I know I know it’s long overdue. I have been working so much and still trying to train that my blogging has really fallen off. I apologize to you, my readers, for not providing more prompt reports of my “suffering and getting it done” adventures.
So here is the quick down and dirty on the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic. I finished with a time of 6:54 which was good for 19th overall. I’m actually shocked because with my time being 40 minutes slower than last year I thought I would have been mid-pack. This year there were 133 finishers of the three loop course. Interestingly enough, my 6:14 time (11th) from last year would have put me at almost the exact same place this year. I would have been 10th this year. If you’ve been reading my blog you might remember a post I made about my goal being sub 6 hours. Well my work schedule changed and with it my training plan. I had Friday off before the event and so I rode a century with 5,000 feet of climbing. More on that later….
Over the years, I have come to the realization that I am a much better Double Century rider. I fair better on the Double Century circuit than I do in the climbing century realm. I love to climb but I know placing high is not in the cards for me in shorter events. The benevolence of my sponsor allows me to participate in these climbing centuries. I ride hard, follow good wheels and hope for the best.
Here is a quote from Event Promoter, Chris Kostman of AdventureCORPS:
“We had 200 participants (31 female and 169 male, from age 26, Jeremey Stromsoe, to age 76, Skip Nevell). Nine riders completed the 45-mile route, 56 riders completed the 75-mile route, and 133 riders completed the full 101-mile route. Just two DNF’d.”
Before I move into the meat and potatoes of my report I would like to thank the staff and volunteers of the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic. AdventureCORPS, puts on very organized and well supported events. Chris Kostman provides the structure and framework necessary so that his volunteers can provide exceptional support during the event. All you have to do is make sure your bike is in top running condition, make sure you’re fit, because his events are challenging, and then just show up and RIDE YOUR BIKE! AdventureCORPS takes care of the rest!! I strongly recommend AdventureCORPS events!
BIKE –Sasha Cervelo Soloist SL or SLC- SL. SRM 7900 wireless crankset power meter with PowerControl 7 head unit. Crankset 53/39 and 11/28 cassette. Dura-Ace C24 wheels, Shimano Electronic Dura-Ace Di2, Zipp ZedTECH 2 wheels weight of the bike was 15 lbs
CLOTHING– Simple Green cycling kit, LAS helmet, base layer, Defeet wool Kneekers, Defeet wool gloves, Simple Green Arm Warmers, Swiftwick Merino Wool Socks, Oakley Jawbones, Shimano R315 cycling shoes with Sidas insoles provided by Fizik.
NUTRITION -Loop 1 INFINIT NUTRITION Loop 2– Infinit Nutrition and Hammer Nutrition Loop 3– Hammer Nutrition. Hammer Nutrition was provided by AdventureCORPS and makes refueling much faster than packing more Infinit Nutrition in baggies.
TRAINING WEEK
I mentioned earlier in this post that I’ve been working a lot. My available ride time has been impacted significantly this year. Hence, my training plan has shifted significantly as well. I now only ride 2-3 hours at much higher intensity during the week. On my days off I try to get one sub 6 hour century and then follow it up with another hard ride of equal or slightly shorter distance.
What follows is not training advice for those looking to compete and finish high in the standings at a climbing century at the end of the week. My goals are much different than most of the riders that participated in the MLBC. I wanted to show up tried to the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic (MLBC). Why would I do that? Because the only event I really want to do well in is the Furnace Creek 508 in October. The Furnace Creek 508 is a 508 mile non-stop event with 35,000 feet of climbing. So at strategic times of the year I ride two hard centuries back to back to see how my fitness is coming along. I know I’m ready for the Furnace Creek 508 when I can do back to back centuries at high intensity. If I could ever score three straight days off of work I would do three hard centuries. These hard days prepare me physically and mentally for the ardor of the 508. Here is what I did on the week leading up to the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic.
Monday is “always” a rest day
Tuesday – 2:40 part of the ride solo then met up with group on the hardest part of their ride then solo again. Cadence drills over 100 rpm and high wattage
Wednesday– 2:10 solo ride 10 minute intervals at 3 w/kg, 3.5 w/kg, 4 w/kg then a 60 minute Perceived Effort interval (blind no power meter feedback)
Thursday– Hill work on Newport Coast. Warm-Up then Sprints and Surges to reach Newport Coast Drive then 4 repeats outlined below:
1. 2 minutes at 3.5 w/kg then 3 minutes at 4 w/kg then 4.5 w/kg then the last-minute at 5 w/kg.
2. 8 minutes at 4 w/kg
3. Freeride- sprinting out of saddle when I recovered (blind no power meter feedback)
4. An excerpt from my training log-- "Pelican Hill sprints and surges on inclines. I felt gassed, couldn't go that hard. But I was surprised when I made the junction to
Newport Coast because I thought I had so much more to climb."
Friday– a sub 6 hour 106 mile 5,000 feet “century” — The Canyons Loop – Newport Beach South on PCH to Dana Point, East on Del Obispo, CLIMB Antonio Parkway, CLIMB Live Oak Canyon, CLIMB Santiago Canyon, CLIMB Silverado Canyon, back to the coast. Then from Newport Beach to Seal Beach with 10 minute intervals at 3.5 w/kg and then a 20 minute 3.5 w/kg interval on the return to Newport Beach. Needless to say by Saturday I was tired. But I planned that way.
