/goldrush/.

Who's in? Who's on the fence? What are you doing to prepare physically, mentally, logistically? Who's got stories or wisdom from past editions?

I'm in (subject to qualification and subject to their having to go as deep as #273 on the "interested" list to complete a field of 175 riders. Training for me is a base of commuting and fast group rides with a full brevet series; I'll be lucky to have 2,500 miles in the saddle for the year when I go, so I'll be taking it pretty easy on the ride.

I'm definitely not planning on it. However, I do seem to somehow be number 303 on their interested list, so if I do manage to complete a SR series, and they do go as deep as #303, then it must be fate and I'd give it my best shot. I suspect I'd be going slower than The Octopus. If I was planning on doing it, I'd be planning on being the lanterne rouge.

I'm number 10 on the list, and have every intention of riding. This will be my second 1200, and plan to do one every year between now and 2011 PBP. I just hope it's as much fun as last year's Rocky Mountain 1200.

SP
Bend, OR

i'm on the list as yesride at least, but i don't think it's totally sunk in yet. it'll be my first 1200. definitely looking forward to breaking another "that seems impossible" barrier on the bike..

preparations? one SR series last year (almost two), and i'll be doing another one this year, with the 600k on june 13th.

this year i'm actually adding some structure to my training or at least trying to - but i won't be setting any course records, i'll just be out there trying to have fun and make it in time.

My wife and I are signed up, but she is indicating that she has no intention of riding in the heat. I must admit that the ride is very hot, over 100 degrees in sections. So unless she changes her mind, I am either riding by myself - or not. We do this for fun, and I doubt she would consider Gold Rush fun. There are no cheering crowds at 3 am on the side of the road, the international nature of the field is thin, we live in California so the location is old hat. PBP is FUN! even in the rain. On the other hand, for me Gold Rush would provide a measurable, difficult - but obtainable, goal that provides motivation to increase my fitness. I rode it without her in 2005 and found the ride to be very well organized and supported. I would strongly encourage anyone considering it to do the ride. My guess is that you will likely see me in the starting field, but there is only a 33% chance that I will be on the tandem.

I'm planning on it. I'm new to randonneuring and this will also be my first SR series, but have completed a half dozen double centuries, so my training is not going to differ dramatically. I'm within the 175 on the "interested" list, so I assume that I'm in pending the completion of the SR series. I've been interested in PBP for a couple of years now so I'm looking at this as a confirmation that I'm interested and will keep up with randonneuring in the coming years, or that my cycling friends are correct when they say it's insane. The GRR is local for me, so if I am to ever ride a 1200K, this is by far the most convenient.

I am number one on the list, so I can't weasel out of this one. Too many people I know have seen my name on it. I will qualify for GRR, and I expect to finish it as my first 1200k. I am planning and training for it like I have never done for a long ride.

I lost 15 lb over the winter, and hope I will lose another 4-6 before the first 200k brevet, which will make climbing those mountain passes a lot easier.

I have looked at the GRR profile, and figured out how long and how steep each of the major climbs is, on average. And I found a couple of similar climbs in my area that I am going to practice on every week for the next few months. I want to get to GRR and be able to say "This one is tough, but I have done it many times before."

I have also downloaded the split times for all the riders from the 2005 edition, done some number crunching to figure out how much time it might take between controls for a middle of the pack rider, and I am using the data to figure out a plan for lighting, nutrition, hydration, and electrolytes. I am going to use the brevet series as a series of tests to see if the plan would work (How long can I ride on Ensure Plus and Perpetueum? I'll find out).

I hear that GRR is a beautiful scenic ride, and I look forward to enjoying the scenery, and the company of many old and new friends.

For what it's worth, on my blog (http://www.napolitano.it/?cat=9) I have started creating Bikely routes for the GRR based on the 2005 route sheet (which overall should be very similar to the route for this year), and I am doing a little of analysis of each leg. It is mostly to figure out what what I need to plan for in terms of nutrition, and what I need to train for in terms of climbing. But it may be interesting to others who are thinking of going as well.

I also collected links to the few ride reports and photo albums from the 2005 edition that I was able to find on the Web. If anybody knows of any other resource that may be worth adding to my list, please let me know.

Nice blog... bookmarked.

I had the opportunity to ride the 600k out of Davis last year (my 1st 600k), which basically was the first 300k to Taylorsville and back. Good preparation for GRR 2009.

As you noted the first 100 miles is flat and fast with lots of turns. On the 600k, pretty much everyone completed this in very close to 6 hours except for one DNF whose frame cracked on a bumpy section and his riding companion was last to arrive at Oroville. The entire stretch was at night, (600k started a bit later than GRR) and the leader/pacer of the pack had GPS and was hitting every turn dead nuts on, everyone just held the steady 6 hour pace. I never looked at my cue sheet to Oroville, and the adrenaline just carried me through, although I did lose the pack near the end to help a stranded cyclist with a broken spoke. Still the fastest 100 miles I've ever done.

