Northern California - So who's doing Death Ride?

After being regaled with tales of "epic" rides, this past weekend, I'm feeling a bit left out and am contemplating Death Ride this year. Who has officially signed-up?

Jack
Ramon
Donald
Ben
Jim
Jonathan
Chris
Reid
Eric
*parity
*gpelpel
*c0lnago
*rydaddy
*udrongo + gf
Michael
Ruth & Marco? (Come on, you know you want to...)

*EDIT - adding the list of known attendees so far...

Isn't it soooon, like July?

Also, those passes are high, cold, and in my experience full of snow and sleet. :P

To me, DR sounds worse than a double.

Edit: Let me add: you should do it. :P If I were 140lbs and found climbing to be as easy as it often looks for you, I'd be signing up too.

Do it! I have my money on you that you can finish it and enjoy yourself while you're doing it. Ticket and lodging are easy stuff. Go out and do a 10,000 ft climb this weekend and see how you feel. It's not a race, so endurance is key.

I think what-Chamois-Butter Donald is doing it, as well as new-folder-acquiring Ben.

Oh, and Chris, what are you going to do that weekend when we're all out there? I think you and Michael should room up and car-pool over. I'd join you guys, but I'm saving a spot for my wife in both car and hotel room.

Is it still open? Don't you have to get into a lottery to get in?

It was first come first served on two sign ups this year. I am down for riding but havent booked a hotel yet. Any suggestions anyone ?
There seem to be a few people selling their entries. I am tempted to back out myself as I have to fly on business on Sunday lunchtime and that means driving home to the bay area on Saturday night.

Is it disgraceful to only do 1 or 2 passes?

It was first come first served on two sign ups this year. I am down for riding but havent booked a hotel yet. Any suggestions anyone ?
There seem to be a few people selling their entries. I am tempted to back out myself as I have to fly on business on Sunday lunchtime and that means driving home to the bay area on Saturday night.

I'll take that ticket off your hands... :innocent:

Oh, and Chris, what are you going to do that weekend when we're all out there? I think you and Michael should room up and car-pool over. I'd join you guys, but I'm saving a spot for my wife in both car and hotel room.

Maybe I'll stay home and see my girlfriend...

It's too late for me this year. Summer is crazy at my work, I'm on call for a week at a time, etc... Next year I will do this though. When the registration was happening this year I couldn't ride at all, my knee was not working, remember.

I'm looking at some later doubles. October/November sometime for the Triple Crown jersey.

Do it! I have my money on you that you can finish it and enjoy yourself while you're doing it. Ticket and lodging are easy stuff. Go out and do a 10,000 ft climb this weekend and see how you feel. It's not a race, so endurance is key.

I think what-Chamois-Butter Donald is doing it, as well as new-folder-acquiring Ben.

Oh, and Chris, what are you going to do that weekend when we're all out there? I think you and Michael should room up and car-pool over. I'd join you guys, but I'm saving a spot for my wife in both car and hotel room.

Oh snap, I think Jack's calling you out Chris. Come on, now, you know you want it.

Just think, you'll have a cool jersey to show for it. :thumb:

Oh snap, I think Jack's calling you out Chris. Come on, now, you know you want it.

Just think, you'll have a cool jersey to show for it. :thumb:

Eh, I already replied to that! I did 12k last weekend. I know I can trade 50 miles for another 3-4k.

Anyway, Michael, you should just buy Jack's registration for 1/2 price when the forecast calls for partly cloudy that weekend.

Ouch! That's cold.

I'm in again - proof positive that slow,old and fat (or all 3) cyclists can do this ride.

JB

... Who has officially signed-up?

Jack
Ramon
BenRidin


I'm in.


Would still have to find a ticket...
It'll also be a great excuse to get those wheels I've been eye-balling for a while.

Talk me into this :)

Easy, I have an extra ticket with your name on it.

PM me

BR

I'm in.



Easy, I have an extra ticket with your name on it.

PM me

BR

Wow, that was quick. Guess my decision time is over.

Thanks Jim, sending you a PM now.

I'm doing the Death Ride again this year. If you are looking for tickets, go to craigslist. There is a flood of them recently.

I am in.

Anyone interested in a campsite I know a great place. I found available spots last year without a problem. Two tents can fit on each site. We could do a group camp, the first one to arrive would reverse the necessary sites.

By the way the campground has hot showers.

Note: We should name Chris the official Norcal BF Sandbagger King... with Ron close second.

Yeah signed up. Camping sounds good, are the campgrounds crowded.

I'll be there...doing all 5 passes...in theory. :)

I am in.

Anyone interested in a campsite I know a great place. I found available spots last year without a problem. Two tents can fit on each site. We could do a group camp, the first one to arrive would reverse the necessary sites.

