Last Saturday (6/19/10), I participated in the Santa Rosa Cycling Club's "Terrible Two," (http://srcc.memberlodge.com/TT), the third and final double century of the California Triple Crown stage race...Although the race was extremely well-supported and incredibly beautiful, the day was a disappointing one: I flatted 3 times in the first 40 miles (likely because of a faulty rear rim), which doomed any glimmer of hope I had of advancing onto stage race podium.....
The first flat occurred only 4 miles into the race.....I must admit that it is a disheartening feeling to flat that early in a 200 mile race and watch a peloton of 225+ riders advance effortlessly down the road. After changing my flat, I assumed the role of the virtual "Lanterne Rouge" of the race, a position that I am not used to riding in... I made up some time over the next 20 miles, riding with a triathlete/ultra-distance runner who had started the race late because he had left his cycling shoes at home. We worked together until the first series of climbs at Trinity Grade Road, (where I happily relinquished my position as the last rider of the race!). After a series of strong climbs, however, I would go on flat again at mile 37 and mile 38, only to watch all of the riders that I had "picked off" during the previous climbs effortlessly pass me by again.....Fortunately, I did not flat again for the rest of the day...which was a good thing because I was completely out of tubes and CO2 cartidges!
I spent the rest of the day mostly riding alone through the hilly (and often incredible beautiful) mountains surrounding Santa Rosa, Occasionally, I would join forces with small bands of riders who were lagging behind, trying to "survive" the ride in the fastest time possible...but the rest of the day was mostly a solitary effort...I finished in 12:57, well off the pace of the lead riders.
Although the results of Saturday's TT were disappointing (to say the least!), the ride was very beautiful and several of climbs were incredibly steep! Temperatures were perfect (from a Colorado perspective), with temperatures ranging from the 60s along the coast to the low 80s along Skaggs Spring Road, which lies to the south of Lake Sonoma. (This 35-mile-long road often experiences temperatures greater than 100 degrees in the summer months, giving the Terrible Two its nasty reputation!) The weather for this year's edition of the Terrible Two was not nearly as "terrible" as it could have been and I was grateful for that!!!
My hat off to Marc Moons of Petaluma, CA, who captured the overall title for this year's California Triple Crown Stage Race. Marc is a super-strong climber and has a lot of invaluable experience in California's Double Century racing scene. He's a ferocious racer, but very gracious and humble off of the bike!!! Don't pick a fight with him on an uphill bike race, because he'll probably win!!!
Many thanks to the Santa Rosa Cycling Club! They put on a very classy, well-organized event...perhaps the best supported double century in the country! If any rider is considering trying an out-of-state double century, either as a race or just for the sake of trying one, this would be the ride to try! The ride support and post-ride banquet is superb! Just be wary...you only have 16.5 hours to complete the ride to earn an "I DID IT" T-shirt!!! And you better bring some climbing gears...many of the climbs are super-steep, with sustained grades between 10-18 percent, and some pitches steeper than that!).
I also want to thank Brian Meadows from the RMCC, my home-town club. Brian had driven out from Colorado a few days early to participate in the TT and was kind enough to pick me up at the Sacramento airport, saving me the hassle of getting a rental car! Brian is a TT veteran, and his insights into the course were very helpful!
Well...enough whining! Time to get back on the saddle and get back to work!!!
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