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OK, I've Been Busy and Neglecting Y'all......
So I'm Gonna Clue You in on One of the Big Secrets of Life here.

I received a complaint last night. One of the few readers I have here chastised me for being lazy and ignoring this place for the last 2 weeks.

So, here I am and I don't have shit to tell ya. Except I spent a shitload of money ordering parts and such for the BigBluePlasticMotorcycle today.

It's getting close to tire time again so I ordered a set of new Dunlop D205's today from Motorcycle Accessory Warehouse. The Connie has a weird tire and wheel configuration. 18 inch front and 16 inch rear. So that really limits the selections of tires available to pick from. You can see it in the picture here. Sorta.












The Dunlops give you good traction and grip, but not a whole lot of mileage. Hey, life's full of trade offs and I'll pick traction every time in a choice like that.
Now this means I have to spend a bit more money every year too, but that's ok. I didn't plan on buying tires so soon, but I've been riding the shit out of this thing lately and piling the miles up so that's just the price of enjoying life.

Connie gets about 40-45 miles per gallon when I drive in a reasonable manner, which I do most of the time. Yep, I've saved a shitpot full of money riding her so much. Damn good thing I saved all that money so I have enough to buy tires with.

BIG MOTORCYCLE SECRET AS PROMISED - Don't buy a motorcycle thinking you're going to save a bunch of money on gas. It just doesn't work that way. Yes, you will save money over what it costs to drive most full size cars or trucks. But if you like to ride, you'll rack up twice the mileage on the bike and negate any savings you may have gotten with the good fuel mileage savings. It's a great trade off for the most part and I, fer sure, ain't complaining.

HERE'S THE SECRET, BOYS AND GIRLS!!!! Saving money is the RATIONALIZATION you use when telling your Wife, Husband, Girlfriend, Boyfriend, Significant Other, Loving Gerbil, Etc, that you want to buy a motorcycle! That's your selling point to close the deal.

It really should be easy now with $3.00 a gallon gasoline. Hell, if you've been wanting a bike and that's what it takes to convince yourself? Go for it!

You're welcome. Feel free to express your thanks in cash donations.

Seriously, like any hobby worth a shit, it costs money to be a motorcycle rider. Just the way it is. I'm NOT saying you have to be a jerk and buy a $30,000 bike and get every expensive piece of gear and accessory you can find. But things like good helmets and gear aren't cheap and you need a certain amount of that shit to get by. Like the tires I bought awhile earlier. Just part of the cost of having fun. So plan accordingly.

Call Geico for your insurance - But don't get in an accident. I saved a bloody fortune on my insurance by switching to Geico. I also know that if I have a claim that little Bastard Lizard will not be there to back me up like my local insurance agent would be. Another trade off. I also do not carry full coverage as my bikes are paid for and not that damn expensive. I'd probably feel different about this if I were riding one of these -





But I ain't. So I will continue as I have, be careful and hope for the best. Which I suppose is all we can do in this world anyway.

Besides tires, I bought a bunch of other shit for the Connie today. As I've decided to keep the old girl for another year or so, I thought it prudent to put some needed maintenance money into her along with a couple of personal comfort items. This is gonna help me and her both.

I need to find a good mechanic to help me replace the steering head bearings and do a couple of other things I'm not able to do before September. I'm planning on a good long trip and will want everything up to speed before then.

Ok, that's it for today. Discuss.

Evan Schladow from the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza wrote a nice piece on the Tahoe Rim Trail 100m, plus a great pic! I'm sure I will look much worse in the actual race. ;-) Click here to read the full story.

It was great to see many of you at the pre-race meeting today - get some rest, and I'll see you on the trail!

- SD

Ultramarathon represents ultimate endurance test

Event features 50K, 50M and 100M races along The Tahoe Rim Trail

Evan Schladow
bonanza intern
July 20, 2007

Think running a marathon sounds like hard work? Try running four.

Competitors in the annual Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Runs, which start Saturday, do just that. The ultramarathon event features three separate races at 50 kilometers, 50 miles and 100 miles along the Tahoe Rim Trail.

