Century Quest 2011: The Planet Ultra Solvang Double Century...Spring.

This year is turning out to be a very unpredictable one for the weather. It has been hit or miss. The first double of the year ended up being a rainy deluge. Death Valley ended up during a major storm front passage which created storm force winds and dust storms in both directions. Thank God I was able to do the Camino Real Double Staff ride on a beautiful day. We got real lucky because the rains came back soon after.

Solvang turned out to be nasty nasty nasty.

  I got out of bed the morning of the event at 1:30 am. I went to bed before nine but wasn't able to sleep well. (I never do the night before a event). I should have just stayed up!

  I had a rough week. I spent Thursday afternoon in the Kaiser Hospital emergency room worried that I was having heart problems. I was experiencing mild equilibrium problems and shortness of breath while driving to work a couple of times during the week. I felt fine while riding my bike in training. Better safe than sorry they say!

 After getting a battery of tests....EKG, full blood workup, chest X-ray, full bottle of saline in a IV, etc. etc.,
everything turned out perfect. The doctor said he has seen endurance athletes who are over trained sometimes have this type of symptom and I did have the same thing happen about 6 years ago but a little different, (same tests and even a MRI of my head to see if my acoustic tumor was coming back...same results...everything good). Anxiety was a big part of it coupled with too much caffeine.

  I left home for Solvang at two thirty am and had a nice drive the whole way. I love driving in the early morning!!

  The ride start for the Spring event is in Buellton, California, about two miles from Solvang.

Start group just after 5am

  I rolled out with a big group a little after 5am and headed East toward Solvang on Hwy 246. It was cold and the air was damp. It took a long time to get warmed up but I felt real good after about 2 miles. I was wearing full neoprene booties on my feet, a base layer shirt, a jersey, arm warmers, a wind vest, full finger gloves and a wind breaker on top of all that. I wore some real warm leg warmers on my legs. I had neoprene gloves and a rain jacket in my Camel-Bak pack in case it rained.



Heading out of Solvang



  We crossed Hwy 154 and made a big loop around the Santa Ynez Valley until we reached the infamous Foxen Canyon Road. This road is well known on the famous Solvang Century which draws thousands of participants every year. We climbed over what they call "the wall" on Foxen and then we had a nice descent, then some more climbing to the top. We passed the Fess Parker Winery on the way up. Nice place for a tasting!! The coyotes were howling up a storm in the predawn darkness as we climbed. It was eerie!

The above video is of the group I started with climbing Foxen Canyon in the pre-dawn hours.

   Over the top we went. We had a fantastic descent to the first check point in Sisquoc. It was still in the low 40's and damp. It was light now and we could see the storm clouds coming from the North-West, the direction we were going. It didn't look good.

I grabbed some PB&J's, ate one, stuffed one in my pocket, put some liquid food in my bottles and hit the road.

I felt great!! I was able to keep my heart rate below 150 in my aerobic training zone so far with no problem. That was my goal for the whole ride although on the steeper climbs it was not possible. I just paced myself.

A few miles down the road I came across some interesting fellows. Jason Pierce and Ken Emerson. They were riding with a group of guys from the bay area....all on fixed gear bikes. I have know Jason and Ken for years but only in passing on these rides but never formally met them until now.

For those who don't know, a fixed gear bike is just that. One fixed gear.

Ken is middle left and Jason is in the Furnace Creek 508 jersey on his right. Heading into Santa Maria.

A fixed-gear bicycle (or fixed-wheel bicycle, sometimes known in the USA as a fixie) is a bicycle that has no freewheel, meaning it cannot coast — the pedals are always in motion when the bicycle is moving even on descents. I really have to try this sometime. Watching these guys on the climbs was great.

I rode with these guys on and off all the way to San Luis Obispo.

Before hitting Santa Maria we turned right and went up Bull Canyon which was a nice little climb up to Hwy 166. Then it was down to Thompson road which parallels Hwy 101 all the way to Arroyo Grande.

Once in Arroyo Grande it was a slight uphill to the Lake Lopez area before a left turn toward San Luis Obispo. Still no rain yet. Maybe we will be lucky and it wont rain.......NOT!!!

