Northern California - Marco & Ruth's Epic DMD Failure!

Ooops!



Yikes. The craziest thing is that I figure it had to have broken the day we did Bohlman, right? So you guys went out and rode how many miles before it slipped enough to wedge it in the tube which made it HARD to steer?

:twitchy:

We are getting a new tandem, but it's arrival date is scheduled for the end of June... that might deserve a new thread.

Wound Up would be 2-weeks and expensive..

Turns out Santana has some NOS heavier-than-lead 1" Chrome steel tandem forks.

Should be here by Friday.

The cat is out of the bag.:D

I waited around for Marco to call me when they were getting close to Patterson pass. Just after 11 he called so I got ready and loaded up the car to drive over to Alum Rock. The climb up Hamilton took about 1:45, I didn't want to really push things since I had the East side to climb back up. I stopped at the visitors center for a few minutes to fill the bottles and put on more sunscreen then headed down the other side to hopefully meet up with them at some point. Never did. I inquired with each cyclist heading west about the white tandem, the only response was about three hours back. At mile 31 I turned around so I could get back to the visitors center before closing time at 5pm (made it with 2 minutes to spare). It's not hot like last week but the wind is really bad. The steep climb is made much worse with wind in your face during the out of saddle sections. Three weeks in a row, three different bikes on the East side of Hamilton. Quite burnt out. They are out there somewhere..

OMFG we did it.

Sorry we missed you Ramon, but after calling you, we hit Patterson and the winds were BRUTAL, headwind the entire climb. Sucked to see those damn windmills spinning as fast as the ceiling fan at your house. We hit lower speeds there than anywhere on the course. It sucked big time, and took forever. I knew then, we were running way late to meet you.

We had lunch at the Junction, but I had no phone service. :(

A lady passing us on the way to the bridge told us you were looking for us, but decided to head back up.

I'll post a full report later. This was the hardest craziest thing I have ever done, and I am sure Ruthie would agree.

Our moving time was actually pretty good at apx 17.5 hours (can't find the computer at the moment).

However, since there were no more rest stops after Hamilton, just two roving SAG vehicles (one for the front group and one for the rear group), we had to stick with the group for the rest of the night. We were the front runners of the rear group, so lots of waiting for us.

So, we ended up with 22 hours and 35 minutes. Starting at 5:05 AM and finishing at 2:40 AM.

The thing that killed us, was that getting the bike re-assembled and everything else the night before, we only got around 2.5 hours of sleep the night before! So the exhaustion really started to kick in right before Sierra.

Full report to come.

Wow, long hard day! Great job!

JB

So, we ended up with 22 hours and 35 minutes. Starting at 5:05 AM and finishing at 2:40 AM.

The thing that killed us, was that getting the bike re-assembled and everything else the night before, we only got around 2.5 hours of sleep the night before!Hard. Freaking. Core.

:beer:

Wow, what is the time limit?

Kudos, Marco, kudos; that's darn impressive.

How's Ruth doing? We definitely need to hear her take on this epic. :)

Congrats Marco and Ruth!

WTF! I couldn't imagine doing that! You two are crazy.

Kudos, Marco, kudos; that's darn impressive.

How's Ruth doing? We definitely need to hear her take on this epic. :)

:twitchy:

Uhhhh... She went to clinical (nursing school) at like 8am start time, left at 7am. I don't know how she managed to make it there. She will be there until like 6 pm :eek:

:twitchy:

Uhhhh... She went to clinical (nursing school) at like 8am start time, left at 7am. I don't know how she managed to make it there. She will be there until like 6 pm :eek:

OK well right there that tells us everything we need to know. :thumb:

OK well right there that tells us everything we need to know. :thumb:

I will hopefully have a bunch of errands and dinner done before she gets so she can just eat and then bed.

Wow, what is the time limit?

No time limit, but two cut offs. Leave Mines Rd stop by 1:30 and leave lunch by 4:30. We met both of those.

We got a flat descending Hamilton, cost us 20 min. I was having trouble trying to dig the little shard of glass out of the tire, it was really small and stuck.

Great job! I have enormous respect for finishing this ride on a tandem. Glad you guys had a second chance at it. :thumb:

Times for us were:

Start time: 5:05 AM
To Diablo: 32 min (5:37 AM)
Diablo climb: 1:32 from School to Summit (7:09 AM)
Top of Morgan: 9-something I think close to 10 PM
Midway and Grant Line (2.8 miles from Patterson base): 11:00 AM
Mines Road stop (forgot how far into mines): 1:00 PM
Junction Cafe (depart time): 4:15 PM -apx (after maybe 30 mins rest)
Hamilton Summit: 6:40 PM

After that our pace was slowed by many factors:
- Annoying flat on Hamilton descent
- LONG stop at the 7-11 before Sierra
- waiting for group on top of Sierra
- waiting at Calaveras
- waiting at Sunol

After Sunol, we went without waiting since we would no longer need the SAG car for anything.