The Canyons Loop Century done on Friday the day before Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic
George “Red-Eyed Vireo” Vargas at the start of the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic My friend and Epic Training athlete Carlo
Map of the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic
ELEVATION PROFILE THREE ASCENTS TO 6,100 FEET ELEVATION
LOOP 1
I lined up just before 6am. I found a few familiar faces, Dave Elsberry, Steve Boniface, Jerry Cook and I caught a glimpse of Ton Van Delan. As we rolled out I was at the tail-end of the first wave of 50 riders. Down we went on the first descent and it was time to close the gap on the first riders. We rode hard the first few miles. I could feel how tired my legs were from the previous week of training. That first little climb to Gutay really hurts when you’re not warmed up. Steve, Dave’s trusty lieutenant, set the early hard pace. A few miles down the road I had to let him go. I settled into my own groove with another Steve. We chatted a bit but he started to have troubles and so I rode on. I would ride alone from before the first summit of Mount Laguna to the finish. Many times I second guessed my decision of the training plan I had followed the previous week. I was tired and I lacked the snap in my legs. Getting up at 3am to drive down to Pine Valley from Orange County didn’t help my recovery either. I kept my mind occupied envisioning a great showing at the Furnace Creek 508 in October. I told myself that the 508 is all that matters and that made getting dropped that much easier to handle.
I arrived at the first summit of Mount Laguna at 2:20. It was approximately 8:20 am. I noticed that the 22.5 mile marker was near the aid station. That little detail became vitally important in the latter stages of the event.
Start to summit of Mount Laguna on Loop 1
3,400 feet of gain in 34 miles
Decent of Loop 1 and Climb of Loop 2
I descended alone from the summit of Mount Laguna. I stayed alone until just before the Kitchen Creek gated section where I was passed by one rider. The approach to the Kitchen Creek gated area is tougher in my opinion than the gated area. You can tell by looking at the graph below that CADENCE (green) and POWER (yellow) decline as my TORQUE (grey) increases. This is a visual representation of a steep grade. Most people think their POWER goes up on steep grades and that’s true to a certain extent. But TORQUE really goes up on steeper grades. TORQUE puts a lot of twisting forces onto your frame but doesn’t propel you forward as well as POWER does.
Once into the gated area I started to feel much better. The grade wasn’t as steep and I found my climbing groove again. I passed Dave Elsberry on this climb and didn’t see him again until the finish. I was passed by a couple of riders near the junction to the main road near the summit of Mount Laguna.
Kitchen Creek climb in its entirety from the lowest point on Old Hwy 80 to the summit at Mount Laguna
3,000 feet of gain in 15 miles
Descent of Loop 2
The second descent off of Mount Laguna was very welcomed indeed. I was getting fatigued and I needed a few minutes of recovery. The temperature was rising. As I began the descent I wondered how hot the Pine Creek climb was going to be. But as soon as those thoughts came I had to push them aside so that I could concentrate on the descent. I had to hydrate and refuel! I told myself now is the time to get some fluids and calories in me. It’s really hard to refuel on the 15% grades that Pine Creek so graciously presents to you as a challenge.
Loop 3 Pine Creek
I was in and out of Pine Valley in less than 30 seconds. Thanks to the support of the Adobo Velo crew!! My legs were really tired by the time I hit Pine Creek Road. Oh my god does that road suck the life out of you. I was riding a 53/39 crankset and an 11-28. I didn’t walk and I suffered because of it. Many times I thought, “You’re barely going 4 mph, surely you can walk faster than that!” But I stayed focused because I didn’t want that stigma that comes from walking on a climb. And really isn’t that just silly? There were plenty of times I was on 20% grades out of the saddle just to turn over so I could stay upright for one more revolution. Last year I rode a compact crankset with a 50/34 and an 11-25 cassette. But this year I was riding my standard chain ring 53/39 SRM 7900 Dura-Ace wireless crankset. I rarely ever need a compact and had I not done a century the day before I would not have suffered as much as I did. One pedal stroke after another until I finally hit the main road. I hit the main road and noticed the mile marker was 27.5. Do you remember earlier I said that knowing the location of the aid station at mile marker 22.5 would be valuable? I later heard from many riders that the final section of climbing to the final aid station was hard on them mentally. I knew exactly where I was and how many miles were left until the last descent into Pine Valley. It pays to pay attention to your surroundings.
Notice from Mile 4 to mile 6.5 how much time is spent going between grades 10% – 20%!!
Training Peaks WKO Pine Creek Climb
The Final Descent into Pine Valley
Final thoughts
Do I regret not going after the sub 6 hour goal I had establish a few weeks before the event? NO! Do I feel I shouldn’t have ridden a century with 5,000 feet of climbing and hard intervals the day before the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic? NO! Am I happy with my final results? YES! Did I suffer? YES! Did I get it done? YES! What would I change if I had a chance to do it over again? NOTHING! OK so there you have it George “Red-Eyed Vireo” completes the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic.
As an Ultra Cyclist it’s rare that I will ever win a race by sprinting 😉 My greatest strength in Ultras is my ability to hold medium range wattage for long periods of time. But I often wonder if all the long miles at a steady state is enabling my fast twitch muscle fiber to die on the vine. So to prevent that I will do random sprints and surges during my ride. Yesterday, while “chasing cars” as I call it, I hit a max of 1099 watts and held 1038 watts for five seconds. As far as I can tell that is a Personal Record.
