Having finished the Death Ride last summer (July 2010), I will still continue to ride and see what happens as I move to Charlotte, NC this summer.
Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 5:35PM Got and out did a relatively slow 23-ish miles today - working on finding low traffic routes - let me know if you know any around Southern Charlotte!
Good weather, and I did OK despite my TERRIBLE fitness level.
Here's the link - I believe you need to friend me on MapMyFitness (a worthwhile set of resources) in order to see it.
Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 4:44PM Back in the saddle again with a great ride yesterday - here's the outline - trying to get in shape so that I don't embarrass myself with those amazing Charlotte riders this summer.
http://www.mapmyfitness.com/workout/44301272/
Thursday, December 9, 2010 at 4:37PM If not super conditioning! I was tired on my second day when I pushed a lot through great powder and terrain - here are a couple of great shots from days one and two, this week and last:
Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 2:33PM I haven't been doing much formal exercise of late, but getting a lot of weight moved off of our walkways and decks - here is a recent photo of the on-going accumulation - sorry for the alignment ;-)
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 12:47AM On Saturday, July 10, after nearly 12 hours on the bike, and more than 13 hours on the course, I rolled into the final rest stop atop the fifth and final pass to climb, completing the entirety of the Death Ride, and receiving my 5-Pass pin and patch (lost the patch in the final descent, oops! ;-D).
Physically drained, but thankfully not that sore, and missing the promised ice cream (they had sent the truck away to the main finishing area), I said the "Shehehcheyanu" with my Bahai Biking Buddy (everyone should have one!).
Along the way, I did enjoy moments of the ride, especially downhill moments. In truth, after the first climb, I regularly told myself that I had no need to finish, and could accept 2 passes, or 3, or 4, or 4 and a half, since not everyone rides all 5!
Still faced some tightness and pain in my right hamstring, but found some on-the-bike stretches to work those out. Got off the bike to drink and supplement with energy goo and snacks often. Raced to make the cutoff to start the 5th pass (4pm), and made it to the 5:15pm cutoff with time to spare so that the last climb, Carson pass, could be taken "at leisure".
Finishing the Death Ride definitely counts as a mental and spiritual triumph, at least equal to finishing my first marathon, and completing my first under 4 hour marathon as well.
Here I am after having completed the last descent and met up with Ginny and Jude:
;)
I look forward to more relaxed riding for the rest of the summer!