Furnace Creek 508 2008

October 3rd, 2008

What is Furnace Creek 508?

www.the508.com

I am participating in the Furnace Creek 508 bicycle race through Death Valley on a 4-person mixed relay team (men and women) October 4-5. The bike race is billed as the “toughest 48 hours in bike racing” and this year was the 25th anniversary of the event! The route is 508 miles, has 35,000 ft elevation gain and has to be completed in 46 hours if you are a relay team and 48 hours if you are solo….that is right, SOLO. I will ride two legs, stage 2 and stage 6–alternating with my Team Zorilla (that is an African polecat) relay teammates Marnel “Mrs. King” King, Barry “Terminator” Schon, and  Lane “Lane Berry” Parker, with each of us riding two stages. Last year my nickname was “Pippi”, but this year I was upgraded to “Flash”. I would like to think it is because I am faster on the bike this year, but it was due to the lightening bolt reflectors I placed on my front fork!

Day 1, October 3

Travel, Arrival, Check-in, Shopping, Pre-race Meeting

Steve and I are driving down I5 to Santa Clarita–the start of the Furnace Creek 508 bicycle race. We are playing iPod DJ and blowing kazoos to the beat of the tunes. Our band is called Kazoorillas. Rockin’ out to Styx’s Mr. Roboto. Once we get to the host hotel we check-in for vehicle and bike inspection, then off to buy food for the race. I am writing and posting on my iPhone (pretty cool) and Steve is driving…the first miles of his crewing duty for Team Zorilla! Team Zorilla captain Marnel and riders Lane and Barry are ahead of us about 25 miles.

Yeah! Arrived at the hotel in time to help set up the car for inspection. After attaching all the lights and reflectors, we got the thumbs up from race officials to proceed to rider check-in. We all signed in, received our goodie bags (water bottle, cool cycling cap, arm warmers, and the race magazine), and had our team photo taken. Last year’s photo is in this year’s race magazine–we are superstars!

Next was power grocery shopping, dinner and gasing up the car. We decided on lunch meat, cheese, hard-boiled eggs, pasta salad, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate milk, Coca Cola, Starbucks Double Shots, hummus, bananas, Pringles, Wheat Thins, banana bread (homemade!), tortillas, fruit salad and Bubble Yum. Ahhh, the food of cyclists!

We had to attend the mandatory pre-race meeting where they presented new inductees into the hall of fame, rules, and miscellaneous rider stories. I think we all were suffering from dinner coma and fighting to stay awake! I know I was tired and ready for bed at 8pm. Tomorrow was the start of two days that could bring anything our way!

Day 2, October 4

The starting line, Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4

The starting line: We woke up at 6:15am in order to watch the solo riders start at 7am and to get a quick bite to eat. Steve especially wanted to see his friend Jim Gordon, Tortuga totem, off on his first solo attempt. Marnel was preparing for her line-up at 8:30am and start time at 9am. After eating a quick breakfast and cheering for the starting soloists, we got to work organizing the car to accommodate five people, all our gear and food. Car and crew for all 2x and 4x teams had to leave the hotel by 8:45am to be ahead of the riders through San Francisquito Canyon, so we can not see Marnel start the race.

Stage 1: Reving up at Starbucks and listening to 1970s glam rock we headed up into the canyon and now are waiting on Johnson Road for water or clothing hand-offs. The weather is chilly, windy and misty. I am really hoping it does not rain! I am next rider up for Stage 2 from California City to Trona–trying to prepare mentally for my stage. While waiting for Marnel to ride out of the canyon I am huddled in the car to stay out of the cold. Barry is blackberrying his expensive report, Lane is chatting up all the other crews outside, I’m blogging while I have a signal and Steve is singing to Queen. Woah–Team Prairie Falcon, 4x men relay, just came by with three other riders in hot pursuit!

While I am taking a desert bathroom break, Marnel flies out of the canyon with a 25-mile tailwind, and I miss watching her zoom by! Yeah, baby! We follow behind her as she summits the first pass and drops down into the valley where it is at least 20 degrees warmer–with a cross-wind. Marnel is cruising! We are blowing our kazoos out the window at the riders we pass in lieu of cowbells (who forgot those along with her leg warmers?). We are kazooing theme songs ranging from the “Get Smart”, “Rocky”, Call to Post (horse racing), and even some ABBA! We had our bottle and food passing down thanks to practice from last year.