On my second ride of the day, later that evening, I actually hit 1023, 1049 and 1001 watts from standing starts. It’s been a long time since I have been able to hit 1000 watts repeatedly during a ride– not since I was 10-15lbs heavier. I was also concerned that my recent weight loss included the loss of muscle mass or power. I have come down from 150 lbs to about 146 lbs in the last two months. It is nice to see that I can still produce max power numbers the same as when I weighed 160 lbs.
I have included charts from Training Peaks WKO. Below you will see the graph for the entire ride, the detail of the 5 second peak power and the Power Profile Chart. The Power Profile Chart shows that even with a 1038 watts 5 second peak power yesterday I’m still only mid-way into Cat 4 potential.
Last week I was called-on by the President and the VP of Operations of Lunar Health and Wellness in Newport Beach. They cited studies of how “altitude training” has been found as a natural means to help improve fitness and endurance. Being an endurance athlete, my curiosity was piqued. But as I did a little more research I realized that the wellness component would have more lasting benefits for me. I thought of two issues that I have been dealing with for years— sleep issues and exercise- induced asthma.
According to some of the data CVAC – Cyclic Variations in Altitude Conditioningwill help me sleep better. By default getting more and better sleep every night will help me become a better athlete, right? My other issue is exercise- induced asthma. When I climb I can hold high intensity but as soon as I crest and the intensity wanes, I begin coughing uncontrollably.. In the past, I was prescribed two types of inhalers, one as a daily dose and the other as needed during coughing attacks. I don’t want to carry an inhaler nor do I want to be dependent on medication. CVAC potentially offers me a drug- free option at dealing with these two issues. And if that makes me a better endurance athlete in the process wouldn’t that be a bonus?
I’d like to hear from you — how many of you have heard of this technology and what are your thoughts?
Hello everyone! I’m expecting the arrival of a new member to my family a Felt F1 Frameset! Stay tuned for what promises to be a very nice build….
Meticulously engineered and crafted with one clear purpose: to win. The all-new F1 uses Felt’s cutting-edge carbon fiber manufacturing techniques—Modular Monocoque Construction and InsideOut internally optimized molding—to shave 100 grams off the 2010 F1 while increasing overall stiffness by 35 percent.
My training this year has been going quite well. I’ve reduced the amount of miles or hours and I’m training with more intensity. On Friday I went on a solo two-hour training ride. I rode the Friday loop with the a training goal of holding a minimum of 3.5 w/kg or 238 watts. I achieved my training goal. I held 3.47 w/kg for the two-hour training session. On the return, I went up Newport Coast Drive. Below you will find charts of the complete ride, my best 60 minutes, and finally my new PR on Newport Coast Dr (1.5 mile 460 elevation gain average grade of 6%). All data collected on an 7900 SRM Wireless Crankset Power Meter with PowerControl 7 head unit.
Training Peaks power chart for the entire two-hour workout Normalized Power of 233 watts or 3.47 w/kg
Best 60 minutes Normalized Power 252 watts or 3.7 w/kg
George “Red-Eyed Vireo” Vargas sets new PR on Newport Coast Drive in Newport Beach, California
For the those waiting on the Hell’s Gate Hundred race report I’m sorry to disappoint you but I didn’t do the event. I was very sick and had to bow out. However, I volunteered on the course. This Saturday, April 16 is the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic. My time last year was 6:14 (11th) you may find the results here and my report here. My goal is sub 6 hours. The numbers for last year’s event were — a total of 131 riders (17 females, 114 males) completed all three loops for 101 miles, 54 riders (12 females, 42 males) completed two loops for 77 miles, 3 (all female) riders completed the first loop, and 12 riders completed an unknown number of miles and loops. This is one of the best places to ride in San Diego if you can make the ride GO FOR IT!
I will be doing the Hell’s Gate Hundred 101 miles 8,500 feet in Death Valley. Last year’s race report is here. My goal is sub six hours-last year 6:55. This is a great event in my favorite remote riding place … Death Valley. AdventureCorps puts on a very well supported and challenging event. I thoroughly enjoyed the pain and suffering last year and that’s why I’m going back.
Take one part Shimano R315 Custom Fit cycling shoes
One part Swiftwick 7″ Merino Socks the Pursuit
and one part Sidas Flashfit Insoles by Fizik
and you will have VERY happy feet for your ride.
I just recently acquired a pair of Shimano R315’s. I absolutely love them. I’ve ridden Shimano shoes for the last 5 years. I had the R215 which was their highest end shoe before they offered their Custom Fit shoes. It was a good shoe. But once I starting using the R300 Custom Fit shoe I realized that the custom molding process could take things to another level… a higher level of comfort.
As many of you that are frequent readers of my blog already know, I am an Ultra Cyclist. I do centuries and double centuries during the year as I prepare for my goal race the Furnace Creek 508. The Furnace Creek is a 508 mile non-stop bike race with 35,000 feet of climbing. I had always had painful “hot foot” during that race UNTIL I got the R300 Custom Fit shoes. The year I did that race with the R300 my feet felt great …considering. Next I owned the R310’s. I felt the toe box was a little narrow and didn’t feel as comfortable as the R300. But now that I own the R315’s I absolutely love them …oh wait I already said that. There are a lot of cycling shoe companies out there but for $380 I can’t think of a better value in a custom molded cycling shoe! The Shimano R315 is a must have for happy feet!
