umd

Who's in?

uspspro

on the fence.. mostly due to logistics/time/money

Tandem category

ericm979

I'll be there.

MtnRide

It's my only vacation all year, so I'd better make it count.

il professore

I actually just pussed out...going to do a cx race instead

Ryon

I'm doing the Fiesta Island Team Time Trial instead.

Mark Manner

I am coming out, with my 28/40/50 up front and 12-29 rear. I hope that is enough. One easier gear ratio than I used at the Death Ride (but 2 harder than on Mt Washington a couple weeks ago).

Any advice for a first time 57yr 136lb guy who is slow in general (around 11 hrs death ride, 1:40 Mt Washington)? I have my nutrition (bars/gels) worked out ok, but am not sure about the spacing of water stops. I have the route info from website, but it haven't quite figured out how to manage the liquids.
See you there, assuming creek doesn't rise, etc. Mark

ericm979

Hi Mark.

Are you racing, or in "tourist" class? If it's the latter, cool! The event needs more people doing it for fun.
There's water stops every 3000' of elevation gain for the first two climbs each day, and every 2000' (or less) for the last one. If you can do the Death Ride in 11 hours riding time then you are probably climbing at around 2200'/hr. So for the first two climbs you need fluids to last you about an hour twenty between aid stations.

If you have someone there to feed you then there's additonal water you can get at the feed zones. You should be ok without that though, the aid stations are close enough. You can leave stuff at your car at the start, we pass the start between the second and third climbs on the first day and between each climb on the second. If you run out, you can ask someone feeding a racer, people are really good about that at this race.

The aid stations will do handups of full bottles. So if you are in a hurry you can just get a replacement or two and drop your empties. They also have water and HEED for adding to your bottles if you want to stop.

One other tip, especially since you are coming from out of state- bring ALL your cycling clothes. The weather is highly variable. Two years ago they had to reroute day 1 because of snow on the high roads.

umd

Yes, and it hailed on me on the last climb, even at the lower elevations.

Mark Manner

Hi Eric. My DR time was all in including stops, so I am very slightly faster, but still in the general range you calculated. Right now I am signed up in Masters 55+ age group, but only because I happen to have a USA Cycling license I got as a requirement to ride in some stuff in Europe (I don't race). I can convert to the tourist category, but in looking at the start times, I think my age groups starts pretty early so I may just stay in that category and come in last place. I have ridden in the Sierras some and will take your clothing advice and "bring it all". My wife will be there, but it does sound like a couple of bottles between aid stations will carry me.
Thanks a lot for the info. See you there.
Mark

MtnRide

Hmm, was just reading the website. Here's an interesting tidbit:

I hope they don't expect that to be the case, we had a good group rolling along last year...

umd

WTF? That's lame

kuf

I'll be there too

uspspro

Open question:

What are your plans for rides/resting for these last 2-weeks?

Mark Manner

I plan on a couple of days of intervals this week, followed by easy days, volume low, then next week a few hours of easy riding during the week (with travel to Bishop on Wed. from Tennessee).

Fat Boy

I'd love to come out to play, umd, but I've got a root canal planned. Then I thought I'd just sit around, give myself paper cuts and pour Tabasco sauce in the wounds. All in all, it sounds like more fun.

ericm979

I plan on doing my usual non-rest week training this week including some climb repeats this weekend, then taper next week. For that I'll probably take an extra day off the bike, and make my rides shorter and easier except for some relatively short hard efforts... no multiple hours of tempo/threshold.


Mark, don't miss the Galen Rowell gallery right down town in Bishop.

MtnRide

^
| You're not, apparently?

umd

I haven't registered yet... Been lazy, but we are booking a room and I'll reg tomorrow, it's not too late I hope...

redal

+1. Maybe not as timely as umd but it should be taken care of this week.

umd

Fixed

only 17 cat 3, 8 p12, but 48 (!) 4/5

umd

Forecast is mid-90s...

ericm979

Yay!

It'll be much cooler at altutide though...right now it's 91 in Bishop but 70 at south lake and 61 at rock creek.

John R

There are sag stops at the bottom and top of the climbs. The support is great...John

John R

I wouldn't worry, they have a center line rule too but nobody payed attencion to that last year. I think for safetys sake they don't want us to ride 4 abreast and block the roads to cars.