Tour de France/Death Ride

[maillotpois]

Yesterday was the Death Ride, which I had helped a group of Team in Training coaches to train for, and also planned to ride myself, until I got sick - or, rather, realized I was actually sick.

Trek posted a good link about the Death Ride:
http://www.chainreaction.com/markleeville.htm


Amazing ride! Anyway, it was very interesting to watch a cycling event that I would ordinarily do. It was also quite stressful because most of the road is closed, so I didn't know what was going on with my charges for a good part of the day (one of whom was my husband!). The end result was great, though - 6 of my 6 riders finished all 5 passes. They were all first time Death Riders so that was terrific!

The Death Ride leaves out of Markleeville, a very small town in the middle of the Sierras. It is a fly fishing, motorcycle rider sort of place, and there's a bar on one corner of town. The whole town is about two blocks long, so there's really just one corner. While we were waiting for the riders to come back through town on their way to the final pass, my friend Zach and I decided to go to the corner bar. (Zach and I had done the Death Ride together last year, and his dad had supported us and cheered us on. This year, his dad was doing it, so we got to cheer for him which was fantastic.)

So we go to the bar and they have OLN on, the bar was slightly full and they are showing the TdF time trial. Now, when has this EVER happened? You're in a biker bar (as in motorcycles, not our bikes), in the middle of NOWHERE in California, drinking beer at noon and arguing with five other guys (only one of whom you know) about who is going to win the Tour de France?!?! It was absolutely amazing.

I felt as if I were in France.

[SadieKate]

Just goes to show that your basic black goes a long way and it doesn't matter whether it is lycra or leather.

Congrats on the coaching. Did they all hydrate well for the drive home????

[spazzdog]

and two wheels are always better than four...

[Trek420]

maillotpois "Now, when has this EVER happened? You're in a biker bar (as in motorcycles, not our bikes)..."

Is there a biker bar anywhere? As in our bikes?

[KnottedYet]

If there is one, I'm going!!!!!

[Trek420]

There's this place

http://www.cyclerscafe.com/

[KnottedYet]

Darn! Kentucky really is too far for me to go! R+E Cycles in Seattle has an espresso bar, or so I've heard. Not quite the "bar" I need right now, but certainly the kind I need most often!

[Eden]

If there is one, I'm going!!!!!

We've got a place right in town here up on Capitol Hill that shows cycling on the bar TV's. The owner is a big fan himself - its called the Summit Alehouse and its up near the north end of the Broadway shopping district. We went down one afternoon last year during the spring classics and watched Leige - Baston - Leige after a morning ride. I found out the hard way that I should not drink after a hard ride - it was like instant hangover - oh my aching head!

[tprevost]

Excellent Coaching work Sarah!

I'm sorry you had to miss the ride but I'm glad you were able to get another perspective on the event :p

Trac'

[Deanna]

I've been to Markleeville on vacations and for a different bike race. They are in one of the poorest counties in California and the Death Ride (aka Tour of the California Alps - I think I read they changed the name after somebody did die) brings in the most money for their coffers. I guess they show their appreciation by airing the race for their visitors. Even during our visits they've been especially friendly to us when our bikes are on the top of the car.

[maillotpois]

I've been to Markleeville on vacations and for a different bike race. They are in one of the poorest counties in California and the Death Ride (aka Tour of the California Alps - I think I read they changed the name after somebody did die) brings in the most money for their coffers. I guess they show their appreciation by airing the race for their visitors. Even during our visits they've been especially friendly to us when our bikes are on the top of the car.

You're right about the name change. A doctor died on the ride in 2002 - the first year I did it. So they changed the name to Tour of the CA Alps. But everyone still calls it the Death Ride.

We were up there for an altitude training camp about a month ago and everyone there was SO nice. You're right - they really go out of their way to make people feel welcome. It is a great place to visit and I'd recommend the hot springs there (Grovers Hot Springs), which also has a great campground.

[Deanna]

Yeah, it caused me some confusion at first, as every body I speak with calls it the Death Ride, but I couldn't find an official website called that. Then I got the story.

I've been wanting to go to Grover Hot Springs, but usually we have the dog and he's not allowed in. There's a river we stop at just south of town where we can all, including the dog, take a dip.