The Shimano R315 is 29 grams per shoe lighter than the Shimano R310 (pictured below) in size 44.5
Fizik will soon make available the Sidas insoles. This is another absolutely must-have product for happy feet. The molding process is very fast. I actually thought nothing actually happened. But when I put the insoles in my shoes and rode with them for the first time I fell in love. The heel is very well reinforced. Sidas puts a felt pad under the most tender part of your foot and it provides an extra layer of protection against road vibration.
And last but not least you need a high quality sock. Don’t be fooled …like I once was a sock is not just a sock. The Swiftwick socks are a very high quality sock made with a 200 needle process. I personally like tall socks and I like wool socks. So the Pursuit 7″ is my favorite sock in their line-up. If you’ve been reading my blog you know that I am a huge fan of Merino wool. It keeps your feet cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Here is where education is key. Many people only use wool in the winter months- what a shame. Wool breathes so well you should be wearing it year-round. I wear them at work because I love the footpad and I spend a lot of time on my feet. I wear them on the bike sure in the winter but most definitely in the summer as well. I even wear them when I race the Furnace Creek 508. The 508 mile non-stop race is held in October in the Mojave and Death Valley deserts. Would you believe that while I change my shorts every couple of hundred miles I don’t change my socks? Nope I put on a pair of Pursuit 7″ socks and they stay on for the duration of the 508 mile race approximately 38 hours!!
Swiftwick socks are a must have for happy feet!
There you have it my quick down and dirty product review of the Shimano R315, Sidas insoles and Swiftwick socks –the recipe for happy feet! I rate these three items 5 out of a possible 5 stars on the Epic Training scale of goodness.
I rode from Encinitas to Palomar Mountain yesterday. I had a great day on the bike. On my way back, I saw a fruit stand selling 10 lb bags of oranges for $1.00. I couldn’t resist and bought a bag. I carried that bag for the last 35 miles of my ride. I thought why not – it’s good training 😉 and my son LOVES oranges! 🙂
Wow, I don’t know where to begin. Saturday’s win was very emotional for me. When I found myself off-the-front of the race for the last 150 miles I kept telling myself “you deserve this! you’ve trained hard. You’ve trained through this winter – in the wind, in the rain, at night, and woken up to ride in the pre-dawn morning cold. You deserve this! Don’t do anything stupid! Don’t fade! Stay strong! Stay fueled! Stay on the bike! Shorter stops!” Yes I talk to myself lol! I end up being alone in most events. It is the life of an Ultra Cyclist… being alone – alone in your training, alone in a race since drafting is often prohibited, alone at night, alone in the worst weather conditions alone in the wilderness…
Above you will find the results from the event. The finisher’s list is really only 9 riders because the other 300 riders Did Not Finish (DNF)
I digress, this win has been a long time coming. I began doing the Death Valley Double Centuries in 2003. Since then my results have consistently improved year after year. I would have been a good investment if I was stock in your portfolio.
As recently as the 2010 Spring Double I placed 2nd (11:07) to Phil Kelley. In the 2010 Fall Double I placed third (11:38) behind Brian Davidson, Emperor Moth, and Daniel Eitman. This year’s Spring Double will be remembered for its stormy weather. You can actually tell your friends and coworkers that you rode in conditions that provided headwinds in both outgoing and return legs. It will also be remembered as the day hundreds of cyclists fought Mother Nature but only a handful had the temerity to accomplished their goal. Many different things have to go right, especially over a 200 mile distance, for a win. I was fortunate, determined, and ultimately victorious.
I didn’t hurt more than any other time. I was suffering sure, but the pain felt proportional to the effort and the weather conditions. You know how sometimes you’re riding and you feel like your tires are sinking into the hot tarmac? Or you feel like your brakes are dragging? I didn’t feel any of that. I just felt like I was working really hard and I was seeing the results of my efforts. I thought about Pete Penseyres and his 1986 RAAM when he said nothing hurt.
For those who don’t know the name he is a legend in the Ultra Cycling community. In 1986, he set the record for the fastest average speed (15.40 Mph) in Race Across America, a record that still stands 25 years later! In that year, he said nothing hurt, he didn’t need much sleep and he was just riding his bike. I will never pretend to compare myself to Pete. What I will say is that when I ride there are things that I replay in my head such as: articles I’ve read, songs I love and conversations I’ve had. One such conversation I replayed over and over on Saturday was speaking with Pete at RAAM start 2009. His recount of his 1986 RAAM experience kept me turning those pedals. Not only is he a great Ultra Cyclist but a great guy to boot!
Cervelo Soloist SL or Cervelo SLC-SL with Zipp 808’s, Shimano Di2, SRM 7900 Wireless Power Meter, Fizik Airone Versus
Did You Know?
Badwater Basin, in Death Valley National Park, is the lowest place in North America and one of the lowest places in the world at 282 feet below sea level. The Dead Sea, between Israel and Jordan, is the lowest at 1371 feet below sea level.