About 2 miles from town, the deluge began. It started raining pretty steady as we pulled into check point two at the Park on Orcutt Road.


Teresa really came prepared....nice rain suit!!!




Time to pull on the rain gear.

Now it really started to pour as we went through San Luis and made our our way to Hwy 1 and Morro Bay.
Rain rain rain all the way through Morro and Los Osos and lunch at the golf course. Then it let up just in time to eat a great sub sandwich.

I saw my pilot friend Paul from Santa Rosa and we talked for a while.

I then started to get the chills so I had to get rolling. It really started to pour as we made our way to Shell Beach, Pismo Beach and Oceano on PCH. From Oceano, in the pouring rain, we climbed up on the mesa that rises above the area. Some pretty tough little climbs in there. It was much nicer climbing in the rain than going fast in it.

Now we hit the mud and muck as we dropped off the mesa toward the town of Guadalupe. All the mud and crap from the farmers tractors was on the road, in our gears, mouths, eyes, nose, pants, shoes...everywhere....many places I wont mention!!

When we pulled into the fourth checkpoint the rain miraculously stopped and the wind stopped. I started to bonk, (glycogen depletion), about 2 miles from the stop and I felt like crap!!!
I did the correct thing. I pounded down 2 sandwiches, finished all my liquid fuel, ate a pack of Cliff Blocks and filled everything back up for the next shlog to Los Alamos.
After about 20 minutes I started feeling great. I had caught it soon enough. If you bonk bad, you cannot recover and it is painful to get through the rest of the ride. It takes a long time to recover.

I headed back out with the fixie guys and stayed with them the rest of the ride.

As soon as we left Guadalupe it started to rain hard again and it pretty much rained the entire way back to the finish. Not to mention we had a head wind all the way to Los Alamos.

This year the course was changed and we took a new route to the finish. The old course had us taking Drum Canyon over the mountain and back to Hwy 246 where we made a left turn and fast ride to the finish in Buelton. The road is very treacherous and full of pot holes especially on the descent.

Ken and Jason climbing Foxen Canyon on their fixies

Instead of Drum Canyon we paralleled the 101 Freeway for a while and made our way to a beautiful and gradual climb, Alisos Canyon.

We took Alisos back to the reverse of the morning descent on Foxen Canyon for a 4 mile climb. Then we had a nice descent before rolling back into Solvang and Hwy 246 for a right turn and 2 mile finish to Buelton.

Man was I wet at the finish! I checked in, talked to the guys for a few minutes and headed to the car. I turned the heater on, warmed up the car, got changed and got a hamburger. Then I hit the road and went home.



I found out later that we missed a turn and rode an extra 2-3 miles longer to get to the finish. Whats a few extra miles when you wet, mucky, muddy, grimy......whooya!! # 94 complete.

Overall time: about 14hrs 25 minutes

Ride time: 12 hrs 44 minutes

Elevation gain: 7,837 feet

Average climb: 2%

Max climb: 10%

From my VDO computer.

For all the pictures: http://www.stevemeichtry.myphotoalbum.com/

Century Quest 2011: Camino Real Double Century

Well, after a disappointing Death Valley Double attempt, I received a message on Facebook that they were organizing a staff ride for the Camino Real Double workers.
I jumped at the opportunity to add this one. That way I could stay on track.

There were only four of us. Lynn Katano who I have known a long time and who has completed 94 doubles before this one. Terri Boykins who is one of the best support personnel on any of the rides and a real strong double rider. (we call her "The Queen of the Santa Monica's") She can be seen riding in the Santa Monica Mountains on most weekends on the most challenging of climbs. John Long who is also a very strong double rider with quite a background.

Left to right: John, Lynn and Terri

We started right at 5:30 am in the dark for the event which would take us up the coast to Oceanside first.

We rode through the hills around Newport and Laguna before stopping for our first rest in Dana Point Harbor.

Lynn and John head to San Onofre

It was then up the coast through San Clemente, past the San Onofre Power Plant to Camp Pendleton.



Terri approaching the power plant






We all just took it easy and enjoyed the camaraderie. We were having a great time. The weather was perfect with very light winds.

We entered the bike trail and encountered many other cyclists just enjoying the day. During the actual event 2 weeks prior, the course took the riders up on to Interstate 5 for seven miles to Oceanside.

