Northern California - Furnace Creek 508 - Who's In?

Next weekend (Oct 3 & 4) is the Furnace creek 508 (http://www.the508.com/). It is a 508 mile race from LA through the Mojave to Death Valley and then back down to Twenty Nine Palms.

Instead of race numbers we get to pick a totem. I'll be there racing on Team 4x Blue Whale doing segments 2 and 6. We're shooting for a sub 40 hour finish. Last year I crewed (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=476359) Python (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6ek4-SACcc) who did a solo finish in around 30 hours.

I know a few of you have raced it in the past (Vireo with Brandy as crew). Anyone doing it this year? Or crewing?

Have to build up the resume so that we can actually get in... maybe next year.

We are going to do the Davis 24-hour time trial in the spring and some brevets, hopefully that will start things off.

I heard that they had difficulties getting enough teams this year due to the economic climate. I was planning on riding it with my mate from the UK but the logistics for a support crew made it impossible for us. Perhaps another year.

Have to build up the resume so that we can actually get in... maybe next year.

We are going to do the Davis 24-hour time trial in the spring and some brevets, hopefully that will start things off.

You'd be surprised. I think you'd probably qualify already. You have some very strong rides with good times. Chris likes to have a good mix of bike types so you'd have a good step up there.

Start now working towards finding a solid crew. That can be a show-stopper.

I'll be there!

I'm racing solo as Unladen Swallow... I couldn't really pick the totem I wanted since my fiancee and someone else already have it (in two different languages too!). I'm hoping for a sub-36 hour time; but that depends a lot on how well I get accustomed to my bike in the next week and a half.

I crewed last year for Nanook (my fiancee). She finished 6th in the women's field. Or as we like to say, 1st among the people who weren't already established legends in the ultra racing scene. ;)

Have to build up the resume so that we can actually get in... maybe next year.

We are going to do the Davis 24-hour time trial in the spring and some brevets, hopefully that will start things off.

Are you going for Paris-Brest-Paris brevet?

Are you going for Paris-Brest-Paris brevet?

In 2011? That would be awesome, but I don't think so. You never know though! Honestly, though we haven't gone as far as doubles in regards to one day rides. First steps would be the 24-hour time trial and a 600k.

I'm in again, sorta. Last year I ran TS3 at Furnace Creek. This year it's TS4 at Shoshone. And yes, YMMV.
-dg

I'll be there again this year with Team Capybara (two-person team). Last year we suffered with digestion issues and limped in with a time of 39 hours. Hoping to do better this year, and hoping that the temperatures aren't too excessive. I will most likely being doing the odd-numbered stages this time (Townes Pass, here I come).


Have to build up the resume so that we can actually get in... maybe next year.

Based on what I've read here, your resume is way more extensive than mine. This year's Everest Challenge alone would probably get you in. We bounced back and forth a few times on the Death Valley Road climb (coming back) at the High Sierra Double before I totally cracked- if it were up to me, that performance by you and Ruth would get you in immediately. :)

http://shakenbrain.com/storage/post-images/Capybara2009.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1252037613186

I'm in again, sorta. Last year I ran TS3 at Furnace Creek. This year it's TS4 at Shoshone. And yes, YMMV.
-dg

Thanks for being out there!!

Resumes? I signed up for my first ultra race (last year's HooDoo 500) on the strength of 5 double centuries... By the time the race came around, I had done 8 doubles and 1 triple century. Just learn how to suffer and you'll be fine. ;)

Resumes? I signed up for my first ultra race (last year's HooDoo 500) on the strength of 5 double centuries... By the time the race came around, I had done 8 doubles and 1 triple century. Just learn how to suffer and you'll be fine. ;)

cool.

Their site just makes it sound like you need a good deal of "credentials" to get in.

We have (all on the tandem):

- 3 doubles in 2009 (DMD, Eastern Sierra, Mt Tam)
- Everest Challenge finishers 2009
- This was our first year of doing doubles, and second year of riding tandem.

I think adding the 24-hour TT and/or a 600k would be beneficial for both qualifying and helpful experience. :D

The 24-hour TT is pretty cool. It basically does a shortened Davis Double during the day (around 163 miles with 8,000 ft of climbing) and then repeats a flat 18.4 mile loop at night.

So at least it won't be uber-boring since the part of the day where you can actually see is not doing loops.

Yeah, the 24-hour race at Davis is cool. Just hope the weather isn't like it was this year! It rained the whole day. We bailed after just doing the day loop. It was too dang miserable out there! I got a flat at about the halfway point, and it was so cold out that I took about three times as long to change the tube as usual. The worst part? It was my birthday... It's not supposed to rain in California in May!

Have to build up the resume so that we can actually get in... maybe next year.

We are going to do the Davis 24-hour time trial in the spring and some brevets, hopefully that will start things off.