BIKE- Sasha my Cervelo Soloist SL AKA Cervelo SLC-SL. Crankset 53/39 Cassette 11-23. Zipp 808 Tubulars, Shimano Di2 components, SRM 7900 Wireless Power Meter with Power Control 7, Profile Design CSX Clip-on Aerobars. Fizik Versus Saddle
CLOTHING- Bike Religion Bib Shorts made by Santini with gel chamois, Woolistic Long Sleeve Base Layer, Short Sleeve Simple Green/Bike Religion team jersey and Swiftwick Merino 4″ socks
NUTRITION- Maintained an average of 250 calories per hour. My calories came from Infinit Nutrition in my bottles at the start, homemade gel made with Infinit Nutrition, and supplemented with the nutrition provided by the event.
Notice the time for wheels not rolling is only about 11 minutes. I stopped at six aid stations. That means my average stop was about 1 min 45 secs per aid station. Not bad but I have to get faster than that. I didn’t go potty for almost 14 hours either. Honestly, I can’t believe I was off the bike that long. How can I have been off the bike 11 minutes when I thought I was only at the stops 30 seconds refilling bottles?
The first wave rolled at 6:10 am from the Furnace Creek Ranch. As soon as we made the right turn onto Hwy 127, one mile from the start, I felt the really strong headwinds (steady 20mph-30mph). Heading out to Ashford Mills (Mile 45.5) we quickly established a small breakaway of six riders. We, Red Rooster, Escape Goat, Wolverine, Daniel Eitman, a rider I didn’t recognize, and myself, the Red-Eyed Vireo. worked well together. Do you notice something? Four out of the six man breakaway are Furnace Creek 508 solo veterans or 508’ers as some call us. I took very short pulls and hid behind bigger riders. We were doing between 12-15mph fighting that damn headwind.
Question- when can a breakaway be established while only going 12-15mph?
Answer- When the wind is over 30 mph! Riders at the start of the 200 miles did not want to exert too much energy so they got dropped and the six of us pulled away.
Incredibly the wind was so strong that there wasn’t any advantage to drafting behind another rider. The wind just wrapped around the rider in front of you and hit you squarely in the face, chest everywhere. We tried echelons right and echelons left, we tried straight pace lines nothing worked!
Three Furnace Creek 508 Solo veterans off-the-front George “Red-Eyed Vireo” Vargas, Eric “Red Rooster” Wilson, Josh “Escape Goat” Talley
George “Red-Eyed Vireo” Vargas
As you can see from the photo above I was riding Zipp 808 tubular wheels which are 82mm deep. I was having troubles keeping the front wheel under control when the wind would shift direction very quickly and become a crosswind. Needless to say I spent very little time in the aerobars. My position relative to the wind AND the rider in front of me were both very important. Not just because I was looking to be shielded from the wind but because I needed to hold a good line for the rider behind me. When the wind would shift slightly it would violently take me off my line and startle the rider behind me. The key for me over the first 45 miles was to ride smart, stay covered and conserve energy. The Zipp 808 wheels were unquestionably the worst wheel choice for that day but that is what I packed for the race and I didn’t have a choice. I had made homemade Infinit Nutrition gel and stayed on top of my fueling regiment. I already had an idea this was going to be a longer than normal double and being more aware of my fueling needs would be the key just to complete the event. I had planned for 12 hours of nutrition but as you will see it took way longer than that. I was going to come up short with my self-contained nutrition strategy.
As I learned years ago, the lead group blows past the Badwater checkpoint at (Mile 17.7) and doesn’t take any support (fuel or water). When you line up at the start you should be prepared to ride from Furnace Creek to Ashford Mills (45.5 miles) if you want to ride with the lead group. Under normal weather conditions that’s not usually a problem. Typically there are tandems at the front and the pace is fairly high. Spring 2010 I was part of the lead group and we reached Ashford Mills in less than 2 hours. This year with the winds it took us 3 hours and 6 minutes to cover those first 45 miles.
At Ashford Mills (Mile 47.7) I made every effort to be the first to pull in and the first to roll out of the stop. Three scoops in each bottle for the long trek (time wise) from Ashford Mills to Shoshone (75 miles). I had a small gap from the aid station and saw two riders approaching. It was Escape Goat, and Daniel Eitman. I spoke to them about working together to stay away for the rest of the day. However, each time I got to the front to set tempo on the climb I would pull away. So I rolled off a couple of times, sat behind them and let them set the pace. After the third time of me rolling off I just told them that I had to go. I was feeling good on the climb and knew this is where I needed to make my move. I climbed Jubilee Pass (El 1290) and Salsberry Pass (El 3315) alone with no one in sight behind me. When you feel good and you feel like you are on a good day you make your move. We are a close knit group in the ultra community. You ask and encourage your breakaway companions to come with you. But there comes a time when a gentlemen’s agreement is formed and you take your leave and pursue your dreams and your goals.
I was in and out of the Shoshone aid station (Mile 74.4) as quickly as possible. My goal was to get back to Ashford Mills as soon as possible BEFORE the winds shifted to take advantage of what should be a tailwind.
On my way back from Ashford Mills (Mile 103.2) I caught a tailwind for just a few miles. I was going 25-30 mph. I was so happy to not be fighting the headwinds anymore. I had fought them for 100 miles already! I was thinking “awesome my strategy worked”. Killing myself over the previous 50 miles over the climbs had put me back on the valley floor with a tailwind. I thought I could really make time while the others were still climbing. But then BAM! all of a sudden I hit a wall of wind. The scary thing was I could see the storm front moving in.
