Heartbreak Double Century

This ride is one of the toughest of the Triple Crown Doubles. It has around 16,000 vertical feet of elevation gain and that, in itself makes it pretty challenging.
It is one of my favorite rides so I thought it would be fitting for my 97th Triple Crown Double.

I did this ride for the first time back in the early 90's when it was done as a re-route of the Tour of Two Forests Double. Due to heavy rains, the mountain came down on the road above Wheeler grade going out of Ojai, Ca. so they devised this new route until the road was repaired. It became an epic route to say the least.

I was somewhat worried about the ride this year. The forecast was for winds steady out of the north-northwest 20-30mph gusting to 60 mph.
Although it didn't quite turn out that bad it was still very challenging for the first 70 miles or so.
(I'm talking about challenging winds. This ride is always a real challenge due to the climbing)

The ride start was at the Holiday Inn in Palmdale, Ca.



Julie and Frank checking us in


As usual I ran into a few friends at the start. Some doing the ride and others supporting it.






I saw Tony, one of the fixie riders I rode with at the very rainy Solvang Double this year. Never saw him again after that as he hammered this one.




We rolled out of Palmdale at 5:15am, about 57 of us, plus or minus a few. The winds were calm when we left and headed West on Palmdale Blvd. As soon as we started up Elizabeth Lake Road and the sun started rising, "the winds came with a vengeance". They were not as bad as Death Valley this year but still a challenge. I think that maybe I was not quite recovered from Devil Mountain and the tough 3 weeks prior to this ride. I really had a hard time getting into my zone and I started real slow. The wind made this even tougher.

The wind was about 20mph and gusting to 35 I figured. It was also very chilly. In the mid 40's when we started climbing toward Sandburg.

Heading up Pine Canyon Road toward 3 points

We rode past Elizabeth Lake and Lake Hughes before starting the climbing up Pine Canyon Road to Checkpoint one at 3 points. Mile marker 30.

Thanks Jon and Jennifer for the great support at check point one and on the return route.

We continued climbing into the headwinds up Pine Canyon for 8 miles to "The Old Ridge Route". I believe this is the old road that went South to North before Interstate 5 was built.



Looking down one of the climbs on Pine Canyon, almost to the Ridge Route



Sign on The Ridge Route

I made a right turn on the ridge route and then had a nice 2.3 mile descent down into more headwinds to Hwy 138 for a left turn to Gorman.

I couldn't help but remember that it was on a day such as this with nasty winds that my wife Ginny and my youngest daughter Nicole got blown off Hwy 138 and flipped the car. They were on their way to staff one of the rest stops on the event. It was a nasty accident and they both walked away from it! The car flipped end over end. Angels were definitely watching!
I was doing the ride and when I reached Lebec, Hugh Murphy, the organizer of the ride that year, told me what happened and that they were ok. Someone who passed by gave them a ride to the Flying J where the checkpoint was so they could call the CHP. I stopped riding at that point, had breakfast with them and went home. The wind was about the same that day.

Back to the current ride.

When I turned left on to hwy 138 the winds subsided some and it was not too bad for the 2.5 miles until the turn on Gorman Post Road. I just got into my aero bars and smoked that section. I was feeling good now and into a rhythm. Could the winds be starting to subside, I thought.


 No such luck. As soon as I started the climb toward Tejon Pass and Gorman the winds really kicked up again and with a vengeance. I caught a couple of guys on the start of the climb. They were much lighter than I and the wind was pushing them bad.

Caught up to these guys as I started climbing Gorman Post Road. The wind was almost blowing us backward on this not too tough of a climb.

 After going over that first little climb in the wind, I got down into my aero bars and just powered into the wind as it wasn't too steep from that point to Gorman. The winds were really howling and funneling through that pass as anyone who has driven the Grape Vine would know.


I wonder if someone got hit by the O in Gorman as the wind blew it away....ha ha.

 I left Gorman and trudged over Peace Valley Road to Tejon Pass. Now it was down and pedaling into a headwind again to the town of Lebec for checkpoint #2 at another Holiday Inn. Mile marker 50.5

I got water and food, then started what was, for me, the toughest section of the ride. The climb to Apache Saddle, the highest point on the event.





Heading into Frazier Park



Up we went on Frazier Mountain Road/Cuddy Valley Road for 11.5 miles of gradual to steep uphill. This part has always seemed tough to me as it just seems endless.

