Bob's Bike Blog: Death Ride 2008

129 Miles 15,000 Ft 5 Mountain Passes

July 12th, the day of the “Death Ride” was a memorable experience for myself and my invited club riders from Siclista California. This was their 1st time to attempt the famous ride. I done this ride many times so I was the veteran of the group on this ride.

Days before leading up to the ride, everyone was testing, tuning and double checking their bikes and equipment, making sure everything was in working order for the big day. We took short ride into Markleeville from the campsite and then a short climb to Turtle Rock Park to calm the newbies excitement and to give them a taste of what lies ahead on the day of the ride. Smoke from the nearby fires were a concern to most of us but when the big day came, the skies were clear.

The game plan was a simple one, wake up at 3:45AM, get ready and leave by 4:30AM. As we left our campsite, we could see other campsites with lights on as other riders were also preparing to head out for the same adventure.

The 1st pass, Monitor Pass was a long 9 mile climb with a few breaks. We all made it to the top of Monitor Pass getting our 1st pass sticker and proceeded down the back side of Monitor Pass. The descent greeted us with breath taking views and the wide smooth road afforded us to accelerate to speeds exceeding 50 mph! What a rush!

Down at the bottom, we got our 2nd pass sticker and regrouped. Before the charge back up, many of us dumped our heavier gear no longer needed, to the support team for pickup after the ride. A few pics here and there, and we were back in the saddle for the long climb back up. Though it was fun going down, thoughts of going back up it were not as happy.

As we proceeded up the backside Monitor Pass, roughly midway up the climb, we were greeted by some young men stretched out along side the road, offering to refill our bottle(s) with Cytomax or water. Give them your bottle without stopping, and a relay began as the 1st young man would run ahead with your water bottle calling out your bib number and drink request prior to handing it over to the next young man who would do like wise. This concerted effort involved at least 5 to 6 of them. As you grind your way up toward the hydration station, your bottle is handed back to you with more words of encouragement and well wishes. These guys are truly awesome!

Back at the top of Monitor Pass! Two down, three to go. I stopped for water and a Cliff bar and regrouped with the other Siclistas. At this point, it was obvious that we could no longer ride as a group. During the second long climb, the thin air had started affecting some of the riders. With fatigue and the onset of cramps or soreness, doubts of finishing had entered the minds of the riders. We had only completed 35 miles!

We left the top of Monitor Pass to continue on to Ebbetts Pass. The weather was warm but not too hot; it was bearable. The long climb to Ebbetts was done and got sticker number 3. I didn’t stop for a break there but continued down the back side of Ebbetts. I’m all alone now and when I got down to the bottom of Ebbetts, I got sticker number 4. A quick fill of my bottles and a snack, I am off back up the back side of Ebbetts Pass. I make it up and over Ebbetts and stop part way down the front side of Ebbetts for lunch.

On the descent down Ebbetts toward Markleeville, there is loud thunder and a few drops of rain. I reach Markleeville and am greeted by crowds cheering. One of the loudest bunch in the crowd are my wife, Mary Ann, and family, all with cow bells ringing loudly as we approach. I had just completed 85 miles! I dumped my warmers and other items no longer needed; it was warm in Markleeville.

Went past Turtle Rock Park and descended down to Woodfords Junction. I am hot; so I ride under the water shower provided by the support crew at Woodfords. It was a cold spray, but felt good. No sooner after the spray, I am greeted by a sudden downpour! A thunder storm caught up with us and doused us completely. Water pooled in my shoes, I was miserable and cold. I ran into the other Siclistas along side the road; they are resting while I continued on. A bit later, white little pebbles started pelting us. It was hailing! I had to get out of my saddle to generate more body heat. The effort is making me hungry and I realized I had no energy bars or gels since I dumped them all at Markleeville. I figured I can get some at the last stop before taking on the last pass. But it’s just pouring now, I reach the last rest stop and see riders crammed in under the awnings and its so thick with people that I had no idea if there was any food or not. I thought I was done for at that point. I started to dig deep into my back pockets and voila! I found a packet of fig bars that did not get tossed while in Markleeville. I ate it and went to get more Cytomax from the table when the rest of the Siclistas rode up and said they were not stopping and continued on. I told them I will catch up with them after I fill up my bottles.

Back on the road past Picketts Junction, 1 hour ahead of the cut off time. All the Siclistas and I are home free! More rain and more rain as we continued towards Carson Pass. Knowing that we beat the cut off time, we take it easy from here. Up to the top of Carson Pass the 5th and final climb we did it! 129 miles and 15,000 vertical feet completed when we reach the finish!

I found out later after the ride that at Woodfords the temperature had dropped from 92 to 50 degrees farenheit in a matter of minutes. The hail started out the size of small ball bearings increasing in size up to a gumball roughly the diameter of a quarter. The local sheriff ended up closing the course at Picketts Junction.