This is so news to me. When were you going to let me know?!

This is so news to me. When were you going to let me know?!

Dude, it's next May :) I was going to let you guys know!

Dude, it's next May :) I was going to let you guys know!

After it's too late to start training maybe? I see how it is. Count me in for 24hrs of pain. Want to see if I can ride 300, or 350 miles in 24hr window...

You guys make the rest of us seem like wimps. :(

I'm sticking with doubles. Also hoping to get my Bay Area local knee replacement Everest Challenge ride scheduled with participants for next year.

You guys make the rest of us seem like wimps. :(

That's my specialty! ;)

Kudos to you guys going for it this year. I've yet to try a double, not sure what my appetite/motivation is for that at this point in my life, but I'll get there in my own sweet time. Good luck all.

I'm sticking with doubles. Also hoping to get my Bay Area local knee replacement Everest Challenge ride scheduled with participants for next year.

What is this Bay Area Everest Challenge you speak of? Do tell! :innocent:

What is this Bay Area Everest Challenge you speak of? Do tell! :innocent:

Saturday would be either Mr. Bill's nightmare:
http://bushnell.homeip.net/~bill/downloads/mrbills_1997.pdf
or some sort of variation of that.
My original route was start at Peet's on Homestead, Steven's Canyon, Redwood Gulch, down 9, Bohlman On Orbit, back up 9, 236, Up/down Jamison Creek, over to and up Alba, descend Felton Empire, up Zayante, 35, down 9, Pierce/Mt. Eden, last climb would be Montebello before returning to start at Peet's.

Sunday is usual start at Kirk St. school, over to and up Sierra, Calaveras, Welch Creek, back on Calaveras, over to and up Quimby then both sides of Mt. Hamilton.

No high elevation, perhaps heat depending on date. Almost every climb by itself is miserable from a grade standpoint though.

^ Sweet Jesus, that's brutal.

Saturday would be either Mr. Bill's nightmare:
http://bushnell.homeip.net/~bill/downloads/mrbills_1997.pdf
or some sort of variation of that.
My original route was start at Peet's on Homestead, Steven's Canyon, Redwood Gulch, down 9, Bohlman On Orbit, back up 9, 236, Up/down Jamison Creek, over to and up Alba, descend Felton Empire, up Zayante, 35, down 9, Pierce/Mt. Eden, last climb would be Montebello before returning to start at Peet's.

Sunday is usual start at Kirk St. school, over to and up Sierra, Calaveras, Welch Creek, back on Calaveras, over to and up Quimby then both sides of Mt. Hamilton.

No high elevation, perhaps heat depending on date. Almost every climb by itself is miserable from a grade standpoint though.

I will sign up for this.

Arghh. Peer pressure. Next year you say? Well, definitely maybe.


Now back to our scheduled programming.

^ Sweet Jesus, that's brutal.

My knees hurt just reading the list! :p

I will sign up for this.

out of your mind...

I will sign up for this.

I thought you were going short this weekend?

out of your mind...

http://go-dl.eve-files.com/media/0608/pot_kettle_black.jpg

You know you'll want to come along...

Hang on, that's the kettle calling the pot black. Did you just prove Chris's point?

Saturday would be either Mr. Bill's nightmare:
http://bushnell.homeip.net/~bill/downloads/mrbills_1997.pdf
or some sort of variation of that.
My original route was start at Peet's on Homestead, Steven's Canyon, Redwood Gulch, down 9, Bohlman On Orbit, back up 9, 236, Up/down Jamison Creek, over to and up Alba, descend Felton Empire, up Zayante, 35, down 9, Pierce/Mt. Eden, last climb would be Montebello before returning to start at Peet's.

Sunday is usual start at Kirk St. school, over to and up Sierra, Calaveras, Welch Creek, back on Calaveras, over to and up Quimby then both sides of Mt. Hamilton.

No high elevation, perhaps heat depending on date. Almost every climb by itself is miserable from a grade standpoint though.

Sounds fun... I'll keep that in mind for after I recover from the 508! ;)

Hang on, that's the kettle calling the pot black. Did you just prove Chris's point?

Indeed he did.

Indeed.

We will be there racing 4man team- Rhino Beetles!!

Sounds fun... I'll keep that in mind for after I recover from the 508! ;)

Fueco,

Looks like they got you on video @ 4:40 on this clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM9zVcdefiU

How was it?

Fueco,

Looks like they got you on video @ 4:40 on this clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM9zVcdefiU

How was it?

Yep, saw the video. I caught all kinds of people checking the bike out during the ride. The bike handled fine, and my only mechanical issues were a front dreailleur that didn't want to shift and two flats. Everything else was fine...