After going through the Cuddy Valley we started the last ascent to our turn on Mil Portrero Hwy. Now it was onward to Apache Saddle.

 We made a right turn through the pine forest for a very welcome and windless descent toward the community of Pine Mount Club.

 After the turn we had 8.3 miles to the Saddle and the descent wasn't long enough as we started climbing real steep again toward Pine Mountain Club. We had 10-12% grade getting to Pine Mountain Club. This area was really nice and I would love to come and take a vacation here with the bike.









Now we had another steep section to get to Apache Saddle and we finally made it. Check Point 3. Mile 71.1. I fueled up and headed onward.

Now we finally had some relief!! 71 miles complete as we dropped and dropped down Mil Portrero Hwy toward Hwy 166. 21.2 mile with a few little bumps in between and mostly down hill off the mountain.
You could see California's central valley on the way down. Spectacular!!

We cruised on Hwy 166 for 4.5 miles into San Luis Obispo County before we made a left turn on Hwy 33 South and the lunch stop at "The Place" in Ventucopa. Mile 104. It was really a tough first century. It took me around 9 hours with all the climbing coupled with the wind. I sure hoped we had some tailwinds for the return. We had Sub sandwiches and sodas. It was good!!



Napping? No just kidding. I felt like it though.



Now I headed for the infamous Lockwood Valley Road.
I had 12.2 miles of rolling roads with tailwinds.....woooohooo!!! I didn't push hard and just recovered after lunch for what was to come.
Looking to the South I could see the big mountain range that separates where I currently was at from Ojai, Ca and the Pacific Ocean.
I made my way up Hwy 33 until my turn toward Heartbreak Hill on Lockwood Valley road.



Heading up Lockwood Valley Road

Heartbreak Hill itself is not all that steep. It is the approach that makes it tough. From the turn onto Lockwood Valley Road, you have about 10 miles of gradual climb which gets progressively steeper as you get closer to Heartbreak. The section just before is the hardest and then the crest of the summit doesn't seem quite as bad. Only about 6% or so.





On the steep part



My Rubaix looking back down Lockwood Valley Road



Today the temps were mild and it was not too hot on Lockwood Valley as it usually is. It wasn't too bad.

I made it to Check Point #4 feeling pretty good, (no cramps for a change). I filled my Camelbak with water and headed out. 17 miles now through the pine forest with two higher passes before a descent to Frazier Park and Lebec. The next two passes were not too bad. Over Owls Barn Summit I went. Tailwinds now as I descended at speeds from 20-45 mph into Lebec and CP5.

I was now at mile 150.7 and started the return climb over  Peace Valley Road with a tailwind. Over the top and on to Gorman Post Road for a spin fest as the tailwinds blew me faster than I could pedal. I turned left on Hwy 138 again this time Eastbound with more great tailwinds.

Now the climbing started again as we climbed up the "Old Ridge Route" road again to Pine Canyon.

Old Ridge Route ahead

Heading up the lower slope. Old Ridge Route

2.2 miles up to our turn on Pine Canyon.

Sunset on Pine Canyon

 We dropped down for awhile, then some more climbing before our final check point at Three Points. I said hi to Jon and Jennifer, filled up with fluid and headed out. It was getting dark now as the sun had just set. 30 or so miles left....home stretch, but not before a couple of tough climbs left. One of them was pretty nasty at this point in an event. I trudged over with many large grunts and then enjoyed the nice drop into Lake Hughes. Now I had a slight tailwind all the way back through Lake Elizabeth for the return to Palmdale.

Very tired.....another one in the books. Three to go on my quest.

202 miles

16,000 ft. elevation gain

Ride time on bike: 14:40

Overall time: 16:30

To see the rest of the photos, go to: www.stephenpaul.shutterfly.com/cycling

The 2011 Devil Mountain Double Century

"For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed"


On this day, my brother and I conquered Devil Mountain together.

We lost my younger brother on the day after Easter.
I felt Dave along side me as we ascended some the the highest peaks in the area East and South East of San Francisco. Mount Diablo, Mount Hamilton and the infamous Sierra Road to name a few.

Dad with Dave

For the first time since we were kids he was with me, on his bike, along side, ascending those almost 20,000 vertical feet of elevation. We will all miss you little brother.



