Sierra Double Metric Century - Saturday, April 16 2016
This was indeed another Grand Adventure - 124 miles with 10,000’ of climbing! And I loved it - I love getting stronger every year - and anything over 100 miles just feels magical! Tis was one of those Up at 4:30am and Out the Door at 5:15 - with my new playlist to rev me up on the pre-dawn drive to Plymouth. Sunrise welcomed me as I arrived and the parking attendant directed me to my spot…right next to my friend, Beate, who I came here to ride with! Well, that was easy! We found the registration and quickly got checked in - and on this chilly morning, indoor reg was welcomed! We decided to wait a bit until the temp rose, and so we checked out the course maps - naturally we were entered in the toughest event of the day - Double Metric 10,728’ with Rams Horn and Slug Gulch - perfect training ride for this summer’s race season! Miles n miles of Hammer Nutrition stowed in my hydration vest (summarized below). With Happy High Fives, Beate and I rolled out at 7:15 onto a chilly, shady, speedy descent on a road I enjoyed thirty years ago on, well, much younger legs. I hoped today I’d have the legs to do this - and enjoy it. As we rolled through familiar roads, the sun warmed us up and at the base of Plymouth Highway we removed arm and leg warmers, and vest. Just as we started the climb, my Strava alarm went off, telling me I can race a friend to the top of this 2 mile incline! Beate tempers my spirit, reminding me that we still have, oh - 109 miles to go! So I try not to peak at how far back I am in my virtual race and focus on the beauty of this sunshiny morning….wildflowers all around - but we are on a mission, so no photos today! We turn onto Ione Sutter Creek Road, one of my favorite training rides - nine miles or so of climbing into Sutter Creek. It is so beautiful today - serene green rolling hills surround us and I feel both energized and peaceful. Our next climb into Volcano is only a bit more strenuous, and Beate continues to match my pace. This is very cool - Beate took my Total Body Fitness Women’s Cycling Class last year and she is a really strong and talented rider! Because we left about fifteen minutes later than most of the long course riders, the roads are quiet, and we enjoy each others company, and that beautiful riding silence when it got too steep to talk. The course is now shady and lined with trees, as our elevation continues to rise on Rams Horn. This climb used to scare me, but I’d ridden it a week ago and it’s not so bad anymore. Today, it is almost easy, just steady climbing, and I’m not even in my lowest gear! At Daffodil Hill we head towards Hwy 88 and remain in the trees and shadows, climbing continuously now, and realizing that fueling and hydrating will be the keys to success - so I Hammer every hour (Endurolytes, Race Caps, Endurance Amino, Anti Fatigue, plus a rotation of gel, Perpetuam Tabs, and bites of Hammer Bar). We’ve skipped the rest stops so far, and checked in at the Fiddletown lunch stop to refill our hydration packs. I whipped out my PBJs, as I continue to experiment with their use on my endurance rides. Sixty miles is in the books (We are Kinda 1/2 Done!), and we head out for The Infamous Slug Gulch Climb. I raced Slug Gulch thirty years ago, and it was hard then - but I made it, and I did it with a lot less gear than I have today, so we are going to the top! Giving up is not an option - when it’s hard - and it was! - Breathe and Just Keep Riding. I Tic-Tac’d to the top on this long, steep twelve mile climb and when I had the occasional opportunity to glance at my computer, I saw pitches of 14%. I’ve been on worse, so I just stayed focused on breathing and continued. There was a special water stop at the top, where we were rewarded not only with water, but also a commemorative pin that stated “I tamed Slug Gulch!”. Well, I think it tamed me! Of course we headed out on the Optional 8, a loop rumored to be yet even tougher than Slug Gulch - and we conquered that as well, although navigation was really more of an issue than the climbing, since by now, my legs were getting pretty good at the old Just Keep Going routine, but the arrows on the road were sometimes non-existant. We both had cue sheets, and I’d hoped to test the downloaded course map on this ride (in preparation for a future event), but the course was not on my garmin when I tried to find it at the start. We double and triple checked our turns, as there were fewer than ten of us out in the middle of nowhere. And… at ninety miles - we were done climbing! The final miles were easy, pleasant descending with only a few small rises, a welcome sight to two tired riders!
At some point out here in the middle of nowhere, Beate said she could feel herself bonking - so we refueled with Hammer Gel and - bravo! She was riding strong again! We returned to Fiddletown, with just 10 miles to the finish, and I was longing for wide open spaces again. The higher elevation had left me feeling closed in and i needed some sunshine and open space around me. Plus, I was looking forward to the familiar road I’d ridden with my club thirty years ago…but — we made a right turn and took the wine country road back - with two dang hills! They weren't long or steep - but at 115 miles, all hills are steep! Especially since I knew the “real way” back to Plymouth was all downhill!
But, we made it in, all smiles, and searched for food — the event was catered and the food was perfect. The day ended perfectly - serene and peaceful in the quiet hills of Plymouth. I felt grateful to share this ride with a friend, Beate. I was tired, but not dead, and my legs didn’t hurt! (Nor did they the next day - or this week!) And no back ache - even after 10,700’ of climbing - no headache ~ Clearly I am getting stronger, and refining nutrition and hydration, as each event becomes a test ride for the next. Next up - Chico WildFlower 100 wit hey Total Body Fitness Women’s Cycling Class - next Sunday! Another adventure ~ with friends! Life is Good!
