Everest Challenge

Finished this ride over the weekend. I had read about it in Steve's blog from a few years back and a friend was going this year ... what the hell let's go ... it can't be that hard!

What a incredible location. I put in a total of 4 training days for this event! (yeah it seemed unreasonable to me also). I ran around franticly trying to get better gearing the Thursday before the race. Ended up with a 34/26 --- barely enough, but it would do. Seeing as I didn't really train .... got on the bike 4 times the 2 weeks before ... I decided on a very modest pace .. just aiming to finish.

The ride is broken up over 2 days with 6 (7) major climbs. The first day starts out of bishop (really Millpond Campground - 4,425). A big storm rolled through on the first day, so the first climb was shortened and broken into two (up over Paradise to 7,000 ft, then up the Gorge(?) road to the Pines camping area. I managed to oversleep, so rode the first hour by myself until the Pros swept by. Next up Pine Creek (7,420), back down and then up to lake Sabrina (~9,200 ft). The last 3 climbs were just evil for the end of the day. Each one only about 50', but at 17% grade! I was snowed on during the last mile, then brillaint sun at the finish .... of day one ~14,000ft and 115 miles. Now stuff some food in, walk around and get ready for day two.

The second day starts out of Big Pine (3,940) with 3 big climbs. First up is Glacier Lodge (7,800 ft.) This was probably the most difficult climb of the group, (8% average grade), and just not what the body wants starting a second day! I was going incredibly slow ... started at the back, but slowly started to catch up and pass some people as I got warmed up. Back down, up Wacubo Canyon to the pass (7500') down the other sided ~500ft and return to Big Pine. My right knee started to bother me on the last bit of the climbing ... sore with some occasional shooting pain if I put too much force on it --- not looking good with another 21 miles and 6200ft of climbing left to go! Slow and steady up to ~8,000 ft (does this climb ever end) .... did I mention my modest pace ... then it started to get hard ... the last 3 miles average 10% .... found that standing up was much better on my knee, so just tried standing and going REALLY slow ... and then the finish ... what .. that's it! Incredible views from the Bristlecone Pine Forest .... warm-up a little then back to the bottom. What a fun downhill.

Thoughts to make it better
Train -- Although I have a great running base, the muscles are just a little different for biking .... 4 days was just barely adequate to survive
Gearing -- 34/26 was barely adequate --- either get a stronger knee or lower gearing
Bike - Maybe I should get something modern .. mine was 15 years old .. had down-tube shifting .. weighed in at around 23.5 lbs ... a couple on a tandem that I rode with at the end kept calling me Chrome Molly man ...
Clothing -- I was amazed at how much clothing the typical rider had on ... I was hot on almost all of the uphills, and I stripped down to the minimum (well not nude, but I was thinking about it). On the other hand it was freezing cold on some of the downhills. Bicycle shorts .... yeah ... I don't own a pair and my but muscles are still suffering from it.
Food --- I made it by on Gel and Cytomax ... just keep putting it in whether you feel like it or not!
Pace - Did I mention the modest pace?
Hot Spring -- Hit up the Saline Valley springs on the way back ... highly recommend.

206 miles .. 29,035 feet

Finished with the first part of the birthday challenge