Markleeville Death Ride

Okay so today I got a package from them. Forms, info and all that.

I should be excited. I have the experience of riding this ride years ago like 20 years ago :D :D

I'm getting cold feet. I'm not so sure... was this a wise thing to do?? The ride seems to be more civilized then back then...

back then, we all got woken up at the turtle rock park to the sound of rooster over the PA system followed by sound of freight train going by with its whistle blaring. This was followed by king of acid Jimmy Hendrix rendition of Star Spangled Banner. Mailtopis tells me that its classical or something like that today.

Back then the noght before the ride some yahoo would break out bottles of wine. Lot of us gave the wino an evil eye.

Back then one year we got to the park late so my friend pitched the tent in what seemed to be a prime location when all other places were taken. We found out that the tent was right smack on top of a giant red ant hill. Those suckers bite hard!!! I ended up sleeping in the bucket seat of the car shivering the whole night. I was young then so I could put up with that non-sense.

Well I'm really having second thought considering I haven't ridden in past three weeks. two weeks ago I took off work for nearly a week with tweaked back. Driving was really painful. I just don't think I could be ready. besides, I'm nearly 20 years older... :( If I go there what is the point of doing just one pass or even two or three. gotta do the whole she-bang you know.

start time of 5:30 to 6:00AM is mighty cold. and first few miles of this ride to the fork to go up Monitor is all downhill. Great warm-up to start the day off.

Then over at carson in late afternoon, you'll experience the Monty Python's Holly grail scene. You will be asked, "What! is your name?" can't answer and you will not be allowed to climb Carson.

And to tell you the truth, I just don't have the drive like I once did. I don't need to be proving anything like I once did... so why did I sign up for this? why did I get caught up in the excitement?? just stupidity I guess. Sooooo I'm thinking what to doooo...

Thanks for letting me ramble on...

SmilingCat,

Half the ride is downhill -- how hard could it be?! Come on, it'll be fun!!!!! :D

See ya in Markleeville... :)

- Melissa

You don't have to do all 5 passes. Take them one at a time. If you're hurting or even not into it, then stop. There's no reason to torture yourself if you're not enjoying it.

The first year I tried it I'd had a stomach bug the week before and I was still a bit drained. I made 3 passes and felt very proud I'd done that. There's no shame in not finishing.

Sure the beginning is cold, but you start climbing pretty soon and that warms you up great. I love taking the first climb nice and slow and having (men) pass me huffing and puffing like locomotives and just knowing that the rest of my day is only going to get better and they will (I hope) learn a valuable lesson about going out too hard to soon. :)

There is still plenty of time to get training however you need to be serious about it. The first 100 mile ride I do is in April. Which is 100 miles with about 6000 feet of climbing. And then just goes up from there until the Death Ride. If you don't have some kind of plan you should try to write down what you'll do for training and try to stick to it. As the time gets closer to July, I generally find I can't ride with friends and have to ride on my own. Either I am going longer or doing more climbing then other people as their goals are different. Which I think is one good thing about something like TNT, you get to train with people who have the same goals and keep you motivated. Maybe consider getting a coach, a coach can help too since someone else sets your training based on your goal(s) and you just need to follow it.

This year I didn't sign up for the Death Ride but I've signed up for Climb to Kaiser instead. However, at some point should you want to sell your ticket I'd buy it from you. ;)

Oh sign up for the Kaiser is already open? wow!

The start out of Clovis is very fast with police escort :D :D. 23-25MPH and you'll be at the back of the pack. Don't fret. Just take your time to the first rest stop at toll house grade. Lot of cat 1 & 2 men are riding. I rode at 25MPH and I was one of the last dozen or so to check in at the first rest stop.

They all say that you should be out of the plains by 10:00AM at the latest or else you'll burn up from the heat in the central valley. You have to be going really slow to be in the valley at 10:00AM.

The short ride from Big creek rest stop (elev 5280 ft according to GPS) to Huntingto lake is un-improved road. It's broken up black top with hard dirt surface. climb is around 3000 feet in about 6 miles? 1/2 mile section averages over 15/18% grade. Think really hard about using a compact double. And do fill both water bottles up for that section.

How long are you planning to ride time wise? oh at the top of kaiser pass elevation 9,000ft+ (2600m+), it's bit cool up there. 60F-70F while the valley may be in the 100F

enjoy your ride.

As for the death ride. I been cooked by the heat and frozen from late season winter storm. Sleet did me in SAGed along with abot 900 people only 100 or so finished that one year.

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Originally Posted by smilingcat

As for the death ride. I been cooked by the heat and frozen from late season winter storm. Sleet did me in SAGed along with abot 900 people only 100 or so finished that one year.

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That slightly hysterical cackling you hear in the background is me. Not to worry...