Death Ride!!

[jobob]

I'll post pics sometime soon.

Lee & I hung out for most of the day on a grassy slope at the edge of Markleeville. It was really fun there, lots of people gathered there to cheer the riders on. We & the riders were even serenaded by a small yet enthusiastic marching band.

We cheered on on Dachshund & Mel & MP as they rode by, along with nearly all of the rest of the TNT gang (a few managed to sneak by when I wasn't looking).

And I saw gnat go by too - she's hard to miss! I yelled out to her but it was pretty noisy there so I doubt she ever heard me.

We also hung out later in the day at the TNT tent near the finish at Turtle Rock park. We saw most of the riders come in, although we left before mp arrived. She was riding with the last of the group but we weren't sure how much longer they would be, and we wanted to visit a bit that evening with the friends we were staying with.

We did actually drive by mp as she and the last of the group were riding towards Turtle Rock. The garbage bag she was wearing on account of the rain storm was billowing around her -- looking good, lady!

Mimi, it was great to see Donald, and he still bakes a mean pie!

[gnat23]

And I saw gnat go by too - she's hard to miss! I yelled out to her but it was pretty noisy there so I doubt she ever heard me.

Hahahah, was that you?? I remember going up Monitor's backside and hearing someone screaming down on the other side, but all I caught was "GNAAAaaa...*!" going by like a speeding train.

So. Uhm. WOW! That was about as soul-crushing as I needed it to be. Not to discourage anyone, but the difference between riding 3 and 4 passes was almost nothing. The difference between 4 and 5 was astronomical. You had to really really really want it. And I did. And so did a lot of people. It was *awesome* to see so many people slogging up the last pass with sheer grit and a thousand-yard stare into the horizon.

Something about freezing rain up the last bit of Carson, the fifth pass, almost made me turn around. Holysnot, being only 2 miles from the top wondering if I was going to make it (also the idea of having to turn around and descend in that crap, UGH!) It definitely killed the craving for the free ice cream, but I ate it anyway, shivering in my shorts, out of pure tradition and determination. When I turned into the last rest stop and got my pin, I burst into tears. What a trip!



(rest of my photos here, but I didn't take many given the day and all...)


-- gnat! (Ok, NOW WHAT should I do for the rest of the year??)

[jobob]

LOL, gnat!

I wasn't riding, I was a part of the cheering section on the infamous grassy knoll in beautiful downtown Markleeville.

Your hair and overall pinkitude was a great hit with the crowd, you had lots of people cheering for you as you went by! I'll post the photo I took of you but I took it too late, you were waving to your fans and at the angle I took it your arm pretty well obstructed your face. Darn!

[Adventure Girl]

So. Uhm. WOW! That was about as soul-crushing as I needed it to be. Not to discourage anyone, but the difference between riding 3 and 4 passes was almost nothing. The difference between 4 and 5 was astronomical. You had to really really really want it. And I did. And so did a lot of people. It was *awesome* to see so many people slogging up the last pass with sheer grit and a thousand-yard stare into the horizon.

Something about freezing rain up the last bit of Carson, the fifth pass, almost made me turn around. Holysnot, being only 2 miles from the top wondering if I was going to make it (also the idea of having to turn around and descend in that crap, UGH!) It definitely killed the craving for the free ice cream, but I ate it anyway, shivering in my shorts, out of pure tradition and determination. When I turned into the last rest stop and got my pin, I burst into tears. What a trip!

Gnat
This is a GREAT ride report. It captures the essence of your event so well! Congrats on achieving something you wanted so much! You really earned that ice cream, the pin and those tears!!!

[maillotpois]

Great report, Gnat. I saw you a few times throughout the day. I mean, really, the pink hair does make it hard to hide. Glad you had such a good ride.

It really is a beautiful event. I know it's hard and crowded (relatively speaking - do Tour de Tucson!), but it really is almost magical. And it is so great to read stories from first time finishers like this and, better yet, to be there with them when they make it. I confess to shedding some tears myself the last few times I have done it, mostly from relief and just emotion at seeing someone do something like that that they didn't think they could do. Whew!

[lph]

fantastic photo gnat, it actually brought tears to my eyes! You look like you've had some rough hours.

[smilingcat]

Week late on this thread too but wow. I'm really impressed that everyone finished. And ohh the rain. I hope it wasn't sleet like one year where only 100 or so die-hard riders managed to finish all 5 passes.

What's great is that everyone finished and finished safely. Soo is pass #4 the back side of Ebetts? Monitor-Monitor-Ebetts-backside of Ebetts- and Carson?

[LilBolt]

Hats (helmets?) off to all of you. I finally had a chance to talk to my friend today about his Death Ride experience. I admire him so much, and for him to talk about how hard it was really makes me recognize what a great achievement for all who completed the 5 passes. Biciclista is right on: STP is just another rec ride compared to what you achieved.

[maillotpois]

What's great is that everyone finished and finished safely. Soo is pass #4 the back side of Ebetts? Monitor-Monitor-Ebetts-backside of Ebetts- and Carson?

Yes.