The trails start and end at Stonehenge in the Spooner Lake State Park and climb thousands of feet to top out at 9,000 feet near Snow Valley Peak, 2,000 feet above the starting point.

This hasn't deterred the runners, though. Now in its seventh year and only the second year for the 100-mile race, the event's Web site shows that it has filled to capacity, with more than 400 runners participating.

The Tahoe Rim Trail Run is this year's national championship in the 100-mile trail event for both major track and field officiating bodies, the USATF and the RRCA. Runners participating in the event come from 31 states and 6 countries and are vying for a shot at beating the 20 hour, 18 minute trail record.

If the idea of running an ultramarathon sounds crazy, well, even some competitors have their doubts.

"Even a year ago I would have said it's not a good idea to run 100 miles. It's insane," said trail runner and Incline Village resident Scott Dunlap, who will be attempting his first 100-mile race this Saturday. "It just kind of ropes you in."

According to Dunlap, the trail ultramarathon started in 1974 when Gordy Ainsleigh, a competitor in the Western States Trail Ride, a 100-mile, 24-hour equestrian event, had his horse go lame shortly before the race. Instead of finding another horse, Ainsleigh strapped the saddlebags to his own back and ran to the finish line on foot within the 24-hour limit. While it remained a fringe sport for many years, the ultramarathon has recently gained recognition as a result of popular books on the topic and increased interest in running and fitness.

"So many people are doing marathons these days, some want to move beyond," Dunlap said. "An ultramarathon sounds really hard to do, but if you think a marathon sounds achievable, an ultramarathon is not that much more of a stretch."

Training for an event like the 100-mile run begins months before, running longer distances at a slower pace to build up endurance. Closer to the race, runners like Dunlap will cut down their mileage, concentrating more on acclimatizing to altitude and staying healthy. During and after the race, hydration and calorie intake are the keys to success and safety, as so many hours of running significantly boosts the runner's metabolism.

While Dunlap hopes for a fast time, he said competition is only a minor part of the event itself. Hikers are welcome participants, provided they can reach the finish line within the 35-hour time limit.

At the Tahoe Rim Trail Run, a significant proportion of runners will be first-timers, with runners ranging from ages 21 to 75. Ultimately, the competition is less against fellow runners than against the terrain and oneself. The saying among ultrarunners is, "You run the first 50 miles with your legs, you run the second 50 miles with your mind."

The Tahoe Rim Trail 50K/50M/100M Endurance Runs will take place on July 21, starting at Stonehenge in the Spooner Lake State Park. The 50k and 50m begin at 6 a.m.; the 100m begins at 5 a.m. Visit the event's Web site, www.tahoemtnmilers.org/trt50/ for more details.

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of joining 2,800 cycling enthusiasts for the 27th anniversary of The Death Ride in Markleeville, CA. This "Tour of the California Alps" climbs over 15,000 feet as you work your way over five passes on the 129-mile course. The epic views, wonderful people, and white-knuckle descents made for a fantastic day, and I certainly hope to come back again.

It probably seems a little crazy to be doing a 129-mile ride just a week before the Tahoe Rim Trail 100-mile run, but I thought it would be good to spend a day exercising in the high desert to acclimatize, gauge my hydration, check the sunscreen strategy, etc. Plus I'm not ashamed to admit what drew me to the event years ago - the killer shwag! Emblazoned with Grateful Dead-like skeletons on bikes, I have been craving one of these jerseys for years. But you can't sport the threads if you haven't done the ride, no? I wasn't too worried that this would risk my first 100-mile run next week since The Death Ride gives plenty of chances to opt out at 2, 3, or 4 passes if you don't feel like going the distance. Plus the self-pacing nature of a "ride" meant there was no need to push your VO2Max to catch the guy in front of you. I figured I would take it easy, enjoy the day, and let my body dictate the distance.

