Death Valley Double Century
Well, I made it up Salsberry Pass--from Badwater, a near 4000-foot climb. Getting back down was another matter, however...
First ultramarathon ride of the new millenium; first 11+ mile ride on my new recumbent. I had been here 3 years ago during the 1997 Death Valley Double, in which I actually had to walk up parts of Salsberry Pass–the very last time I ever had to walk my bike up a hill. And that was with Canny, my faithful Cannondale I had ridden for years and years and thousands of miles. This year, however, I’ve only ridden my Reynolds Wishbone SWB for a grand total of 25 miles “testing” miles, with NO significant hills. A recipe for disaster? A feat for the lunatic? Or, a promise for a grand weekend adventure? The optimist in me was hoping for the latter…
The Drive
The drive looked less risky, at least compared to three years ago. This year I would be driving Lina, my new BMW Z3, as opposed to Goldie, my faithful ‘69 MGB. Still, it would be the first time trying to carry my recumbent on a 2-seat convertible. The night before I successfully set everything up using a Rhode Gear bicycle rack provided by a friend. Thanks again, Melissa!
Nevertheless, the drive was largely uneventful, taking just 8.5 hours this year, as opposed to 16 hours in 1997! It helps not to get lost and not take “shortcuts”. Oh, and have directions with me this time! I arrive at Furnace Creek Resort at 12:15a.
Before the Ride
Upon getting to the start I talk with another rider who just arrived. We find a campground to park in. The other rider made a comment as to how he “didn’t think it would be this dark outside” and how he regretted not bringing lights. He asks me if I brought a light. “Well, yes, this is the desert after all,” I state matter-of-factly. “There definitely aren’t going to be any streetlights around! Unfortunately, my high-powered lights just came in the mail 5 minutes before I took off from the Bay Area and I didn’t have time to recharge them, so I just brought my 2-watt Vistalight. It’s wimpy and is only good for 3-4 hours, but I’m not concerned as I’ve done a dozen double centuries on them already without problems.” A statement that would haunt me later?
Anyhow, I sleep for 3 hours in my Z3 and wake up at 3:30a or so. I change and almost an hour later am attempting to ride out of the campgrounds in its loose sand. I am feeling a bit shaky at this point, not having ridden the ‘bent much at all. Just mounting the bike is difficult. And gosh, it IS really dark! I am wondering if this is a good idea to be even riding, from a safety standpoint. Hopefully during the many hours ahead I would feel more at ease with riding the ‘bent?
The Ride!
Miles 0-25
I register and am off at 4:40. I notice on the map that the ride just starts our with an out-and-back course to Stovepipe Wells, meaning that by Mile 50 we would be exactly where we started from. That puts me more at ease as I know I can just abandon the race at Mile 50 and my car will be right there to take me home. Actually, I’m seriously considering it at this point! But I promise myself I will make the decision at that time and not now.
On the road! Scores of riders are already ahead of me, as witnessed by their blinking taillights, and many more are to catch me. By Mile 7 my legs are already very very tight. This is the first time I use my new hydration system–a “Camelback” made by Performance Bicycle Shop that I bungeed onto the back of the seat. Works okay. Unfortunately, I don’t feel stable enough to ride too often with one hand, which also makes blowing my nose or grabbing a protein bar out of my vest pockets difficult.
A note about my gray vest: It was actually a present from a 75-years-young friend in Stockton who gave it to me the weekend before. He got it because he thought it looked nice and had the word “Bike” (the manufacture) on it. It is made of fleece and has side pockets which have zippers on it. He had absolutely no idea but it is just perfect for a recumbent, which renders the rear pockets of my cycling jerseys useless. This was such a stroke of good luck to have this, looking back. Thank you, Frank!
Anyhow, about an hour passes when I decide that I really need to take a leak, so I pull over to the side of the road to make my contribution of fluids to the desert vegetation. After I’m done I’m walking back to my ‘bent when I hear my name called out, “Felix!” “Barry, is that you?” I shout back. It was indeed Barry, my coworker! He was doing a double century for the first time. Tough guy… he claimed he didn’t train too much, but he already had the Death Ride under his belt. While others would be eating during lunchhour at work, he’d be riding. I am glad to see him.
