twocoasttb

I finished all five passes, but took 30 minutes longer than last year. Ebbett's Pass kicked my rear both ways. Carson felt better, but I got the same speed wobble as last year coming down. We descended into a wicked lightning storm; the skies opened up when we made the final turn at Woodford and we rode the final climb to the finish line in pouring rain and hail. Fun! Just like last year the event was very well supported. Overall, a great day...

'nother

Just returning home; spent a little extra time camping up there.

Here's my report: This was my first Death Ride. Not having any frame of reference for finishing times, I started around 4:30 a.m.. Made it to the base of Monitor with my partner but he's a much faster climber than I am and he wanted to wrap up early and head home on Saturday so he blazed on ahead. Felt great going up, sun was up and it was starting to warm up as I descended the east side. Quick break and headed back up. Saw a few other riding buddies making their way down.

Ebbett's was great, it was a tough climb but I still had plenty left in the tank. Saw some more friends and rode with a few through various bits. Route 4 over Ebbett's has some fantastic scenery. Crappy road surface, and narrow, and twisty, so I took it easy on the descents.

Quick lunch (taking in as much salt as possible!) and then on to what I thought was the hardest part of the day: getting over to, and up Carson Pass. I was feeling okay after lunch but it's a long boring ride back through Markleeville and to the base of Carson. It was great that there were tons of people cheering us on through that section!

I started up Carson and got to feeling pretty tired, mentally and physically. I started doing the calculations and came to the realization that I was still going to be out for another 3-4 hours, 2 of that just going up Carson. I hooked up with a guy that was going about the same speed and we shared some "moments"...man, it was good to have some company on the way up there. It was very very tempting to throw in the towel, but we talked each other into keeping going. I was amazed that I was able to hold a 6+ mph pace going up; the road isn't all that steep but it's long and after 100 miles and God-knows-how-many-feet-of-climbing prior to that it was really demoralizing. Then all of a sudden I was there! Unfortunately I had no appetite but still shoveled in some gels and water 'cause I knew I'd need a little more to get back to Turtle Rock.

I had a great descent down Carson, hitting nearly 50 mph, fastest I've ever been (BTW, for "speed wobble", you can counteract it by bracing both legs tight onto the top tube, works like a charm). Then those pesky bumps on the way back to Turtle Rock, ugh! But I made it in, just ahead of the rain at around 4 p.m., ~10 hours ride time and 11.5 hours overall. I figured not too bad for a first effort. I slept pretty well Saturday night!

I would love to do it again, it was a blast with so many people and the great scenery and challenge of the Sierra Nevada.

trekking_TW

This was my first Death Ride and I knew what I would be facing since two of my riding friends have done it at least 5 times.

Anyhow, Saturday evening I went to set my alarm clock as I settled into my tent only to find out that my alarm was broken. I used the alarm on my Polar HRM instead and wasn't too confident in it's quiet beep. Needless to say, I woke up late and got a late start. I rolled through Markeleeville at 6:15am (about an hour later than I wanted too). Made it up and over Monitor stopping at the water stop and rest stop at the top. Decided to hammer down the backside to make up some time and actually did. After a quick stop I climbed back over Monitor and headed to Ebbetts without stopping at the top of Monitor. Refueled at the rest stop before the main Ebbetts climb then headed to the top. Made it to Ebbetts peak at 12:30 and was feeling great. Refueled on bagels with PB&J, cytomax, water, Fig Newtons then decended the backside of Ebbetts. Again, decided to make up some time and flew down this decent. Had a quick bite at Hermit Valley then started that fourth climb. That backside of Ebbetts is a nice climb with very little recovery spots. Crested the top, refueled, and headed down towards Markleeville. I really love the decents and hammered this one too. Managed to work with another rider back to Markleeville where I decided to call it a day. My back wasn't wanting me to continue to Carson Pass.

Congrats to everyone who completed all 5 passes, especially in that hail. I'll train a little better for next year and do all 5!

Contra Fixie

Yeah, nice ride aside from the Freds trying to be Salvodelli going down Ebetts. Kinda sketch on that one-lane road w/ folks riding up four abreast chatting and spacing out. Had to book out after 4 passes and make it to SF for dinner reservations, got there with five minutes to spare and a huge appetite. Like the ride but the crowds and testosterone level gets a tad much.

Stealthman_1

Congratulations 'nother! That was similar to my experience last year. I had ridden four passes a couple of times previously (unsupported so how could all 5 supported be that bad??? )and just couldn't believe how bad Carson kicked my ass . We mortals rode Morman Emmigrant and were passed by returning Death Ride bikes headed for home. Sure wish I could have been there, hopefully will make it up in August for a week in the area.

'nother

Thanks, I'm pleased that I was able to do it. It wasn't so much that Carson kicked my butt, but that my butt was already kicked by the time I got there and it got the best of me . I bet it's a great climb all on it's own, but after the other 4...!

terrymorse 

Nice to see you at the finish, 'nother. You looked pretty fresh to me.

