Northern California Bicycle Racing Community

Terrible Two 2012 'Shattered'

Riding solo over the steep and shadeless climbs of Skaggs, heading out toward the coast at mile 125, the Garmin displayed 106 degrees just after noon.

I had rode strong all the way over Trinity Grade, got into a brisk pace line with familiar SRCC and Grasshopper riders up the Silverado Trail. Held with the top ten into the Calistoga aid station. Cranked over the double summits of Geysers to the next aid at mile 84. Temps were climbing into the upper 90s by 10 AM. Doused the body with water attempting to keep the core cool. Hot wind down the bumpy descent on the backside of Geysers did not bode well for what lay ahead.

Rolling in with the the top five riders into Lake Sonoma at mile 110, I again soaked the body with cold water, re-fueled and hydrated. The 100+ degree heat was starting to take affect on the mind and body.

Still feeling reasonably strong, I attempted to settle into a sustainable climbing pace up Skaggs. The field of riders behind me fell apart. Caught and slowly passed JD on the first climb. Apparently only just two riders remained ahead.

Took advantage of the extra water stops provided by many SRCC volunteers, but was starting to feel light-headed and had difficulty taking in water or fuel. Still no other riders around. The still air and blacktop only seemed to intensify the blistering heat.

Finishing the last bump of Skaggs, I had to stop in order to collect my head. The extreme heat was taking a toll. I could barely even piss. My breathing was shallow. I was losing power fast.

I figured the next fast bumpy descent down toward the river would give me a little time to recover. However, temps only increased toward the bottom. The flats along the river felt like an oven blast.

Then came the Rancheria climb with 20+% grades in the direct sun. Geared down, I tried marching my upward. The power was gone in my legs. I had no stomp left. My head was cooking. I could ride only few hundred feet before needing to stop. My game was over.

Head on the bars, totally cracked, I watched Marc Moons paper-boy his way past me, zig-zagging back and forth across this incredible steep road. I followed suit, crying like a baby. It wasn't pain nor lack of fitness, I had simply found and gone past my physiological edge in this extreme heat, shattering my ability to move forward.

At mile 143, I practically crawled into the Rancheria rest stop at the top of the climb. I was done. The aid volunteers gave me worried looks as I collapsed into a chair in the shade trying to cool down. One by one other riders, blown apart by the scorching heat, began rolling in. A couple of guys immediately followed Marc back on to the course. My hope of a top five finish was gone.

After 20 minutes of trying to revive myself, I left Rancheria for the much cooler coast, heading south along Highway 1. Still without any power and totally unable to get my heart rate back into Zone 3, I was forced to ride slow.

I briefly caught up with Gabe along the coast only to watch him walk away up the Fort Ross Climb. Even in the shade of this climb, the temps were 98 degrees. Over Fort Ross, near Cazadero, another young guy flies past saying 'you're a hard guy to catch!' Caught and passed I was, guessing I was down to 6th or 7th position now.

Totally spent, lower back cramping hard, no kick left, I wobbled into the Monte Rio Aid at mile 184. The last 16 miles would prove brutal; a short climb up to Occidental and few annoying little bumps back to the finish in Sebastopol almost did me in. Just three miles from the finish, Max rolls past like I was standing still. It seemed I was now in 8th or 9th position.

I had entered the Terrible Two with the goal of a top ten finish, but thought I was capable of a top five if everything went smooth. Guess I'll have to give it another go next year!

RACE DATA:

200 miles

16,500' climbing

12:42 finish time

9th place

109+ degree temps (some riders recorded 110 - 120 temps in the direct sun)

35% finish rate of 177 registered riders

Brutal day.