I had a blowout flat at 42mph on a downhill after Trona. That wasn't so fun... Fortunately it was one of those long straight descents that we love the desert for! The front derailleur issue was fixed by the neutral support mechanics during the first 15 miles of the race. I still managed PRs for 200 and 100 miles! 11:40 for the first 200 and 5:10 for miles 100-200...

Then the sand hit the fan... Townes Pass was no big deal. I got up that, had a cup 'o soup and put on the vest and arm warmers for the descent. By the time I hit the bottom the wind was starting to gust and the temperatures were back up over 80. Then sand started drifting across the road. After Stovepipe Wells the road turned into the wind! It got progressively worse as I went south.

I hit Furnace Creek (roughly the halfway point) at just under 17 hours. I thought it would be cake from there. But the wind continued to worsen. The part from Furnace Creek to 5 miles south of Badwater took me 6 hours! And that's only 23 miles with no real hills! One gust even picked up the front of my bike and forced me into the other lane. Many times I wanted to give up, but my crew kept me going for quite a while. About a mile past Badwater, I stopped for about an hour. The wind seemed to die down, so I continued. After a couple of miles, the road went around a low ridge projecting from the mountains. Once I shifted directions, the wind came back far stronger than it had been earlier. It got so bad that in order to make forward progress I had to get off my bike and walk while bracing the seat against my hip. 40mph crosswinds are definitely NOT ridable! After a quarter mile of walking I gave in and dropped out.

Two days later, only my shoulders are really sore. All that bracing of the handlebars against the wind took its toll. I'll be back to attempt it solo next year or the following year! Someone's trying to talk me into a 4x fixie team... ;)

On the road in Panamint Valley

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/Fueco/FC508-09/fc-10.jpg

Putting lights on at dusk.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/Fueco/FC508-09/fc-12.jpg

And the scene in the van 4 miles before I called it quits...

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/Fueco/FC508-09/mikefinish.jpg

After a couple of miles, the road went around a low ridge projecting from the mountains. Once I shifted directions, the wind came back far stronger than it had been earlier. It got so bad that in order to make forward progress I had to get off my bike and walk while bracing the seat against my hip. 40mph crosswinds are definitely NOT ridable! After a quarter mile of walking I gave in and dropped out.

One time I was riding my motorcycle across the desert and had (I'm guessing) 40mph tailwinds. Was cruising at 95-100 sitting upright without even any wind noise in my helmet. I can't even imagine trying to ride a bicycle with that as a crosswind! Totally insane. :twitchy:

Congrats on the effort and thanks for the report!

[QUOTE=Fueco;9811074]
I hit Furnace Creek (roughly the halfway point) at just under 17 hours. I thought it would be cake from there. But the wind continued to worsen. The part from Furnace Creek to 5 miles south of Badwater took me 6 hours! And that's only 23 miles with no real hills! One gust even picked up the front of my bike and forced me into the other lane. Many times I wanted to give up, but my crew kept me going for quite a while. About a mile past Badwater, I stopped for about an hour. The wind seemed to die down, so I continued. After a couple of miles, the road went around a low ridge projecting from the mountains. Once I shifted directions, the wind came back far stronger than it had been earlier. It got so bad that in order to make forward progress I had to get off my bike and walk while bracing the seat against my hip. 40mph crosswinds are definitely NOT ridable! After a quarter mile of walking I gave in and dropped out.

QUOTE]

Wow ! Brutal stuff.

Holy cow, Fueco, that sounds unbelievably tough. Kudos for getting as far as you did.

Absolutely Classic Quote from a recumbent rider.

http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=53789&page=3

"I hopped on the bike and started up the steep 1-mile climb out of FC. The wind was still not bad, but it was picking up. As soon as I made the right towards Badwater, the wind went nuts! After 5 miles of fighting the 404/disk combo into a 40mph headwind, I decided to switch wheels. FWIW, I was averaging about 7mph and had to pedal down hills to maintain 10mph! Here's where disaster struck!

I went to remove the disk wheel from bike. I pulled it off and the wind immediately ripped it out of my hands and it started bounding across the desert. I gave chase to my $3500 wheel, bounding across rocks and sand in my cycling shoes with only the light of the moon to guide me. Well, you can imagine what happened...the wind actually caught me and I could not stop. I finally stumbled on some sand and did a face plant into the sand. Fortunately, the head hit sand, but the left knee, right forearm and right kidney hit big rocks. Ouch! Although bloody, I hopped back on the bike and continued riding. FWIW, Robert continued chasing the wheel and finally caught it after 100 yards."

[Dana from Bentup cycles]

I rode the Furnace Creek to Shoshone stage (the most brutal wind stage mentioned above) as a part of a 4 man team. It was the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life. I simply can not imagine going through it on a solo ride. It was painful and brutal enough as it was. I only averaged 10 miles per hour for the 73 miles and I was fresh when I started!