In the valley, there is nothing to stop or even slightly slow down the wind. No buildings or trees at all. Death Valley is basically a funnel or more appropriately today it was a wind tunnel. Riding in the wind is more mental than physical it wears on you and wears on you and wears on you some more! Of course, it’s harder to push the pedals against the wind but what’s much tougher is looking down and seeing that all that effort is only moving you at 6 mph. Yes, that’s how slow I was going for extended periods of time. It’s so discouraging. I was doing the math in my head calculating my current average speed and the miles I still had left to ride in the double. When I ran the numbers it was quite daunting. I then thought, “I just need to get to Badwater (Mile 130) and reassess”.
You can see the storm front moving through the valley in these pictures.
But getting to Badwater wasn’t easy. The wind was so strong (steady 35mph- 40mph) and gusting to 50 mph that I didn’t receive any help from the century riders on their return leg. You could see the storm front coming down the valley. It was an awesome sight! This white wall of water, ice and sand moving its way south through the valley as you were heading North — eventually this wall smacked me in the fasce. My thoughts were, “Brace for impact lol! This is going to hurt!” Headwinds in both directions are very discouraging but remember stay the course and things will turn for the better.
The wind was blowing so strong it reminded me of the 2009 Furnace Creek 508 – a 508 mile non-stop ultra with 35,000 feet of climbing. I will never forget how strong the headwinds were that year. Let me set the stage. The Furnace Creek Ranch is Mile 252, Time Station #3 during the Furnace Creek 508. It was around midnight when I left the Furnace Creek time station en-route to Shoshone. Little did I know it would be mid morning before I would reach the next time station. 74 miles took me 10 hours and 41 minutes!
It was dark and the only thing you could see were the blinkies of bikes and the amber flashing lights of the follow vehicles in front of you. The winds were steady at 40mph and they were gusting to 60+ mph. Here is an excerpt from my race report of my 2009 Furnace Creek 508. Remember I said that I replay things in my head — one of the things I replayed in my head was Isabelle Drake and I leapfrogging each other and motivating each other to ride through the windstorm to the other side. When you get a chance you should read the rest of the post.
“Daybreak did bring slightly better conditions but only slightly. Or was it that I was refreshed from the hour off the bike? One thing I’d like to mention is the tenacity and will power Isabelle Drake, who was part of a 2X Sandhill Cranes, displayed while on the Furnace Creek to Shoshone leg. She battled through the night in short spurts just like I did. We would leap-frog each other and give each other motivation to continue. One time when I pulled over exhausted she even said to me, “Don’t you stop [quit] and leave me out here!” Isabelle you’re an inspiration. I’m proud of you and glad to have witnessed your ride!”
Here are comments made by the Race Director regarding the winds at the 2009 edition of the Furnace Creek 508
“Turning east onto Towne Pass, the 10-mile, 5000 foot ascent which is the entryway to Death Valley, the (wind) began to blow in a less favorable direction. By the time the racers started to traverse Death Valley proper, near the giant sand dunes at Stove Pipe Wells, the wind was blowing a steady 30mph from the south, with sand blowing across the road like a river.
As the race route turned due south on the way to Furnace Creek (the halfway mark) and beyond to Badwater, the wind was blowing straight in the racers’ faces at 30mph or faster, with gusts up to 50 to 60mph. Some racers walked their bikes into the wind. Many averaged no more than about 5mph through the night. Race leaders required over six hours to cover the 73 miles from Furnace Creek to Shoshone. The wind truly terrorized the competitors in this year’s race, easily outblowing the “thermonuclear headwinds” of the 2004 race.”
and
“29 of 59 solos finished = 49.1%. That is the lowest finishing rate in a decade (finishing averages went up when the race organizers implemented a selection process, rather than first come, first serve, to determine the race field). The historical solo finishing average is 58.6% (638 of 1088 entrants) after 25 races on this race route. Source
It might have taken race leaders over six hours to complete the Furnace Creek -Shoshone section during the 2009 Furnace Creek 508 but it took me over 10 hours. The race leaders were far ahead of me as they entered Death Valley as such the avoided they worst part of the windstorms that us midpack riders had to experiences.
Now here I was in 2011 in Death Valley again battling headwinds…IN BOTH DIRECTIONS! Tell me again why I have to be present during such epic wind conditions during my races in Death Valley? Oh right because doing an 1 hour Criterium (going around in circles) in an industrial park doesn’t do anything for me. But they call that “real racing” when I talk to them ha!! Oh OK got it now 😉
You may be asking yourself why am I talking so much about 2009 Furnace Creek 508 when this is a 2010 Spring Valley Double Century race report? Right? Well the main reason is that the wind conditions were far worse on the 2009 Furnace Creek 508. Knowing I had survived that horrible windstorm in 2009 allowed me the mental strength to keep going. Again, something else I replayed in my head was how bad I suffered on that night. I thought about how much I doubted myself and my ability to continue. I thought about how much will power it took for me to get to Shoshone. And once I put things in perspective, I realized that the winds I was experiencing were not as bad as they were in the 2009 Furnace Creek 508. There was no way I was going to DNF this Double Century. Ever since the 2009 Furnace Creek 508 , I no longer look at headwinds the same way I used to. Now when I hear people complain about headwinds (less than 30 mph) I think to myself “man they need to HTFU”. People need to experience 10, 12, 16 hours in 60 mph gusts after already being on the bike for 250 miles and 18 hours before I will feel any sympathy for them. Rule #5 HTFU Finish what you started.
