Death Ride?

[maillotpois]

Anyone doing the Death Ride this year? It's lottery, so it is tough to get in (though you can almost always get a spot the day before if you line up at the expo for the unclaimed extra slots they seem to have). I didn't get inthrough lottery this year but will get a slot with team in training as I am doing a coaching program for them for it.

After reading Caligurl's post about that Redlands hell - I mean hill - ride where you get a sticker for each hill, it reminded me a lot of the Death Ride.

It is a tough ride, and weather can really be a factor. But I have ridden all over, and there's no more beautiful ride in my opinion. Something about those mountains and forests.

Anyway, just checking to see if anyone else is doing it. I highly recommend it - might make a good goal for next year at least for anyone who's interested.

[SadieKate]

Over my dead body.

http://www.deathride.com/

[slinkedog]

I think it was Susan who owns Team Estrogen who stated that she generally avoided rides that had words like "death," "suffer" and "devil" in them. I agree.

[maillotpois]

Now, now - don't just knee jerk react because the name is scary. You can do just 1 pass, or more if you like. You set your own pace and ride as far as you want.

And seeing the tandem bike with the skeleton stoker makes it worth it!! (S/he pedals and everything!)

[SadieKate]

Oregon has rides like the Cookie Monster Metric and the Pub Crawl. Bend has the Ice Cream Century (or something or other like that). What is with California? The Death Ride. The Terrible Two. I think I'll move to Oregon.

[slinkedog]

Actually, this is a ride my husband has always wanted to do. He could probably make it, too. His only reason for not wanting to do it is because he's afraid that he won't be able to take descents as fast as he'd like because one of his friends who has already done it told him that there are too many riders who go slow on the descents.

[maillotpois]

Might as well live in Oregon with this weather. HARUMPH!!!

[SadieKate]

Now, now - don't just knee jerk react because the name is scary. You can do just 1 pass, or more if you like. You set your own pace and ride as far as you want.

I can attempt one pass all by myself without displaying my pathetic decrepitude (an aka_kim-ism) to the public.

Actually, yellow, Kim and I were talking about Ebbetts(?) last year but couldn't do it before yellow abandoned us for Yewtah.

[maillotpois]

Actually, this is a ride my husband has always wanted to do. He could probably make it, too.

So here's the deal - you guys both sign up for it next year. (Team in Training actually has a good training program for this, and you are guaranteed a slot.) Anyway, sign up and he goes off and does 5 passes and you do 1, 2 or 3 and meet up at the end and you look all fresh and relaxed and he's beat. Perfect!!

But I am sure that building up to it, you could do 5 as well. We had a woman on the team last year, she was AMAZING. She was in her late 60's and wasn't the fastest rider in the world, but she just kept plugging along. She made it to the cut off at Pickett's with 15 minutes to spare and did all 5 passes. Stuff like that makes me cry.

But I digress....

[maillotpois]

Actually, yellow, Kim and I were talking about Ebbetts(?) last year but couldn't do it before yellow abandoned us for Yewtah.

Ebbetts is beautiful. My favorite of the passes. But it is SUPER narrow, and the nice thing about Death Ride is the road's closed to cars.

[SadieKate]

The conversation actually started with Monitor.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...hlight=ebbetts

Can everyone tell I'm procrastinating on going out into the weather? I do have my tights and storm socks on now.

[tprevost]

so, whatdoya haveta do to get a guaranteed slot? Come on Slinke, I'll do it if you'll do it!

Tracy

... of course it'll take every last day between now and the summer of '07 to get ready... hee hee hee

[caligurl]

i want to do son of death ride.... cuz their jersey SO cool! (ok.. the ride sounds awesome too!)

[tprevost]

something's really wrong with you Cali! I guess I'll wait to see how ya'll look doing BA before I decide to try this one! Unless, I can get someone to do it with me!

Trac'

[maillotpois]

so, whatdoya haveta do to get a guaranteed slot? Come on Slinke, I'll do it if you'll do it!

Tracy

... of course it'll take every last day between now and the summer of '07 to get ready... hee hee hee

Well, for a guaranteed slot through team in training, you have to commit to fundraising (about $2500) - and they provide supported rides and a training schedule. In my opinion, having this sort of support, especially for an epic ride, really helps. TNT chapters that do death ride are Bay Area, SOuth Bay/Silicon Valley and (next year, I hope, 'cause I'll be head coach) Napa/Sonoma/Marin.

To get a slot the normal way, you enter the lottery. Chances are probably 50/50, but if you don't get a slot, you still have a pretty good shot at showing up the day before. (Of course, it's hard to train diligently knowing you may or may not get a slot.)

Also, if you know a sponsor or have any sort of connection that way you can get in.