We chose to take the nicer, slightly longer, route and go through the famous Camp Pendleton Marine Base. The base is open to visitors on the weekends and cyclists can ride through as long as they show identification at the gates. It was beautiful riding through the base. No traffic, clean smooth roads and real nice scenery. We saw many Marines training along the road and in the fields. We made sure we showed our appreciation as we went passed.

Heading up the nice bike trail

We left the base and stopped in Oceanside for some much needed water and fuel. It was then off to the San Luis Rey River Bike Path which took us inland to the Bonsall area near the 15 Freeway.



John and Lynn riding through Bonsall



John brought a giant sandwich in his Camel- Bac and we all split it on our lunch stop at the Four Seasons Campground.

Now the climbing began. John and Lynn left a while ahead of us since Terri and I were riding stronger. Terri was starting to have some stomach problems and not feeling too good. She was still climbing like an animal though. We caught them at the top of the first climb into the avocados.

 We had to climb up into the avocado orchard areas out and around the Fallbrook area. It was real nice and not bad since we were not racing and just enjoying ourselves. It did get warm in a few places though.

These videos below are of us climbing up Old Hwy 395 into Fallbrook.

We meandered around the area climbing and dropping until we made our way back to Oceanside and Camp Pendleton for the return trip. Terri was really starting to feel bad now. I stayed with her most of the time and we paced ourselves into the westerly head wind going up the coast.

Entering the base on the return trip

We retraced our ride until we reached San Clemente were we stopped for a break at Carl's Jr. and had bean and cheese burritos. Wow those tasted good. We thought we lost Terry as she was in the bathroom most of the time. She said she wasn't too good but could continue. 

We headed to San Juan Capistrano as it got dark before heading up once again climbing toward Rancho Santa Margarita via Crown Valley Parkway and Antonio Parkway.

Now it was down, down, down into a dark and chilly Live Oak Canyon on Trabuco Canyon road. 

  I looked back as I sped through the oak trees in the cold canyon and didn't see Terri. She was right behind me that last time I looked. What happened? Did she fall or get a flat? I turned around and started back. I then saw Eric who was driving support for Lynn and John on the final 3rd of the ride. He said she had turned right at the General Store. I went back and couldn't find her anywhere. There was a restaurant up that road also but I didn't see her anywhere. I looked for  her bike with its blinking lights. Nothing.  I was worried she thought that was our turn because the route slip tells you to turn rt. there for the rest stop at the store on the regular event. 

  The store is closed at that hour. I called out to no avail and then I called Lynn to have Eric come to drive up that road and see if he can find her. Just as I hung up she appeared, coming out of the restaurant parking lot. Wheww....thought we lost her.

  You really have to be careful on these long rides when you are riding "self contained", because your mind can play tricks on you sometimes. A lack of glycogen to the brain can really throw you for a loop if you don't keep refueling regularly. If there is nobody else around to help you, there can be a real problem, out there in the cold and dark. She still thought she was supposed to go up the hill on that road. 

  Good thing I saw she wasn't behind me because she would have kept going up that hill and then she would have really been lost and we wouldn't have know where she went.

   I told her that I had done this event many times in the past. "We are supposed to continue through Live Oak Canyon to Santiago Canyon", I yelled. 

   I was feeling great as I was just pacing myself the whole ride so far, not racing. The climb out of Live Oak Canyon seemed effortless this year.  Terri really started dropping back and by the time we got to Santiago Canyon she was done and very sick. I called Lynn to tell her and she told Eric. He came to pick her up and took her the last 22 miles or so to the finish. Lynn and John were just entering the canyon as I was heading up Santiago.

Just as I started the final climb and down shifted, my rear derailleur cable busted. I was not about to call it quits at this point. I left the rear in the small cog. I have a triple front chain ring so I downshifted into the granny gear and grunted on the 12 miles of Santiago Canyon in the 30-11 gear. Most of it was gradual uphill but the final portion was downhill and blazing fast with no sharp turns. I knew that once I got to the top of Santiago, it was mostly all downhill or flat to the finish in Irvine.

 I blazed down the hill with my lights on full as the small amount of oncoming traffic were flashing there lights at me thinking I was a motorcycle with the brights on. 

