| (Long Distance) Ramblings |
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I like to ride my bicycle - for long distances. I have earned the California Triple Crown and finished the Furnace Creek 508. My goals include qualifying for RAAM and ...(read the blog to find out). "The bicycle has a soul. If you are able to love it as it deserves, it will give you emotions you will never forget." "Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride."
"The important decisions in my life I make while out riding my bike."
"Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever.” Lance Armstrong
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Thursday, December 12, 2002
Well, it's only been two month's since my last posting. I finished the Death Valley Double and I didn't even come in last! Joanne and rode the first 150 miles on our tandem, then I did the last fifty on my single. We started in the mas s start at nearly 7:00 am. While it was not warm, it was not cold either, but there were lot's of cyclists wearing some very heavy clothing - I even saw one woman wearing booties! We stopped at the first reststop at Badwater, mainly to use the restroom. The next stop was Ashford Mills and we used the restroom again. Note: we were drinking lots of fluids! The next portion of the course was the toughest for us. We climbed nearly 3500' out of Death Valley by way of Salsbury Pass and then decended into Shoeshone. The climb was hard, but the desent was even harder as we knew we would be returning this way. The climb back was one of the most difficult things we have ever done. We we finally reached the summit again we were beat! However, the desent back into Death Valley was one of the best! Ten miles of 5% - we rode the entire way without peddling at 35 to 40 mph! Life was good again. Now we needed to get back to Furnace Creek in time for me to finnish within the 17 hour time limit. We rode hard and fast. I knew that Joanne was hurting, but she never complained. It was well past dark when we reached our campsite at Furnace Creek. There, I jumped onto my single and headed off into the darkness. There was no moon, only the light from my headlamp and the stars. It was weird and I didn't like it. None the less, I pressed on into the night. I pretty much had the 175 mile rest stop to myself. I ate some noodles and was now heading back toward Furnace Creek and the finnish. Like most of the Doubles this year, I felt stronger the closer I came to the finish. Soon, I saw the finninsh line and posed (poorly) for my photo.
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