I’m leaving for the Death Ride tomorrow. I plan to spend Friday acclimating (may go for a short ride up and down one of the passes), and also find out when the first pass stickers will be handed out. Based on that, I plan to start riding earlier, as early as 3am if leaving that early would be productive. I have a light that should be good for four hours and I’m assured that it’s difficult to get lost on the early stages of the course, so I think this should be OK.
It’s been a real challenge training the last week or two because my startup is also in full-on work-like-a-dog mode – I’ve been putting in eleven-hour days on a regular basis – but I’ve been persevering. It’ll be a relief when this is all over, though. I plan to take a month off and then resume training – this time for a Triple Crown next year.
Looking forward to the Death Ride…one way or another, this will be over soon!
Onward ho!
Good luck! I know all that training will pay off. I hope you have a great time.
The weather is looking good – with a low of 56F for 4am Saturday morning – better than last years 40-something degrees. A light Southerly breeze to keep cool on all but the second climb of Monitor pass which is always hot (due to the morning sun heating the valley and the warm air rising at the same speed as most of the cyclists – 5 to 7 mph). Only 82F in the valleys by midday – YES! Given that it’s 4degrees cooler per 1000 feet on a sunny day then it should be about 70F at the top of Ebbetts around noon, which is very nice.
It is really really hard to get lost on the way to Monitor pass even in the dark – go down the hill, and keep going for about 5 miles and you’ll see a left turn, which is petty much the only left turn for miles, for highway 89. Take it easy going down the hill from Turtle Rock to Markleeville in the dark – there’s a few small potholes that’ll surprise you if you’re pedaling down there in 53×12 at 40+mph.
Good luck! Not that you’ll need it. Pedal easy and enjoy the views – especially of the first climb of Ebbetts, from half way up the views are awesome. It’s like nature takes on a whole new perspective….
I’ll probably be heading out of Turtle Rock about 4:15 – 4:30, just to take it a little easier up the first couple of climbs – my calf and achilies have been feeling “stiff and sore” the last week or so – but an easy spin for an hour seems to make things a little comfier. I think I’ll sit on 30×27 at 70rpm for a couple of hours to start. Not sure what I’ll be feeling like after a nights sleep in the Jeep at Turtle Rock.
Tien, do you know what your number is? (last 4 digits of the confirmation number) – If you see an Englishman wearing a blue 2005 Deathride shirt, on a black andwhite Raleigh with the number 1255 then feel free to say “hi”..
Hey,
Have a great ride. Will watch for you.
Brian