I quickly found out I wasn't the only one crazy enough to try the Death Ride/TRT100 double, as Mark Gilligan pulled up beside me in the first mile out of Turtle Rock Park. Mark and two of his ultrarunning training partners, Jasper Helekas (TRT100 defending champion) and Rob Evans, were up in Tahoe to acclimate for the TRT100. Much like me, Mark was thrilled to find he had won a lottery entry to The Death Ride and couldn't pass it up despite the taunting from his pals. We both found comfort in knowing that riding with each other meant we wouldn't be tempted to go too hard.


We rode a few miles down the chilly river corridor and then started the first climb up Monitor Pass around 6:30am. The morning sun came to great us about half way up, quickly warming the still mountain range to 70 degrees. We grabbed some fig newtons at the first aid station and shed a few layers of clothes. I enjoyed chatting with Mark as we climbed - much like ultras, you can really get to know someone over a few hours! Mark has been getting very fast in his ultras the last few years, and I was shocked to learn his secret - he has lost nearly 50 lbs in the last four years! Amazing.


We crested the first peak (mile 15), where a raging party was already taking place at aid station #2. Each rider got a sticker to prove they got to the top (collect all five!). The majority of cyclists at this event seem to fit the "enthusiast" category - regular riders who put in their weekly miles, but not quite the shave your legs/monster quads variety (although some of those folks were here too). I had learned from riders on the first climb that most were hoping to finish all five peaks to get the coveted "five peaks pin" at the top of the last hill. All this for a pin? I guess it's not much crazier than "all this for a belt buckle". ;-)


The descent on the back side of Monitor was WICKED fast. Mark is a phenomenal descender, and my speedometer hit 51 mph as I followed his lead down the winding road. Whew! Normally I don't get anywhere close to these speeds, but the road was smooth and the first four passes were blocked from traffic. Some folks took it slow, and they had plenty of room. By the time we hit the bottom, my body was pumped with enough adrenaline to sprint right back to the top! One thing for sure, any psychological impact from witnessing Debby's accident was no longer affecting my confidence on the bike. I bet she would be happy about that.


Mark and I stopped at aid station #3 at the bottom of the hill to refill the water bottles. The aid station volunteers were amazing at processing hundreds of us, and we back on the road in no time. We noted that there were at least 1,000 riders in front of us - this is an early rising crew!


The climb back up affirmed that our descent had been long and steep. The canyon walls shot up on either side, providing little relief from the sun. Mark was eager to put his adrenaline to work, and snaked his way through the pack, dancing on his pedals. I held back to chat with some of the other cyclists. Many were doing this ride for the first time (many had attended the cleverly-named training camp, The Near Death Experience), but I also met one guy doing his 21st! There were mountain bikes, tandems, even a bike/scooter hybrid. About half way up, we saw the last rider coming down - a 13-year-old having no trouble at all with the descent.


Road kill can tell you a lot about the country you are in, and this ride was no exception. Rattlesnakes, horny toads, ground squirrels the size of small kangaroos - this was the high desert for sure! Most of the wildlife was already retreating into the shade, as the temperature was bordering a very dry 90 degrees. I noticed I was easily drinking 50 oz/hour, even at a moderate pace. My Sugoi Impact jersey and shorts (which Christi calls the "super hero suit") were doing a great job of keeping me cool.


I crested Monitor Pass for the second time (35 miles) and pulled into the party aid station for some breakfast. Bagels with peanut butter hit the spot, as did taking a seat to stretch out. The self-pacing nature of these rides are great!

Topped up on food, water, and sunscreen, I took another fast descent (47 mph!) and hooked up with five riders who had a good pace going to the base of Ebbetts Pass, our next towering challenge. Since I do a lot of solo riding, I often forget how much easier it is to ride in a pack. This group had matching outfits (complete with "assvertising" of their company on their bike shorts) and clearly trained together. I wasn't sure about the protocol, so I asked if I could join in and warned them I'm a bit of a rookie at group riding. He summed it up in two breaths - "Stay on the wheel in front of you, 'cause that wheel is your lifeline. Always be behind, don't let your wheel get parallel. When you find yourself at the front, go a little harder for as long as you can, and the guy behind you will naturally pull in front as you slow." That's it? I think I can handle that! With little effort, our mini-peleton made mincemeat of the next six miles, picking up additional riders along the way. We approached the next aid station and I said my thanks as they continued their speedy pace.