He doesn’t wait, however, and I’m riding alone for another half-an-hour. But then… lo and behold, I catch up to him! So maybe I’m not so slow after all. The sun is slowly coming up and my outlook for the ride looks far more encouraging now. Shortly thereafter we arrive at the rest stop in Stopepipe Wells.
Miles 25-50
I stick around for 15 minutes while Barry leaves almost immediately. Usually I don’t stick around myself long at all but I’m definitely taking it easy today. Just want to have enough in me to climb Jubillee and Salsberry Pass later in the day and finish the ride. I see several other recumbents at this rest stop which is further encouraging.
When I do take off I am quickly rewarded with a nice downhill. For a little while, I am even following a couple of recumbents. My legs are loosening up. I am feeling comfortable both physically and mentally now, having ridden for 3 hours. I notice the beautiful scenery around along with other things, such as a paraglider up in the sky. The weather is nice, too!
These miles seem to go by pretty quickly. Not because I’m going rapidly, mind you, just feeling at ease. It’s nice to be out there in no-man’s land, totally at peace out in the open, free to think about anything I want, just looking forward to the miles ahead.
And so when I get to the next rest stop, which is where we started the ride from, I decide to keep on going. I can do this!
Miles 49-96
More peaceful but forgettable miles. First we descend down to Badwater, which at -287 feet below sea level is the lowest point the continental United States. On one hand I think it’s really neat to be at this “low point”, but I well know that Salsberry Pass later on the day is at 3400 ft or so and I will have to get up there the hard way.
Hence during these miles I conserve energy immensely. Other cyclists are passing me up, but not as many as before. Was everyone just way ahead or was everyone just tiring out a little? No matter; I just focus my thoughts on the two passes coming up. Soon I’m near the midway point of the ride.
Miles 97-123
I stop for about 10 minutes at the next rest stop in which I see Zach Kaplan of Zach Kaplan Cycles. He’s a recumbent guru that sold me the Primo Comet tire and Velocity Aeroheat AT rim for my front 20″ wheel. “Rough roads,” he says to me. That’s for sure! Thanks for advising me on getting the Primo and wider tires in general, Zach.
Later at the rest stop I inquire about when Salsberry Pass is coming up. “About 15 miles,” is the reply. I am ready!
It might be awhile until Salsberry, but Jubillee pass seems to come very soon. I didn’t remember it being very long or steep back in 1997, but here it takes me at least 45 minutes to ascend. I am going about 6 mph most of the time, and other riders are passing me up. Hmmmm, still have to work on my climbing. But at least I am making it up!
I crest the top and now there’s a short downhill, probably descending 400 feet or so. Then comes the climb I’ve been anticipating all day–Salsberry Pass. It is 10 miles long and I prepare myself for the long haul. I experiment with different pedal techniques. Eventually, I settle down into one where I push hard with alternating legs every 3 revolutions or so, resting my legs during the “rest” strokes. This seems to be effective. It works on a ‘bent better than an upright bicycle because one can brace himself against the seat, whereas this technique merely pushes one’s butt off the saddle on an upright. It’s almost like standing ‘cept you’re spinning faster. I even manage to catch up with some upright cyclists (who stopped) and pass a tricycle and recumbent. I’m going 6-7 mph! I’m going to make it!
And two hours later–woohoo, the top is in sight!!! What a feeling! I had to walk 3 years ago but made it up this year despite little training and no climbing experience on the ‘bent at all. Better fitness? Perhaps. Mental determination? Definitely!
I stop to take some pic’s and chat with other riders. I am extremely happy at this time, telling the others how I just finished building the bike a few days ago, and here I am. “I’m amazed you made it up on that thing!” one of them exclaims. In a way, so am I. There are many more miles ahead, but I revel in this moment.
Finally I take off again and was rewarded by my efforts by a long, steep-but-straight downhill. I hit 40+ mph and pass by several riders here–”this is where I have the advantage,” I think to myself, “so use it!” I am very jovial. Barry, my co-worker I saw earlier in the day, would later tell me he saw me descending this section with a huge smile on my face. I believe it!
I see Zach coming from the Shoshone lunch stop a few minutes before I arrive myself. He was making good time. Actually, apparently the majority of the riders had already made it through lunch as the ride organizers were already packing away food. I was annoyed by this as I knew there were at least 25 riders still on the course. They make me a Cup-o-noodles though and I am happy again.
