Death Valley Double Ride Report

Joanne and I had successful rides at the Death Valley Century and Double Century. Joanne opted for the century while I finished the double century.

We drove down from Salem beginning on Thursday morning. We took I-5 south to California 89 to US 395. We drove through Reno, NV and spent the night in Gardnerville NV. The next morning, we took a side trip to Bodie State Park. (Some very nice photographs can be viewed here.) Leaving Bodie, we pulled into Furnace Creek just in time for dinner at the 49er Cafe.

The next morning was the ride. I left at 7:10 am on the double route and Joanne left 30 minutes later on the century route. I rode hard for the first 24 miles. I formed up with the lead paceline to Stovepipe Wells but I dropped off on the hill up to Beatty Junction. I did not want to expend the energy in order to stay with the group. I more or less rode by myself for the rest of the ride.

I saw (briefly) Joanne at the Beatty Junction rest stop before I left toward Scotty's Castle. This section of the route climbs 3000 feet in 35 miles or so. There is only a few, short, steep sections; the vast majority is a gentle climb. It it is long. I did a short stop at a water stop 15 miles short of Scotty's Castle. When Joanne arrived, I had already left, but I later learned that she fell there when she was mounting her Colnago to leave. The paramedics took care of her and determined that she would be able to continue.

I reached Scotty's Castle in pretty good shape, but I was only 95 miles into the double. This is the turn around point for the century riders, be the double route continues to climb out of Death Valley into Nevada and Scotty's Junction. This year, the wind was kind to me. I was afraid that I would face the same fierce head winds that tortured me the last time I did this route. Returning toward Scotty's Castle, I began to feel a wind coming up out of the valley as I approached the rim. I must have either bonked or worked way too hard as by the time I reached Scotty's Castle, I was in some serious pain. In addition to my lower back and arms, my left arch was really giving me tough. I could barely walk! I spent nearly 30 minutes resting and massaging my arch before I headed off toward Ubehebe Crater. The rest did me good as I climbed up to it easily. Now, I turned back toward Beatty Junction. The sun set during this section but I had my NiteRider Flamethrower to light the way. I pulled into the rest stop with a young lady who was felling a bit "bonky" as she had run out of water. I offered her my Gateraid/Sustained Energy mixture buy she politely declined my offer.

Again, I took a long rest before starting the hardest portion of the route, the climbed up to Hell's Gate. The first three miles were not that bad, but the last 4 miles were hard. I was in my lowest gear (30x27) and I could barely turn the peddles over. I wanted to stop, but I refused. I obtained the top where I turned back toward the valley and descended into the night. The last ten miles were flat and fast. I was feeling much better and even sprinted for the finishing line!

Stats:

Miles: 196.9 miles
Average: 14.8 miles per hour
Time of the bike: 13 hours 12 minutes
Total time: 14 hours 50 minutes

Photographs...

John at the start
Joanne at the start
John on the road
Joanne on the road
John at the finish
Joanne at the finish

Posted 6:51 PM by John Henry