Furnace Creek 508

[mtkitchn]

WOW! Can't wait to hear all about it! Might have to come watch part of it!

[Lise]

WOW. That sounds phenomenal. I'm looking forward to the training reports, hourly feed from the route, and race summary reports!!!

I must learn more about the okapi. To survive on 5 min sleep in 24 hours...sounds like a good totem for a midwife!

The race site looks phenomenal. I'm going to go learn more.....

(PS, this is my 1,500th post on TE. I thought for awhile about how to use it. Thanks, MP, for giving me such a great thing to reply to.) L.

[Tater]

Awesome and wow at the same time! Good luck!

[Fredwina]

I'm going to be part of the crew for team Golden Drasenji (Bernie "Homey" Barge and Nicole Honda)

[maillotpois]

I'm going to be part of the crew for team Golden Drasenji (Bernie "Homey" Barge and Nicole Honda)

So... Fredwina we want a full report!!! I saw the finish photos, and Bernie and Nicole looked great. I want to know how it was!!!! How were Nicole's knees and Bernie's hamstring???

[Fredwina]

From another thread here.
Homey from Bike Journal had pulled his hamstring playing softball, and rode his first stage at a 12.0 average. I got an hour's sleep on Saturday. I was sitting in passenger seat and Jae (Nicole's DH), would punch me every I started to fall asleep, so I could pass something to Nicole, who road 170 miles at night. we finally got Homey back at full speed after leaving death valley. I wound driving all but the last 10 miles Sunday night. we finished about 11:30. Finally, I could go to the bathroom without finding the appropriate sized creosote bush! Nicole was smarter than moi and wore a large skirt (Maybe our Great-Great Grandmother were right with their Fashion sense) Got a thirty miler in Felt real good. Now, to disabuse myself of the crazy notion of entering the 508 in a different category than this time....
I would doing "domestic" duties at first(mixing Drinks). as I said, We should have brought more waterbottles and mixed in advance. I was driving the Support vehicle on Bernie's first stage(number 2). he was definitely not a happy camper. We decided to change the rotation and have Nicole ride stages 3 and 4. Jae had learned how to do Nicole's massage, and that got her through just fine. She was dropping folks left and right on the Townes pass climb. We start to catch the solo riders here. Jae also started massaging Bernie, and that paid off . I wound finally getting about an hour's solid sleep when Nicole started the climb out of death valley. We got Bernie back on the bike at Shoshone. Since it's mostly, we thought it be good test. The only bad thing was that he threw up . we got to baker, and I made a grocery run, while Jae and Dennis took care of the control. Nicole did great on the moonscape pavement Road into Kelso. I wound up behind the wheel for most of the final 100 into Twenty nine. we ran the van in follow mode most of the. Bernie and Nicole got lei'ed at TS 7 . Me, I got a lousy can of pineapple juice . It turned dark for the final push into 29. A lot of folks use this road as a shortcut between the Colorado river and Palm Springs, so it was trafficy. At about 10 to go , Bernie pulled over. We fed him, and Jae took the wheel for the Final push into town. We finished just before midnight, with a total time of 38:21. we had thought were were going to do 36, so not bad. Got to bed about 1 and woke at 6. Got to Emily O'Brien finish on Fixed, as well as the last Official finisher. Had breakfast with Team Werewolf (Tim Woudenberg, Jim Kern, and I can't recall the rest of his crew's names) before heading back.
It was fun! I made some mistake, but it was my first time working an ultra as a crew (vs. being an official). We'll have to wait and see what next year brings!

[Bike Goddess]

Fredwina- I crewed for team Mahi Mahi last year with another cyclist - Linda. We were supposed to have another member with us and another car -Roberts girlfriend, but we missed her at Stovepipe Wells and never saw her until the end.

So, I completely understand what you all went through on this race. It is very tough and this year I believe you could only have ONE support vehicle. Kudos to you for driving as much as you did. I got a total of maybe 4 hrs sleep last year on that ride and I was pretty rummy going home on Monday.

Homey sick again? Poor guy- he was a DNF last year because he got terribly sick. Good for Nicole to pull it off!

Thanks for the report! You did good girl!!!!!!!

[maillotpois]

wow.