I had decided to not do any more big rides after Kaiser, but watching everyone come in to the finish had me wishing I had done the Death Ride as well. I'm now leaning towards doing Everest Challenge again this year.

'nother

Hey Terry! Great to see you as well -- hope the traffic to your booth was beneficial!

I'm planning to do Everest this year...the Death Ride was one of my "training" rides

SimiCyclist

I did it for the first time this year. Made 4 passes and just past Picketts. Wasn't eating enough and ran out of gas. 5 passes next year. Fantastic ride, incredible scenery and a great crowd!

terrymorse 

You said it. Markleeville area is just about my favorite place to ride. I'm heading back up there this Friday again for our second Kiss of Death of the year. We were only going to do one trip in June, but that one filled up fast. So we added another weekend in July, which filled up again. So we just added an August trip. But that's all, no more Markleeville trips this year after August!

I like it best in June, when the snow's still piled up on the roadside. By the time the Death Ride happens, most of the snow is gone, and the lakes have thawed out. Check out the amount of snow and ice last June:

snowy June in Markleeville

SSP

Last year was my first time. I got into the lunch stop in good shape after 4 passes thinking "I've got this whipped"...wrong! I didn't eat enough, and bonked as bad as I ever have before (or since) on Carson pass. Somehow managed to get to the summit, but I didn't even have the presence of mind to take one of the offered ice cream bars. On the descent from Carson, I found myself actually falling asleep on the bike, and considered taking a nap in the ditch! Pretty scary, and not much fun.

This year, I vowed to do better with fluid and fuel, and it worked out well. I left at the traditional 5:30 am start time, and made it back to the start at 4 pm (just beating the rain), after spending a little less than 90 minutes in the rest stops. It was still a suffer-fest, but that's a pretty decent performance for a 53-year old, I think. It helped that I had spent the last week of June cycling in Colorado above 8000 feet, because the elevation didn't bother me at all.

Not sure I'll do it again, because it's a long way to drive, and it involves a lot of pain and suffering...but, I'm glad I did it. Now, if they would just do something about those god-awful ugly jerseys they had this year!

twocoasttb

Here are some pictures from the event, if anyone is interested. I rode with Team in Training as an honoree (lymphoma survivor). Almost everyone on our team of 24 finished all five passes.

jdcowboy

I rode the Death Ride for the first time this year. I trained hard and was ready as ever. I have a compact crank set with 34/50 in front and 11-27 (hybrid cassette I put together) in back, full D/A except for FSA cranks. Worked very well. Couldn't have done it w/o the compact crank set or a triple. Watched my HR to back off occasionally, and that was helpful. I thought it was well organized and the route was perfect. Couldn't imagine going up and down and back up Monitor for the last pass. Carson itself was not so bad after the Pickets rest stop. The last climb up to the top of Carson reminded me of a stretch of Mulholland Highway just west of Las Virgenes, except it was longer. I was disappointed that there were no PB&J sandwiches, only bagels. First century I've been on that I can remember with no sandwiches along the way. I was riding with two slower friends. Started at 5:35 and finished about 6:00. Had over two hours waiting for my friends at stops. Got caught in the rain storm at the end. Did the Sheriff cut off the riders going up the hill after Pickets rest stop as the rain started? The ride up back side of Ebbetts between KM 2 and KM 1 from the top was very hard. Some steep stuff going up the front side of Ebbetts too. I found I had to almost lean over into the drops going up Ebbetts in order to pedal because it was so steep. Felt good to do that, though. IF I do it again, I'll try to skip the stops at the top of the hills and only hit the SAG's at the bottoms. Really no need to stop at the top because you can coast down and recover going down. Hit 53 mph going down Monitor back towards Ebbetts. Glad to ride with friends, but need faster friends for this ride. Stayed in Gardnerville, NV. That was a good decision. So was carrying my light jacket all the way, despite the heat. Not far, cheap motel, and plenty of restaurants to choose from. I parked on the main road and dropped of some unneeded stuff as I passed on the way to Carson. I live in Thousand Oaks. Went up Thursday night and stayed in Bishop. Connected with the two friends and then spent Friday touring part of the route, taking pictures, and visiting Markleeville. Glad I did not stay in Markleeville. Nothing there. The peope were great, though, and I also really appreciated them on the lawns cheering us on. The three "ladies" next to the rest stop going up the front side of Ebbetts were great. Felt good for 52 yr old. On Sunday I said I wouldn't do it again. On Monday I tried to sign up for next year.

Vern in Thousand Oaks

gpelpel

I will put that ride on my schedule next year. A couple of months after turning 50 it should be a good challenge.

pseudobrit

I didn't train at all for it this year. I think my cumulative training mileage heading into the ride was less than the ride itself; my longest ride of the year was about 50 miles and I hadn't ridden in about a month.

But I got all five passes done with time to spare, damn it.