Mark was at the aid station, and after we both had some Coke and snacks, we tackled the 8-12 degree inclines of Ebbetts Pass. There was definitely a lot of out-of-the-saddle work here, particularly on a few switchbacks that reduced some riders to walking. Those wise enough to bring bikes with triple rings on the front pedaled softly on the right, while those of us pushing bigger gears rode up on the left. Riders were already descending down, meaning a few folks were already done with four peaks! I felt completely dried out despite my aggressive water intake, and my nose started to bleed as it cracked from the inside. Another rider gave me a great tip - squirt water on your fingertips and occasionally snort a few drops to stay lubed. I'm learning so much on this ride!


The last hike to the peak of Ebbetts was the steepest, eliciting groans all around. Mark had made it up fast enough to take a quick break in the shade, and got back on his bike as he saw me go through. We hit the top (mile 55) to find another lively aid station, but I knew the bottom was only 20 minutes away. We plunged down the backside of Ebbetts (37 mph), being cautious of the cracked and bumpy roads that were hard to read in the shadows.

At the bottom, I dismounted to have a Coke (and a smile) and sit in the shade just outside the aid station. I laid out my jacket and rested my back, and before I knew it, I was asleep! When I awoke a few minutes later, a cyclist next to me said "no problem, I'll be your snooze alarm...just tell me how long you want to rest". Ha! Mark and I talked with the group and found all kinds of tips and tricks people used to make it through the day - jumping in hotel swimming pools, taking a shower before the last pass, massages that were available at some of the aid stations, planned naps, etc. Mark and I jealously dreamed of shower stalls at mile 75 of the TRT100...


As we remounted to make climb #4, Mark and I began assessing our fatigue. This climb definitely felt like work, and we each had a few nagging chafe spots. Mark wanted to be cautious and said he was "going easy and only doing four passes". Mark, that's an 80-mile ride with 13,000 feet of vertical...I wouldn't call that going easy! I figured I would get up and over Ebbetts one more time and see how I felt. But so far, I was hanging in there.

Mark chuckled to himself when he saw the "1km to the top" chalked into the road. In an ultra, that means another 10 minutes, but on a bike, it means right around the corner! We paced with some riders from Davis, CA, Seattle, WA, Las Vegas, NV, and Manchester, England, then wished them well as we descended down the other side. We knew to hold back on the speed a bit (36 mph), since this road twisted quite a bit more.


The aid station at the bottom of Ebbetts (mile 80) had transformed into a small city to feed all the cyclists a full lunch. It was 1:30pm, so Mark and I stopped for sandwiches, chips, and soft drinks in the shade. But the heat was too much for a long stay (my bike gauge read 92 degrees), so we quickly mounted up and headed back to Turtle Rock Park. Mark was still going strong - I have no doubt he could have done five passes - but decided to call it quits to save up for next weekend. I dropped my gear off at my car and did the quick self-assessment. I was tired, but I still felt good. The only issue I had was a creeping sunburn that somehow defied the half gallon of SPF 45 I had been applying all day. Then another cyclist told me what awaits at the top of Carson Pass - ice cream! OMG, that's all I needed to hear. I grabbed some bandanas out of the car to cover my neck and ears (high dork factor, but it sure works!), and waited for a group of riders to come by that I could join. A pack picked me up shortly, and I was on my way!


One of the first challenges you notice about tackling the fifth peak at Carson Pass is that you have to get there first! It was 3:30pm, and the winds were picking up. If you weren't with a group, even the downhills felt like work. I hit one last aid station before the climb (complete with near-shower at the hose), and found challenge #2 - the only traffic on the course. It wasn't too bad though - most of the cars slowed to 35 mph, and yelled out support. I loved that they called us "Death Riders" - I felt like I was in a motorcycle gang. Death Riders, saddle up!


