Knoxville Double Century

I managed to ride my third double century of the year this past Saturday. I am still sore from it now two days later.

I stayed in Vacaville at a Motel 6 with my brother Joe who rode the event as well. It was actually nice to be close to the start so we could get some extra sleep. If you can call it sleep. I think we both just tossed and turned. I know Joe woke me up for snoring at least once and another time I heard him do the same but fell back asleep without saying anything.

At 3:00AM we were up ate a quickie motelesque breakfast we purchased the night before. I downed mine with a coffee drink that I'd never tried before, my brother brewed some coffee. I should have done the same.

The ride started well and soon enough we hit the first mild slopes of Mt. George on the way to the first rest stop. Joe rode away from me pretty easily on the climbs and I expected he would. I'm built for descending anyway and had not ridden many hills since early July. To make matters worse my stomach was already playing fits and causing some serious intestinal issues. My guess is that coffee drink I'd never tried before may have been the culprit. After sunrise Joe was well ahead of me and I was riding alone when my stomach issues became too much to bare and I made a B-line for some bushes. As embarrassing as it was to do so it was much needed and did help. At the first rest stop Joe gave me some Pepto to calm things down and soon enough things were on their way back to normal.

From the first rest stop we headed toward Howell Mt and once again Joe was off the front. I told him to not worry about me as I wanted him to have a good ride and didn't want to hold him back. This was a good thing for me as I elected to take it easy until I knew my stomach was okay. I was still filling out of whack when we hit the early slopes of Howell Mt. but slowly things were getting worked out. I saw Joe for a quick bit at the third rest stop as he was leaving as I arrived. He was having a good ride which I was happy to see. At the stop I filled up and had some solid food before going on.

From this point the route spent over 20 miles on Knoxville Road. It's a gradual climb over rough pavement with a section at the very end with pitches of 10 to 12 percent grade. My stomach was back to normal and I was finally feeling better but the heat had set in and I found myself sucking down water and Gatorade at an alarming rate. I filled up about two thirds down Knoxville Road at an impromptu water stop created by a SAG driver and than managed to go through another bottle before an actual water stop at the top of Knoxville. Again I filled up and headed on. By the time I got to lunch I was again on empty.

Upon arrival at lunch I found Joe. I half expected him to be long gone but he wasn't. He was having some cramping pains as I did earlier. I think the heat was starting to take its toll on everyone including us. I ate a burrito and had some soda, filled up the bottles and together we headed out for the last long climb of the day up Siegler Canyon road to Loch Lomond and down Cobb Mt road to Middletown. Joe again road away so I simply plugged along. One rider that we left lunch with had taken off with Joe but by the time we reached the summit I had him in my sights and passed him on the descent to Middletown I found this reassuring. Again I found Joe at the next rest stop. I was surprised that he didn't kill me on time on this stretch. It turns out he had to get off and walk due to his cramping. Even with that I still couldn't catch him though.

After Middletown we headed toward lake Hennesy. It was a pretty flat section with only a couple of small climbs on Butts Canyon Road. Each ascent had a nice descent to make up for it though. Joe made it to Hennesy well before I did and picked up and installed his head lights well before I arrived. I got my gear together as fast as I could and filled up and left together only to watch him drift away yet again.

By the time I reached the last rest stop Joe had come and gone. I saw a riding pal who said he told him to tell me he just wanted to get it done which I understood. I was fine with Joe going on. I on the other hand was pretty wiped out. I needed a rest so I had a Coke and some soup before heading out into the dark for the last 13 miles to Vacaville.

Those last 13 miles seemed to take for ever. I'm sure it was a result of being a bit under trained and having some issues earlier in the ride that did me in but I got it done.

I've never been known for being fast or a great climber on a bike but I am determined and I think that makes up for those short comings on a double century. I know they did on this ride and for what its worth I'm happy with our results.