I didnt see the creature but my friends description was spot on for size and shape (panther like). I have only ever seen one mountain lion and that was in fremont (Mission Hills). I have seen plenty of Bobcats and showed my mate some pictures and he said the head was all wrong for what he saw.

Central Coast isn't bad. I've got a write up on our website about my ride in '07. Terrible Two isn't a stage race this year. The third one is Mt Tam. I seriously considered doing the stage races this year; but Tam is the same day as the Half Ironman I had planned.

Veronica

+1 :thumb:

I hoping he makes an exception... and reports on the Terrible Two.

Great reports everyone, was like I was riding with you guys, except without the suffering.

But you never suffer on rides ... you usually put the hammer down, and everyone else suffers ... :lol:

Great report Ramon. So you pretty much did the 200 miles solo? You're a hard man.

Just got done reading all the ride reports.

Well done everyone, well done.

I am inspired to try one of these someday. I suppose it's like jumping in the pool...you'll never know what it's like until you do.

Congrats to all of you.

BR

Tremendous. Just tremendous. Your death ride experience pales next to this one. May the next 2 doubles be progressively harder so you have even more fond memories! :lol:

Preliminary results up
http://www.quackcyclists.com/Dmd09/2009DmdResults.cfm

I'm ticked because we were keeping pace with that other tandem for most of the ride. They were very strong. They pulled gradually away from us on the steeper stuff, but we would catch up on the flats/downhills and momentum rollers. We were putting a good deal of effort down to keep them within range, but not totally blowing up.

I'm ticked because that means we would have seen Ramon again, and would have probably come in between 18-18.5 hours.

206 miles divided by Kevin Metcalfe's 12:12 time is 16.9 mph average speed :eek:

One thing I forgot to mention, while closing in on the mini water stop before the top of Patterson Pass, a tall rider zoomed by on a Specialized. Based on his speed, I'm going to guess he was a 6am starter. He said to the guy near me that he had flatted three times on the descent down Diablo.

Congratuations to Ramon, Rydaddy and Rumbutter.

I was going well until about a ways past the lunch stop, when I started feeling sick and stopped eating. I wound up pulling out at the Crother rd rest stop (mile 150). My writeup is here: http://ericm.lne.com/blog/?p=224

I think I didn't take enough salt tablets. I had the normal amount for an 8 hour ride, and that's where I started fading. I also didn't take advantage of the bag ferry service to send food to checkpoints, and that was a problem since the lunch stop didn't have much that I could eat.

Even though I crawled up Mt Ham and was slow on the descent, I met up with the guy I'd been riding with earlier at the Crother rd stop (I went there to report my DNF). He wound up finishing 17th in 14:24, so I was on a decent pace.

Have someone whack your legs with a broomstick for 15 minutes, use some 80 grit sandpaper on your butt, and then stand in a puddle of lighter fluid and set it on fire. That'll give you an idea.

My total time was 17:48 and the Polar indicated ride time of 15:18:47. That's 2 1/2 hours of idle at rest stops and lunch, wowzers. I didn't think I was taking all that long but it adds up quick.

We were trying to cut the restops down to a bare minimum and we still ate up 50minutes. Fastest guys are getting their down time to less than 10 minutes on these events. They dont even stop for potty if you know what I mean. It seems a shame to pay all that money to enter and not take advantage of the food and stuff :)

We spent about 2:05 at the stops. It sure does add up. I can't imagine spending only 10 minutes stopped. :twitchy:

Great write up Eric, sorry to hear about the DNF, but that sounded like a heroic effort.

:lol: :lol:

I'm very impressed, 150 miles is no small feat. :beer:

I also have a hard time with food, I'm vegan, one of the reasons I don't like organized rides is that my money would go to subsidize other people's rest stops and I'd still have to bring my own.

Great reading you guys! Congrats...Oh...and you're all friggin NUTS!

Hey Paula, O/T but I noticed that the Grizzly Peak Century does offer vegan options at rest stops.

Good to know, thanks. :)