mscycler

Well, I have finally gotten back into the swing of things and thought I would give a ride report.

I (we, 5 total riders from MS Chapter of Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training) flew out to Sacramento on Friday June 2, 2006 and arrived there about 11:30. After claiming our bags, we headed straight to the nearest In-n-Out burger (remember we don't have them here in MS). So I ordered a #1, no onion, with Chocolate Shake...yum, yum, yum...

We arrived in Lake Tahoe about 3:15 Friday afternoon and checked into our hotel (Horizon Casino...what a dump). After dropping our bags, we went to go get our bikes. After assmebling them, I went out for a nice little ride of about 15 miles to ensure that the bike was put together correctly. After making minor adjustments, we decided to ride again on Saturday morning. We rode about 20-25 miles and "fine tuned" our steeds in preparation for the century ride Sunday morning.

Sunday morning started about 4:30 with a couple of peanut butter and honey sandwiches, a few bananas, and a bottle of H2O. The ride was supposed to be (from our team at least) 3 of us (stronger riders) and 2 (weaker riders, who would only ride 72 instead of the full 100). Our start time was 6:00, but one of our riders (stronger group) couldn't get his HRM working, so he stayed back a little. We started out (just two of us now, among the other 3598 people riding), trying to get our legs under us and get the blood pumping, it was a cool 42 degrees. Despite the cold, I decided to brave the elements in just my bibs, jersey and short gloves...boy, I'm glad I did as it warmed up quickly.

The route was a "hilly" one compared to what I ride back here in MS. There were two major climbs, one at mile 11 that was about a 6% (give or take) for about 1.5 miles with two or three switchbacks in it (Emerald Bay). This was really fun to climb, not kidding...it's like you think you can't go anymore, and then you hit a switchback, and you get more energy...and the lsat major climb was at mile 81, and it was about 8 miles long...not too steep, just long (Spooner Summit). They funnest part was on the backside of Spooner Summit...the descent was long and fast...almost 50mph with a crosswind will absolutely scare the $hit out of you.

I had a crash at mile 4...we were slowing up because they closed the road about mile 5 so we could "attack" Emerald Bay without fear of traffic and so we could use both lanes as necessary. As we were slowing, the guy in front of me decided that he wasn't happy in his line, and he wanted mine. He pulled over right on top of me overlapping my wheel about 6 inches. I immediately went down and took out about 6 or 7 other riders with me. Four of them got up and kept going...the one who caused the wreck didn't go down, or even look back. Two of the others that I took out stopped and we put our bikes back together. My stem had to be loosened and set straight in line with my tire, but other than that, there was nothing else wrong. I have a strawberry about the size of a silver dollar on my right knee, a hole in my jersey pocket, a tear in my sleeve, and 6 nice little puncture/gouge marks on the inside of my calf where my chainrings decided they wanted to be. After they dug my calf out, they decided that they wanted to ride all the way down my leg. Anyway, I got back on my bike, and rode the other 96 miles with my calf all covered in blood. I was then referred to at the end of the ride (after I got it bandaged)..."Hey, are you the guy who was riding with all the blood on the back of his leg?" I responded with a "Yep, I didn't fly 2500 miles to ride 4, pack up my bike and fly home."

One of the funniest things though was right after I wrecked and got back in the ride, I kept feeling this cold drip in my leg (the bloody one). I looked down and it looked like snot. I got pissed looking around for someone who would blow a snot rocket on my bloody leg. Then, I felt it again. I started checking my nose to see if it was "leaking". Then, I checked the back pocket. Yep, you guessed it...two busted orange power gels. That was funny, but it was even funnier when someone passed by me and I was licking my camera to remove the gel (they were in the same pocket). After 100 miles, the gel had caused my jersey and bibs to stick together so bad that I almost needed scissors to get them "unstuck."

Saddle time was right at 7h 20m. Total time, right under 9 hrs. Avg speed like 13.6, HR, like 160, cadence like 70 (all estimates since I don't have my computer here at work).

Here are some pics...

Switchbacks at Emerald Bay


My leg after the crash


Lunch Time


Single Speed that did the full 100


Unicycles that did the full 100


Me, finished, about to drink a cold beer

superdex

UNICYCLES??!?!?!?! Holy CRAP! Impressive, and beautiful pics

jtown

Wow nice! Do they have this race every year?

jtown

Ya and how the F do you do 100 miles on a unicycle? What was their average speed?

Olebiker

Hey Dood, that's what the Bento Box is for. Seriously, what was the altitude like? I would think that coming from the flatlands to the mountains might be rather traumatic on a fella's system.

ViperZ

Beautiful looking ride! Sorry to hear about the crash, way to go to continue on

HAMMER MAN

the uni-cycles, that would be a sight to see and quite astonishing
nice pictures

caloso

Oh, so nice. I've done the Tour de Tahoe. They run it in September and it's the same route without the out and back loop down to Truckee, which I'm guessing is what the less strong riders did.

Yeah, that ride back down the Spooner Summit on Hwy 50 is exciting, to say the least, especially when you get hit by a gust of wind off the lake.

Oh, and go Team! (I'm doing the Triathlon at Pacific Grove this fall for TNT)

nesdog

Congrats on the ride and raising money for a good cause! Outstanding pix! Now you got me all fired up to ride. My wife, 11 year old daughter and I will be driving up to Tahoe in a week and are taking our bikes with us. With the little one, we're planning on riding the South Shore bike paths and maybe the one along the Truckee river.

I've got to start taking more pictures on rides.

Sheldon

mscycler

The ride is held every year (this was the 15th)...

The Bento box was filled with gu and power bars. The altitude didn't really affect me. I live at about 200' ASL, and the ride started about 5900' ASL. I rode about 40-50 miles on Friday and Saturday...funny thing is my HR was actually lower there than here for the same exertion.

The out and back to Truckee was Tricky (say that 5 times fast). Coming back in is all a "false flat"...that was our worst stretch of the ride...

As for the unicycles, someone told me that they usually just "get on" the route a few miles before Spooner. They were not at the finish when I was there, so I can't confirm (nor deny, mind you) that they did the full 100. However, the single speed I can confirm...she tailed us (or we tailed her) for most of the ride.

mscycler

mscycler

If you are taking your bike, talk the wife into watching the 11 yr old and at least climb Emerald Bay. It was awesome. The Truckee River paths were beautiful...

mscycler

BlastRadius

Was the official photographer on the hill going up near Emerald Bay? Nice to get shots of everyone (well not everyone) suffering. I wish I could have gone but it filled up quick.

dtrain

Thanks for posting this thread, mscycler. My sister recently moved to Reno and I've been intending to bring my bike down there on one of my next visits. She's spent a little time on the Truckee River paths. I'd really like to circle the lake. Time to Google the "Tour de Tahoe".

Looks like you had a great time. Way to hang in there after the bloody crash.

mscycler

Yeah, he was there, but he didn't get a picture of me. The person I was riding with was about 100yds behind me, and he got them twice, but not even once for me...

mscycler

mscycler

www.bikethewest.com gives you info on Tour de Tahoe

mscycler

dtrain

Crap, I'm supposed to do a triathlon on 9/10. Maybe I can talk the wife into the Tour de Tahoe instead. I'm not a big fan of swimming and running.

caloso

I think the only way I'd feel safe doing a circumnavigation is on an organized ride. The traffic is just too crazy during the summer. Maybe if you could start early on a weekday, but there's no frickin way I'd do it on weekend.

dtrain

+1. Yeah, especially around that Emerald Bay area. My thinking isn't to circle the lake on any trip down there...but rather to plan a visit to my sister's around an organized ride.