Let me start by saying that I loathe lactate intervals. I like riding because it’s very Zen. When I ride, I let my mind drift, and wander aimlessly until I achieve a Zen emptiness that’s much like meditation. It’s very relaxing.
Lactate intervals, on the other hand, are anything but Zen, especially towards the end. It’s hard to be Zen when you’re riding all-out, panting for breath, and so on. I hate exertion (yes, I know that sounds strange coming from someone who bikes up mountains for fun), and I especially hate pushing myself all-out. I think of riding as being the equivalent of a nice aimless walk, and loathe running.
That rant over, I have to admit: lactate intervals are doing me some serious good.
Went up Mt. Hamilton yesterday, doing lactate intervals: 15 minutes at top speed, 15 minutes off, 15 minutes at top speed, and so on. I made it to the summit in 2:57, a good 18 minutes faster than my previous top speed, and made it to the bottom in 4:04, 23 minutes faster than my previous top speed. And felt fresh enough at the end to bolt my way up the one little hill on the way back, just for fun.
So I’m doing a lot better, speed-wise. Obviously I’m not going to do the entire Markleeville Death Ride doing lactate intervals (I was pretty exhausted by the time I reached the last one), but I do feel comfortable riding faster and at a slightly higher heart rate than I have up until now. I’m pleased – perhaps I’ll be able to finish after all.
I’ve also decided that I’m going to leave early on the DR, perhaps as early as 3am. If I leave that early, I’m pretty confident of my ability to finish. I want that five-pass finisher’s jersey. 🙂
brian says
Quite an improvement ! But a question ? What finishing jersey ? Is that new this year ? I have purchased riding jerseys in the past but never have seen a unique finishing jersey.
Brian
Swampy says
They have a finishers jersey every year… you need all 5 “stickers” from the passes to qualify. They have some for sale after the event but most likely you’ll have to order it.
Tien, if you’re considering starting early just a couple of pointers:
1. Starting from Turtle Rock park before 5am you can be sure of one thing – it’ll be cold. Last year was pretty bad – quiet a few riders who set off while it was still dark were stopping on the descent into Markleville (yes the first few miles are a fast downhill) checking their front wheel QR skewers thinking they’d not tightened them up. What was actually happening was they were shivering from the cold and caused them to “wobble the bars ” somewhat.
2. If you really are going to leave at 3am then prepare to get to the top of monitor before the person with the “pass stickers” – you’ll need these!! You may have to wait for them to show up. The past couple of years the 1st sticker has been handed out at the bottom of the “other” side of Monitor at the junction of 395 and the 2nd handed out on the top of the return climb of Monitor. It varies from year to year. If you do get there really early at least there’ll be no lines for the porta-potties and you’ll get to sit in the sun and rest for a while! 😉 I don’t know what time they get there.
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Also, don’t be too demoralized when the first climb up Ebbetts starts to kick your ass… LOL … there are a couple of places where the “12% gradient” is the average for a mile or so and there are shortish sections of 15% + Low gears and relaxed climbing…. don’t force it – relish in the fact that the views take your breath away just as much as spending most of the day over 7000ft and riding up 8% grades for miles on end. The real climbing on Ebbetts doesn’t really start until around mile 48 and 7000ft – you’re merrily climbing away at about 5% and then all of a sudden this “wall of asphalt” appears.
As long as you have the legs left, the climb back up Ebbetts from Hermit Valley isn’t that bad – it’s a constant 6% to 7% all the way with no really steep pitches. Also note that the Hermit Valley rest stop is nowhere near as packed as the one on the top of Ebbetts. I plan on skipping the Ebbetts stop unless I have desperate need to stop for anything other than just getting the “pass sticker” on my number.
That 3am descent into Markleeville becomes your worst nightmare of a climb if you’ve gone too hard, not trained enough or forgotten to keep up with the food/drink. It only looks like a little “blip” on the route profile – but don’t forget about this “climb.” The width of the road seems to alter your perspective of the gradient. Now you know why you were doing 40mph down the hill in the dark. If you’re still fresh – then it aint that bad. Gear down, pedal up.
The ride back from Woodfords after you descend Carson is also a little more than you bargained for as it adds the last few hundred feet of climbing to the ride. Its not that steep.. nor long, but after 126miles anything that isnt downhill is hard. Many people skip this last little hill by either parking close to Woodfords or getting someone to pich them up at the bottom of Carson – darned cheaters!
Other things – they have great ride support. The sag “motorcyclists” tend to have most of the tools and stuff you’ll need to fix things – so you don’t need to lug around a whole toolkit – just a couple of spare tubes, patches and tyre levers. If you like Cytomax then they have it at every rest stop premixed. I have no idea how strong they mix it, plus it doesnt agree with me, so I take my own pre-measured powder and mix it with their water. You can drop lights, arms warmers etc off at the top of Monitor pass – they have plastic bags to put stuff in and you collect it near the “community center” in Turtle Rock Park. Note, there could well be an afternoon thunderstorm with hail/rain late when you’re on Carson, so you may need that jacket later.
If you see rider 1255 (your rider number is the same as the last 4 digits of your confirmation number) please feel free to say “hi”.
Good luck 🙂