MetinUz

Terrible Two double century is this Saturday, and I signed up earlier today. The weather forecast for Cloverdale has improved from 106F to 100F, but there is this "special statement":

Persons with outdoor activities planned for Saturday should
practice heat safety tips. Drink plenty of water... wear light
loose-fitting clothing... and avoid strenuous activity... especially
during the hottest part of the day.

I think that means I should take it easy going up Skaggs after lunch break Anybody else riding it?

Lanceoldstrong

Take your protein pills and put your helmet on
May God's love be with you.

MetinUz

Thanks Dan, I will need it. I was commenting before that we did not get the full Terrible Two experience last year with the moderate temperatures. Be careful what you wish for, you just may get it! Tomorrow's forecast is now 108F, more than 20F warmer than last year.

spingineer

How did you do? I heard there was 50% DNF rate

MetinUz

Here is a long-winded ride report:

The morning is already pretty warm, some riders not even wearing arm warmers. The "neutralized" mass start following the pace car is always nervous, I see two riders go down in the first 10 miles. One crash is pretty slow and the rider gets right back up, but the other rider seems to get hurt. My friend Peter gets a flat and pulls over.



The pack stays pretty close during the first climb, but gets spaced out at Trinity climb, the first major climb of the day. I normally start very conservatively, but decide to go harder in this climb. After the descent, there are about 50 flattish miles, and staying with faster riders helps. I am also expecting extreme heat in the afternoon, so I won't be able to make up for lost time in the second half.



After the Oakville Grade descent, a fast paceline takes us to the first rest stop in Calistoga, mile 55.



Another 20 or so miles, and we get to the second major climb, Geysers. It's already pretty hot, SAG cars are stopping frequently to offer water.





After the double summit, I stop for a quick refill, then descend the steep hill and then the rollers to the lunch stop. The pavement is horrible, I slow down to avoid any mishap, see 2 people fixing flats in this section. I roll into the lunch stop around 12:45, about half hour earlier than last year. The difference is, I am already feeling beat up. I get sprayed and soak my clothes, trying to lower my core temperature. A lot of riders are talking about dropping out.

As I prepare to leave, Peter shows up. He is thinking about dropping out, I tell him to cool down and see if he feels better.



Skaggs is exposed and crazy hot, and there are some very steep sections. My computer reads 124F, heat is radiating from the hot pavement. I end up stopping at a shade some 5 times so I can cool down. I normally climb this section at 200W, but anything over 150W is impossible to sustain. The support is great, SAG cars are passing by and offering water. At this point, I am not sure if I can finish the ride at all, my brain playing out different DNF scenarios -- roll back to lunch stop, get a SAG ride, stop at Fort Ross...

The second part of the climb is relatively shady, but the hoped cool down does not materialize. The temperature gradually goes down to 107F, but even as we approach the dreaded Rancheria wall, it's still very hot. I have been having leg cramps since before the lunch stop, so decide to walk up the rest of the way when I get cramps a third of the way up. The climb goes up 960ft in just over a mile, my speed goes from 4mph to 3mph, but am not caught by anyone I passed earlier, so the wall must have slowed everyone.



The Rancheria stop is still hot, only 4 miles from the ocean. Peter shows up as I am thinking of leaving. He's feeling better since lunch. I expect him to catch me on the Highway 1 rollers.



After 5 miles of descent and rollers, the coast feels almost too cool, my computer reads 64F. I ride with Kamran the first 10 or so miles. Peter catches up, rolling fast on his aero bars. I suck his wheel for a few miles, the cool weather and the drafting has really helped my leg cramps. Now my focus changes to making the 10pm cutoff for the "I did it" shirt.



Then a few miles from Fort Ross, Peter's rear shift cable breaks. I try to adjust the derailleur to get us to the rest stop. Unfortunately, the mechanic is unable to thread a new cable, and his ride is over.



I leave shortly after 7. Fort Ross climb is hard as expected, rising 1500ft in 2 miles, with some sections over 16%. At the top, the view from Meyers Grade is almost worth the effort. There is an intermediate descent, another climb, then a long descent to Cazadero. The pavement is in bad shape, I end up braking the whole way even though I want to make up some time.

I arrive at Monte Rio rest stop just before 9. There are 17 miles left to finish, including a couple small climbs. The rest stop volunteers suggest it's unlikely I can make it in by 10. I drink a Coke as a volunteer fills my bottle, then Kamran and Ernesto show up, and they are also interested in giving it a shot. We start at full speed, which is not that fast given our day so far. It's getting dark, and we are having difficulty figuring our progress. We get stopped at a red light towards the end, and we can now see it's 9:47, and just a mile or two left to the finish -- so we made it. Ernesto and I roll in with about 5 minutes to spare, and Kamran 1 minute later. There is extra loud cheering as riders show up and the clock ticks to 10pm. We exchange stories over dinner, it looks like DNF rate is about 50%.

This was truly an epic ride, one I will probably always remember.

Lanceoldstrong

Metin! Metin! Metin! huzzah, huzzah, huzzah! Three Cheers for Metin!

Never in a million years could I have done that ride. As I guy with 13 completed doubles, including 2 DMD finishes, I still can't even imagine your suffering on Saturday. You should be so proud.
I rode a paltry 80 miles that day with just 7000 feet of climbing and my Garmin Edge 500 registered only 117°.
I was crawling the last 4 miles on flats and just barely felt like turning pedals.

Great job, so impressed. Now take care of yourself and get some rest. Drink, Eat, Drink.

bigbenaugust 

Wow, that's nuts. A 50% DNF rate isn't a ride, it's torture.

Midland

MetinUZ, thanks for the ride report & lovely pictures. Anybody who rode on Saturday is nuts(me included) but to do The Terrible Two in such conditions is beyond category.

DiabloScott

Pollen level seemed really high too - I get a certain kind of dry itchy cough that happens about this time every year and I was hacking all day Saturday.

Anyway, very impressive MetinUZ... in a nutty survivalist kind of way on top of the insanely tough endurance event.

MetinUz

The results are up. 177 riders started, lowest number since 1994, and volunteers outnumbered the riders. 35% finished by 10, 55% did not finish. As hard as it was, it would have been impossible without the great support by the SRCC volunteers.

bobonker

I did the "Best of the Bay" century on Saturday and it was effing miserably hot.

I can't imagine doing the Terrible Two on that day. Congratulations for completing that...at the same time, I think you're a bit crazy.

Bob

maillotpois

I did roving SAG for the TT Saturday (VW convertible), and my husband rode (and finished). I have never seen anything like those conditions. Congratulations for a great ride and finish!!!

MetinUz

Thanks for the support, you filled my bottles up Geysers, and I was right behind your husband when he flatted on Dutcher Creek Road.

HelloFromEarth

Very nice finish. I have to say, i'm glad I didn't ride it this year. Sounded like a suffer fest out there. Thanks for sharing your ordeal! Lets hope for better weather next year.

maillotpois

Wow - so glad I could help. Congrats on finishing a ridiculously tough ride!!

I just got done working 3 days in a row supporting the SFR 1000k, so I think I've built my cycling karma up pretty well.