Here is a video from the 2009 Furnace Creek 508 of the morning after when the winds had died down significantly. But you can see they are still bad. I’m going less than 10 mph.
Badwater (Mile 130.9) I stopped and had a Coke. I couldn’t believe how many people were sitting there. They looked defeated and yet they were only 17 miles from Furnace Creek. 17 miles from the sanctuary. Not the finish line mind you, because as a Double Century rider once you arrived at Furnace Creek you still needed to ride another 50 mile out and back to the North end of Death Valley National Park towards Stovepipe Wells and back. But for century riders it would be the finish line. I wanted to put each rider back on their bike and send them down the road. But riding against strong headwinds is something you have to WANT to do not have to do. You have to WANT it. They didn’t want it bad enough. I thanked the volunteers, gave Emperor Moth a high-five and rolled on.
ALMOST TWO HOURS TO COVER 17 MILES FROM BADWATER TO FURNACE CREEK!
Saturday’s ride was definitely a war of attrition. I received motivation from seeing other riders DNF (Did Not Finish). Allow me to explain it’s not because I’m gloating that other people have failed to achieve their goals. Or that they lost their fight with their demons, gave up and quit. No that’s not it. It’s because when I see SAG vehicles loaded up with bikes on every hook and people piled into every crevice in the bed of a pick-up truck, illegally of course, I think, “yep it’s really tough out here but I’m still standing!” I remember seeing many vehicles with bikes on them. I later found out that people (family and riders that DNF’d) volunteered to shuttle riders back to the finish because AdventureCorps’s SAG vehicles had reached capacity. Remember we are talking about 100’s of riders DNF’ing!! I remembered the CNN overhead shots of the mass exodus from Baghdad during the Gulf War. Yep it looked like that!
As I neared Furnace Creek I remember passing a recumbent rider who said “just one mile to go” I replied “for you maybe! I still have another 50 miles!” I then looked back and said “Well done…” I wonder if he heard me over the din of the wind. He was one of the few centuries riders to finish! Good for him!!
2011 Brain Bike ride with Carla Ryan of Garmin Cervelo on her Cervelo R3
The week preceding the Double I spent Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Cervelo Brain Bike. It is a three-day course where Cervelo educates their dealers on everything from frame design to aerodynamics and more. We spend time in lectures, sharing our meals and yes riding new model Cervelo bikes. At every opportunity that I had I sat down with Phil White, co-founder of Cervelo. I’ve known Phil for several years now and it’s nice to know that even though Cervelo has grown almost exponentially over the last 10 years that he is still approachable and down to earth. One such time, we were having a drink and talking about the Cervelos I own and how hard it has been for me to sell them. I own four of them – three road and one time trial.
I still have a 2007 P3 Time Trial bike, an 2008 R3-SL somewhat dedicated climbing bike (I say somewhat because it’s so awesome to ride anytime 😉 , and a 2008 Cervelo Soloist SL or Cervelo SLC-SL as it is also known. I mentioned to him that I had stripped down my Cervelo Soloist SL, taken pictures of it to post the bike on eBay, but just couldn’t pull the trigger to post it. He replied saying the frames were rare and that he didn’t know if he would sell it. I added that I was interested in selling the Soloist SL for the new and improved S3. As I looked into his eyes I saw a glint of proud ownership. I then realized that the SL projects, R3-SL and SLC-SL, were projects he was personally involved in. The Cervelo Soloist SL was his baby. He shared with me how important the SL projects were to Cervelo. How the R & D from those projects made huge advances in Cervelo’s technology. How the lessons learned from the SL projects really set the ball rolling for more advanced carbon fiber design. My conversations with Phil are another example of things I replayed in my head during the race.
Phil White, co-founder of Vroomen-White Designs, Cervelo Bicycles
Well that was all I needed, I wasn’t going to sell Sasha! I rebuilt Sasha on Thursday night after work (after 7pm) with my Shimano Di2 group, SRM 7900 wireless crank power meter with Power Control 7 head unit. I did a short test ride in the parking lot at almost 9pm. I slept in Friday morning. I needed the rest more than an early morning ride on the bike. So essentially, I built the bike and raced it on Saturday without performing a proper test ride before Death Valley. Risky? Nah I am meticulous, careful and precise. I believe somewhere in my lineage there has to be some German or Swiss genes in me 😉
Back to Death Valley
Once I arrived at Furnace Creek (Mile 150) I refueled and picked up my long sleeve 100% Merino Wool jersey from Woolistic. From Furnace Creek you do a 50 mile out and back loop to Stovepipe Wells. As I was returning from Stovepipe Wells I started to see riders on their way to Stovepipe Wells. I hadn’t seen the Double Century riders for many hours. I had been off-the-front of the race riding alone since Ashford Mills mile 43. I was now 175 miles into the event. I saw Escape Goat only three or so minutes behind me. Wow that was way too close with 25 miles to go. He yelled out “You’re the man!” He is really a good sport, a worthy adversary and a good friend. It was several more minutes before a saw a few more riders. And then it hit me — I realized I now was THAT guy! The guy that I always see going the other way to the finish with a huge time gap on me. I was just 25 miles from the finish but I couldn’t let up. I couldn’t get complacent and I couldn’t get caught!
