Before reveling im all the fun at Nor Cal Death Match #2, Jodi and I had small task to accomplish: a 55 mile bike ride along the Crystal Springs Resevoir and back. We've done the Giro di Peninsula together 3 years running now and I had done the ride once on my own previously. The route was fairly hilly, but nothing too bad. This made a good warmup to the Livestrong Challenge coming up in two weeks.
Ever see 2200 new bikes in one place? I did today. Volunteers unloaded two semi-trucks (oddly enough sporting the Beautyrest logos) tonight in San Jose at the Convention Center. Tomorrow, local charities arrive to pick up the bikes and deliver them to 2200 kids.
That's a lot of new cyclists on the road. If you see a sweet Diamondback on the road, compare it to the picture and you'll know the back story.
Yesterday, Team JD completed the Livestrong San Jose 2009 100 mile bike course. The event marked the culmination of nearly three months of training, some of which has been detailed on this blog. Today, as I look back on the event, I'm with the overwhelming courage displayed by the cancer survivors who joined us during the event, the graciousness of all the volunteers, and the dedication shown by all 3000 plus participants and the generosity of those who supported us along the way.
It was an emotional day. From the introductory remarks from Carly Fiorina, a cancer survivor herself, the event created an atmosphere of perseverance. The National Anthem, sung by a LAF organizer and survivor was the most beautiful and powerful rendition I have ever heard. Once the opening remarks were delivered and the event was properly blessed, the countdown began. Under police escort, at 7:30 AM (by somebody's watch, I had 7:32), we were off.
The police escort lead the front of the pack out at nearly 20 miles per hour. That was too fast for Team JD so we slipped to the back of the 100 mile pack. Shortly after we took off, those going for 65 miles were turned loose on the course. With fresh legs and fewer miles to complete, some of the 65 milers overtook us before we even reached the first rest stop. We cruised past it, knowing full well we were good on food and water for at least the first 30 miles.
As we rode towards our first stop, off in the distance, high atop the hills facing the Pacific Ocean, we saw a foreboding marker of our Hicks Albino Quest training ride: the abandoned Air Force battery. Somehow, it was comforting to know at least we would have to climb that monster that day.
As we traveled on more familiar terrain, we made it to mile 30 for some Peanut Butter Jelly Time.
Refueled, we headed South through a route familiar from the I Care Classic, but in reverse. Eventually, we wound up in Gilroy's wine country and rode past another familiar site, the Jason-Stephens Winery. Somehow, when we had driven down there a few weeks past, it seemed farther away then on the bike trip.
The next section was perhaps the most mentally challenging of the entire ride. We battled winds on Santa Theresa for what seemed like an eternity. Other teams were more organized and formed pacelines to cut through the wicked winds.
We were not so organized so we had to battle through it on our own. After completing the long stretch of energy-sapping headwinds, we took a right onto Bailey and merged back in with the stragglers from the 65 mile course. A brief climb and a few more miles brought us to Power Stop 6, the base of Metcalf Rd, also known as the Metcalf Mauler.
I should say here the the Mauler was my inspiration during all the climbing sections of this seasons training rides. I would think to myself, any training I do now will just make the mauler that much easier. I had built this climb up so much in my head that I knew we had to tackle it once and for all.
The climb is brutal. It is steep, it is long, it is dangerously unpaved and exposed. There are motorcyclists heading to and from the Motorcycle park at the top of the hill. Everyone on their bikes was in a foul mood. We had to advise one rider who had just undergone heart bypass surgery to reconsider his options.
At the first break, we sat down with two cyclists who were in over their heads and calling it quits on Metcalf. One, a young guy, was bleeding from his knee saying he had angered the cycling gods. Another rider, a recumbent enthusiast, complete with long pony-tail and laptop bag, was asking whether his 6 foot long vehicle could be fit into the back of a Dodge minivan.
We cycled on. And on. When we saw the shack at the top we knew from riding last year's event that we were almost there. A few more turns of the crank and the previous 15+% grades melted to a still challenging 7-8%. A course marshal riding a motorcycle perched at the top of the hill gave us the thumbs up sign as we crested the top. A few feet more along the ridge, along side the motorcycle park, sparked this conversation with a wild-haired young motorcross rider:
Motorcross dude (in a taunting voicee): I think I can, I think I can D (looking over): Hey Motorcoss Fans: wave D: waves back Motorcross Fans: Woohoo, you did it congratulations! D: Waves and smiles, Thanks! Motorcross dude (relenting): Naw, you made it up here, I gotta give you props D: smiles, and rides away
After a quick descent, it was time to take on more water and fuel for the final climb of the ride. If you look at the course profile, the big spike at mile 68 or so is Metcalf, which when combined with the second spike a few mile later, look like the dual horns of a Devil. Well, the devil was there, I'm told, cheering the riders on along Metcalf saying they were at the top. Cruelly, however, he was some 1000 feet from the top giving the riders a false sense of hope.