I made the left turn on Jamboree, the left on Portola and the right on Sand Canyon.

2.6 miles to go!! I could see Interstate 5 up ahead and smell the finish. I went under the freeway and turned into the hotel parking. Wooohoooo was that finish fast once I got to the top.

I finished by myself at 10 pm, got a hamburger, which I was craving, and drove home.

It was a great ride. It was the first event I have done in such a leisure manner and I just loved it. I never felt burned out and had lots of strength at the end. I think I have to seriously think about doing more rides this way and not be so hard on myself.  THIS WAS A BLAST!!

Death Valley Double Century

Well, my first event on my quest this year was a bust.

Storm blows in the night before

Death Valley, natures playground, offered up a real challenge this year. WIND!!

We rolled out of Furnace Creek at 6:20 am on a beautiful morning. The winds had calmed some from the night before. It was so windy in the camp ground trying to sleep peoples tents were blowing away!




Getting ready to start in Furnace Creek

 
















Our group with a strong tandem at the front.

 As we headed South toward Badwater the winds picked up strong and we had a nasty headwind all the way to check point 2 in Ashford Mills, just before the climb out of the valley. Lucky I had a large pace line to work with on this section. We only averaged from 8-12 mph even with a pace line. It took us a loooonnnggg time to get there.

My friends Chris and Saralie were manning the rest stop. It was great to see them.








These guys were real strong, both Furnace Creek 508 veterans, but would have to bow out of the ride before me.

 I left by myself for the long 16 mile climb up Jubilee and Salsberry passes. Before I left I thanked the strong tandem team for the pull into that wind. We were now heading more East and the winds were not as bad. It was still in the 50's though and going to get colder as we climbed from 200 feet below sea level to 3500 feet.

Heading up Jubilee Pass

Toping Jubilee Pass

Looking west toward Death Valley

I caught up with a couple of guys, one who was a solo finisher of the Furnace Creek 508 last year from the east coast. I didn't get his name but he told me he just did the ride on a whim and finished the solo. Unbelievable!!












We kept a steady pace for about 2/3 of the climb then they took a rest and I continued on over the summit.

Salsberry Pass

It was cold and windy on the descent but real fast with epic views. I hit the 75 mile mark in Shoshone feeling real good. It seemed to take absolutely forever to go that first 75 miles. I didn't stop long and started back up the pass for the return on the east side. It was harder and steeper than the front side but not quite as long. The first part was easy but got steep toward the top of Salsberry.

Heading westbound into the park. Climbing on the back side.



Salsberry Pass looms way ahead. It doesn't look steep but is 4-5% grade where I am and kicked up to 8-9% ahead.

 As I went down the west side of the passes the winds switched and started to become a headwind again.
When I reached Ashford Mills after the grueling 16 mile, or so, descent I was feeling real good and really hadn't seen that many double riders returning as I made my way to Shoshone. Awesome! I knew I must be in the top 3rd  at least and I was feeling real strong. (actually, so many riders had turned around an went back that there were not that many left)  Despite the wind in the morning, I might have a pretty good showing.

Wellllllllll.....As I was leaving the check point....to the north west and in the direction we were all heading were giant dust clouds forming and I knew it couldn't be good!

Storm front moves in from northwest.

As I rolled up the road the winds picked up and were gusting to 40 mph this time right in our faces again. I was riding in my granny gear in the flats only managing about 10 mph.

My left eye started to act up as I got to the 120 mile mark. I did the smart thing and decided to get a ride back to the start before I went blind in the eye.

It was very disappointing as this is one of my favorite places to ride, just not when its windy.

The scenery and the cloud formations were spectacular the whole day in Gods playground. The sunset was awesome as I waited for the Sag wagon to pick my up.

As I write this, the preliminary results are it: Out of over 300 entrants, some doing the century, some the 150 miler and some the 200  mile event.

Only about 60 finished the 100

Only 20 completed the 150

And only 8, that's 8, completed the double.

I was feeling so good and about 40 minutes ahead of some of the people who ended up finishing . I timed the guys who passed me while I was waiting for a ride.

Maybe my next event will offer better conditions but who knows with the way the weather has been going this year.