We didn't mind waiting other than the ultimate finish time being super late. The group we rode with and George working the SAG vehicle were awesome!

Still need to give a full report, but right now my ankles and knees are jacked up.

Times for us were:

Diablo climb: 1:32 from School to Summit


Jeez, I hate you guys. I have trouble going much faster than that on my single bike, when the ONLY thing I'm doing is climbing Diablo. You do that on a tandem as part of a 200 + mile, 20,000 foot day on like 2 hours of sleep.






Nice job:thumb:

JB

Great job, congrats! :beer:

Congratulations, I have much respect for both of you :thumb:

Hi Marco and Ruth:

Congrats on a great ride and accomplishment.

Hard. Freaking. Core.

:beer:

+100. You two are da bomb.

A-freakin'-mazing. I re-read your posts and I'm still virtually speechless. Wow.

I was actually surprised that you continued onto Hicks after we came down Bohlman and On Orbit. I remember seeing you futz with it at Summit Bicycles.

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/510471790_Dnnor-L.jpg

The mechanic was shocked that you guys did Bohlman/On Orbit on the tandem.

Damn it Marco, get out of the way so I can identify that guy behind you.

Damn it Marco, get out of the way so I can identify that guy behind you.

^^

That'd be me. :)

^^

That'd be me. :)

Have we met?

Amazing. You guys rock!

Found our computer:

205.24 miles
17:09:10 ride time.
Avg Speed = 12mph
Avg HR = 145
Max Speed = 45 mph
Max HR = 183

What a ride, I still can`t believe we did it. The new Chris King headset and chrome Santana fork performed marvelously - I wasn`t freaking out at the turns like last weekend and the descending felt much smoother in the back.

It was a much different atmosphere compared to before - there were about 15 riders for the staff ride compared to around 200 last weekend. The SAG was fantastic (big shout out to George and his green Subaru - he had everything we needed), the weather was much cooler, the riders were enthusiastic.

We ascended Diablo at sunrise and descended Mt. Hamilton at sunset, which seemed appropriate.

Thumb up:
-heed, hammer gel, electrolytes and ibuprofen from SAG. In the later parts of the ride, I didn`t care anymore if I was overdosing on ibuprofen (I looked it up later to make sure I wasn`t killing myself - it`s 3200 mg/day).
-tailwind at Altamont Pass - we were going at least 40 mph with minimal pedaling. The windmills were spinning hard!
-ascending Sierra Road at night - we could zig zag to heart`s content with no traffic.
-riding tandem with Marco - it was nice to have someone to talk to the entire ride, and pick up my slack during parts when my knee was bothering me. :love: Other than that, I promise that I didn`t slack off!

Thumb down:
-headwind at Patterson Pass - It must have channeled all of that wind and dumped it right in our faces.
-mile markers on Mines Road. It was my first time on Mines, and I assumed that when we reached "26" we would be at the Junction cafe. I was disappointed when the numbers started counting back down and we weren`t at the rest stop yet. Meadows and flowers are beautiful during the first 5 miles, but it gets boring for the next 20 miles when you want to get the road over with.
-the ridge on the backside of Hamilton - when you think you`re at the top, you go around the corner and see more ridge. It doesn`t help that you can`t see the telescopes so you have no idea how close to the top you are. It was at this point that I had thoughts of throwing the tandem off Mt. Hamilton.

As other riders have commented, this ride was mentally challenging as well. For me, this was tougher than the physical aspect of it. I think it can be the downside of being the stoker - when all you have to focus on is pedaling, your mind tends to focus on every single little thing that would give you a reason to quit. My thought processes went from "I`m feeling great, I can do this" to "How did I ever let myself get talked into this? I`m never going to touch a bike again" and back again. It got better when I stopped focusing on the entire route and instead thought of just making it to the summit of the next climb.

My almost-breaking-point came when we met up with everyone at the 7-11 right before Sierra Road. George was going to take a rider who SAG`d out back to the hotel. Wait, here was an easy out presented to us, all I would have to do is ask! As I was stuffing newspaper into my jersey, I thought of being taken back the hotel, a hot shower and climbing into my warm bed at a decent time. All of this could be mine! So tempting! ....But I didn`t. I didn`t want to disappoint Marco and we had done all of the hard parts already, what`s another 40 miles? It was a relief to finally reach the finish at 2:40 AM.

Quackcyclists did a fantastic job with everything, they have some spirited and dedicated members. Especially Scott, the race director, who gave us a second chance. If you have a chance to do a Quackcyclists` ride, take it!

