2014 Knoxville Fall Classic Double Century
This year I drove up with my friend John Clare. He picked me
up on Friday morning for the long drive up to Vacaville, Ca. where the event starts
in Pena Adobe Park.
When we arrived there were thunderstorms in the area so we
were wondering how the weather was going to be on Saturday.
T-Storms on the way up. Interstate 5 |
We checked-in, talked to friends for a while and then headed
off in a caravan for a nice dinner with friends.
We had a bunch of friends being inducted into the hall of
fame so we planned a “party on wheels” ride, all staying together as much as
possible with our group.
My Triple Crown tandem stoker and good friend Teresa Beck
was being inducted so John and I, along with Teresa and many others started
out together.
The Quackcyclists put on an amazing event.
As you can see from the map above, the course is a large figure 8. We ride up over Mount George to Napa, then make a nice run through a section of the valley before climbing Howell Mountain into the Pope Valley. Then we climb out of the Pope Valley to Lake Berryessa.
From there we climb the infamous Knoxville road for 22 miles before the water stop. Its then up some more to lunch in the Clear Lake area.
After lunch its over Cobb Mountain and back to the Pope Valley before climbing back around the south side of Lake Berryessa for the return to Vacaville.
We rolled a little after 5am.
In the dark we went as we made our way out of Vacaville, through
Fairfield before starting the climb over Mount George to the Napa Valley.
The following video is of our roll-out toward Fairfield in the wee hours of the morning.
The temperature was very mild and not as cold as it had been
in years past. This first stretch seemed almost effortless on my single bike.
Last year, as many of you know, I did it on my tandem for the 3rd
time. On that occasion it was my first time doing a double century with Teresa stoking
the fire in the back. We had a great time last year and did very well.
Over Mount George we went and into Napa at sunrise with the
hot air balloons rising in the air as usual.
It was gorgeous!!
Rolling through Napa at sunrise. Hot air balloons rising. |
Still dressed for the cold in Napa Photo by John Clare |
Check point one, Napa River park |
Teresa with Kenny |
Sunrise at Napa River. Mount George off in the distance |
On this day we just all decided to enjoy the ride. We all
took more time than usual at the Check Points visiting and talking to friends
we have not seen in a while.
Our group got larger as we rolled out of the first stop and
through Napa Valley to our next climb to get out of the valley, Howell
Mountain.
Karen, an amputee and amazing triathlete, doing one of the toughest doubles on the circuit. We all have great respect for this woman. I have seen her on a number of double centuries. |
Napa vineyards and Sunrise |
Howell Mountain Road was a beautiful climb as usual. The sun
rising through the trees, unusually cool temps this year and good friends. Who
could ask for more! It’s a long climb but so nice. After the climb there is a
very steep descent into the Pope Valley, our next vineyard laden area. Another
beautiful area.
Normally on Howell Mountain you get a first taste of the
heat conditions of the day and it can be quite hot with the sun rising to your
right while climbing the mountain. This year it was nice and cool. In the low
50’s, perfect for climbing.
Climbing the west side of Howell Mountain |
Climbing the west side of Howell Mountain |
John Clare and Teresa Beck climbing Howell Mountain |
We cruised through the valley and onward to check point #2
at Lake Berryessa. We were just about there when we ran into my friends Linda
Bott, Julie Stokes and Kerin Huber. Linda was being inducted as the second
woman in the 100 double century club. She did her 100th double
century this year on The Grand Tour with a huge entourage of friends all
wearing cycling jerseys commemorating her accomplishment.
We ran into many, many more friends when we reached Lake
Berryessa at mile marker 70.5.
Check point #2. Lake Berryessa |
We all stayed for quite a while at the stop before heading
up the infamous Knoxville climb to Lower Clear Lake area and lunch.
Knoxville is a very tough, long and rough road as usual but much,
much cooler than normal. In fact, in all the years I have done this awesome and
challenging event, I have never seen it this cool on this climb. We even had a
nice cool breeze in our face on the way up. Amazing.
