Davis Double Drivel

[maillotpois]

Great report! Reading it, I almost felt like I'd been there - wait - I was!

As V said, we started together and, as I knew he would, DH wanted to ride just a bit faster than I really wanted to. But this was the same as last year, and I made it, so I decided to just go with it. Plus, this would be our only double together as DH has decided he's "over" them. So we hammered the first part - skipped RS 1, climbed to the dam.

I started getting some back pain for a bit after Cardiac - I'd had some issues this week, not cycling related. But the rollers into Pope Valley I love - we worked with a very fast group. It's funny, every double I do when we get into an aggressive section, guys always compliment me on taking strong pulls at the front. They never compliment DH!

In general, I was pretty happy with my overall speed - especially climbing. DH always complains that I hold too much in reserve. THis year, having done a 600k, I had more of a mental reserve to draw from, and I knew that if I pushed myself above my comfort zone, I'd recover. I also discovered I climb a lot faster when DH is behind me. He gets on front and says he's not going to go fast, but either he is or I feel like he is and I feel like I can't stay with him. Well, I actually gapped him on Cardiac, and when I was on front on Resurrection I was climbing at a very good pace for me.

Cobb Mountain did make the course significantly harder than last year - but boy was it beautiful! DH went ahead and waited for me at the RS, and I climbed most of it with Robo.

We skipped 3 rest stops altogether. However, this year, we stopped at the last one for water. We skipped that one last year (only 8 miles from the end), and I am so glad we stopped this year - grilled cheese sandwiches!!!

My V8 count was relatively low for me - only 6 all day. Unlike V, I really love the V8 and will usually have 2 per RS. I think at Tam Double I had 8 or 10. I carried drink mix, which I usually do because I never know what people will be serving. I don't like Cytomax either, but I know a lot of folks do. You can't please everyone, so I guess ride organizers just get whatever they can get the best deal on.

Coming down off Resurrection into the Cache Creek area, we got caught by this guy on a recumbent. It was very windy, so working with him was better than not - but I could never get in front of him to take a pull because he was just so aero, and I felt badly about that. So I pulled up next to him, and started talking to him - explaining that we were more than willing to work, but I couldn't get past him. He was very nice, and it turns out he was on his second lap of the double because he's training for RAAM. He knows my friend Nicole (who'd invited me to join her for an extra 100 before the double), and we talked about PBP and the 508.

It's funny how many people I know on these crazy rides. I know about 5 folks through TNT who do the doubles, and another handful of people I have gotten to know just from doing these rides. We rode wth Gerd for a bit. I think he's in his late 60's - 70's. He was in Wheelworks the day before when we were there and he'd taco'ed his wheel - riding to Chicago. He's at all the doubles, and is so sweet. And boy he can hold a wheel! You just start seeing the same faces. Though Davis is a much bigger crowd. It will be interesting to see who's at Eastern Sierra in 2 weeks.

I was sorry we couldn't stick around at the end to see V finish but we had to get home to Em. Glad you had a good ride, V. I'd like to plan to do Tam or Knoxville together - I think we would have fun!

Off to eat something!

[tprevost]

Well Done Ladies!

Thank you both for writing such great reports! It makes me want to go do a double oh, wait, I haven't even done a 'single' yet! But still, you both make it sound like a fabulous adventure and I thank you for sharing your stories! Did anyone take any pictures? I know there were a couple from SK on another thread but any more? LOVE those pics!!!

Tracy

[jobob]

Hi Traci -

The ride yesterday with SK and Kim et al. followed the DD route for a few miles, we started out from Winters and went up Cardiac Hill and we turned off of the DD route at Muskovite Corners. (Not that I'd expect you to know this area, but in case some folks do.) I was passed by a lot of hard-bodies along the way and it was fun to chat with some of them (esp. going uphill where they didn't pass me quite as fast ).

One thing SK mentioned after the ride - and I noticed too - was that the people riding the double century seemed on a whole to be a lot more considerate and easy-going that the types one might encounter on a century "hammer-fest" ride. Perhaps it's becasue double century riders have that much more experience? Just a thought.

At any rate, when I first realized our route was to coincide early on with the Davis Double, I was a little apprehensive - I had visions of being run off the road by huge agressive pacelines ! - but that never happened. There were a couple of dorks out there but nothing like I've experienced on past organized rides.