Once we crossed the peak of the second devil horn, I knew we had a fun descent in store. Somehow, cruising along at 30 miles an hour without pedaling will put a smile on the face of the most exhausted cyclist.
We cruised back through San Jose as the familiar urban landscape unfolded under our wheels. The pony-tailed recumbent cycling was back, and he made a move to pass us. Not gonna happen you hippie, I thought. Especially after you SAG'd your way to the top of Metcalf with that junker. Order restored, we rolled into the finishing line just past 4:30 PM. My cycling computer showed 98 miles, including the three or so we did to get to the start earlier that morning.
As we got to the finish line, Team JD regrouped to cross over together. I gave a victory salute and felt an odd lump in the back of my throat. Emotions washed over me as I bypassed the cheerleaders and other volunteers congratulating each and every rider as they rode in. The ride was a great accomplishment and I'm glad I had Jodi with me to keep me going as the miles added up and the mental anguish kicked in. We trained together for this, we started together, fundraised together, and it only made sense to finish together.
After a quick bite, we hopped on the traino for a ride back to Saratoga and another 3 mile slog home. As my odometer crossed 100 for the day for the fist time, I pumped my fists and celebrated the moment with my teammate.
Team JD, at the Start. Notice, I'm half clipped in 30 minutes before we were supposed to head out. Photo by Berend.
In June 2009, I will be riding my second Tour de Cure to help fight diabetes. It is a wonderful event put on by the American Diabetes Association to raise funds for a cure.
If you have a few dollars to spare, please consider sponsoring me. It's for a very good cause.
I will be riding the 70k route again this year which works out to just over 40 miles.
Thanks to the generous support of my friends and family, I've already raised $300 for the cause.
If you'd like to support me, or to learn more information, please visit my Tour de Cure Page.
Top Ten Reasons to Fight Diabetes • Diabetes is a chronic disease and has no cure. • Over 10% of American adults have diabetes. • Diabetes is the seventh-leading cause of death by disease in the U.S. • Each year, more than 80,000 people with diabetes undergo amputations. • Diabetes can cause other serious health problems including stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure. • The incidence of diabetes has increased by 61 percent since 1990 and continues to rise at an alarming rate. • Approximately 23.6 million Americans have diabetes • An additional 57 million people have pre-diabetes, putting them at great risk for developing type 2 diabetes. • One out of every three Americans born today will eventually develop diabetes if present trends continue. • More than $1 in every $10 spent on health care services in the U.S. is attributable to diabetes. This translates to more than $132 billion direct and indirect healthcare costs (2002 statistics).
Google maps finally lets you walk it out. They have added a new "walking" feature to Google maps.
One step further would be to allow cycling directions. That' what Bikely aims to do. I submitted a feature request to the Google team over a year ago for that. We'll see if they have "bike it out" feature in the works.
Yesterday Jodi and I, Team JD, completed the LIVESTRONG San Jose Challenge 65 mile course. It was a fantastic day. Special thanks to all those who contributed to the cause! I'd also like to send a shout out to all the fantastic volunteers who made this event possible.
It was an awesome experience I will never forget.
The highlight, or should I say lowlight, of the day was definitely the climb up Metcalf road, in San Jose. I can't explain just how steep this hill really is. Here are some photos but they don't do it justice:
On today's bike outing to the local loop, I crossed 3000 miles on my beloved Bianchi Axis. It was fitting to cross the 3k mark in front of a local landmark, known simply as "The Dish."
I also crossed off another goal, 100 miles per week. So, two milestones down. Let's see what the next 1k has in store.
On Saturday I completed the 2008 Giro di Peninsula. I chose the 35k (22 miles) route which took us up to Crystal Springs Resevoir. After the ride, we had a pasta lunch and then rode 25 miles home from San Mateo to Mountain View along Alameda de Las Pulgas. All told, the ride clocked in at just under 50 miles.
After the ride, we went to Village Pub to celebrate.
I did the same ride last year, check out that shot:
This week, EcoWorldly authors from six continents contributed articles on bicycling in their country. With exerpts from those articles and others in the blogosphere, here are seventeen very good reasons to bicycle no matter where you live. Click the headings as you go to read more.
Thanks to all my friends and family who have generously donated to the American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure. The ride is tomorrow morning and I'm happy to report that we've raised over $500 this week to help find a cure for Diabetes!
Today, we did a training ride of just over 10 miles to get prepped. My legs feel good and ready to tackle Alpine Road tomorrow on the climb.
I'll put up a photo of my ride as soon as I get it.
There is still time to donate! If you would be so kind, please follow this link to my Tour de Cure Page. Your donation will go directly to the ADA and will help find a cure to this deadly disease.
You may continue to make contributions up to one month after the ride.
