This year’s DMD was back to the old classic route, and just like last year, there is a lowland and a highland route. The highland did all the same climbs as the original, but started in San Jose instead. This meant climbing Sierra first (instead of at mile 150), and back side of Hamilton being the last significant climb. However, I did the lowland route, which was lower in elevation but it was still 17,600 ft climbing! So the climbs in order were Sierra, Palomares, Norris Cyn, Morgan Territory, Patterson Pass, Mines Rd, then Hamilton. That’s still a tall order, and lots of climbing, not for the faint hearted.
I started at 3 am, along with a handful of other hearty, eager DC riders (including Peggy going for DC 100, and Stefan going for DC 50), and the most awesome support crew! They help fill bottles, park our bikes, offer food, food, and more food, and treat every rest stop like a party!
The temps were ok, in the high 40s, but we would start climbing Sierra in a couple of blocks (less than a mile). Nice warmup, eh? First time I attempted DMD, I DNF’d mid-way up Sierra, but since we are doing this with fresh legs, that shouldn’t be an issue. I looked at my Garmin, which was on the climb segment screen, and I didn’t need to know my progress there. So I switched back to the main screen, and much to my horror, distance showed 0. I paid careful attention to load the route onto my Garmin, I forgot to start the timer. I even took this picture before I realized my error.
As far as I can tell, I turned it on after 2.6 miles, 1270 ft climbing. At least it was too dark to see anything, so I couldn’t tell how much further I needed to go, and then I was at the top. However, the descent was not only dark, but it was foggy (or we were up in the clouds), so I had to put away my glasses, so I can see the road. Of course, since it was dark, and fog lowered my visibility, speed coming down the hill was much slower than usual. I caught up with my good friend, and totally super awesome DC rider, Peggy, who is doing her 100th DC. We took it easy descending into the first rest stop. We got there ~ 5:30 am, but there was no one there. At least there were two ports potties, so we could take advantage of that. Later on, we found out because a stretch of S I-680 was closed, they couldn’t set up in time. I guess if we started an hour later, we wouldn’t have had this problem, but there was no way I could finish this by midnight starting at 4 am. At this point, we caught up with Memo, and from here on out, I would ride with Memo the entire ride.
Throughout the entire ride, we had many instances where the road narrowed down to one lane, and a controlled traffic light. We approached Niles Canyon ~ 4:30 am, and we made an executive decision to run the red light … there will be no one here at 4:30 am … oops … there was. But at least we had shoulder room to get to one side.
Next climb is Palomares. This is not too bad, with no crazy pitches. On the old classic route, this is climbed mostly in the dark, and it could be quite spooky. Later on, another climb, that is vastly different in daylight, as opposed to night, is Norris Canyon. That is the last climb, and there are some steep pitches there, and that could be utterly cruel near the end of a double.
Our first rest stop, was actually the second on the ride, which was at Blackhawk, just before the lowland and highland split up. Dzung was saying we got to the first rest stop too early, because we started too early, as we were fast. No, I don’t think so. I’m definitely not in the fast category.
We caught up with Tushar, who is doing his first DMD. From here, Memo, Tushar, and I rode together for the rest of the ride. It’s great to ride a double with company. Our route was a flatter option, bypassing Mt. Diablo completely. We skirted our way through Danville, then rode on Iron Horse Trail until we go to Ynacio Valley Rd, where the two routes joined together. The next stop is “planned” for Clayton, but the location where it was supposed to be was being used for a street faire of some sort. We got to Clayton, but no rest stop anywhere. I then spotted Jeff Orum, and he mentioned everyone was surprised by that, and the crew is looking for a new location for the rest stop. In all my doubles, I never encountered something like this. This is definitely one to remember … where’s the rest stop? Keep going, it’ll be there.
The rest stop was re-located about a mile from the original plan, so it wasn’t too bad. One Cycling always has a great rest stop, and this certainly did not disappoint. They had nice helping of Adobo Chicken … mmm … but I needed to make sure I didn’t get too full, as I still had to climb Morgan Territory. As I was ready to leave, they kept asking me if I wanted Chicken Adobo … as much as I wanted it, I had to say no.