The higher we got on Carson Pass, the more the wind picked up. It was clear this wasn't going to come easy for anyone. Perhaps Mark had it right! I stopped at the aid station half way to the top, and slammed a Coke in one pull. It looks like my nutrition crutch in the same in ultra runs and rides!

As the caffeine and sugar mainlined into me, I felt like going hard to get through the wind ASAP. Despite the climbs so far, I had stayed cautiously around 60-70% of my max heart rate. I thought it might be a good simulation for next week to take a couple of hard pulls on tired legs and see how my body responded. With one last mouthful of Jelly Belly's, I kicked it up a gear.

As I passed a large group of 15 riders about 6 miles from the top, the headwind really picked up. It was tough, but I liked the fact that it cooled us down. The lead rider in the group asked if he could "get on my wheel", and I said "absolutely". I think it's the same amount of work for me either way, no? As if a telegraph had been sent down the line of cyclists, they all immediately got out of the saddle and surged to my speed. How cool!

About five minutes in, one rider came up and gave me a minute of relief so I could chug some water. Then he said "Mayday! Mayday! I'm going down!", and I pulled up in front of him again. I looked back and the snake of riders had grown! It really did look like a snake too - if I went left, they all went left. I wish I could have taken a video! I tucked in and pushed for another two minutes, and the guy behind me said "I'm sorry, I'm doing everything I can just to stay on your wheel...but your form is great!". I hollered back "no worries...I've been riding somebody's wheel all day, and that's the reason I have fuel left". Team spirit was alive and well on Carson Pass.


I tackled the wind best I could. The guys behind me promised me beer, ice cream, high fives - anything to keep the tempo going. When I finally redlined about a mile from the top, I slowed and pulled to the back of the pack. Everyone was super-nice as they went by, patting me on the shoulders and saying "awesome pull". I tagged on to the back of the pack and sucked that wheel until we reached the top.


There indeed was ice cream at the top of Carson Pass (mile 102), as well as seats in the shade, food, and a bunch of volunteers handing out the "five pass pin" to the smiling faces coming up the road. One volunteer asked I wanted a quick inspection of my bike, and I said sure. He pumped up my tires, taped down a wire that was loose, wiped down the bike and handed it back. Wow! Two Heath bars later, I mounted up to make the last descent.

Right away I noticed that my wheels were spinning much faster with the tire pressure up. Even without streamlining, my speedometer was in the mid 40's. Before too long, the five guy team I met earlier came by and one yelled "come with us!". I pulled in behind them and their drafting sucked me in like a tornado. The speedometer jacked up...45mph, 50mph, 55mph, 58mph! Yet behind this group, I could barely feel the wind at all. After a couple of minutes, I accidentally braked too much in a corner and they got about 10 yards ahead. I quickly learned that was the end of that - no way I could catch up. I now have a new respect for those Tour de France riders who get dropped from a peleton and somehow make their way back. It's nothing short of impossible!

At the bottom of the hill, I picked up another pack and we rode the 4 miles back to Turtle Creek Park. I got some food, signed my name on the big "five pass" poster, and listened to fellow cyclists talk about their journeys. It took me 11 hours, but I didn't feel exhausted. There's no doubt that's because I had so much help along the way, lots of water, and plenty of rest at the aid stations. Cycling doesn't have to be a team sport, but it's amazing what you can do if you ride as a team.


I bought my "five pass finisher" jersey (Yeah! It was all about the shwag, after all), and headed back to Lake Tahoe into the sunset. I'm glad I fit in this ride and had a chance to see the gorgeous country out here. I think the time in the sun, dry air, and altitude will also be helpful in gauging next week. My thanks to all the organizers and volunteers who made this ride so much fun!

- SD

Seattle runners Scott Jurek and Krissy Moehl both set course records at the 2007 Hardrock 100 this year, joining 97 others (72%, also a record) in finishing the grueling 33,000 of climbing near Silverton, CO. Jurek's 26:08 bested the previous course record by 27 minutes, while Moehl's 29:24 took 30 minutes off the previous record. More here at the Durango News, and full results here.