DanteB

Well, 3:15am came early. I made it to the start line buy 4:00am and it was cold 45 degrees. I saw Rick (Rick@OCRR) and Terri (?) getting ready and leaving. I met a couple of other riders I know and left with them at 4:30. I was dressed in ThermaFleece bibs with knee warmers underneath, arm warmers, base layer, jersey, vest, skull caps with ear flaps, long fingers gloves and toe covers. I was a little cold, but I figured it would get warmer as it got closer to sunrise. By the time I got to the first rest stop, mile 37, I was cold. My fingertips were very cold, I almost couldn’t feel them and my face was stinging. I looked at the temp on my Polar, 30 degrees could that be right? I asked one of my friends what his computer showed and his was 30 also, no wonder I was shivering. I was trying to get my lights off my bike and fill water bottles, but I was having trouble getting my fingers to work. I won’t even go into trying to use the port-a-potty with ice cold fingertips. I don’t know which one was worst, riding the bike or standing at the rest stop, it was miserable.

Ok, back on the bike and it is cold. Within a few miles I started climbing and it did warm up a little. The first climbs of the day weren’t bad, just enough to catch your attention. Now I had to go to the bathroom and a tree wouldn’t do. Where is a port-a-potty when you need one? I finally found a feed store open and used their restroom. Back on the road and felling a lot better. I found a tandem and tucked in behind them and made up some ground.

At RS #2 the sun was up and we were about to start some serious climbing. So, I took off the leg warmers, vest, skull cap, toe warmers and bagged them to be picked up at RS#5 for the ride back downhill to the finish. It’s 27 miles between RS #2 and RS #3 and I gained a little over 3,100’. RS #3 was the lunch stop at 100 miles and it had the high temp of the day with 64 degrees. I sat and had lunch with Rick and Terri, then it was time to get back on the bike.

On to RS #4 and a great downhill to the RS. Opps, we are going to have climb back up the hill on the way back. After RS #4 was probably the hardest climb of the day, 5 miles with pitches to 12%. The ride to RS #5 it was 25 miles with 4,000’ of climbing. I picked up clothes, had a cup-of-noodles and it was back on the bike and the ride home. One more major climb for the day, ahh the nice downhill I had earlier. After the RS at the bottom of the hill it was time to climb it, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Now it was almost totally downhill to the finish, just a few speed bumps ok small hills, along the way. I was in a pace line with Rick, Terri and a few other riders about 3 miles from the last RS when we had one of the chip boys buzz us. Chip boys are the guys who put power chips, computer programming, into the diesel pick-ups to make them go faster. Unfortunately one of the side effects is they product tons of black smoke. This guy figured it would be cute to get behind us, stomp on the accelerator, produce as much smoke as possible and buzz us as close as possible. He did a great job if you’re on his side. He almost hit a rider and produced so much smoke you couldn’t see or breathe, thank you very much.

RS #7, the one I’ve been waiting for all day. Was it because there was only 16 miles left that made it special, no. The RS was sponsored by the Filipino Cycling Association, had valet parking and homemade chicken adobo with rice, what a feast. I didn’t eat too much because there was still 16 miles left.

Finally the finish line, what a beautiful sight. I checked-in, put my bike away and had some of the dinner the club was serving. I sat with Rick and Terri and discussed the day’s events. I was tired, it had been just a little over 17 hours since I left and I had been on the bike for 14:48. I ended up with 200.1 miles, 12,280’ of climbing, burned 12,425 calories and battled temps down to 30 degrees, what a day. The Fresno Cycling club does a great job of putting on the Bass Lake Powerhouse Double as usual.

I think I’m still coughing up black smoke.

JoelS

Wow! That outstanding! I don't even want to think about spending that much time on bike.

dbikingman

Great job. Did you do a structured training program for the double century?

Neil_B

Amazing! I'd love to be able to do something like that. You da man!

DanteB

Yes, I have a coach who help me prepare for my events. For me it takes more than just the physical prep, a lot of the ride is mental. On this ride I didn't want to quit, but there was a point I was hoping for maybe a broken chain. This was my fifth double for the year and I really wanted to finish it so i could qualify for the Triple Crown Thousand Mile Club.

CliftonGK1

I did one and it was pretty flat (Seattle to Portland), and it still took me about 2 weeks to feel fully recovered from it. Numbers like yours are just beastly! Way to go.

flip18436572

I saw some of the pictures at a different web forum. She gave a link to her pictures of the event, and I think she got pictures of every rider, except for a few.

andrelam

Amazing. A Century ride is still something that I have just done, and hope to do with more ease in the future. A double centry... WOW, that is one hell of an accomplishment. I am in awe.

Happy riding,
André

bautieri

WOW...excellent work!!!

Nearly 15 hours on the bike...you must have an a$s of iron

Missbumble 

Awesome!! A Doub e Hilly century - sounds incredible. You must still be feeling excited from it. I know I am over my single century. Great job - you are definitley an inspiration.

DanteB

Ya, but I'm trying to find the carbon fiber one.

DanteB

I don't know if "excited" is the word. It's more like tired, a little stiff and sore. I'm glad this one is over, now I can getting ready for next season. February starts the 2009 double season.

Mazama

Damn! Outstanding work! Doing 5 in one year even boggles my mind more.

I doubt I will ever put a double under my belt, but next spring I want to outdo my best of 102 miles. Maybe a double metric.

CliftonGK1

That's how it started with me.

Well, the metric was good, maybe I should try for a century.
That century was pretty fun. Maybe I should aim for a 200k.
Wow, 200k wasn't bad. Maybe I should try a really hilly century. And a double.
The double wasn't horrible, what about a 400k...

1bluetrek

Suddenly feeling very .. ummmm *sigh* Well done tho!

DanteB

It doesn't matter how far you go as long as you're having fun and you feel good about your accomplishment. The longest ride I've done is a triple century, I've done 3 of them (the first part I do have fun, I don't know about the last hour or so).

This is a picture of me having lunch at the 103 mile mark on the Bass Lake Double. It was taken by Rick@OCRR. As you can see I'm not the smallest cog on the bike.

Mr. Beanz

Nice report, prolly make a good movie except the potty part. Rick, Hmmmm, Rick, that name sounds familiar. Oh that's right, he 's the guy trying to drag me out there for the doubles. I have enough fun chasing him on GMR and The Bear!

1bluetrek

Clifton, you guys are just too hardcore! I'm like ... well, the 20 wasnt bad, maybe i should try the 21 !