As a native Californian growing up in the Santa Cruz Mountains, I've grown up living for the outdoors and outdoor sports. The Death Ride in the Sierra Nevada Mountains has been a goal of mine for the past 10 years. Out of state and out of country work has kept me away from California and from starting any serious cycling until now. Armed with my first road bike (a Specialized Allez - which I would sooner face extended winters back in the Midwest than part with) and 10 months of pedaling practice, the switch was flipped and here I am, taking on the Death Ride.
The ride starts at 5:30am on July 8th, from Markleeville, California (5,501 feet about sea level). From there, we climb Monitor Pass, reaching an altitude of 8,324 feet, and freeze our way down the back of the pass, only to climb back up from the other side. Up and back over Monitor completes 2 of the 5 passes. The next pass is Ebbett's Pass, starting at the base of Monitor pass and climbing to 8,730 feet and descending back to 7,000 feet, only to return to the top, completing 4 of the 5 passes and the majority of our 15,000 total vertical feet of climbing. With only one pass left, there is a lunch break at the base of Ebbett's and a time cut off for those who want to attempt the fifth and final climb - Carson pass. Luckily, we only have to climb one side and 3,079 more feet of Carson pass and return to have completed all 5 passes. On average, the ride is 10-12 hours of riding, mixed with food stops and a lunch stop.
If your unfamiliar with the Death Ride and some more of the details surrounding it, I have written up this Q and A to answer some of the general questions you may have.
As I began training for this ride at the beginning of May, I was searching for a second motive, an external one that I could support through my training efforts by asking for pledges. As a Board Member of the VMC Foundation, I was fortunate to come across TurningWheels for Kids and couldn't have found a better organization to support. After meeting the TurningWheels founder, Sue Runsvold, and other members of the executive team, the task was easy - raise as much awareness and donations as I could to help in their efforts to afford under-served children in our community one gift that no child should go without - a bicycle.
And so there it is - an intrinsic and an extrinsic motivation to complete the Death Ride and support TurningWheels for Kids.
To support me in this quest, please go to the donation page.
For those who have more interest the training for this event as it comes along, I will keep this page updated on a weekly basis, hopefully with some interesting tid-bits. It comes in two parts – eating and exercising. Having never trained for any long distance athletic event, I visited a nutritionist to get a feel for what I should be consuming on a daily basis. For those who don’t know me, I’m a bit of a wiry one – always active and on the move. The nutritionist’s reaction to what I wanted to do was basically ‘there’s no way you should do this ride, your body won’t be able to handle it due to lack of body fat (aka, energy stores).’ Although I’m sure to many that would be welcome news, I was a bit taken a back. My response was, ‘welp, I’m doing the ride and I’m fundraising, so let’s just do the best we can to get myself ready for it’.
Conclusion – almost doubling my calorie intake and taking in more carbohydrates. Carbs, carbs, carbs. Did I mention carbs? I should be eating carbs with every meal, every snack, at all times. My pantry is now filled with cereal, bread, crackers and yes (gasp!) even potatoes (which I came to loathe with a passion after eating them for two meals a day, every day, for over two years). Bolivians love their potatoes. I no longer do, but darn it, they are full of carbs and potassium, so they are back in for a brief period of time.
Past the food intake comes the cycling. Unlike a sport such as running, where you might complete a 30 minute fast run feels good, cycling takes 1.5 hours for the same effect. That has meant a 5:30am alarm and at least a 6-8am ride before heading to work. Rides longer than 2 hours have to be after work and the real long ones, 4-6+ hours take up the weekends. Lots of hills, some steep, some long and steady and sometimes it’s just flat spinning. Weights and yoga are mixed in with 4 – 5 days of riding, with a day of doing almost nothing once a week.
Week 4+: Begin tapering training and increase carbohydrate intake (hard to get better than doing less and eating more).
Plan for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: Hatha yoga, perhaps a Pilates class, but lots of stretching and resting to be ready for the 5:30am start on Saturday. Have yet to plan the meals and breakfast that will be eaten in the car at 4:15am during the 1 hour drive to the start. Gear is all laid out - one more look at the bike to make sure all is in working order and should be set. Leaving Thursday night - wish me luck!!