Feather River is beatiful area as shown by the video I put together for the ride on youtube.

The return along the canyon was downhill, but pedaling against the headwinds I could barely hold 13mph.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpAoikOjFIk

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SharpT

Feather River is beautiful area as shown by the video I put together for the ride on youtube.

The return along the canyon was downhill, but pedaling against the headwinds I could barely hold 13mph.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpAoikOjFIk

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SharpT

Very beautiful video. You sure have a steady hand, filming around you while cycling. And I like your choice of background music. What is the first song?

Most riders should have completed their qualifiers by now, or should be doing a 600k in the next week or so. Who else is going to be there?

I sent in my registration today, so I am going for sure. I was still on the fence a couple of days ago, but the idea of meeting in person many fellow randos from outside the Northwest that I usually only talk to online made me decide (some will ride, some will volunteer at the controls). I will have a special treat waiting for me in the drop bag in Adin, hopefully that will help keep me focused and I will keep eating and drinking enough to get there.

I regret it already, but I just withdrew my name from the event (someone on the wait list may have a chance now).

Just too much trouble to make it down there for the event. I'll probably do a 1000k up here this year and plan a 1200 for next year.

Good luck everyone!

I'm still very deep on the waiting list so I don't have my hopes up. Also means I can't make travel arrangements until I know that I'll get in, which means I get to pay lots of extra money for plane fare. Not a fan of sign-up lists that don't require a non-refundable deposit to be on them.

The waiting list concept looks like it will turn into a disaster. I predict that they won't reach 175 entrants, since too many will learn too late that they are in. Luckily I have a number lower than 175, so no worries here.

They should have required a deposit by a fixed date, such as late May, or even the June 6th entry date. If you search on some GRR registered names on the RUSA website, they haven't even completed a 300k brevet.

Anyway, I took 3 1/2 weeks off after my 600k in late May and now plan on just 2-3 times weekly riding a 17.4 mile 2500' route leading up to GRR. It's all I have time for.

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SharpT

The wait list was done in a similar manner last time, with a similar huge response. When the ride started, it was well below the maximum.

My wife and I are on the list still but I sent them an email saying that we were not going a while ago - so there is at least two more spots. (Qualified but can't make it this time.)

If I could go, I would send them an application with money and plan on going. I doubt very seriously that they would turn away anyone from out of town who was paid, qualified and at the start line.

I fear that the wait list is going to turn away a lot of people unnecessarily.

The Eight-Legged One is in. Qualified. Paid up. Travel arrangements made. Look for the guy on the fixie.

Let's hope it's not as hot as it was in 2005!

So with the 6pm start, where are folks planning on sleeping that first "night?" No idea what my plan is yet. Soliciting advice and suggestions.....

A big "hat's off" to Marcello for his awesome blog. That's a lot of great information there and recon that's sure going to make the planning process a lot easier for me. Gracias!

Fixie! :twitchy:

I'm heading 321 miles to Adin to sleep. Then 2nd night at Susanville. Then ride through the last night arriving in Davis by 6AM for an 84 hour finish.

That's my plan at least.

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SharpT

Big training ride tomorrow. It's all of 35 miles. But it's a loop with a little under 3,000 feet of climbing in it, including five absolutely nasty hills, all with grades in the upper-teens. Taking the fixed, and if I can make it around this loop reasonably well with fresh legs, then I'll bring that bike to the GRR and take my chances on the pitches in the Sierra. The reports I'm seeing of just how bad Janesville grade is are all over the map. I've read reviews ranging from "pure hell" to "highly overrated" and everything in between.

On the one hand, I'd love to be the first guy to knock this ride off riding a FG bike. I've got 2K+ miles on it in the last 2 months, including a 600K with 23,000 feet of climbing that had some very steep (high-teens) pitches. I'm a strong climber, have good rando experience overall, am confident handling that bike on technical descents on terrible roads, and have experience riding in the kind of weather that the high desert and Central Valley can throw at you this time of year. I think I can pull this off. On the other hand, I don't want to DNF a ride, or hurt myself, or do something that's absurdly and foolishly ambitious. We'll see.

SharpT, sounds like you and I might be riding together a bit. That's very likely the pace that I'll be on (assuming that the wheels don't come off the wagon; or that the suction cups don't come off The Octopus).

Good luck ... I'd love to do this one but don't have the time this year so will have to wait until the next edition.

