Ygduf

I'm starting a new thread as this was my first double and I'm pretty happy about finishing it.


Because of the change in the route, there was no early start for Ron. Everyone started out strong. I think we were initially happy to be headed south, into the "nice" weather.





Sorry that last picture is blurry, but I posted it anyway because there is a cool video of me taking that pic. Marco and Ruth will have to post it when they get back.

We were hanging in and making good time (20+ mph avg) for the stretch to the first climb until I got a flat and got to watch everyone pass me. I'm slow at tube changes and I think when I finally got going again I was about 2 minutes behind the last person. This was my first double and I was anxious about it. Getting a flat early was good and bad. I probably spent a bunch of energy catching back up, but I got the nerves out of the way. I'd had an issue and gotten through it.

I slowly made my way back into the fold. I saw Ron at the first rest stop, just before the first climb. We rode together for a few minutes before I had to settle into my climb. I didn't see Ron again until lunch, after the weather had forced him off the course.

The first climb was interesting. The scenery was nice, it wasn't too cold to start, but at about 5500ft (1/3 the way up) it started to look ominous. Then I felt a sprinkle, then it was full on rain. I stopped and put on my jacket, dishwashing gloves, and rain booties. I had an issue with the bootie's zipper and got to watch a bunch of people who I'd passed on the climb pass me up. Finally I got going and then passed everyone again. It made for interesting conversation.

The descent on the backside of the first climb heading into Eureka Valley was MISERABLE. My hands were absolutely frozen. I was literally worried about frost bite. I couldn't feel the brake levers. The road was rough, my entire body was shaking from the cold, the rain/sleet HURT. The descent probably was the least enjoyable thing I've ever done on a bike.

Finally, at the bottom of the descent the 2nd rest stop was out in the desert. I grabbed a bunch of food/gel/water, caught Marco and Ruth and together we headed out. (tangent: don't put your rest stops in the desert sand. I and many other people had cleat issues. I couldn't unclip and nearly fell numerous times because debris had gotten jammed in there. Also, this was the 2nd rest stop and I'd still not been able to find a working floor pump to refill my squishy replacement tube...)

The climb back up the backside was tough. Similar to Diablo, I'd guess, but higher (4000+) and longer, with worse roads and it came right after a 3700 ft climb. But, the sun came out and it was such a relief to be warm again that I didn't mind it too much.

The descent of the frontside, back to rest stop 1 was a blast. I hit 40+ numerous times and averaged about 35mph. It was warm, sunny, and I knew that the majority of the climbing was done for the day. Emotionally, I was elated.

I made it to the rest stop and used the time I had to wait for Marco and Ruth to try and fix my cleats. I banged, scraped, used a knife to py out some rocks, everything I could do short of unscrewing and cleaning them from the inside out. Once everyone was ready we breezed out and made decent time to lunch. Oh, I should mention, this was now the 3rd rest stop I'd been to which didn't have a fully-functional floor pump. WTH...

Lunch was nice. It was really warm in Bishop. The Subway sandwiches were OK, but I could live without mayonnaise and cheese on my long-ride diet. I should have scraped things off, but I was too lazy and just powered it down. I regretted that for an hour or so after we started riding again.

Marco/Ruth and I headed out for the "easy" 1500ft climb over 33 miles to Benton. Holy %$# was that a miserable 2.5 hours. I expected the 33 miles to take 1.5-2 hours, max. I ran out of water about 2 hours into this stretch. I cannot describe how mentally challenging it was for me to ride away from lunch, at full effort, along an ugly highway with the same endless view, into a steady 25mph headwind. It was so demoralizing and depressing. Eventually I stopped to rub out some hot-foot issues and I was caught by Marco and Ruth who were hanging onto a small paceline of some Valley Spokesmen riders. I realized this was too good to miss (I'd been riding alone for like a solid hour, with no one else in sight) so I hopped on and caught up. I rode with this group to the rest stop at the base of the final climb.
This dirty scrub was all there was to look at for hours:


At the rest stop I ate and waited, and drank and waited, but finally decided I couldn't wait for Marco/Ruth anymore. I figured I'd climb and they would catch me headed back to Bishop. The final climb was tough. Maybe only 1200 ft over 7 miles, but the final stretch was 7% for 3 miles. Coming at mile 143, it was tough. This climb was at least scenic



This junction, coming just over the crest of the pass was the point where I knew I'd gone far enough. I was very happy knowing that I just needed to pedal back to Bishop.


