As the 6 rider group crested the summited, I lingered at the back. The roads continued to roll till I was dropped on a steeper climb just before reaching the first aid station (mile 30). Luckily the group lingered at the station long enough for me to catch back on. We then flew through portions of the Wildflower Triathlon Long Course before we entered Fort Hunter Liggett. While I didn’t recall any of the roads we traversed, my experience inspecting the base’s pavement in 1987 during my college co-op during 115-degree summer heat is unforgettable.
At mile 65, the group pulled away again, leaving me to solo up the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road climb (to elevation 2600). The ocean view from the top was breathtaking. As I descended the narrow, unmarked centerline road there were an increasing number of cars, motorcycles, and RVs (taking up the entire road) preventing a Padavanian (Chris P – owner of Eden Bicycles who was showing up the Rabobank guys descending Lake Tahoe in the ToC prep pre-snow ride) descent. As I neared the bottom, I spotted three groups of two riders just being the climb out from the coast. I had not realized that the reroute of the ride (due to the same Highway 1 landslide that prevented the Tour of California from riding the central coast) would take us out to the coast and then immediately back up the same climb we just descended. At the bottom, one of the Hoodoo 500 kitted riders (who had dropped us on the first climb) was carrying his front wheel. He had blown out his carbon wheel by overheating it on the descent. I was thankful that my rims were holding.
The climb back up was slow and steady reaching 10 and 12-percent grades. I was beginning to get into a groove and just kept it steady. Once over the climb, there were less switch backs and vehicles allowing me to open up the descent. After a quick lunch, I was back to my solo effort. Inland now, the 40-degree coast was long gone and the temperature reached 75. At least the weather was great! After another long climb in barren country, I descended back to Locke and the second to last rest stop (Mile 142) to discover three of the early morning riders were about to leave. Hurriedly I restocked Hammer Perpetuem Latte and Heed in my bottles and was off, glad to be riding in a group again after 85 solo.
We traversed back through Interlake Road (Wildflower Course) and climbed more before descending Nasty Grade and heading towards highway 101. I could keep with my new friends on the long ascents but had trouble hanging on with the short steep power efforts. After one last climb up Hare Canyon, we came to the last stop (they were serving hot dogs…I did not partake!). We took turns pulling our way south into a stiff headwind. Finally a “Paso Robles – 5 Miles” sign lifted our sprints and we entered the City full of gratitude and praise for our mutual achievements.
Central Coast Double
207 miles
14,600 feet vertical climbing
Weather 41 to 75, partly cloudy and breezy
Ride time 12:48; Total elapsed time 13:20
Ave speed 16.2 mph
Ave power 162 Watts
Ave heart rate 137 bpm
Teammates: None
Finish: Tied for 6th with three others
Postscript:
While I “left my climbing legs at home,” I did enjoy the ride, the weather, the camaraderie, the great staff and volunteers, and the ability to persevere .
Thanks to my support team…Kim, Noah, and family; Eden Bicycle Shop (Chris P and Kevin) for a great setup; great group rides and support from Eden Bicycle Club and IC3; Dr. Lauren Elkind and Dr. Nancy at Integro Sports in Walnut Creek, and Tyrone Williams at HST for massage…I needed and thought of each of you during the ride.