Now for the ride report:

We went to the Bay area and stayed with friends who lived in the East Bay town of Pittsburgh, only about 20 minutes from the ride start in San Ramon.
The whole way up the San Joaquin Valley, the winds were howling and we started to worry about the event conditions. The winds were coming from a unusual northerly direction for this time of year.

Things were nice and calm for the ride start in San Ramon at 5am. The temps were in the 40's so we were figuring that it would make the first mountain assault more pleasant.

I put on my ride number and made my way to the start. The largest group of riders started at 5am due to the cut off time which we have to make by mile 90 on the course.
The cut-off was as such: We had to leave the Mines Road check point at mile 90 by one pm or we cannot continue on the course and we get a "DNF" (did not finish)
That's 8 hours to do 90 miles and about 9,000 feet of climbing. If you make that cut-off then you are in good shape. Sounds easily doable.


We all gathered at the start for the ride meeting with all the final instructions.

I saw my friend Ken there who I rode much of the Solvang Double with this year in the rain. He was riding his "fixed gear" bike on that one. Not on this grunt of a ride. He had one with gears and plenty of them.

We rolled out of San Ramon right on time and started climbing almost immediately toward Mount Diablo on the city streets on the outskirts. Some of the riders really took off fast because they were doing the "Triple Crown" stage race which is a race within a race on these events. They take the combined times from the riders on the three most difficult double centuries and the winner is the one with the fastest time.
Some of the guys who were racing just flew out of the gate and some of the real fast ones started in the 6am group because there is no way they would miss the cut-off because they are just too fast.

It was just starting to get light when we reached the lower slopes of Diablo. This mountain is the largest one in the East Bay area and if you take interstate 5 to San Francisco you cant miss it. It is the big, double peaked, mountain north of Livermore. It can be seen from a long way off in the distance on a clear day. Even from the San Joaquin Valley!

Starting the ascent up Diablo

It was then on the lower slopes that I had my first problem. I got a flat tire. I fixed the flat and was about to pump it up when the SAG driver came up with a high pressure pump. After pumping it up, we had some trouble with the brakes which I somehow knocked out of alignment so he adjusted them for me. (awesome support on this ride, I got to tell you!!!)
Having never done this ride before, everyone told me not to cook myself before Mines Road which is a difficult 25 mile, hot, gradual climb that can really burn you out if you don't pace yourself.
Now, with that 1pm cut-off time on my mind, I started to get stressed and started to push much harder than I wanted on the last 2/3 of the climb up Diablo. I still stayed within my Aerobic zone on my heart monitor though so I was fine.
It was such a beautiful climb. You could see the East Bay, San Jose, Livermore, The Golden Gate and the City, all during points of the climb. Just awesome and I really felt like Dave was with me up on that mountain.

The wind was howling on the mountain which also slowed us up some.


Heading to the East into the sunrise about 2/3 of the way up Mount Diablo



Me at the top with San Francisco in the background

The above video shows just how windy it was on the mountain. I saw my friend Ron Ng up there working the stop. I almost didn't recognize him without his cycling gear on.  The support crew had a real tough time mixing the drinks. When I filled my Camel-Bak with water I think the wind was blowing more of it away than I was getting in the reservoir. It was freezing up there too with that wind chill at just after 7 in the morning.

San Francisco and the Golden Gate in the distance

We had a real cold drop off of the first mountain and I could hardly feel my hands when I reached the bottom in Walnut Creek. It was warmer there though and I warmed up quickly and started to strip some of the layers.
We had some nice riding through Walnut Creek before we started to ascend again on the North side of Mount Diablo. We went up on the South-West side and came down on the Northwest side. Now we were riding along the foot of the big giant on the North side which had some small climbs on it.
We headed east at its foot and then made a turn on Morgan Territory Road. This road was really pretty and all tree lined in a canopy. Very cool temps and windy still. Some very steep sections on this long climb which ascends the East foot of Diablo I'll call it.



Morgan Territory Road

It was almost a 10 mile climb up to the second check point at Morgan Territory Park. Very steep in some parts but not too bad. Had to keep thinking about that cut-off though. I couldn't get it out of my head. I really wanted to finish this thing for Dave.

Right after the check point we started a steep descent down to Livermore called, "the plunge".  It is a steep drop of about 5 miles on a single lane road and it was really windy with gusty cross winds. A rider went down not far after the start of "the plunge" and the fire department was stopping everyone and not letting them through until the ambulance could get there from down the hill. They didn't want anyone to hit the ambulance.  We had to wait about 25 minutes in that cold wind. Now I really started to worry about the cut-off time. I was hoping that they would cut us some slack due to the situation. (by the way, the rider was ok. He had to be taken to the hospital but was released with some broken ribs.)