I did see Marco/Ruth on the descent, about a mile from the top. I figured that they would for sure catch me over the 33 miles back to Bishop. I think the only reason they didn't was that I caught on with the Spokesman line again.


I did have to stop at mile 181, just 6 from the finish to again rub out some hot-spots on my left foot. I don't know what the issue is, but when I finally gave in and stopped I'm glad no one was around to hear my cry when I put my foot down. Oh well, I ended up pedaling into the finish alone, and made it with an overall time of 14:59. My ride time was 12:35. I think I could have done 14:00 total time, were it not for the flat tire and hot spots. Now I have a goal for next time.

Oh, on the drive home today Ron and I drove the scenic June Lake loop that we missed. It was amazing. Maybe 4000x better than Hwy 6 out and back.

next year...

jobob

Wow, very well done! Congrats on finishing your first double under such challenging conditions.

Beaker

Chris -- phenomenal achievement - seriously well done. Also, a really well written report.

taxi777

Great going on your first double. Exciting report and pictures. Glad to see you did it...and did it well!

gpelpel

That's a nice report Chris. I imagine how boring the ride north of Bishop must have been, it's straight for miles and miles and not very scenic.
Very impressive to complete such a ride.

RoboCheme

Great job, Chris!!

brentley

Chris,
Way to stick it out, and great report.

Brentley

rydaddy

Good job! Nice report and pics.

1jacktripper

You da man!

Ygduf

I think everyone will agree with me that this stretch was miserable. The cold rain/sleet at the start was bad physically, but 6 north was as bad mentally.

At one point I saw a bird fly backwards across the road. Literally, the bird was gliding in the wind, facing to my left, moving to my right. It was trippy.

Tapeworm21

Is it me, or does that Roubaix Pro look too small for him?

Ygduf

That's me. It's the largest frame they make. I need to "flip it" I think, which could make it look less cramped.

Never had any fit issues other than hot spots on left foot, and with the camelback, lower back pain (more today than during the ride).

rumbutter

Nice riding with you on the first section. Sorry to hear that you punctured. I wondered why you suddently slowed on the 395.

Ygduf

Yeah it was too bad. A random office-type staple on the side of a highway.

Ygduf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVy61itNJXI

I stole some of the go-pro footage. If you don't want to watch the whole descent section, skip to like 2:45 and watch the great canyon view. Apparently you can't upload w/copyrighted music, so play your own.

rumbutter

When I was unloading the bike from the car this afternoon I found one in my front tyre too but it hadnt managed to get through the kevlar. Cool Video.

twocoasttb

I picked up one of those 'staples' too in my rear tire just before the first rest stop.

Was it my imagination, or was there a strong ozone smell near the top of the pass? I didn't see any lightning, but it sure smelled like there had been some.

ericm979

It seems like your bars are kind of high. If it's comfortable for you, lower bars would be faster. Try moving them down in small increments.

Congratulations on perservering! The weather can get pretty tough out there.

DanteB

Great Job!!!! The ride from Bishop to Benton was horrible. When I went out there was no one else so I did the whole thing by myself, it was tough.

uspspro

This is footage from our new go-pro.
Thanks Chris.

Once and a while, I flashed the "5" when I passed 50 mph. Just for a bit of fun

Like 1/2 of that video is around 50 mph.

uspspro

That ride definitely called for HTFU seriously.

Plus a nasty cold started to take full swing just after halfway through.

Ruth and I hung out in the eastern Sierra and Yosemite on Sunday and today.

We hiked up to the top of upper Yosemite Falls, which was 7.2 miles round trip with 3200 feet of ascent on the way up and 3200 feet of descending on the way down. Unlike on a bike, descending is hard when hiking

This made our legs very sore coming two days after a hard double century on the tandem.
We have lots of pics and video.

Later!

Ygduf

Yes. I couldn't wait to show how cool I looked taking your pic. And the canyon descent!

jonathanb715

Nice job everyone - weather in the Sierras was crazy last weekend!

JB

rydaddy

Nice vid! I'd be scared as **** doing 50+ one handed.

Beaker

I was a little confused after watching it before your post - after the bit with Chris in it, I thought it must have been footage from a motorbike