Lake Berryessa Photo by John Clare |
Terry and I on Knoxville Road with Lake Berryessa in the background. Photo by John Clare |
Our group climbing Knoxville grade |
Kerin and Julie on Knoxville grade. Almost to the water stop after climbing this beast for 22 miles. It always seemed like we were going up. Some grades at 12-14% |
Our group climbing Knoxville grade. Photo by John Clare |
We rolled to the water stop near the top of Knoxville grade
but still had a considerable amount of hills to climb before lunch. When we got
to the first good descent toward the lunch stop, Teresa just bombed down the
hill and I could not even stay close to her. WOW....she was going over 50mph in
a pro style, top tube, tuck. I only wish I had my GoPro mounted on my bars so I
could have documented that descent. (Time to get a new helmet or handlebar
mount. This hand-held thing I have been doing is fine on some things but I have
been missing some great descents.)
We rolled into lunch at Lower Lake County Park, feeling very
good.
I told many of my friends who have never done this ride
before to make sure that they did non stuff themselves at lunch. This comes
from experience due to the hills that come after lunch. It is usually very,
very hot and becomes a cramp and stomach upset-fest on the climb over Cobb
Mountain.
This year we got a respite. It was nice and cool so it did
not make much difference. I had a small burrito and a coke and that was it. I
felt great on the climb over the mountain after lunch!
We rolled in a huge group out of lunch up Siegler Canyon and
slowly thinned out as the climbing began and headed toward Cobb Mountain.
Siegler Canyon |
The "Triple Crown Guy", Chuck Bramwell leading the group up Siegler Canyon on the foot of Cobb Mountain |
The big guy, John Clare leading Mark, Teresa and I. |
Teresa and I grunting up Loch Lomond grade. 17% |
Loch Lomond Road on Cobb has a grade from 14-17% and
maybe a little more in some places. (My Garmin would register anything over
17%.)
Now the majority of the climbing was done. We still had some
passes to climb but nothing like to this point. Everything that you have to
climb at the end of an ultra-event is a pain though.
We had a blazing descent down into the town of Middleton
before check point #4 at the beautiful Langtry Winery. We got there a little
after 4pm and again stayed way too long.
View from Check point #4, Langtry Winery. Looking South Photo by Stefan Dragoshinov |
I really enjoyed doing this ride
in a leisurely manner. I have done too many events pushing myself and not “smelling
the roses”. I really had fun on this one even though it was 202 miles. It
seemed very easy after doing the Hoodoo 500.
We left check point #4 to a spectacular sky of puffy cumulus clouds and we all knew it was going to make for a beautiful sunset. There is nothing like experiencing natures
sunsets and sunrises on the bike. It is the whole reason that my favorite time
to ride is either at sunrise or sunset. I feel one with God and nature out
there at those times.
Leaving check point 4 Photo by Stefan Dragoshinov |
Leaving check point 4 |
Leaving check point 4 |
Leaving check point 4 |
After leaving the valley with the lake where the check point
was, we climbed over Butts canyon into the beautiful Pope Valley for the second
time. As I said earlier this event is somewhat of a figure 8. We went through the Pope Valley in
the morning right after descending off of Howell Mountain and before reaching
Lake Berryessa.
We rolled down Pope Valley. We had another minor climb
through some of the area that had been burnt out in a fire. On the way we
passed a place I like to call “Hub-cap Ville”.
A whole ranch with the entire front fence and entry gate covered with
Hub-caps. It must have been about a 2 acre ranch or more.
Stefan admiring the hubcaps |
Hub-cap monument? |
We rolled down a great
descent after this little climb. We flew down that climb before a small minivan
passed us and really held us up. He passed us even though we could descend way
faster in the curves than he could. It was reminiscent of the semi-truck that
passed Teresa Beck and I on the tandem on the same descent last year. John got
mad at the guy because he kept slowing way down at the turns and almost causing
us to rear end him.
Into Check point 5 we
rolled, Moore Creek Park (the hot dog stop), just before sunset.