I rode with a FS on the 600k qual and he was on the list for GRR, but he DNFd and doesn't appear to have signed up.

I only have 1500 miles this year in the saddle so I hope my body is ready for this ride. However all my training miles average 1400' / 10 miles, so I'm ready for the climbing.

Looking at the 10-day forecast, FWIW, there is somewhat of a cooling trend back to normal temps by the start of the ride for Susanville.

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SharpT

From the website this morning, it looks like there are lots of open spaces. It looks like they've marked anyone not paid / not qualified as not riding. Unless you're local it would be expensive though, flights would be expensive at this late date.

The test-run, hill-climbing fest on Saturday went well -- I made it up everything in 49x18 without walking, though I did have to tack to make it up the infamous Jack Run, a three-pitch, .3-mile hill with two 14% pitches sandwiching an ugly 17% grade. So the fixie gets a trip to CA and I'm going big (or going to die trying!) -- the freehwheel hub stays at home. The ride is going to get done fixed, or it's not going to get done at all. Larger cogs stay, too. But I'll go shoe shopping sometime this week, looking for something I can throw in my jersey pockets in Susanville and then dump at the next bag drop so I'm prepared to walk Janesville Grade. I don't imagine that I can get up a 19% kicker with 500 miles in my legs, at least not running 73 gear inches.

I'll also be treating myself to new brake pads (I suspect this ride will cost me a set and I might as well start fresh) and new rubber (high temps and reports of some rough roads and goatheads mean I ought to start from scratch there, too).

The real good news is the weather looks to be moderating. It's 105F in Oroville right now, at SIX IN THE FREAKING EVENING. Sheesh. The long-range forecast looks like high-80s/low-90s for our ride start, which is pretty reasonable and nothing like 2005.

Brief report on last week's proceedings:

Made it around in 78:46 after an absolutely wonderful ride. There were three of us out there on fixies (from three different continents, no less!) and all three of us finished. One of the other guys and I rode nearly the entire event together and finished together. We had a full moon for climbing the Feather River Canyon, which was spectacular. Riding the east side of the Sierra provided some amazing views and more than a few good, challenging climbs (and for those of us riding the cog, especially challenging descents). We left to climb the dreaded Janesville Grade at 0300 to make it up before daylight and were treated to an amazing sunrise from the top. (I had to walk two short sections of the grade, but the climb was no trouble -- descending it to the east, though, was a big challenge and I had to stop to let my brakes cool once.) We were then treated to a freezing descent down the other side. Brrrrr! The most challenging aspect of the ride was from Taylorsville to Tobin. While everyone else was just relaxing on a long downhill, we were beating ourselves up trying to keep our speed down under 30mph. My upper body is still sore from that. The reward for climbing Jarbo Gap was ice cream and beer at the biker bar (Scooters) at the top of the climb, which fueled a rockin' afternoon run down into Oroville. Some winds and mind-numming flat roads made the last 90 miles challenging, but after 1050K it was in the bag and we enjoyed the last few hours on the bike. All in all, an epic ride due to the weather gods similing on us and the fantastic support from the Davis Bike Club. Mark your calendars for 2013; this is a must-do 1200K!

Wow, sounds like a truly epic ride. I can't believe you did that fixed.. nice!

How hot was it?

Good job Octopus. My friend Rob Gray from England rode (and finished) on his fixed gear. Did you ride with him? I first met him in 2002 when he rode the RM1200 on a fixed gear. After the ride, he flipped his wheel over to a single "coastable" gear and rode across the continent to Boston and did the BMB.

It was an awesome ride, helped by the truly spectacular weather and excellent volunteer support.

I rode with the fixed pair (Octopus and Robert) pretty much the whole last day from 03:00 to 00:46. I have a pretty good shot of them at sunset on the last day. I should have an 8-minute video of the ride on YouTube by the end of the week.

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SharpT

Very impressive!! Congratulations on a huge achievement.

Good job Octopus. My friend Rob Gray from England rode (and finished) on his fixed gear. Did you ride with him? I first met him in 2002 when he rode the RM1200 on a fixed gear. After the ride, he flipped his wheel over to a single "coastable" gear and rode across the continent to Boston and did the BMB.

Rob and I rode most of the event together -- all of it other than the first night. Super nice guy and a great riding companion (and it helped we had nearly identical gearing). Super modest, too. I didn't discover the Trans-Canada aspect to his RM and BMB rides in '02 until after the event. Wow.

It was an awesome ride, helped by the truly spectacular weather and excellent volunteer support.

I rode with the fixed pair (Octopus and Robert) pretty much the whole last day from 03:00 to 00:46. I have a pretty good shot of them at sunset on the last day. I should have an 8-minute video of the ride on YouTube by the end of the week.