Waiting for the Ambulance

We then had to all follow the ambulance down the hill and we were on the brakes the whole time because it was a slow decent for him too.

We then traversed over to the Livermore area and then headed East to Altamont Pass which takes us over into the San Joaquin Valley.

 Altamont Pass was a really nice climb on a real nice road. We had great views of the large windmills. Altamont Pass is one of the windiest places so it has the windmills everywhere to catch the wind funneling in from the Pacific. On this day the wind was coming out of the North so we had a nice cross wind instead of a tailwind from the ocean.

It was on now to our next climb....Patterson Pass. I did this climb about 15 years ago when my wife Ginny dropped me off in Tracy, Ca and I rode to the East Bay to our friends house on my bike. I didn't remember it being hard at all. 15 years can make a difference I guess.

Now it was quite warm as the wind was more behind us and had calmed some. We climbed for about 4 miles and I finally took off my leg warmers and arm warmers. Getting hot.



Patterson Pass with the windmills



We came up over a little bluff thinking that was the top and then I saw writing on the rode that said. "Look up at OH MY GAWD HILL". I looked up and instantly saw what they were talking about. I don't remember that when I did this before, I thought. It looked nasty. Someone said it kicked up to 20% at one small point. Dont know about that but it was steep for a short time.

Would you look at that!! WOW

I checked in at the water stop and headed up over the summit.  Somehow, it looked worse than it felt. I just paced myself and it wasn't all that bad. (if you call climbing out of the saddle at 3 mph not that bad...)

OMG





In the old days I would have done that without a granny gear. Being close to 60 does change you some I think. Haaa!

Over the top we went and headed back toward Livermore and the left turn onto Mines Road. 3 miles from there to the cut-off time destination.

I got there and left with a half hour to spare. Woooo hoooo. Flat tire...bike problems....ambulance....taking my time and I still made it....Priceless!!

Now we had 25 miles of gradual to sometimes hard uphill to the lunch stop at the Junction Cafe. This was a hot grinding climb that seemed endless. Now I know why everyone said not to "cook yourself" before Mines Road. It seemed never ending.

Two local guys doing it for the first time. Thier goal was to finish before midnight

I felt great when I got to lunch and spent little time wolfing down a chicken sandwich and a drink. I stayed too long for my liking and then started what was the assault on Mount Hamilton. 18.34 miles of mostly uphill and getting steeper as you get closer to the summit. Sooooo beautiful though.

Follow the road as far as the eye can see and then some. We came from out there somewhere.

 Wow what a climb.

This section we are doing, the ascent of Hamilton, the decent down into San Jose and the Attack of Sierra road are all going to be on one stage of the Amgen Tour of California, this year with a mountain top finish on Sierra Road. Watch it....it will be awesome and you can say...wow...Steve and Dave rode that!

Just before the assault on Hamilton I got another flat tire after going over a cattle guard. From this point on, I am not doing a long event like this with only C02 cartridges and no pump. I had one tube left and only two C02's left. After putting the tube in, I blew up the tire because it was pinched between the rim and the tire. Then a nice guy named Chris stopped and gave me a tube. I re-fixed it and he let me use his pump to pump it up. Then the SAG crew stopped and I used a floor pump for better pressure. Much better. Then I had problems with my derailleur. To make a long story short.....it turned a fast flat repair into a 25 minute time loss.

We continued up Hamilton and I felt good after the long rest. It was beautiful at the summit as we rode by the observatory. The view of the South Bay below was great.

Now we had a very technical 17 mile decent down the mountain into the San Jose area. I kept getting stuck behind cars who just cant make a decent like this as fast as a bike. After they let us pass we never saw them again even after we were in the more straight section of road toward the bottom.

The snaking road to San Jose

We flew to the next check point.

The sun was getting low and there was a chill in the air so I started to put some layers back on. I fueled up real good and maybe was somewhat too heavy on water but I was sure going to be ready for what was to come. 

Sierra Road!!



We were where the arrow is pointing. Look at the profile of the next climb...Sierra Road. Straight up!