I filled my water bottles and had a great hot dog with lots
of mustard. Others in our group had soup, chili or many of the other
concoctions that the Quack-cyclists had available.
We rolled out with a really big group including our friends
Tony and Rick who were on their fixed gear bikes. WOW……I have so much respect for
people who do ultra-events on fixed gear bikes. Just amazing.
Tony was our crew chief on “The Race across the West” this year. An
amazing rider and support crew for many, many ultra-riders. He is a legend in
my book!! Here is a video of us all rolling at sunset.
The sunset was spectacular. A blazing red sky as we rolled
passed Lake Hennessy before our turn onto Hwy 128 toward Lake Berryessa Dam. It
was beautiful on this climb from sunset into darkness.
John Clare climbing out of the Lake Hennessy area |
Lake Hennessy at sunset Photo by Stefan Dragoshinov |
I climbed this section
with Teresa and Mark. When we got to the descent, about halfway
down, they backed off some and I went on by myself to the next check point in
the dark. It was spectacular. I caught up with Tony and Rick on their fixies on
the descents.
You cannot coast on a
fixed gear bike so your downhill speed is delegated by the gear you have on the
bike or how fast you can peddle to keep up with that gearing. (It’s insane to
watch these guys going downhill on a fixed gear. It looks too painful to me).
I rode into the final check point at mile marker 188.7 and
waited for all my friends to regroup. Many had stopped to take pictures of the
sunset on that sunset climb so they ended up behind me.
I had a cup of soup while we re-grouped, sat down and got a
little neck massage (thank you to the incredible massage therapist there).
Mmmmm!! |
Our little group headed out for
the final 13 miles.
This final stretch kicked my butt the first time I did this
event years ago. It is not hard at all but has a few hills in it that can bring
you down if you are tired. The more I got to know this final section, the
easier it got. I rode some of it with my longtime friend Chuck Bramwell who
runs The Triple Crown Double Century Series. While talking to Chuck, I got a
little ahead of the group so I dialed it back to wait for them. I waited at the
final turn to the finish so I could video the finish and ride in with everyone.
We finished at Pena Adobe Park back in Vacaville at around
10pm.
Here is a video compilation of the event I made for YouTube
We had a great dinner at the finish catered by Pietros
Italian Restaurant. Great food.
Here is the Garmin GPS data from the ride: http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/601384979
Here is the Garmin GPS data from the ride: http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/601384979
The next morning I again helped cook breakfast for the Triple Crown Awards Breakfast.
It was a great weekend with lots of friends and making new friends.
Below are a few pictures of the awards breakfast on Sunday morning.
Chuck and I with new 100 Double Club inductee Linda Bott |
Tony was inducted into the Hall of Fame |
New Hall of Fame inductees Teresa and Tony. Congrats to my good friends. |
New 100 double club member Jeff Dewey, John Clare and I slinging scrambled eggs for the masses. |
Hurry up and scramble those things John! |
Teresa being congratulated by two of her mentors. Big ring Dave Evans and Ron Hansen. Both in the 100 double club. |
Thanks to all the volunteers who, without, these events
would not go on.
Thanks to John Clare for giving me and my steed a ride up to
the event and putting me up in your room. I owe ya big time!
Congratulations to all those who were recognized by The Triple Crown
for doing “The Triple Crown”.
Congrats to all the new Hall of Fame Inductees, my good friend and
double century tandem stoker Teresa Beck and crew chief and friend Tony
Musorafite as well as Reve
Ramos, Jim Pettett, Jack Klebanoff, Jack Joseph, Bryon Ho, John Hopkins, Paul
McKenzie, Robert Choi, Mike Erwin, Foster Nagaoka, Greg Olson, Jeanine Spence,
Stanley Tsang, David Jeong, Art Cruz, Jennie Phillips, and John Hoenigman.
Congratulations to the
new “100 Double Club” inductees, Linda Bott, Mike Sturgill and Jeff Dewey.
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