When I signed up to co-lead this ride with Deb I expected it to be challenging and I was right. 127 miles and 10,000 feet of climbing makes for a long day.
Due to the potential for rain and the guarantee of pain we only had ten people show up for the ride, including Deb and me as leaders. Only six of us completed the full ride, the four others took a shortcut here and there to avoid a 10-hour day on the road. Another reason for fewer participants than usual was that several were riding the Solvang Double.
The day did start off wet but by the time we descended from the mist and low clouds on Mt Diablo things dried up and warmed up a bit. Mt Diablo was tough as usual with 15 miles to the top of the 4,000 foot climb. Altamont Pass was easier than expected but Patterson Pass really put the hurt on, especially that last mile or so to the top.
Mike took off ahead of us from the top of Mt Diablo and we never saw him again all day. He said he wanted to get down to dry land and hopefully some warmer temperatures.
Brian, Dave B, Guy, and I rode together from about mile 60 to the end. Except for Guy who had to bail for an appointment before we hit Altamont Pass. Dave and Deb were hot on our trail as they worked on their preparations for the brutal Mulholland Double coming up in a couple of weeks. Better them than me! I’m all out of Doubles.
Sheila took a shortcut that I wish I had known about which allowed her to skip Patterson Pass. Brian, Dave B, and I caught up with her in Livermore where we rode together back to the starting point in Sunol.
This was my seventh century of 2008 so I’m on track for at least 24 this year. Maybe more. Photos and GPS output from this ride are here.
We were lucky there were no head winds on Patterson Pass. Last year, it took me 20 minutes longer to complete this ride. David and I spent sometime up on Morgan Territory. We had been there about 15 minutes when Richard showed, so we waited for him. We stay with him until the top Patterson Pass. I guess he found out we do not stop for lunch.