By the way the campground has hot showers

Doubtful, but does this place have RV sites?

PS-I am in as well. :D

Doubtful, but does this place have RV sites?

PS-I am in as well. :D

Yes, it does.

Well, I'm out. Doctor said my knee needs some work and I can't ride.

So...anyone need a ticket?

PM me.

I'm riding and my girlfriend is volunteering (she'll be at Ebbett's pass). We don't have lodging arrangements but camping sounds good. Would definitely be interested in doing the group camping thing. We'll head up Friday and stay two nights.

Well, I'm out. Doctor said my knee needs some work and I can't ride.

So...anyone need a ticket?

PM me.

I'm very sorry about your knee, I know the disappointment that comes with that limitation.

However, please see your PMs, I'll take your reg.

I cannot stand up to peer pressure, never have been able to. ;)

I also want in on this camping. Sue Wen will be coming with me and we're looking to stay Friday and Saturday nights.

I'm very sorry about your knee, I know the disappointment that comes with that limitation.

However, please see your PMs, I'll take your reg.

I cannot stand up to peer pressure, never have been able to. ;)

I also want in on this camping. Sue Wen will be coming with me and we're looking to stay Friday and Saturday nights.

AHA! I KNEW IT!!!!! :thumb:

Damnit... you guys are getting to me now too... hmmmm 6 days after the honeymoon.

I'm very sorry about your knee, I know the disappointment that comes with that limitation.

However, please see your PMs, I'll take your reg.

I cannot stand up to peer pressure, never have been able to. ;)

I also want in on this camping. Sue Wen will be coming with me and we're looking to stay Friday and Saturday nights.


Gee, that was fast to get you in.

Regarding the group camping, it should be fun. I am also planning to stay Friday and Saturday night.

Here is the scoop. I had no reservation last year and was planning to camp along the road not far from the start as many do. I was also planning on a sleepless night as I read the traffic is almost constant all night long. Before leaving I studied the area map and located all not too distant possible campgrounds. May be I was lucky but I am pretty sure the site status will be the same this year. I don't want to get the site location full before I arrive so we will talk about the arrangements via private mail if you don't mind.

So all interested in this group camping please PM me for directions. The first one to arrive will be in charge to lock sufficient sites for all parties just to be safe. I am planning to leave Friday morning and be there just after Noon.

Damnit... you guys are getting to me now too... hmmmm 6 days after the honeymoon.

So you two will be well-rested, is what you're saying.

My gf and I are in--first timers both. We currently have a room reserved at the South Tahoe Motel6 since reserved camp sites were long gone.

I'm out ... If I can't finish ESD, there's no way I'll be able to do a single pass at Markleeville. Plus, I don't have enough altitude training.

I'm out ... If I can't finish ESD, there's no way I'll be able to do a single pass at Markleeville. Plus, I don't have enough altitude training.

If you have the stomach for it, go do 3x Mount Diablo. If you can finish 3x, that is like 10,000 feet of climbing. And the mile per elevation gain is more then the Death Ride. That should give you a good indication of whether or not your fitness is good enough. This is the benchmark I use plus I feel it will give you a bump in climbing fitness if done a few weeks before the Death Ride. The rest is mental.

I'm out ... If I can't finish ESD, there's no way I'll be able to do a single pass at Markleeville. Plus, I don't have enough altitude training.

This years' ESD sounds like it was especially brutal. The Death Ride is easier in my opinion. But I prefer 100+ temps and climbing to wind and cold. You could always do the first four passes... the last one is not as nice a ride. I wouldn't do it if it wasn't required to "complete" the ride.


I'll be riding the DR for the 7th time. I'll be camping out in the parking lot. My wife might be with me. For some reason she likes hanging out and going for a hike while I am riding.

If you have the stomach for it, go do 3x Mount Diablo. If you can finish 3x, that is like 10,000 feet of climbing. And the mile per elevation gain is more then the Death Ride. That should give you a good indication of whether or not your fitness is good enough. This is the benchmark I use plus I feel it will give you a bump in climbing fitness if done a few weeks before the Death Ride. The rest is mental.

Tentatively scheduled for the weekend of the 27th.... :thumb:

If you have the stomach for it, go do 3x Mount Diablo. If you can finish 3x, that is like 10,000 feet of climbing. And the mile per elevation gain is more then the Death Ride. That should give you a good indication of whether or not your fitness is good enough. This is the benchmark I use plus I feel it will give you a bump in climbing fitness if done a few weeks before the Death Ride. The rest is mental.

I was actually able to complete the DR last year on a more limited training regimen. I had planned a triple Diablo but a business trip prevented it. So my training was limited to the Sequoia Century 6 weeks before the DR, a double Diablo 4 weeks before, and two single Diablos, plus a couple fast by flat 20-25 milers.

