Death Ride?

[Bike Goddess]

If I were to do the Death Ride (not currently on my list nor is the Auburn Century for that matter either), I'd have to do some serious hill training. The Benicia Bike club group has a wicked training program which requires some cycling on the steepest hills they can find around here. When I saw what they did to prepare (these guys do this ride EVERY year), I decided I'd rather do centuries and have fun! No misery for me!

Yes, the area is beautiful. I know the roads up there well. Ebbetts is hard. Steep, narrow, windy. The only good part of the Death Ride is it is closed for part of the day. Can't imagine meeting one of those big recreational vehicles coming down as I was attempting to go up! Castrophe in the making.

There are two women from my town who are doing it (they are in). Unfortunately they aren't on this forum.

Sarah- You're one tough cyclist!

[maillotpois]

Nancy / BG -

You have racked up some serious mileage this year (and this is probably your typical mileage - I just haven't compared your past years journals and I am a relative newcomer to these boards). I know you dismissed my suggestion that you should do a double and now you seem to think DR is too much - I really think these things are not as hard as you may think they are. It's just a long day on the bike. But you have an incredible base of fitness - enviable, actually. I would love to be able to put in the miles you have! (CLearly you can't be afraid of rain! )

Seriously - you are VERY tough and I really believe you could do DR and/or a double. Just give it a whirl! If you're not psyched about climbing then start with Davis or Solvang next year (though as I learned Solvang is a bit early in the season for a double!). Anyway, you can TOTALLY do it.

[Veronica]

I've ridden with Nancy. I think she could do it too. She climbs a lot too. I don't want to do the Death Ride because there are so many people. I thought the roads for Solvang were crowded at times

V.

[aka_kim]

Speaking as a lowly mortal, and not the AMAZON that the rest of you are, I can say that the DR is HARD! Not as hard as a double I'm sure, but still alot of work. You have to train for it, and love hills. Think of each pass as roughly a Mt. Diablo, well, w/o the 17% at the top.

I've done 3 passes on two DRs. The first ride I had a great time and finished strong (and damn I wish I'd gone for 4 passes that year). But I also had a massive nose bleed at the lunch stop before finishing. The next time I did the ride I barfed before the second pass - weird sinus problems again I think. Now I'll stick to doing one pass, at my leisure, maybe with the pathetically decrepit SK , and cheer on you Amazons from the sidelines.

[maillotpois]

I've done 3 passes on two DRs. The first ride I had a great time and finished strong (and damn I wish I'd gone for 4 passes that year). But I also had a massive nose bleed at the lunch stop before finishing. The next time I did the ride I barfed before the second pass - weird sinus problems again I think. Now I'll stick to doing one pass, at my leisure, maybe with the pathetically decrepit SK , and cheer on you Amazons from the sidelines.

Nose bleed and barfing? Not good experiences - boy can I empathize. My goal for my first DR was a simple one: not to barf. It was 95 degrees at Topaz at 8:30 am, and I was nauseated and could not eat all day. I got by just on liquids, but not much of that.

I didn't barf. But it was close!! Did 4 passes that time and the ride was a monkey on my back for the next 2 years til I had a chance to ride it again and knock off the whole thing.

But really, it's not so bad!

[Trekhawk]

If I were to do the Death Ride (not currently on my list nor is the Auburn Century for that matter either),

One of the guys my husband works with asked if I was going to do the Auburn Century and I nearly choked on my cup of tea. I think its a little out of my league. You however would manage very well I think.

[Bike Goddess]

I think we should send Veronica and Maillot-Pois over to test the waters. The guys in my club said it was hard, and if THEY say THAT, I'm inclined to believe them! How much climbing---12,000 feet? Nothing but climbing for the 1st half, I hear!

[Trekhawk]

I think we should send Veronica and Maillot-Pois over to test the waters. The guys in my club said it was hard, and if THEY say THAT, I'm inclined to believe them! How much climbing---12,000 feet? Nothing but climbing for the 1st half, I hear!

I have a copy of the route somewhere and thought when it got a bit nicer a might drive it and see just how hard it does look. Auburn is only about 30 mins away from me so it would be a nice drive.

I will let you know how hideous it seems.

[yellow]

I will let you know how hideous it seems.

Two words: Iowa Hill.

[maillotpois]

I think we should send Veronica and Maillot-Pois over to test the waters. The guys in my club said it was hard, and if THEY say THAT, I'm inclined to believe them! How much climbing---12,000 feet? Nothing but climbing for the 1st half, I hear!

I looked at the route - have to say I like a profile that goes mostly down in the second half. I am sure it's a beautiful ride. However, its the Knoxville double century that day so I am out. Knoxville's just a great ride and this is one of my 5 "pretty sure thing" doubles. (Get this - I do Knoxville 9/16 - maybe DH does it, too, who knows - and then the next day 9/17 we leave for Hawaii for a week because he's coaching the century there for TNT. Can you say BOONDOGGLE??)

Maybe next year for Auburn. Have to say Death Ride would be good training for it!