It is absolutely chilling to read my original post. I went into the hospital the day after I wrote that w/pulmonary emboli and 508 is out for this year. I was very disappointed and I hope to do it next year.

Fredwina - have a GREAT time. you have an amazing team!! I rode most of my 600k with Nicole, and Bernie is an absolute sweetheart. you should have so much fun. tell them I will see them next year.

[Bikingmomof3]

OMG I am so excited for you! I love your totem. Keep us posted.

[Fredwina]

Thanks all!
BMO3 - We had a conference call to decide what a Golden Drasenji looked like.
With the totem, once you pick one, it's yours for life. So we had merge Homey (Basenji) with Nicole (Golden Dragon)
BG - I think part of why I wound doing so much driving was that Nicole was mad that the "boys" kept on giving me kitchen duty

[Fredwina]

BG - Forgot to mention - we were kidding that he is "cursed" when it comes to this Race.
Now, to the article
As many of you know, I’ve been planning on doing some beyond century Rides for 2007. I was on the Forums section of BikeJournal.com and got an invite from “Homey”, Aka Bernie Barge, from Paso Robles, to be a part of his support creek for the 508.
His partner, Nicole Honda, was from San Mateo. The support was Jae Honda (Nicole’s husband), and Dennis Salguero from Pasadena.
On the 508, team use totems instead of numbers. Once you are assigned one. You have it for life. Bernie and Nicole had both done the race solo, as teams Basenji and Golden Dragon, so our totem was Golden Drasenji, Half Dragon and half puppy. I got to the Hotel in Valencia on Friday night. We had a “real” team meeting (vs. a couple of conference calls) and found out Bernie had pulled his hamstring playing softball. We then adjourned to our rooms and slept.
Saturday morning, I helped Jae get the Support van ready. He had customized a one ton van for the race (helps to be married to a mechanic). He also had me drive it, so I could get comfortable with the beast.
Stage 1: Valencia to California City 82 miles
We started at 9:00. Nicole was the first rider off. We drove 24 miles and waited for Nicole to show up. I was the “feeder”. I was mixing drinks (Try Gatorade mixed with Cytomax, and Big dollop of GU thrown in. Yes, in the bottle) We would leap frog her, get out, cheer her on, asked if she needed anything and pass out what she asked for last time. We went up past the Willow Springs raceway, and past the Airplane Graveyard at Mojave, and arrived at the first stop. Time 5:06(keep in mind, the clock runs in these events, even if you are stopped) 16.4 mph average.
Stage 2 California City to Trona 70.25 miles
Bernie had decided to lower his saddle to help his hamstring. This backfired, as he got a saddle sore, and didn’t help the muscle pull. I was now driving the van. We went though Johannesburg and Randsburg. About 10 miles from Trona, we had to switch to follow mode as the Sun started to set. We drove behind Bernie, and He used the van lights to see. There was a loudspeaker on the front of the van, which we used to play music to keep the riders from falling asleep. Trona even has a bike Path! Time 4:40 Average 14.but Bernie claims it was 12. He normally does the stage at 22. We stopped and put gas in the Van, and got ready for the night. Dennis wanted some Red Bull, but the store only had Rock Star.
Stage 3 Trona to Furnace Creek 99 miles
I was back mixing stuff and rifling through the coolers. When I wasn’t busy. I tried to sleep. During the night, we handed stuff out the Van’s window. The stage climbs from 1600 feet to 2800, and then descends to 1500 feet before going over Townes Pass (4956). Nicole was going strong, and was dropping riders left and right. We started seeing a lot of the Solo riders here (they left 2 hours before us). We then went down into Death Valley and stopped at Furnace Creek at 3AM. The whole time, we would occasionally stop and massage Bernie. Time 5 hours 30 minutes average 18 mph.
Stage 4 Furnace Creek to Shoshone 74 miles.
We decided to have Nicole ride this stage, even though we were not sure if it was permitted by the rules. We were going to get clarification, but the officials at Furnace creek were not sure, and we had no cell service to call Twenty-nine Palms. I was the navigator. I sat in the front passenger seat, and Jae would poke me to wake me up when Nicole needed something. Right before the ascent of Jubilee (1285) and Salsberry (3315) passes (6am), We stopped. I got to sleep in the bed. I woke shortly before Nicole summited. She was having problems with the crosswinds on the descent. We arrived at the next rest stop in Shoshone in the morning. We had run out of Rock Star during the night, and the store had none. It was also Bernie’s time to ride. Still had no cell service.
Time 7 hours speed 7mph. It was late, but we had no choice but to get Bernie ready to ride.
Stage 5 Shoshone to Baker 56 miles
I was the Navigator again. Bernie was doing considerably better. This stage is almost all down hill. He did have to stop and throw up. We leapfrogged him at first, but after his stomach problems. We went back into follow mode. Baker has bike paths, too! At the time station, I ran across the road to restock the groceries. More Sprites, more lunchmeat and condiments, more Red Bull, and we were ready to go. We got the Ok for our strategy, provided Bernie would ride the last two stages. Time 3 hour 15 minutes average speed 17 mph
Stage 6 Baker to Kelso 56 miles.
This stage featured a 20-mile false flat with 2500 feet of gain followed by a 1500 feet descent. The main problem here was the Moonscape like pavement. I was the Navigator, as Dennis drove and Jae got Bernie ready. time 2 hours 45 minutes average 20 mph.
Stage 7 Kelso to Amboy 33 miles.
I was driving again. We followed Bernie up a 12-mile – 2000 feet climb, and down a 50 mph descent. The traffic picked up. All Riders who make to Amboy get a lei. I got a can of Pineapple Juice. Time 2 hours 30 minutes. Speed 13.2mph
Stage 8 Amboy to Twenty-nine Palms 56 miles
Per our agreement with Chris Kostman, the organizer, Bernie rode the final stage. I was 6:00 when we left Amboy, and the highway was surprisingly busy. I was driving again. Bernie had to ride up Sheephole Mountain (1500 feet in ten miles) in the dark. The plan was to swap drivers on the descent, as it is harder to drive the van close enough on the curves, but not to drive over the rider. Bernie was feeling very good at the summit, and wanted to push on. At 10 miles from the hotel, He bonked. We stopped and got him going again, and swapped drivers. At 11:30 we finally arrived! We had pizza and champagne, and piled in to one motel room at 1:00. I got to go to the Bathroom without finding a large bush first! Nicole was smarter than moi and wore a large skirt (Maybe our Great-Great Grandmothers were right with their Fashion sense) Time 5 hours 20 minutes. Speed 11.8
Monday morning. we watched the final riders arrive. Among them was Emily O’Brien, who rode the entire event solo on a fixed Gear! We had breakfast with the other teams, and headed home.
Would I do it again? You bet! I had been an official at an Ultra race before, but this my first time working as a crew. Who knows, maybe next year, Team Yellow Shark could be showing up at best Western parking lot at 6:50 am on Monday….