I had never ridden more than 112 miles in a row before with a max of 10,000'. Yes, I had cramps during the DR but as parity says it's all in the head. It's a long day in the saddle but it's fun.

I just hope it won't rain, hail, snow or whatever else Nature has in mind that all major BF events seem to attract this year. The hail storm last year was no fun but it was short and at the end of the ride. A weather like the WCC or the ESD would kill the fun.

Tentatively scheduled for the weekend of the 27th.... :thumb:

Chris, I'm putting you in charge of the official, BF, Death Ride training regimen. :thumb:

I'm doing 3x Diablo next Friday, the 19th. I did this last year and it was a great indicator for how prepared I was for the DR.

IMO, the Davis Double is about as difficult as the DR. To me, it's more about the time in the saddle, not neccesarily the total climbing.

deleted

Whoa... deja vu! ;)

I'm doing a 3 x Diablo tomorrow (Friday) morning.

I did a 2 x last weekend with the second (1:28) ascent only two minutes slower than the first. I plan to do a 4 x on Monday the 22nd.

Anything worth doing is worth overdoing. :)

Kevin

If you have the stomach for it, go do 3x Mount Diablo. If you can finish 3x, that is like 10,000 feet of climbing. And the mile per elevation gain is more then the Death Ride. That should give you a good indication of whether or not your fitness is good enough. This is the benchmark I use plus I feel it will give you a bump in climbing fitness if done a few weeks before the Death Ride. The rest is mental.

Totally agree. I repeatedly tried to do 10k+ days by doing repeats off the summit on Hamilton, and never made more than 9k before succumbing to mental fatigue. I was worried I wouldn't be able to finish the DR, but I reasoned with myself that repeats are just too damn boring to force yourself to do.

It turned out to be true. When you've got a legit ride to do, it's much easier to finish than when you're just trying to convince yourself "one more time up this 1-hour climb I've done 3 times already today!"

Honestly, Ron, I think you'd be fine. Also I don't think the altitude makes a difference. It didn't for me, at least.

Honestly, Ron, I think you'd be fine. Also I don't think the altitude makes a difference. It didn't for me, at least.

Well, something was up, because my head was really light-headed, and in general, sucky! That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. :p That's better than saying, I'm a hill climbing wuss!

I was hoping to have someone to talk to while everyone else blew by!

I was worried I wouldn't be able to finish the DR, but I reasoned with myself that repeats are just too damn boring to force yourself to do.

It turned out to be true. When you've got a legit ride to do, it's much easier to finish than when you're just trying to convince yourself "one more time up this 1-hour climb I've done 3 times already today!"

Honestly, Ron, I think you'd be fine. Also I don't think the altitude makes a difference. It didn't for me, at least.

Very, very true!

Hey, and you end up with a nice jersey you have the right to wear and bragging rights that last forever. The last pass, Carson, is all mental. The key is to start early in the morning. Once you pass the last cut-off time limit at Pickets Junction you can take all the time you need to reach the top.

I'm getting excited here, folks, all I need now is a ticket.

Jim / BenRidin' where are you. Help a BF brother out? ;)

I'm getting excited here, folks, all I need now is a ticket.

Jim / BenRidin' where are you. Help a BF brother out? ;)

Just got home from Long Beach! Aren't you suppose to be packing for Germany?

Just got home from Long Beach! Aren't you suppose to be packing for Germany?

Hi Jim,

Just got your v/m. Thanks a bunch! Talk to you soon. :)

Next year this is a ride I'd really like to do. But I'd like to get a compact first, maybe upgrade the groupset too. I think this would be hard on my knees with a standard and a 13/26 in back.

Hey Joel, I'm shooting for getting this done in 2010. I just can't afford the time this year - sitting on the sidelines is tough though....

Perhaps there is something wrong with the world ... perhaps the universe has been bullied around so that we are on an alternative universe ... or maybe there is just something wrong with me ... but I have no inkling to do the Death Ride. Eastern Sierra, yes .... DR no!

Perhaps there is something wrong with the world ... perhaps the universe has been bullied around so that we are on an alternative universe ... or maybe there is just something wrong with me ... but I have no inkling to do the Death Ride. Eastern Sierra, yes .... DR no!

Maybe it's the name, the ugly jersey (which I'll buy if I finish.......), or the prospect of spending a significant portion of the day at like, 6-8mph.


Damn, how did I get pressured into this...

Maybe it's the name, the ugly jersey (which I'll buy if I finish.......), or the prospect of spending a significant portion of the day at like, 6-8mph.


Damn, how did I get pressured into this...

Can't blame me for that :p