Next up is Morgan Territory, full of false flats, and as usual, climbs got steeper, the closer we got to the top. As I passed the Morgan Territory Regional Park, I was so tempted to make a left turn into the parking lot, as that was the stop that the Quackcyclists always had, after climbing Morgan Territory. However, I passed right on through, and descended “the plunge”.
Once I got down to the bottom, it was a series of left and right turns, all flat, but with a little bit of headwind … in other words, time trail mode, and then lunch. Nice little stop for sandwiches, and thankfully not a big one either … especially having to deal with these climbs. They certainly took care of us riders, and thankfully, the stop at Jimmy John’s Sandwiches, allowed us to sit in their shop, indoors, so no lack of seats to find.
Ok, next up, Altamont Pass (where we can pick up some speed, since a good portion of it is tailwinds, and modest descent). I made sure I didn’t go at my normal time trial breakneck speed here … I mean it is DMD. After getting to Midway, it’s the climb up Patterson Pass from the power station. When I first attempted DMD, it was extremely windy when we got to the “OMG Hill”, but by the time we got here, it wasn’t too bad. However, I did hear that later in the day, the winds really picked up, so it looks like we lucked out, coming at around 3:30 pm.
According to Strava, the OMG segment is only 0.84 miles, and an average of 7% … but if you throw in heavy head winds, that just makes for a grueling, grunt of a climb.
Mines Road is the next stop, manned by Pokus. This was a great rest stop, again, with Adobo Chicken, and oh so good.
Mines Road is next, and what seemed to be an endless series of hills. I’ll remember this road, as this was when my dear friend, and XDV loved Ellen Le, was killed two years ago, on a club ride. I haven’t ridden Mines Road since then … as it turned out, on our group ride that day, I was the closest to her (about 5 min apart). Memo and I were looking with anticipation of seeing the ghost bike, and it was amazing. We could see it clearly from a distance, and in my mind, the most beautiful ghost bike I have ever seen.
We spent a few minutes just pondering here, then went on towards the next rest stop, at the Junction. This was a quick water stop, before heading up towards Mt. Hamilton. There would be one more stop, and that would be at the Isabel Bridge, just before the 5.5 mile climb (the steepest part of Mt. Hamilton). I was looking forward to this, but then I get not 1, not 2, but 3 traffic lights for traffic control due to the road going to a single lane. Each one of those lights involved a climb. Sheesh! And right before the rest stop, a punchy climb. I forgot all about that.
After a re-fuel, time to get this thing done, and the hardest 5.5 miles of the ride. Backside of Hamilton is tough, especially after having climbed 15,000 ft! The good thing … if there was such a thing, is that it’s dark, so I didn’t have to see how steep the climb is coming up. However I’ve done this a number of times, so I’m used to this.
Got up to the top, a little after 10:15 pm, so I feel pretty good about hitting my target of midnight. With it being so dark, I descended at a very conservative safe speed. Even with this, I hear a big pop… no not a flat, but a broken spoke. My wheel was wobbly, but still rideable. I’m lucky this didn’t derail my ride, but not in not sure if I can make it by midnight … if I don’t make it by midnight, I might miss out on food, entertainment, and cameraderie with fellow DC riders. However my ride was a bit more stable than I thought it would be, so I made it down to Alum Rock with 15 minutes to spare.
I then caught up to Peggy and Jeff. Wow, I’ll be able to finish this on Peggy’s 100th double. I did the same thing with Steve Meichtry for his 100th. It’s such an honor that I ride with Peggy at the beginning and the end of this ride.
We got to the finish at 11:57 pm … write talk about cutting it close. And we are greeted by Kayla and her band of dancers and singers, to greet us. How amazing is that? And there’s still food left. How sweet this is. This is the happiest moment of the entire ride. I am all smiles.
This was probably the hardest double century I have ever done (even harder than last year). I feel so accomplished, and hearing all the accolades from riders I look Up to, it is so gratifying.
Thanks to all the amazing volunteers, entertainers, and a special thanks to Memo and Tushar for hanging with me for the whole ride. Big congrats to Peggy for her 100th double. I am so proud of you, and so in awe.
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