Tour of the California Alps, Markleeville Death ride

I did the Death ride this weekend. An epic event. 15,000 feet of climbing in approx 130 miles. Starts in Markleeville and then goes up over Monitor pass, then over Ebbets pass and then up Carson pass, totaling 5 major hills.

I drove up there on Friday and then car camped at the start. 2500 bikers in this race. Truly an epic event. After a sleepless night, we were awakened by blasting music at 4 am.  I start at 5:30 with the fast group. It is not an official race, but the lead group always goes fast and time themselves. Paul thought I could go with the leaders. I did not think so, and was nervous, that I would get dropped.

First climb up Monitor pass. I don't feel well and am shaking. Halfway up the hill I go up to the front of the pack and drop the group. I don't like drafting or sitting behind when I am feeling bad, psychologically hard. The big guys catch me on the descent. Paul McKenzie is not doing too hot. I promise to stay with him during the ride, since it is not a race. We

climb up the backside of Monitor and then attack Ebbets pass. Up Ebbets pass we pass most other guys in our group. I feel relatively strong and enjoy the climbs. I thought it would be really scary do descend with all riders coming up the same road, and we did have to be careful. Between Ebbets and Monitor there is a 10 mile relatively flat stretch. The lead group has now joined together and work into the wind. I run out of water but Paul's car is

parked by the road, and we trick our group into stopping by bribing them to ice cold coke. Last climb, up Carson pass. It is extremely windy as we attack this slow and relatively moderate climb. Paul drops off the back. I don't want to leave him alone in the wind and let the other 3 guys go. I stay with Paul up Carson, but lose him on the way back towards the finish. I hammer the last stretch and finish in 7 hours 50 minutes. Fastest woman time

ever they say.

I feel pretty pleased with the ride. It was epic experience. And  although I was not in top shape, I think I could have won it, if I had not stayed back with Paul. It probably has helped me some to overcome the fear of going with the `fast guys'. In my previous races last year, I did not think I could go out with the lead group, and therefore ended up with going much slower than I could.

Comments from Paul McKenzie

This year's Death Ride was like no other. It was very dynamic with the strongest

group I have ever seen. Additionally, the early leaders were not the ones at the

end. Both Jeff Landers and Ray Ruyrack struggled at the beginning while Graham Pollock, Mark, Rob, and you were leading at the front. Things changed later. Although dropped

early Ray seemed to find his rhythm about 1/3 the way up Monitor. I knew I was in trouble from the beginning but tried to keep it together. Graham, Mark and Rob eventually faded. You, however, were brilliant. I now wish you didn't wait for me. I did appreciate it, but I was in really bad shape. I was very near vomiting, I couldn't eat, and I was nauseous and dizzy. That's why I could not descend at the end. Since you were not able to help me and went ahead on the descent anyway, I ended up wishing you had gone ahead. But I was in too bad

of shape to think of it while riding. In the end though, I really didn't lose too much time. It's just that I like to do well at the Death Ride. It's normally a good ride for me.