Tuesday, July 4th: Bear Valley, 2hrs 20min, 30 miles, 3,000 feet of climbing. Bear Valley —> Spicer reservoir —> Bear Valley.
• Last day of riding! Very high cadence (lots of spinning, no real leg work). Left knee and lower back ready to rest. Have yet to decide on if it would be a good or bad idea to use a different seat for Ride day.
Monday, July 3rd: Bear Valley, 2hrs 15min, 28 miles, 3,000 feet of climbing. Bear Valley —> Mosquito Lake (8,015 feet above sea level) —> Hermit Valley —> up Pacific Grade (15% grade) —> return to Bear Valley.
• Switched bike seats with Chris to see if less padding would help with uncomfortable pressure on hamstrings. Did help, especially on hills, although the lack of padding would take some getting used to and is much more jarring on flats after a year of riding a more ‘cushy’ seat. Debating whether or not to try and get a new seat for Saturday.
Sunday, July 2nd: Bear Valley, 4hrs, 50 miles, 5,000 feet of climbing. Hermit Valley —> top of Ebbetts Pass —> Markleeville —> top of Ebbetts Pass —> Hermit Valley.
• Added insoles to both shoes.knee pain continues, but to a lesser degree. Spent more time on flats out of the bike seat (a ‘softer’ seat - cushioned & meant more for periodical riding than constant riding), which helped uncomfortable pressure on my hamstrings.
Saturday, July 1st: In Bear Valley (at 7,000 ft), 3hrs, 38miles, 3,700 feet of climbing. Bear Valley —> Spicer reservoir —> Lake Alpine —> Bear Valley.
• A lot of adjusting of the bike. Moved cleat on left foot, slightly adjusted seat height, added insert into left shoe, giving 1.5mm rise on inside of foot in hopes to alleviate knee pain.
Friday, June 30th: Rest day.
Thursday, June 29th: 2hrs, 27 miles. My house —> up Hwy 9 —> home.
• Goal was to keep heart rate around 160-165 bpm. Not maximum effort, added one set of intervals on flat part of the return (30sec sprint, 30sec recovery, 20sec, 10sec, 10sec, 20sec, 30sec). Lower back and knee pain still a problem.continuing to adjust seat, shoe cleats, etc to find a ‘sweet spot’.
Wednesday, June 28th: 1.5 hrs power yoga. Leg and lower back muscles tired and sore.
Tuesday, June 27th: 2 hrs, 25 miles, 2,700 vertical feet of climbing. My house —> front of Hicks Rd —> backside of Hicks Rd —> home.
• Beginning to decrease my riding. One less climb than in previous weeks, but equal effort overall on ride.
Monday, June 26th: 1.5 mile walk, 30 min on elliptical machine, easy pace. Recovery day.
Week 3Sunday, June 25th: LONGEST RIDE YET! 7hrs 35min, 106.26miles: Los Gatos (home) —> Hwy 9 —> Big Basin —> Ben Lomond —> Felton —> Santa Cruz —> Soquel —> Corrolitas —> Eureka Canyon Road —> Summit Road —> Old Santa Cruz Hwy —> Lexington Reservoir —> home.
Without full intention, I completed my first century. Mild climbing and at a moderate pace throughout, I now have a much better idea of the time it takes to fully warm up into a ride (1.5 hours today) and what will hurt (lower back and knee joints) at the end of a long ride. Short stops were necessary, but felt the difficulty in starting back up again. Huge confidence booster and I may owe it in part to my TurningWheels jersey arriving in the mail!
Saturday, June 24th: 15 min walk, 1hr weights, 45min elliptical machine in altitude
Friday, June 23rd: 50 min walk in altitude (6,500 feet above sea level)
Thursday, June 22nd: 2hr 20min, 4,000 feet of climbing, 26 miles: Los Gatos (home) —> Hicks Road —> 3 laps up Hicks (1,000 foot gain/1 mile) —> home.