Thank you, Hammer Nutrition, for providing the best event nutrition and advice ever! By the way, the Hammer Nutrition website has a ton of FREE information nutrition and training that anyone can access - you do not have to be a custom
This was indeed another Grand Adventure - 124 miles with 10,000’ of climbing! And I loved it - I love getting stronger every year - and anything over 100 miles just feels magical! Tis was one of those Up at 4:30am and Out the Door at 5:15 - with my new playlist to rev me up on the pre-dawn drive to Plymouth. Sunrise welcomed me as I arrived and the parking attendant directed me to my spot…right next to my friend, Beate, who I came here to ride with! Well, that was easy! We found the registration and quickly got checked in - and on this chilly morning, indoor reg was welcomed! We decided to wait a bit until the temp rose, and so we checked out the course maps - naturally we were entered in the toughest event of the day - Double Metric 10,728’ with Rams Horn and Slug Gulch - perfect training ride for this summer’s race season! Miles n miles of Hammer Nutrition stowed in my hydration vest (summarized below). With Happy High Fives, Beate and I rolled out at 7:15 onto a chilly, shady, speedy descent on a road I enjoyed thirty years ago on, well, much younger legs. I hoped today I’d have the legs to do this - and enjoy it. As we rolled through familiar roads, the sun warmed us up and at the base of Plymouth Highway we removed arm and leg warmers, and vest. Just as we started the climb, my Strava alarm went off, telling me I can race a friend to the top of this 2 mile incline! Beate tempers my spirit, reminding me that we still have, oh - 109 miles to go! So I try not to peak at how far back I am in my virtual race and focus on the beauty of this sunshiny morning….wildflowers all around - but we are on a mission, so no photos today! We turn onto Ione Sutter Creek Road, one of my favorite training rides - nine miles or so of climbing into Sutter Creek. It is so beautiful today - serene green rolling hills surround us and I feel both energized and peaceful. Our next climb into Volcano is only a bit more strenuous, and Beate continues to match my pace. This is very cool - Beate took my Total Body Fitness Women’s Cycling Class last year and she is a really strong and talented rider! Because we left about fifteen minutes later than most of the long course riders, the roads are quiet, and we enjoy each others company, and that beautiful riding silence when it got too steep to talk. The course is now shady and lined with trees, as our elevation continues to rise on Rams Horn. This climb used to scare me, but I’d ridden it a week ago and it’s not so bad anymore. Today, it is almost easy, just steady climbing, and I’m not even in my lowest gear! At Daffodil Hill we head towards Hwy 88 and remain in the trees and shadows, climbing continuously now, and realizing that fueling and hydrating will be the keys to success - so I Hammer every hour (Endurolytes, Race Caps, Endurance Amino, Anti Fatigue, plus a rotation of gel, Perpetuam Tabs, and bites of Hammer Bar). We’ve skipped the rest stops so far, and checked in at the Fiddletown lunch stop to refill our hydration packs. I whipped out my PBJs, as I continue to experiment with their use on my endurance rides. Sixty miles is in the books (We are Kinda 1/2 Done!), and we head out for The Infamous Slug Gulch Climb. I raced Slug Gulch thirty years ago, and it was hard then - but I made it, and I did it with a lot less gear than I have today, so we are going to the top! Giving up is not an option - when it’s hard - and it was! - Breathe and Just Keep Riding. I Tic-Tac’d to the top on this long, steep twelve mile climb and when I had the occasional opportunity to glance at my computer, I saw pitches of 14%. I’ve been on worse, so I just stayed focused on breathing and continued. There was a special water stop at the top, where we were rewarded not only with water, but also a commemorative pin that stated “I tamed Slug Gulch!”. Well, I think it tamed me! Of course we headed out on the Optional 8, a loop rumored to be yet even tougher than Slug Gulch - and we conquered that as well, although navigation was really more of an issue than the climbing, since by now, my legs were getting pretty good at the old Just Keep Going routine, but the arrows on the road were sometimes non-existant. We both had cue sheets, and I’d hoped to test the downloaded course map on this ride (in preparation for a future event), but the course was not on my garmin when I tried to find it at the start. We double and triple checked our turns, as there were fewer than ten of us out in the middle of nowhere. And… at ninety miles - we were done climbing! The final miles were easy, pleasant descending with only a few small rises, a welcome sight to two tired riders!
At some point out here in the middle of nowhere, Beate said she could feel herself bonking - so we refueled with Hammer Gel and - bravo! She was riding strong again! We returned to Fiddletown, with just 10 miles to the finish, and I was longing for wide open spaces again. The higher elevation had left me feeling closed in and i needed some sunshine and open space around me. Plus, I was looking forward to the familiar road I’d ridden with my club thirty years ago…but — we made a right turn and took the wine country road back - with two dang hills! They weren't long or steep - but at 115 miles, all hills are steep! Especially since I knew the “real way” back to Plymouth was all downhill!
But, we made it in, all smiles, and searched for food — the event was catered and the food was perfect. The day ended perfectly - serene and peaceful in the quiet hills of Plymouth. I felt grateful to share this ride with a friend, Beate. I was tired, but not dead, and my legs didn’t hurt! (Nor did they the next day - or this week!) And no back ache - even after 10,700’ of climbing - no headache ~ Clearly I am getting stronger, and refining nutrition and hydration, as each event becomes a test ride for the next. Next up - Chico WildFlower 100 wit hey Total Body Fitness Women’s Cycling Class - next Sunday! Another adventure ~ with friends! Life is Good!
Thank you, Hammer Nutrition, for providing the best event nutrition and advice ever! By the way, the Hammer Nutrition website has a ton of FREE information nutrition and training that anyone can access - you do not have to be a custom