jwill,
Yeah, I rolled in at 4:01 or 4:02 to the tent, just as it was sprinkling. I was in the uphill/away from the road corner of the tent. Amazing that your Polar recorded almost identical climbing to my Sigma at 14,2xx. Our riding times were almost identical, along with gpelpel.
rydaddy,
I thought several times (mostly climbing either side of Monitor, part of Ebbetts, both descents down Monitor, and part of the descent down Ebbetts) "wow, this is absolutely INCREDIBLE." The scenery, roads, cannonball descents.. all great. Descending Monitor in particular was just too good for words.
gpelpel,
nice meeting you! Not only did we have the same pace and met on the back side of Ebbetts (where, after saying hi to each other, I couldn't decide whether to pull ahead or slow down and let you by, so close were our paces), but it sounds like we were basically together up Carson too. We pulled in and left at almost the exact same times at Pickett's. I had stopped at lunch after Ebbetts but made it a fairly quick one, and also made a brief stop at my car for an ice-cold Accelerade refill. I skipped Woodfords as well.
jonathan,
Damn, I must have seen you a number of times. Going up the back side of Monitor I asked some TinT guys about you and they said "he's just up ahead" but I started the ride at 5:15 and summitted the second time at a little after 9, so I guess you were way ahead and on a similar pace to me. I must have passed you when you were cramping on Ebbetts or helping a friend with a flat or something. I was back by the table you moved at Pickett's, btw. Also, I must have that SAME picture of that SAME tree/weed thing on the back side of Monitor with the windy road in the background.
I think you were right about the weather, BTW. Even during the ride I was thinking how amazing it was. I didn't even take my toe warmers with me, and didn't need the arm or leg warmers for the TRP to Monitor section. Hell, my arm warmers were rolled down by the time of the first Monitor descent anyway. It just wasn't cold in the AM. Then going up the back side of Ebbetts and also into Markleeville, I was thinking that it was not really what I'd call hot. I guess I got punished for all of my positive thoughts about the weather after 4 passes...
I had my cheers that night with my friends. One beer and 9pm rolled around and I could barely see straight so I slept for 11 hours.
Don't hate me, but my reward ended up being a day on the lake today. Boat from Zephyr Cove to Incline. Huge brunch buffet at the Hyatt with unlimited mimosas (had 6 or 8). Boat around one side of the lake, then swimming, then back around, then pulled in and swam to a beach for a bit. Didn't even leave Stateline until 7pm, just got home now.
Incredible weekend all around. I'll try to post pictures by tomorrow. I need bed now
- reid