The last 10 miles of Marnel’s stage we drive ahead and make sure I am at the baton hand-off time station in enough time to unrack the bike and get ready to ride. I see Marnel coming, and I hop on my bike, clip in one foot, turn the iPod on and insert the one earbud the rules allow, and wait for her to hand the baton over. Then it’s all business for me!

Stage One: Santa Clarita to California City, 82.25 miles, Elevation Gain 6176′. Marnel, “Mrs. King”, rides it in 4:41, averaging about 18mph.

Stage 2- As Steve described it later, I was “surfing a tailwind” on this stage. I swear it didn’t feel like it! It felt more like a cross-wind, and during one speedy 43-mile per hour descent I thought I was going to be blown off the bike. Needless to say, I was very tense and kept telling myself  “crashing is not an option!” This stage is fun as it has straightaways, rollers, and a nice fairly gradual climb (1500 feet in seven miles) up to the small town of Johannesburg. I used time trial handle bars for the first time and experienced a quite comfortable, and fast, ride with them. On one flat section I saw I was at 33mph cruising speed. I passed quite a few people, and especially enjoyed passing women! I had a nice quick exchange of encouragement with Janice, from Team PupFish, and looked forward to seeing her on the next leg we shared, Stage 6. Racing into Trona, I turned left around a small hill and came up against a stiff headwind. My speed went from 38mph to 8 in about two seconds. I looked ahead to see how far I would be traveling into the wind, and was thankful it was only about a mile. As usual, the road hijinx were all in fine form—kazoos, yelling, and pretend skunk spraying. My goal was to finish before dusk, and came rolling into Trona with plenty of daylight.

Stage Two: California City to Trona, 71 miles, Elevation Gain 4212′. I, “Flash”, ride it in 3:19, averaging about 21mph.

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Livestrong Challenge - addendum to the ride log

July 14th, 2008

To further illustrate Kevin’s lively report, here are the sat image, and the elevation profile of the 50 mile route.

Livestrong Challenge 2008 San Jose - Satellite image

For some reason, the distance did not seem quite long enough to Jeff, Thomas, and me, so we thought about adding Sierra Road to our loop (see top of the yellow line) …

50 mile Elevation Profile

Silver Creek (the hill at mile ~33) really came unexpected to me … Looking at the profile, it was almost as high as Shannon Rd … (and yes, I know, all this is nothing compared to Metcalf, which we shamefully skipped in favor of other adventures …)  Grand total of the ride was about 2,200 ft, according to my Garmin.

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Livestrong ‘08 - Ride Log (by Kevin)

July 14th, 2008

Alrighty here’s the detail of what went down at the front

6:45am It’s early, but everyone is pumped and ready to go. Jeff, Sherilyn, and Gina share stories about the prior evening Livestrong dinner. Gina was the fundraising queen this year, raising a whopping $5425! Way to go Gina!

7:25am Everyone is set and ready to go, just waiting for the man himself to show up and give the motivation speech.

7:35am Lance appears! He gives his speech, thanks the crowd, and assumes the leadout position. Team Spike is about 10 rows back. Bang! The starting gun is fired and people are off. Team Spike take it easy around the first couple turns, making sure everyone stays upright. It is a large group heading out for sure.

7:40am Jeff starts to pick up the pace as we go through Willow Glen. He says “No piano piano today boys!(re:no going slow!) We got to get to the front to represent!” So Kevin and Jeff trade pulls, passing everybody and picking up Thomas as we head toward Saratoga.

7:45am Kevin’s at the front, Jeff is glued to his wheel telling his domestique to close the gap. Sure enough, we see the front group, which is getting an armchair ride through all the lights and stop signs by none other than the SJPD. No such luck for the Team Spike chasers as they get stopped by the light at San Tomas Expy and Hamilton. Wait, wait, wait…. “The group is getting away!” Finally, the light turns green and the chase begans again. Again, the lead group comes into sight. “We’re almost there” thinks Kevin. Then boom, another two stop lights at Saratoga and Prospect and Saratoga and Lawrence. And with that, the hopes of catching the lead group disintegrates.

7:55am After about 10 minutes of tempo riding we arrive at the first stop. The decision is made to stop and regroup. Of course some people haven’t had a breakfast yet, so some food in the belly sounded like a good idea. After a couple minutes, it is Jeff, Roman, Thomas, and Kevin heading out toward Los Gatos at a mellower pace.

