apkom

Congrats on getting <9h time Eric!
Wife drove me to Turtle rock park start by 5:30am but it took me few minutes to get ready so I started at 5:38am
Coincidentally, I finished at same spot at exactly the same 9h!

Power Meter is an excellent objective pacing tool. I used it on all 3 of my DRs in 2010, 2011 and 2012 but this year I resolved to stick with my target power of 220Wt (I calculated it as 7% increase from 2011) on all 5 passes no matter how tempting it was to go hard in the beginning or suck faster wheels (something I did in previous years and then regretted).
At the bottom of each climb I'd hit the lap button on my Garmin and then watch the instant and average lap power numbers to keep them as close to 220Wt as possible while visualizing rewarding experience of flying up the Carson pass in the end.
This discipline paid off huge time. I did not need much recovery at rest stops (cut my idle time from 75 to 24mins) and I felt a lot better on last Carson pass doing it non-stop in one set.

While reviewing my training plan a month ago I wrote down somewhat arbitrary number of 8h from start to top of Carson as my goal for this event and went on with my training without giving it much of importance. On Saturday as I was approaching Carson summit I checked my total elapsed time and realized I was actually on target and sprinted to the summit to make it exactly 8h.
I figured I'd allow myself some slack at Carson for poster signage, ice cream and socializing. One of the first persons I saw was this skinny Webcor rider already there ;-)

valygrl

I talked to another webcor dude, trying to figure out if it was Eric.... it wasn't. I know your team mate Alan A.

ericm979

I've ridden with Alan, he's a nice guy.

There was another Webcor ahead of me who started out at the same time, and introduced himself (it's a big club so it's not unusual to not know someone). Unfortunately I forgot his name. He was descending Carson when I came up it, so he was really flying.

Alex, your power output was remarkably consistent. I need to work on that.

valygrl

THere was a third Webcor then, b/c I dropped the one I saw.

island rider

You finishers... do you know when your credit card will show the charge for the jersey? I sent my order form in right after the ride, but have not seen the charge yet.

island rider

...nevermind they charged it on July 26th. It hadn't shown up until later.