All in all, I`m glad I didn`t give up on myself and it gave me closure on this 2 week drama with the tandem. Thank you to everyone for your encouragement and support.

Great write up Ruth - I don't know how you manage to stay sane in the back all that time. You guys make a great team.

Ruth, that was such a refreshing report. Great observations from the back of a Tandem, like being there, Thanks!

Oh and big Congrats! A true Cheetah...

WTF! I couldn't imagine doing that! You two are crazy.

+1 :eek:

Crazy like a fox! (I don't know what that means.)


Found our computer:

205.24 miles
17:09:10 ride time.
Avg Speed = 12mph
Avg HR = 145
Max Speed = 45 mph
Max HR = 183Is that, uh, taking into account the two hearts present? :P


All in all, I`m glad I didn`t give up on myself and it gave me closure on this 2 week drama with the tandem.:beer: <-- several of those.

Thanks for the report Ruth. Just think, only two more times and you can get a triple crown jersey. :thumb:

Thanks for the report Ruth. Just think, only two more times and you can get a triple crown jersey. :thumb:

... but the toughest one is over with!

I enjoyed the report. Couldn't help but nod in agreement with everything you wrote, minus the headwinds (we got lucky). I think 'Failure' should be edited out of the thread title. ;)

Great report, Ruth. I can relate to your thoughts and feelings as a stoker on a long and challenging ride. We've done 106 miles together and the mental challenges (especially on something like the Marshall Wall, or Mt. George in Napa) can really tax you mentally. And, let's face it, cycling is 50% physical and 90% mental.

Well done hanging in there and getting your ride ridden. I agree with Rydaddy to edit out "failure" or edit in "success."

Awesome. :thumb:

Fantastic Job. A truly epic adventure.

... but the toughest one is over with!No kidding. After this, she'll be able to take a nap during Davis if she needs it.


And, let's face it, cycling is 50% physical and 90% mental.:lol: Agreed.

. And, let's face it, cycling is 50% physical and 90% mental.

Wait... are you talking about road cycling.... You are forgetting 110% looks ;)

I'm glad you two finished, everyone is very proud. A year is a long time to ponder a dnf as well.

Wait... are you talking about road cycling.... You are forgetting 110% looks ;)

But wait ... if it's 50% physical, 90% mental, and 110% looks, then we have 250% ... :p

But wait ... if it's 50% physical, 90% mental, and 110% looks, then we have 250% ... :p

The DMD might just take 250%?

Great job, guys. What an impressive feat. You may have just inspired me to do a double Century (I've never done more than 130). I am looking into the Terrible Two as a possibility.

But wait ... if it's 50% physical, 90% mental, and 110% looks, then we have 250% ... :p250 is the new 100. Inflation is a *****.

Great job, guys. What an impressive feat. You may have just inspired me to do a double Century (I've never done more than 130). I am looking into the Terrible Two as a possibility.

Cool. So I'll have some company on the upcoming training rides. East side of Ham, B.O.B., Jamison Creek, Alba, etc.

Cool. So I'll have some company on the upcoming training rides. East side of Ham, B.O.B., Jamison Creek, Alba, etc.

You are off the hook! Sir!:eek:

Another interesting bit from the ride.

After climbing Patterson Pass and flying down the steep but windy descent, we arrived on to some rolling roads on our way out to Mines Rd.

Well we ended up riding smack into the middle of the Wente Road Race. The Cat5 (I think field) turned right before us on to some road so we slowed let them through the trun and proceded to follow once the support car had gone through. Two guys OTB passed us on a roller, and a third one came up and asked "How many minutes?"

I told him there were two guys OTB that joined up trying to catch back on that are like less than 1 min up, and the main field is probably a little over 2 min up.

The road flattened out, and we passed the rider. We had a stiff, but not brutally insane headwind, and we were moving pretty good in the around 25-30 mph over the lightly rolling terrain. I looked back and this guy OTB, had drafted us all the way up to just before we caught the two other guys... WTF! :lol:

He goes to pass us, and says "Thanks guys." LOL.... I didn't know what to say

a) Sarcastically remark: It's cool man we are only at mile 90 of the DMD, so we are still fresh. Glad to give you a pull :rolleyes:
b) You can't do that!
c) No problem, good luck.

I opted for option c because this guy was OTB and was probably not going to catch back up. I didn't mind easing his suffering just a bit. ;)

Funny thing is once he passed us and got into that headwind. We immediately re-passed him.

Then we had to stop because the Cat4 group was rapidly closing from the rear and we would have disrupted their RH turn (we were going straight), so we pulled off the the side and watched them go around the corner. Then continued on towards Mines Rd.