[maillotpois]

Wow - thanks for the great report!! I could really picture it as you described it, especially since I know both your teammates!

Barring any other health problems, I'm shooting to do this next year. We'd planned to do it as a team this year, so I'll either do it as a 2 woman team or, depending on how the year goes, maybe as a solo. We'll see.

Anyway, thanks - I love reading the reports from crew for rides like this. Your reports are generally more lucid than the riders' reports!

[Veronica]

Funny, I've been thinking that if I can do PBP, I can do the 508.

V.

[Fredwina]

Anyway, thanks - I love reading the reports from crew for rides like this. Your reports are generally more lucid than the riders' reports!

MP,
I had sent the article to the crew to proofread. Apparently, I wasn't too Lucid between Furnace Creek and Shoshone! (I had left out our working over Nicole's bad knees)
I'm probably going to back in 2007, at least as a crew. I'm waiting till June - July before deciding i'm crazy enough to ride it.
Veronica, I was also thinking that it would cheaper to do the 508 than PBP. And I don't even have to leave my home county for most of the ride! Hint: San Bernardnio County is the largest county in the U.S. It's larger than 9 states! Of course, then I would have put with Folks asking why anyone would want to ride their Bike to Trona, Kelso, or Amboy

[maillotpois]

I was wondering abuot Nicole's knees. She struggled mightily at the end of our 600k from what I understand. I'm just so happy she made it. They really did great!