8:15am or so After making it through downtown Los Gatos, it’s a left onto Los Gatos Blvd and then a right onto Shannon to begin the first climb of the day. This is a short one of moderate steepness. Some people know what’s ahead and step up the pace. Others settle in for a nice tempo climb.

Kevin makes it to the top first, followed by Jeff, Thomas, and Roman. Everyone is a good shape, looking to have plenty in reserve. Need to take it easy on the descent. We make it down to the trickiest left turn and unfortunately it seems to have already claimed one victim. Team Spike it through unscathed. Now we settle in for a flat, somewhat uninteresting ride across the valley towards Evergreen.

Roll in to the second rest stop. Laura Jump has made it across the gap and is enjoying the company. We refill, grab a couple bites. Jeff makes reacquaintances with an old friend from his somecyclingpeople days. A couple more miles of flat riding til we hit the hills again.

Soon enough we cross 101 and hit some small foothills. There are about 8 or so riders in the group now. Team Spike is well represented with 5 riders. The pack breaks up a little bit in the rollers. Roman is feeling good and pushes it up one of the steeper hills with Kevin on his wheel content to follow. After cresting the hill it is a short downhill and then to the surprise of the group, a 10% wall appears right in front of them. Small chainrings are quickly engaged. Kevin puts in some tempo riding and it’s down to two. Everyone is close behind. Over the top Kevin and another rider lead, with Jeff following up shortly behind and looking to close the gap as the downhill begins. Jeff is flying down the hill, but at 150lbs is having a hard time catching the 180lbs of Kevin. Jeff now regrets giving Kevin all those Pork Butt sandwiches on the 4th :) Kevin is off and hammering to the last rest stop with one other rider sitting in the draft.

Last rest stop and Team Spike regroups talking about the surprise of that 10% wall. It’s a short ride back to town now. Everyone gets a quick refill and then news comes over the intercom that Lance’s group is approaching. Sure enough, 30 secs later Lance’s group come through will full police escort. Everyone gets to their bike quickly and says should we chase? Jeff hesitates, Kevin puts his best track pursuiter impression on, and Team Spike is off. We all know we have to catch them soon if it gonna happen at all. If not, the trailers will get caught at stop signs and lights while Lance’s group gets to roll through because of their police escort.

Kevin gets closer and can see the group ahead. It’s is just a matter of catching the two cars trailing Lance’s group. If he can catch those cars, he can draft them and then get into Lance’s group. They not making easy up front as they have a fast pace going. But Lance’s group is taking it a little mellower through the turns and Kevin is able to hammer through a turn and roll up to the cars trailing Lance’s group. After a quick breather, he jumps by the cars and tags onto the group. It’s about 8 riders total now in Lance’s group heading into San Jose.

Here are some photos from riding with Lance: http://www.spikethewonderdog.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=598

Kevin gets to roll it into downtown San Jose with Lance and the group. All the boys are talking trying to figure out what happened in the stage today at the TDF. Jim rolls up to Lance with 1k asking, are we gonna sprint it out. Kevin hears the word sprint and starts to salivate. But he’s thinking there’s no way these boys are gonna sprint it out? Nonetheless, Lance is changing his gears, but it seems like he’s got some mechanical as he can’t find the right gear. BTW, it you look at the pictures, he’s riding SRAM Red componentry on his Trek! What happened Shimano? Anyhow, everyone rolls it in and congratulate each other on a good ride.

Team Spike congregate together at the finish waiting for team members to roll in. Next in is Laura. She says “Those other boys should be in front of me”. But no one has seen Jeff, Thomas, and Roman. It appears that in coming up short in the chase for Lance, Jeff had thoughts of taking the boys up and over Sierra Rd(4 miles at 8%). Luckily, Jeff remembers his team responsibilities and the need to be on stage by 12 noon. Word also has it Jeff wanted to meet Kate more than Lance? Hmmmm… ;)

All in all, great ride, and an amazing experience meething Lance on stage. Thanks to all Team Spikers! $23k and change ain’t bad! For me, thanks in particular to Jeff, Sherilyn, Laura, and Roman for all your organizing and design work. Everyone keeps coming up to me asking “Where can we get a jersey?”, and I just say “spikethewonderdog.com”!

Thanks all
Kevin

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