[maillotpois]

Yeah, it caused me some confusion at first, as every body I speak with calls it the Death Ride, but I couldn't find an official website called that. Then I got the story.


But there is: http://www.deathride.com/

[Deanna]

Now I know. Not like I'll be doing it anytime soon. How did you manage to get spots for all the people you train? Do they have to get their confirmations and then they start to work with you, or is it easier to get in then I've heard?

[maillotpois]

I have been a team in training coach for about 5 years. The SF chapter of team in Training does Death Ride as a fundraising event. I am hoping that our group (Sonoma/Napa/Marin) will be able to get a Death Ride team together next year, so I trained a group of our coaches so perhaps some of them can help out if we do get a team. So these guys all fundraised for TNT and got entries that way, though it was more informal than the real SF team.

[Bike Goddess]

Deanna- Try Caples Lake near the summit of Carson Pass. Great campground!

Well MP- I did try to call you yesterday (Sunday) to check up on you. Now I know where you were!

Thunderstorm in the afternoon made for very wet sleeping bags and campsites! My club pals came back after the ride to find their stuff dripping wet, so they all packed up and headed back home (after dinner, of course!

Glad you could at least get up there to see them off and celebrate the end. All of my club guys and gals finished as well despite the elements. But that's the nature of the Sierra. You never know what to expect!

Congrats to all who did that ride!

[bikerchick68]

how fun that must have been... glad to hear all your trainees finished! :D That's no easy ride...

and what a hoot it must've been to be in that bar debating Tour results... LOL... I have found in my cycling experience that most bikers are actually pretty cool towards cyclists... sometimes a bit rough around the edges but overall good people... glad you had a good time... must've been a really different perspective for you! :)

[yellow]

Markleeville is NOT in the middle of nowhere! I spent a whole lot of time there. The hot springs after a day of backcountry skiing are heavenly.... I think I would have lived there but for that whole work thing... Gawd I miss the Sierra. :(

The "bar" has changed somewhat, I think. Used to have a giant collection of bras hanging from the ceiling. I heard that they are gone. Doesn't it (the bar) have some sort of fish name now?

FYI, it's always been called the Tour of the California Alps...they just reemphasized that name after the death, which was in 03 or 04, I think. The cattle guards all came out after that one. Now just painted lines.

[maillotpois]

Markleeville is NOT in the middle of nowhere! I spent a whole lot of time there. The hot springs after a day of backcountry skiing are heavenly.... I think I would have lived there but for that whole work thing... Gawd I miss the Sierra. :(

The "bar" has changed somewhat, I think. Used to have a giant collection of bras hanging from the ceiling. I heard that they are gone. Doesn't it (the bar) have some sort of fish name now?

FYI, it's always been called the Tour of the California Alps...they just reemphasized that name after the death, which was in 03 or 04, I think. The cattle guards all came out after that one. Now just painted lines.


I didn't see any bras in the bar (which also has a good restaurant where we ate while camping a few weeks ago. I did not note the name...

The guy died in 2002, the first year I did it. (You tend to remember those sorts of things... :rolleyes: )

And... how the heck are cows so dumb they won't cross painted lines? That always blows my mind.

[Deanna]

Markleeville may not be in the middle of nowhere, but it is pleasantly remote. That's why we like it.

I was wondering about that cow and the painted line thing to, though I'm glad it works as it makes the roads nicer. I also have to wonder how long ago some cow figured out not to cross the real thing and did it get hard wired into their genetics so that now NO cow will cross a cattle guard. I read a news story about some sheep in Scotland who figured out they could cross a "cattle" guard by laying on the ground and rolling over it!

[SadieKate]

How can cows be that dumb? How many domesticated animals do you know that crap down their backsides and don't seem to care? Cows and sheep. Can I have one as a pet? Ewwwww.

Meanwhile, bison simply broad jump cattleguards.

[snapdragen]

How many domesticated animals do you know that crap down their backsides and don't seem to care?

Now there's a visual I didn't need....:eek: :D

[SadieKate]

You don't think that bare patch on a sheep's posterior is natural, do you?

Fortunately it is being outlawed, but I have to think the collective ick is what attracts the flies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulesing

[DrBee]

Now that is totally an image I did not need right before eating dinner. Ewwwwwwww. Thanks so much for that. Gee, I sense drifting here ;)