Okay, agreed, on mountain bike rides it is fun to go into the unknown. On doubles too, I have ridden into the unknown (Mt. Tam double last year, for example) and while there is fun in something like that, I'd prefer to be prepared and more confident (if less exciting maybe) when I ride.

I don't use "Resource Management" as a vague ideal. I do actually try to allocate my efforts based on the difficulty of the challenge ahead. How fast can I go here and now, and how much do I save for later? There are some variables I can control, some that I can't control, and some that just are not controlable (weather, road conditions come to mind).

For the Mulholland Double, with the 19 hr. time limit, and knowing my abilities as a climber (or not), I think it's a bit beyond me. Still, I want to do everything I can (within reason) to improve my chances. Decker seems to have the highest Fear Factor, so I want to pre-ride it to see what I'll be up against at mile 150 or whatever it is. Stunt too. Knowing how much I will suffer helps me prepare to suffer.

Plus, we can't forget, I'm paying my hard earned money to suffer this much, so I want to be sure to get my money's worth!

A big part of my training is learning to climb when I'm already tired, since I'm sure they'll be a lot of that on Mulholland. Climbing when I'm fresh is easy; climbing when I'm exhausted . . . not so much. Plus, after starting in the dark and riding all day, I'll have to be super careful not to miss a turn once it gets dark again. Being somewhat familiar with the area will make that less likely too.

Rick / OCRR