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SharpT

Sweet! Look forward to the video and any photos you might have. It was a great ride and it's tough to imagine better weather for it (though I was not of this opinion whiule freezing my suction cups off on the Janesville descent on Thursday monring!).

P.S. -- I have your finisher certificate, left behind at the banquet -- PM me with contact info and I'll send it to you! T.O.

... he rode the RM1200 on a fixed gear. After the ride, he flipped his wheel over to a single "coastable" gear and rode across the continent to Boston and did the BMB.

Now there is a ride to the start of a rando event! Take note mattm. ;-)

Video uploaded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWdHemJGCuM

Enjoy!

Very nice video, thanks !!!

These two flashlights were all you used for the front? On the first look it seems like a very fragile assembly.
I guess it did work out fine. Would you have some more details on your lighting solution?




Video uploaded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWdHemJGCuM

Enjoy!

Video uploaded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWdHemJGCuM

Enjoy!
what camera did you use to make that video? very nice. I saw someone I knew in there for about 10 seconds.

Rob and I rode most of the event together -- all of it other than the first night. Super nice guy and a great riding companion (and it helped we had nearly identical gearing). Super modest, too. I didn't discover the Trans-Canada aspect to his RM and BMB rides in '02 until after the event. Wow.

Nice to hear Rob's still in it.

Video uploaded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWdHemJGCuM

Enjoy!

Great video. Thanks for putting that together. Mrs. Octopus especially enjoyed seeing it. Tough to do justice to the vastness of the terrain but you captured it. Good job! :thumb:

Now there is a ride to the start of a rando event! Take note mattm. ;-)

Ha, just wait 'til I ride my floater-bike (http://www.nauticraft.com/) to PBP...


Video uploaded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWdHemJGCuM

Enjoy!

Thanks for the vid! Very cool stuff, I saw a few Seattle Randos in there.

And huge congrats on the finish too.

Great video. Thanks for putting that together. Mrs. Octopus especially enjoyed seeing it. Tough to do justice to the vastness of the terrain but you captured it. Good job! :thumb:

Nice video indeed, it pumps me up in anticipation of the Granite Anvil 1200 next month. I see you have a cameo at the end Mr. Octopus, nice!

To answer a few questions, the lighting system is 2 Fenix LD20 tactical CREE flashlights. I had a braze-on installed on the fork and I installed a short piece of aluminum angle. The flashlights are rubberbanded to the aluminum angle. Very secure on the ride, and can be removed to replace batteries. However, on 2XAA Energizer Li batteries you get 6 hours on high mode. I operated in low mode on climbs, medium mode on general roads, and high on descents or rough roads. 4XAA lasted the whole ride.

Camera is a Canon SD1000.

To answer a few questions, the lighting system is 2 Fenix LD20 tactical CREE flashlights. I had a braze-on installed on the fork and I installed a short piece of aluminum angle. The flashlights are rubberbanded to the aluminum angle. Very secure on the ride, and can be removed to replace batteries. However, on 2XAA Energizer Li batteries you get 6 hours on high mode. I operated in low mode on climbs, medium mode on general roads, and high on descents or rough roads. 4XAA lasted the whole ride.

Never noticed exactly what your lighting set-up was. Very cool. It threw out plenty of light.

As a note to those riding (and reading!) this in 4 years, this is a very easy ride to do with a battery-powered light. Throw your charger in the Adin drop bag. Charge while you sleep. Repeat if necessary for whatever time you're in Adin on the return trip (most people will sleep in Susanville on the way back, though). Had plenty of juice in my Moab with just the one charge. That first night to Oroville when the pack is still together, run your (mandatory, per the ride organizers!) secondary light to save on your main light and you're good to go.

Ha, just wait 'til I ride my floater-bike (http://www.nauticraft.com/) to PBP...



that's going to be tough going getting from the PNW to the NE so you can launch in the Atlantic, no? or do you plan on going the rando way round?

Thanks for the info! Now I can imagine what is going on in the video.
Did you usually use one or two of the lights at a time?


To answer a few questions, the lighting system is 2 Fenix LD20 tactical CREE flashlights. I had a braze-on installed on the fork and I installed a short piece of aluminum angle. The flashlights are rubberbanded to the aluminum angle. Very secure on the ride, and can be removed to replace batteries. However, on 2XAA Energizer Li batteries you get 6 hours on high mode. I operated in low mode on climbs, medium mode on general roads, and high on descents or rough roads. 4XAA lasted the whole ride.

One light at a time. When the batteries finally died on the first light, I switched on the 2nd.


Thanks for the info! Now I can imagine what is going on in the video.
Did you usually use one or two of the lights at a time?