Sac Bee Article on Devil Mountain Double
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http://www.sacbee.com/107/story/182734.html
Tour de deuce
Double century bicycle events really take you for a ride
By Tim Reese - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, May 17, 2007
As they reached the summit of Mount Diablo, few of the cyclists gave the hazy sunrise a passing glance. They had little time for small pleasures as they swiftly replenished empty water bottles at the aid station -- a couple of card tables erected in a parking lot.
They jammed handfuls of fruit or muffins into their mouths, loaded their pockets with energy bars, dropped off their lights for transport to aid stations farther ahead, then remounted their bikes and aimed the front wheels back down the mountain.
Most of the 175 cyclists knew they would still be on their bicycles when the sun set, about 14 hours later. Many would still be hours from the finish. The last rider would arrive back at the host hotel after 3 a.m. the next day.
This is how it was for participants in the Devil Mountain Double Century, or DMD, one of the toughest double century rides in California. DMD cyclists attempt to ride a 206-mile loop that begins and ends in San Ramon. They face climbs up two mountains and a variety of lesser "hills," and they must retain enough energy to conquer Sierra Road, a climb classified as the most difficult of the 2007 Tour of California.
"The course is just relentless," said Chuck Bramwell, 55, who completed his 82nd double century on the last Saturday in April.
Bramwell, who lives in Irvine, heads the California Triple Crown, a small organization that recognizes long-distance bicyclists in California. To earn a triple crown, riders must complete three out of 17 potential double centuries in one year. The rides range in difficulty from "medium" to "radically high." DMD is at the top of the radically high classification.
"All (of the rides) are challenging in one way or the other," said Bramwell. "Each one is something you never forget."
Twice the accomplishment
Double century rides are gaining in popularity. According to Bramwell's statistics, in 1990 there were four double centuries in California resulting in 32 winners of the triple crown. By 2005, there were 17 rides and 508 winners.
The most popular double century in California is the Davis Double, which takes place Saturday on a scenic route winding from Davis to Clear Lake and returning through the Capay Valley.
The quest for a triple crown motivates riders to enter and complete more double centuries than they probably would otherwise, said DMD ride director Scott Halversen, of Danville, who has completed 27 double centuries.
"A big reason is the feeling of accomplishment for completing it," he said.
Halversen and friend Jesse Smith of Concord organize the ride. They coordinate the volunteers who staff aid stations spread along the route and who drive support vehicles to help riders in distress.
The support vehicles, called SAGs (support and gear), saw plenty of action during this year's Devil Mountain Double. Forty-nine riders, almost 30 percent, dropped out because of the heat. Normally, about 15 percent of the riders don't finish. As the temperatures rose past 90 degrees in the afternoon, many riders pulled off into the shade along the route and called it a day.
"It was a hot day and people weren't ready (for the heat)," Halversen said.
Most cyclists can handle the heat if they have time to train for it, he said, but this year's hot weather on the day of DMD was the first serious heat of the year and came with little warning. Weather predictions had been for temperatures in the 80s.
Hot dogs and chili
Those who did finish made good use of the aid stations, which provided a variety of fruit, snacks, energy drinks, energy bars and sodas. The last aid station offered boiled hot dogs and chili, a delicacy for those arriving in darkness.
Each aid station has its own flavor, such as the Pet-the-Goat rest stop located a few miles after the Sierra Road climb. Riders get to pet Alto the goat and receive a pin in recognition of reaching the point a mere 40 miles from the end of the ride.
The aid stations can't compete with the beautiful scenery surrounding the ride.
It's what attracts Rick and Anna Stewart of Janesville to ride their tandem bicycle in double centuries. The DMD was their 31st double century.
"It's fun and it's beautiful. We had no idea there were beautiful areas like this in the Bay Area," said Anna Stewart as she and her husband pedaled past the wind-turbine-laden hills along Patterson Pass Road, 75 miles into the ride. The Stewarts tote their bicycle all over the state to attend rides such as the DMD.
"The triple crown has given us an opportunity to travel up and down the state, and we just love it," Rick Stewart said, "We've put about 20,000 miles on Anna's car since August and we put about 10,000 miles a year on the bike.
"We spend almost all our spare time doing this."
It's about the people
Others have made different discoveries.
The Devil Mountain Double was the 48th double century for Andrew Melczer, 43, of Garden Grove. He was riding with a friend, Brian Rapp of Long Beach. Rapp has ridden more than 50 double centuries, placing him in Bramwell's Triple Crown Hall of Fame. Melczer finished in 17 hours, 3 minutes.
He readily admitted, while climbing Mount Diablo that morning, that many folks don't view riding double centuries as "normal behavior." He began riding doubles for the physical, mental and emotional challenge of being on a bike all day long.
"That's how it started, but now, I realize it's more about the friendships and the people I've met here in this select group -- this select motley crew of people -- who come back time and time again to ride these double centuries," he said.
Friendship is part of what motivates the people who host the ride, the Quackcyclists, a tiny group of friends led by Halversen who organize and run the DMD in the spring and another particularly difficult double, the Knoxville Double Century, in the fall.
They host the rides "to give a little something back to riders everywhere who have provided companionship, support and overall good times for us on so many other great rides."