A 4 mile climb from the flat lands of San Jose. 17% gradients almost from the start with a few forgiving sections of 9-10% in the middle. Ouch.

My sister told me that all the problems I had so far was Dave just teasing me and holding me back on purpose. He was really known as a teaser when he was young, as my 4 sisters can attest.

After climbing Sierra Road I know she was right.

If I hadn't had the hold ups on this ride, I would never have had the chance to see the most spectacular sunset I have seen in years. I got to see the sun setting over the Bay from all different angles as I ascended Sierra Road. I must have stopped 7 times to take pictures and videos. I feel blessed that I was able to see such a sight. Wow.

Between pacing myself properly and stopping to look at the sunset, this climb didn't seem half bad after almost 160 miles and over 15,000 feet already climbed.

And........I got to "Pet the Goat" at the Pet the Goat check point at the summit. Does that mean we are considered to be "Mountain Goats", now?



Sunset over San Francisco Bay...WOW








 







From the very top with the sun set




I am the mountain goat





I was drenched in sweat at the top and it was almost completely dark. I pet the goat, fed the goat, fed myself, layered up, watered up and started the cold descent to our next climb, Calaveras Road. I was shivering so much on the way down I had a hard time holding the bars. I had to apply brakes and pedal so I could heat my engine back up. The human body is an engine after all. Rapid cool down is not good for any engine. The temp dropped about 20 degrees on that descent.

To top that off, Dave decided to tease me again.
I missed the turn in the dark on Calaveras road and descended all the way down to the town of Milpitas before I realized the mistake. Then I noticed that my route slip had blown away. (I had two and this was my second)

I think I dropped about another 1,000 feet. I turned around and I figured if I had not missed the turn, I would see other riders coming down. I saw none and then after another long climb, I saw the turn. I was going so fast on the decent, I just blew right by. Stupid, brain dead kind of thing to do I know with all my experience. It happens to the best of us....but....wow what a day this has been so far.

About 16 more miles of up and some down and I was at the final check point. Sunol Train Station.

I saw my friends Jason and Alfie there who were working the stop. Thanks guys for the awesome Miso soup and boiled garlic potatoes.

Off we went in a group of 4 for the final 25 miles and the finish. Still some climbing to do though. Boy....are there not any flat sections on this course?

I started to get real sleepy now as it was late in the night. I was thinking that I should have had something with caffeine in it at the final stop.

Sleepy on the climb but boy I woke up quick on the next decent with that cold in my face.

Then we had a semi uphill, nice section with about 8 miles to go on Crow Canyon Road when it happened again. A front tire blow out. Don't know what I hit but it was something sharp.

One tube left and one C02 left... middle of the night....freezing....shivering....just tell yourself Steve....you can do it.

Well.....got the tire fixed....but....only got about 40 or 50 pounds in the tire because the cartridge was bad or something.

Knowing I only had Norris Canyon to climb and descend before the finish, I decided to risk it and I just nursed the bike over the hill and down the other side. In one respect I was lucky it was the front tire because I could put most my weight to the rear but on the other hand if the decent was curvy, I risked the front tire rolling off the rim.

Well.....Dave and I made it.

Not a pretty one in the time category but at least I got through this most epic of events. I already want to do it again.

Start time: 5am

Finish time: Somewhere around 12:30am

Overall course time: 19.5 hours?

On bike ride time: 15:57 hrs

Elevation Gain: 19,960 feet


For all the pictures: http://www.stevemeichtry.myphotoalbum.com/
Here is the ride map someone made of the event...awesome: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/385101

Century Quest 2011: The Hemet Double Century

Well number 95 this year turned out to be a somber and brutally hot event.

It is not one of my favorite events as about 2/3 of it is very urban with lots of traffic.

The 2011 Hemet Double Century was run this year as a memorial ride for Jim Swarzman who we lost on April 10th in a hit and run accident. He will surely be missed.

The course was somewhat different this year with less traffic on the early morning part of the first loop.
The course is made up of two loops with Hemet at the start and finish of each one. Here is the link to the maps:
Loop 1
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/369769

Loop 2
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/369775

I left home at around 1:30 am and arrived at the start at around 3:30.




Lynn and Kermit looking pretty chipper at 3:30 am

  At check in I saw my friends Lynn, Kermit and the ride organizer Jim Watrous. I talked with them for a while and then went to the car to get ready.