At this rest stop I stay for 30 minutes. In hindsight, this was way too long. Darkness would be arrive shortly. But I knew all I had to do was climb back up the backside of Salsberry and it would be all downhill. Yet, I was well aware that I’d be riding several hours in darkness and was apprehensive about how well I’d be able to deal with it.
Mile 122–Mile 151
I am now doing several calculations in my head. I figure, at 8 mph, I can be up at the top of Salsberry in 1.25 hours. I wanted to be able to get there with daylight left as I knew it would be my only chance to make up time on the descents. If it became dark I’d be braking down the steep descents most of the way which would seriously hinder my forward progress. So climbing I go. I use the alternating pushing technique and just a tad behind my time estimate, I make it to the top where I snap my last picture.
As you can see in the picture, darkness was already setting in. Hence I went down the front side of Salsberry as fast as I could, being more aggressive than I’d normally be. However, then I had to climb up the back side of Jubillee! this took about 15-20 minutes. By the time I got to Jubilee, it was almost pitch black.
Drat! I turn on my light but it is of little use. Soon I find myself descending at probably only 10 mph or so. I am having serious problems seeing the road. The lack of poor lighting reflectors, white lines, and reflective paint on the narrow roads, and the lack of any overhead or artificial light did me in. I couldn’t differentiate between the sand shoulder and the road and hence I went off-road several times, prompting a couple of falls. Oncoming cars compounded the problem as they were blinding me, even with their low beams. It came to a point where when an oncoming car would come, I’d just stop in order to avoid colliding with it or going off the road. This in addition to braking all the way from Miles 140-150 (which was downhill) made for very slow and scary riding.
It soon became so seemingly risky that I decide enough was enough. It would be virtually all downhill to the finish, meaning that I could practically coast in; yet, with all the braking I was doing, I’d had to ride at least 4-5 more hours in darkness. I wasn’t even sure iif I had enough battery power for that for my lights, and as woeful the light output was, I’d be even more screwed if it went out completely! So reluctantly I reach a decision: I’ll end my ride at the next rest stop. This would ultimately be Mile 151.
Conclusion
As I wait for a SAG vehicle to take me back to Furnace Creek where my car awaited, I ponder the day’s events. This is the very first ultramarathon ride I have abandoned. Yet, I feel a great sense of accomplishment. 151 miles on my ‘bent for a season opener already was a personal recumbent record for me. I am content that I even made it this far when just 12 hours ago I was somewhat apprehensive about even getting to Mile 50! And any questions in my mind in regards to “how well ‘bents climb” were put to ease. Sure, I still am faster on Canny up hills, but then again, 3 years ago I couldn’t make it up Salsberry without walking on Canny. Making it up Salsberry felt like a huge accomplishment already; everything else was practically anticlimatic.
While pondering the day’s events a couple comes in, and the male comes and greets me. We chitchat for a little while when all of a sudden the guy says, “You don’t normally ride that bike, right?” I answer, “No, in fact, I just finished building it 3 days ago!”, and he replies, “Yes… I remember you now… we rode last few miles of the Davis Double together back in ‘97.” I am perplexed for a little while, but he refreshes my memory. “I’m Jim Michaels,” he says,”You were working for a company in Palo Alto and was trying to do the California Triple Crown that year.” Both I and his girlfriend are incredulous at his memory. But of course!–I remember him now. He worked at HP in Palo Alto. He now works in Alameda now, he tells me.
It was a nice way to end a ride with yet another familiar face. The count for people I ran into today that I met in the past was three. It’s nice to know that even in the desert, even in no-man’s land, there are people you know. It’s a small world.
Ride Data
- 151 mi.
- 4:40a start, 6:40p finish - 14 hours
- Average Speed: 13 mph moving, 10.8 mph overall
- Max Speed: 40 mph
- Total Climbing: 9000 ft
Rating
(1=ho hum; 5=best)
- Scenery: 2
- Support/Organization: 2-
- Food: 1 Already were taking away food at Shoshone when I got there even though 25 riders were still on their way there
- Weather: 4
- Relative Difficulty: 3
- Overall Rating: 3