Here's a photo I took somewhere along the Davis Double route between our start in Winters and before the climb up Cardiac- that's Kim just ahead of me. It was awfully pretty out there !

[SadieKate]

That pic is on route 128 west of Lake Solano and before you get into the canyon going up to the Monticello Dam on Lake Berryessa.

It is very pretty out there and yes, yellow, we lucked out and had incredible weather. Rain Friday night, dry and cool Saturday, rain again this morning. Maybe it's on its way to Yewtah.

[maillotpois]

Jo - that's absolutely true about the double riders, and one of the things I really like about doubles. It is a much more relaxed and friendly crowd than regular century "racer" types. Everyone is very encouraging and supportive of everyone else. Davis is a much bigger group, so it's not as noticeable, but you still get a sense of it.

[yellow]

One thing SK mentioned after the ride - and I noticed too - was that the people riding the double century seemed on a whole to be a lot more considerate and easy-going that the types one might encounter on a century "hammer-fest" ride. Perhaps it's becasue double century riders have that much more experience? Just a thought.

Jo--after my experience yesterday at the C here, I've pretty much decided that I will no longer ride in the "hammer fest" type of rides. Yesterday's ride was probably one of the worst I've been in from that perspective and I found myself saying more than once "It's just not worth it." One of the riders that went down was a ~10 year old kid, apparently riding without an escort nearby, wildly out of control.

That being said, I sure hope LRRH is saner. I spoke with one of the members of BBTC a little about it yesterday and she assured me LRRH is indeed more laid back. And I'm glad to hear that doubles tend to be as well. Hopefully I'll be able to confirm that!

Sorry for the hijack!

[Veronica]

Bummer that you didn't have a good ride Yellow. A lot of people just aren't thinking about the others around them. I had a bit of that yesterday - it upset me so much called Thom. I had dropped my sunglasses and turned around to get them, crossed back across the road in front of a group, with plenty of room to spare. But one of the the riders freaked and swerved. Naturally the group blamed me.

I suppose I could have left my $250 sunglasses Or allowed them to be run over by this group.

Whatever.

V.

[SadieKate]

That being said, I sure hope LRRH is saner.

I don't recall one instance of hammerfest intimidation.

[Lise]

You guys are amazing. The distance, the climbs, the fortitude, the ability to remember details for your reports--I love it. Thanks! L.

[Brandy]

You guys are amazing. The distance, the climbs, the fortitude, the ability to remember details for your reports--I love it. Thanks!

[jobob]

Coming down off Resurrection into the Cache Creek area, we got caught by this guy on a recumbent. [...] He was very nice, and it turns out he was on his second lap of the double because he's training for RAAM. He knows my friend Nicole (who'd invited me to join her for an extra 100 before the double), and we talked about PBP and the 508.

I was riding along the rolly section between Cardiac and Muskovite Corners with SK's friend Ed when a DD rider drew up and started chatting with us. (Seems like my trusty Carradice bag was quite the conversation starter )

He told us about the guy on the recumbent wow and he also mentioned that he was thinking about doing an extra 100 before this ride with a woman friend of his (but couldn't on account of a scheduling problem), so I imagine he too was talking about your friend. I didn't catch his name - or if I did the minor hypoxia I was experiencing trying to keep up with those guys and carry on a conversation destroyed those particular brain cells - but he was from Southern CA (Hermosa Beach, perhaps?), and he was doing this ride to prepare for the Santa Cruz Randonneurs' 600K next weekend Gahhh

[Trekhawk]

Congratulations girls. I cant imagine riding that far or climbing that much.
WOW fantastic stuff.

[Selkie]

Gals---I hope you had some Klondikes when you got home. GOOD WORK!

[Veronica]

Thanks!

I've kicked my Klondike habit. Somehow I got it into my head that losing a few more pounds would be good for my climbing. I don't believe in "dieting", so I just kind of made a few changes - no more Klondike a day was one of them.

To me "dieting" means depriving yourself and cannot be maintained long term. Others with more will power can make it work.


V.

[SadieKate]

But the Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Nirvana shake disappeared fast! And ride day is different.