I started by myself at around 4:40 am.
Usually we go out to the Ramona expressway first thing in the morning and take it all the way out to the riverside area and March Air Force Base. This year we took a little longer way to get there but much less traveled by cars. It was great riding out in the darkness with little traffic.
I cruised for a while and then ran into my friend Terri who started not long before me. We ended up riding together the rest of the day. Terri has the nickname,  "Queen of the Santa Monica's". We gave her that name because we are always running into her up in the Santa Monica Mountains on some of the toughest climbs. She lives on the bike up there!!
We made our way around the Air Force Base and to the first checkpoint just west of it.

Heading toward Corona

Shadows

It was then off toward Corona. We stopped and took off the winter layers as it was getting hot coming into Corona.
We then made it out of that area and into Temescal Canyon on our way to Lake Elsinore.
Temescal Canyon parallels the 15 fwy from Corona to Lake Elsinore.

Partway up the canyon we had our second checkpoint at "Toms Farm".
We stopped for water, ice and some fuel and were off for the climb up to the Elsinore area.

We turned left on Lakeshore Drive as we came into the area and then skirted the east side of the lake.

Heading up the east side of the lake with the group from San Luis

Along the way we started riding with a group of people who came down from San Luis Obispo for the event. One British man, a couple of girls and a few others who joined us. Don't know where they were from.

It was then up Railroad Canyon and over the hill into the Menifee area.

 We stayed together the whole way back to lunch in Hemet.







After the final morning check point in the Menifee area we meandered around until we hit Domenigoni Parkway which took us back to Hemet.

We were flying in a group all the way back and we made this section real fast. It was also getting real hot and was in the 90's already. Here is a video of us heading up the parkway.

When we got back to Hemet and the start, we had a great lunch. We took about 30 minutes. I dumped all my cold weather layers in my car and took only what I would need in case it got cool later.

Heading East after lunch

Then Terri and I took off for the second, more difficult loop. Terri had never done this ride before so it was all new to her. This was her 46th double century and she had never done the Hemet Double.

Now we headed East out of town on the Parkway again toward Sage Road.

Sage road is known for its thermonuclear heat on the 6 plus mile climb to the top of the canyon. Its hot even when its not a hot day.

Today it was 100 degrees on the road as we made the turn on Sage for the climb to the top. On the way up it got to 106 degrees on the pavement with no wind or breeze at all.

I THOUGHT MY HEAD WAS GOING TO POP OPEN LIKE A MELLON IN THE SUN!!

We just took our time getting to the top where we found my friend Vick Cooper up at the top with water for everyone. Thanks Vick for being there.
After filling up with water, it was down down down on a nice downhill to East Benton road and a right turn. There was a cool breeze in our face now but the temps were still in the 90's.




Looking East. Mountains above Palm Springs in the distance.



A few 12% bumps on our way to the next stop

We rolled through the hills East of Temecula before the next check point at Danza Del Sol Winery for a wine tasting. (not..just joking)

We then dropped down to Hwy 79 for a short while in the traffic before turning on to Butterfield Stage road.
We rolled along side of Interstate 15 for a while then crossed over it and made our way all the way up the West side of the valley to Lake Elsinore again for a clockwise loop around the lake before the check point in Elsinore. There we saw Kermit, Lynn and Tom again.
Now for the final couple of legs. We now pedaled South along the lake to Murietta Hot Springs for the final check point before the return to Hemet. We had a head wind on this 15 mile section and it was not fun at this point. It was now still in the 90's. Whew.....it is at least a little cooler!

Into the final check point for some water and food.

Home stretch now!!! Wooohooo!!!

Final Climb

One more climb to get out of the area then we had a nice decent into Menifee again and Domenigoni Parkway for the return.
It was now getting dark and cooler. It felt great!!

Sunset in Menifee

We made the final turn into Hemet and were done. I felt really spent from all the heat and the traffic.
This didn't feel like the easier double century that it was.
Not much overall climbing but all the circumstances made it much tougher.
I had a great BBQ chicken dinner put on by the organizers, talked with friends and went home. Another one down the pipe.

The link to all the pictures:

http://stevemeichtry.myphotoalbum.com/albums.php?page=1

204.6 miles
Start time: 4:40 am
Finish time: 8:10 pm
Ride time on bike: 12:55
Elevation gain: 5,977 ft (from my VDO computer)
Time at stop lights: FOREVER!!!!
Average climb: 2%
Max climb: 13%