spingineer

Did anyone do this? If so, include a ride report. Makes for some entertaining reading. I'm not crazy enough to do that ... it's one thing to do an incredibly hilly double, but with 100 degree heat???

terrymorse 

A friend of mine did it, and I rode with her today and heard her story.

She was doing well until Mines Road (first female on the road), where she ran out of water. She struggled to get to the Junction, where she spent an hour before being able to remount. The rest of the ride was tough.

It was unfortunate that last Saturday was the first really hot day. Nobody had the chance to have any heat training.

flaco

I rode it up until mile 150 and then sagged in at Milpitas. Terry, I saw your friend there, and talked briefly to her as I was getting ready to throw in the towel. It was 5:30 and seemingly hotter than ever, and I just couldn't face Sierra Road. Previous to that I was fighting cramps from Patterson onward. Mostly due to the heat, and probably too quick a pace on the first half. I also ran out of water on Mines; that didn't help.

Anyway, other than the many hours of suffering, and the nagging sense of having failed, it was fantastic. Very, very scenic, good company from lots of very experienced riders, and great support. I recommend it to all masochists.

Now, since like a good masochist I am already signed up for the Terrible Two, I need some help figuring out how to add to my training so I can actually finish... I guess this was a wake up call...

flaco

Oh yeah, one more thing. What I want to know is, did the guy on the fixie finish? He looked pretty strong & was in front of me most of the time. He had a 68" gear. I cannot imagine.

jobob

Here are some ride reports from members of the ACTC

https://www.actc.org/stories/2007/DMD.htm

spingineer

There was a guy on a fixie? Now that is just nuts! Were there any bents (recumbents) out there?

spingineer

Thanks for posting that. These are amazing stories. I was wondering how everyone did. I only did a ride with some friends from Van Nuys to Santa Barbara, 100 miles, 6000 feet of climbing. This seemed like a stroll in the park compared to what everyone did in DMD.

flaco

At least two recumbents. The really expensive looking carbon ones.

jobob

If you have access to the forums on bikejournal.com, a friend of mine wrote up a really great report there.

The heat really took it's toll on many of the riders, and I gather there were a lot more DNFs than usual on account of it.

spingineer

There were also a high number of DNFs on Wildflower in Creston. It was just one of those unexpectedly rides, where everyone was unprepared to train for these conditions.

jobob

I was actually supposed to do the Wildflower but I was still not over my head cold so I sold my reg. My friends had a really rough time in the heat, and they're much stronger than I. Guess I lucked out on that one.

bigbossman 

According to the DMD website, about a 30% DNF rate.

A friend of mine and his two ride partners did this ride, and finished it. They left at 5:30am on Saturday, and came back to the finish at 1:30am Sunday.

jobob

There's a photo album online from the Pet the Goat rest stop at the top of Sierra Rd., with photos of riders posing with Alto the Goat.

https://www.svihura.com/albums/DMD2007/index.html

Here's a photo of a fixie at that stop at around 5:30 - is that the one you're talking about ? (can't imagine there were that many fixed gears on this ride). Can't tell who rode it tho, perhaps it was the man in the photo either just before or just after.

https://www.svihura.com/albums/DMD200...4.28-0037.html

I imagine if he reached Sierra by 5:30, baring any disaster afterwards, he finished the ride.

flaco

Yep, that's the one I saw. Dang. Not sure if I could identify the rider though -- he was way out ahead of me most of the time.