Solid ride. Trying to differ seat positions when climbing as lower back becomes sore quickly, although legs do not.
Wednesday, June 21st: Power yoga, 6am class.
Had wanted to ride after work, but heat and exhaustion prevailed and resulted in a power nap.
Tuesday, June 20th: 2hr 10min, 27 miles: Los Gatos —> Lexington Reservoir —> Old Santa Cruz Hwy —> Summit Road —> return to Los Gatos
Monday, June 19th: Rest Day
Week 2Sunday, June 18th: 2hrs: 3,000 feet of climbing, 28 miles: home —> front and back side of Hicks —> home
• Solid ride, adjusted seat to try and alleviate lower back pain on hills, good pace on return. Looking forward to a rest day tomorrow!
Saturday, June 17th: 6hr 15min: 8,000 feet of climbing, 68 miles [AKA, day-too-hot]: Alum Rock & Hamilton Road —> top of Mt. Hamilton —> down back side of Mt. Hamilton —> up back side of Mt. Hamilton —> return to Alum Rock & Hamilton Road.
• TOO HOT = HEAT RASH. 9:30am start, the majority of ride was in 90+ degrees and little shade. Why'd we do it? 3 weeks until Ride day and needed a good altitude and mileage trial. The first up wasn't bad and there is water at the top of Mt. Hamilton for refilling water bottles. Then came the backside of Hamilton. Went a little too far for the heat and amount of water we had on us (2 large bottles). The return trip to the top of Hamilton was blessed with cows, a gentle breeze, a flat tire, full sun, 104 degrees (or so the bike computer told us), lower back pain, eventual lack of water and finally, and a loving heat rash on both legs. Refilled our water at the top, drank an entire bottle, refilled again, and then continued on the 18.5 mile descent to the car (a blessing at 5:00pm).
Friday, June 16th: bike fitting/ Bikram yoga class: 1hr 30 min.
• Experiencing pain in the back of left knee after last weekend's ride over Ebbetts' Pass, went to my local bike shop to be fitted (sized) to my bike. Adjusted position of the seat, the handle bars and my cleats.
• Attended first Bikram yoga class (regular class was not available). 26 postures in high temperature environment, resulting in more knee pain than when I went in. Won't try that one before the ride.hope to find a hatha yoga class in Markleeville or Bear Valley for July 7th.
Thursday, June 15th: 1 hr 30 min: 22 miles: home —> Lexington reservoir —> Old Santa Cruz Hwy —> return home
• Spinning day, light climbing
Wednesday, June 14th: 1hr 30 min: 28 miles: home —> up Hwy 9 —> home
• Moderate Climbing. Relatively flat for first 30 minutes, until beginning of Hwy 9, then easy grade for 8 miles, back down and home
Tuesday, June 13th 2hr 15min: 4,000 feet of climbing, 26 miles: Los Gatos (home) —> Hicks Road —> 3 laps up Hicks (1,000 foot gain/1 mile —> home.
• Heavy climbing. Rolling hills for 8 miles, Hicks is 1,000 feet of climbing in 1 mile (7%+ grade)
Monday, June 12: Rest day
Week 1Sunday, June 11th: 20 mins walking, 1hr weights
Saturday, June 10th: 59 miles, 5 hours 15 minutes. First long ride at altitude. Hermit Valley —> Ebbetts Pass —> Carson Valley —> Ebbetts Pass —> Bear Valley.
Friday, June 9th: 27 miles, 2 hours. First short ride at altitude, Bear Valley —> Mosquito Lake —> Bear Valley Mountain Resort —> Bear Valley.
Thursday, June 8th: Rest day - yeah!!
Wednesday, June 7th: Power yoga, 1.5 hrs.
Tuesday, June 6th: 23 miles, 2 hours. Home —> top of Hwy 9 —> home.
Monday, June 5th: 25 miles, 2 hours. Home —> top of Hicks —> bottom of other side and back to top of Hicks —> home.