Red-Eyed Vireo and my friend Escape Goat at the finish of 2009 600km Brevet 375 miles and 18,000 feet of climbing in 27 hours
In the end, all my efforts all my pain and suffering were rewarded with my first win at the Death Valley Double Century. Yes all those conversations with myself paid off 🙂
My equipment and clothing choices were almost perfect. The only thing I would have done differently is the aforementioned poor wheel choice. A lower profile wheel like the Zipp 404 might have been better. The difference between the 404 58mm and the 808 82mm would have made the front end more manageable in the winds. It was tough riding in a paceline and holding a good line. It takes plenty of experience and skill to ride Zipp 808’s in a paceline with the wind conditions we had. I could hear, my friend Wolverine, exclaim when I was blown off my line and he was behind me.
EPIC TRAINING TIP: In bad weather you just have to persevere, endure and eventually you will be rewarded with better weather or even better THE FINISH LINE. The challenge is staying mentally focused and realizing that something has to give to get better. That something shouldn’t be you, it can’t be you, it HAS to be Mother Nature, she has to relent and allow you to pass and continue on your journey. One thing you must do when riding is to embrace mother nature you can’t fight her. She is a worthy antagonist and she brings out the best in you. As the protagonist in this story you will prevail. The hero always prevails. Learn to flow with her not resist her. Be the hero in your story and there are always happy endings!
People often ask me “who do you ride with?” I often reply with “I train alone”. Why do I train alone? Well let’s take Saturday’s double century as an example, I rode alone for 150 miles. For a lot of my friends that’s a full week of training 😉 On many of my double centuries I have been in no man’s land just behind the fast group and ahead of the slow group. I spend lots of time alone at Double Centuries and of course on the Furnace Creek 508 there is no drafting in packs or pace lines it is a essentially a 508 mile time trial.
EPIC TRAINING TIP: If you aspire to be an ultra cyclist then I recommend you train alone at least once or twice a week. You want to be pushed, or need motivation to get out of bed fine join a group ride. But I suggest you ride to and from the group ride. I strongly recommend you ride a solid six-hour training ride ALONE. Why do I train alone? Because 150 breakaway is a lonely time on the road! But it doesn’t have to be. Replay the conversations you’ve had and relive the memories of your dearest friends, your idols, or your family.
I have and idea for the 150 mile “option” of the Death Valley Double Century-why not call it the Furnace Creek 150. It’s interesting to me how many riders DNF (Did Not Finish) the Double Century. It’s a pretty powerful vortex that sucks riders into the Furnace Creek Ranch and doesn’t let them escape 😉
On Sunday the weather was ideal for racing. What a difference a day makes right? 24 little hours ….
Huge thanks to all the volunteers. AdventureCorps for putting together a well supported event. Even with the huge DNF rate AdventureCorps seemed in control. Chris Kostman is a true leader and it showed on Saturday. Huge thanks to my sponsor for covering my entry fees and lodging in Furnace Creek. So many more people to thank: Simple Green/Bike Religion, Swiftwick Socks, SRM Power Meters, Fizik for their saddle and awesome insoles, Woolistic for their 100% Merino wool base layers. Adobo Velo thank you for always inviting me into your family and sharing a meal with me. You guys rock!
George “Red-Eyed Vireo” Vargas places first at the 2011 Death Valley Double Century Southern Route. Finish line photo
One last thing– I had a Police song stuck in my head the whole day and night. The simplicity of this song: three chords, a groovy baseline, steady back beat and the lyrics make this a great song for me. It’s from 1980 – When the world is running down you make the best of what’s still around… Adopt that attitude find things that are positive and still working “when the world is running down..”
Don’t miss Sting in his Speedo’s at 1:20 😉
Turn on my V.C.R.
Same one I’ve had for years
James Brown on the T. A. M. I. show
Same tape I’ve had for years
I sit in my old car
Same one I’ve had for years
Old battery’s running down
It ran for years and years
Turn on the radio
The static hurts my ears
Tell me where would I go
I ain’t been out in years
Turn on the stereo
It’s played for years and years
An Otis Redding song
It’s all I own
When the world is running down
You make the best of what’s still around
When the world is running down
You make the best of what’s still around
Plug in my M.C.I
To exercise my brain
Make records on my own
Can’t go out in the rain
Pick up the telephone
I’ve listened here for years
No one to talk to me
I’ve listened here for years
When the world is running down
You make the best of what’s still around
When the world is running down
You make the best of what’s still around
When I feel lonely here
Don’t waste my time with tears
I run ‘Deep Throat’ again
It ran for years and years
Don’t like the food I eat
The cans are running out
Same food for years and years
I hate the food I eat
When the world is running down
You make the best of what’s still around
When the world is running down
You make the best of what’s still around
When the world is running down
You make the best of what’s still around
When the world is running down
You make the best of what’s still around
George “Red-Eyed Vireo” Vargas at the start of the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic
My friend and Epic Training athlete Carlo 
Loop 3 Pine Creek
Training Peaks WKO Pine Creek Climb
The Final Descent into Pine Valley 
George's Epic Adventures 