Central Coast Double 2014 ‘Born Again’

[Carl Sanders]

 The Calling – With a third place finish at the CA Triple Crown Double Stage Race last year, the pressure was on from fellow SRCC members for another Club podium at this year’s prestigious test of cycling endurance.

 

Immersion – My training under way, with each goal and objective set down on paper, I set out to see what I had in me for the race season ahead. Out the gate at the Solvang Double a couple of months back, I tested a field of seasoned ultra-distanced riders. Despite near perfect conditions and a personal best double finish time of 9:23, thanks in part to a screaming tailwind for the last miles 90 miles, I rolled across the finish in a somewhat disappointing third place. Then, a another frustrating fifth place finish at the Devil Mountain Double a few weeks later, due to in part to nagging back pain which drained my power climbing when I needed it most on the steepest sections of Mt. Hamilton and then Sierra Rd., had me a bit concerned about my Stage Race prospects.

 

Still hungry for one more test of meddle at the SRCC Fearsome Five last weekend, I found one last opportunity to get in another 15k of climbing over 125 miles of Sonoma County peaks and by-ways among SRCC finest endurance riders. I was now ready to begin my Stage Race undertaking.

 

Separation – Stage One, Central Coast Double. At the 5:40 AM gun, the front group of six riders, led by the seemingly unbeatable Joel Southern, hammered up the first climb. Not paying full attention at that early hour and almost missing that first hard left, as well as not being quite warmed up to charge, I immediately fell off the back and ended up with Max M.and Robert C., plodding our way up the ridge at sunrise through the idyllic pastoral landscape of vineyards and past quaint equestrian barns. Very beautiful.

 

Descent – The CCD route runs clockwise, out from Paso Robles on HWY 101, over the coast range, north on HWY 1, then back inland and south to the start. The forecast was for strong northwesterly spring winds to blow along the coast. I did not want to go solo or hang with a small group grinding it out against this torment. It was important that I catch the lead group of riders and be part of their pace line, attempting to buck the powerful headwinds during the 20+ mile grind north along the exposed coastline.

 

Dropping Robert and then Max at the top of the ridge, I put my cross-country skills and north coast mountain road experience to the test on this steep, bumpy, narrow descent. Oh yeah! Too much fun! One after another, I easily caught the more hesitant riders and was able to fully re-group with the leaders by the bottom for the long slog north into the driving winds along HWY 1.

 

Birth – After a steady pace line up HWY1, we were now down to five riders at the base of the Nacimiento Rd. climb after an unknown mechanical took one guy down. Joel, myself and Rod skipped a tempting Aid Station, and turned instead immediately right off HWY 1, then geared down for the long climb that loomed ahead. Rod called it when he said that ‘if we don’t get passed, this is the podium’.

 

Described as one of the ‘Top Ten Road Climbs in the Country’, the Nacimiento Rd., which means birth in Spanish, is cut into an impossibly steep cliff face that rises directly out of the Pacific Ocean and ascends along winding, narrow escarpments to the wooded ridge 7 miles above. Phenomenal country.

 

Early in this climb Rod and Joel pulled slowly away as I settled into a pace that I could sustain, methodically alternating out-of-saddle and seated efforts to mix up the muscle groups put to work on this relentless grind back inland. During this ascension, I have a revelation: I would much rather climb any steep pitch for any length of time than buck punishing headwinds. I seem to actually revel in the discomfort unique to climbing long grades, but am easily defeated by winds that tear apart my attempt at forward progress. I feel revived and renewed at the summit, born again, where I learn from Race Volunteers that Joel and Rod had gained a quarter mile on me. So be it.  

 

Mariah – As the afternoon progressed, the winds from the north picked up speed and force, delivering a relentless, soul-shattering blow to each of us struggling to pedal through this invisible head wall. Punched into submission, tucked behind Rod, who I had caught at the mile 110 Aid Stop, I began to flail, struggling as he and I traded short agonizing pulls. Ready to give in at one point by the soul-crushing winds, I thankfully found the grit needed to push on, but had to let Rod slowly pull away again. Damn.

 

South Bound – Nearly ripped apart from the Mariah that forced us backward and pushed against our failing forward momentum, the dark forces finally turned in our favor as we began our southward journey as the winds clocked around from behind.

 

With tailwinds causing the mighty oaks to sway along the roadside and the numerous American flags to snap and crack straight from passing poles, my tempo likewise increased and my speed became unreal across the bumpy countryside. Over the empty gravely country roads, the hallow carbon Madone bike frame roared like some distant jet far beyond the horizon. I envisioned Yates breaking the speed barrier, the Blue Flame streaking across the desert, the Gemini capsule re-entering the atmosphere. It was all I could do to hang on, tired from the day’s exhausting efforts, the world whizzed by in a blur.  Nearly spun out on my compact double, my legs pedaled furiously as the tailwind propelled me at over 30 mph for the last fifteen mile stretch. 

 

Let’s Eat! – At a church near the finish we gathered to share stories of redemption and feast on lasagna, salad and cold sodas. Yum. Not the first time at the ‘winners table’, and certainly not my last supper with this bunch of cycling apostles, I was glad to be out of the howling torment, sharing tales of our collective adventures.

 

211 miles

16K in climbing

11:50 Finish time = 3^rd, four minutes behind Rod, 27 minutes away from Joel.

 

Heartbreak Double in So. Cal is up next this weekend.

 

Not much time to rest, reflect and recover.

 

 

 

 

[Ken Cabeen]

Nice write up, Carl. Great job on the ride, and best of luck to you in the Stage Race!