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Day: 4
Date: Monday, January 5
Location: Ridgecrest - Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley
Distance: 119-miles
Route: US 127, US 190
Climate: Partly cloudy, breezy, mid-40's to 50's. Downhills were freezing!
Date: Monday, January 5
Location: Ridgecrest - Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley
Distance: 119-miles
Route: US 127, US 190
Climate: Partly cloudy, breezy, mid-40's to 50's. Downhills were freezing!
With pulled hamstrings, a popping hip, and sore butts, there was no way the rookies could cover 119-miles in 9-hours of
daylight and freezing temps early in the morning. Steve and Rob might be able to do it, but they'd be pedaling in the dark for a
riders would descend to the deepest depths of the earth at 280-feet below sea level. The downhill was almost no fun because
With pulled hamstrings, a popping hip, and sore butts, there was no way the rookies could cover 119-miles in 9-hours of it
was so freekin' cold. As soon as we hit the bottom, we started a gradual 5000-ft climb around some mountains deep inside
Death Valley. Surprisingly there was snow everywhere on this climb and we ate lunch near the top. The last time I pedaled a
bike in Death Valley, the temps were 123-degrees in June 2004. Geez! This was the best day of riding so far with each rider
covering most of the distance. Then we finished the day with a huge 15-mile downhill that was fast and numbing. Most of us
hit speeds in the mid-40's mph. The descent ended in Stovepipe Wells Village just as the sun was setting. Then we shuttled
the riders the additional 25-miles to Furnace Creek Ranch. Showers and supper followed and everyone was wasted. We
probably climbed over 10,000-ft today.
Rob and Steve look REAL STRONG! They attack all the climbs aggressively. They are each capable of riding over 100-laps in
the race. I'm anxious to see how they'll do on the track in Florida. Kyle shows some real promise but is difficult to measure
since he is without his bike and is on and off a borrowed bike. He trained with the Cutters last year and will give him a head
start in knowing what to do. It is evident that Derek and the two other rookies JR and Nick showed up without much cycling
training in the fall. So this trip is a real wakeup call and will break them in for the upcoming training season. They both show
much potential.
daylight and freezing temps early in the morning. Steve and Rob might be able to do it, but they'd be pedaling in the dark for a
riders would descend to the deepest depths of the earth at 280-feet below sea level. The downhill was almost no fun because
With pulled hamstrings, a popping hip, and sore butts, there was no way the rookies could cover 119-miles in 9-hours of it
was so freekin' cold. As soon as we hit the bottom, we started a gradual 5000-ft climb around some mountains deep inside
Death Valley. Surprisingly there was snow everywhere on this climb and we ate lunch near the top. The last time I pedaled a
bike in Death Valley, the temps were 123-degrees in June 2004. Geez! This was the best day of riding so far with each rider
covering most of the distance. Then we finished the day with a huge 15-mile downhill that was fast and numbing. Most of us
hit speeds in the mid-40's mph. The descent ended in Stovepipe Wells Village just as the sun was setting. Then we shuttled
the riders the additional 25-miles to Furnace Creek Ranch. Showers and supper followed and everyone was wasted. We
probably climbed over 10,000-ft today.
Rob and Steve look REAL STRONG! They attack all the climbs aggressively. They are each capable of riding over 100-laps in
the race. I'm anxious to see how they'll do on the track in Florida. Kyle shows some real promise but is difficult to measure
since he is without his bike and is on and off a borrowed bike. He trained with the Cutters last year and will give him a head
start in knowing what to do. It is evident that Derek and the two other rookies JR and Nick showed up without much cycling
training in the fall. So this trip is a real wakeup call and will break them in for the upcoming training season. They both show
much potential.
| 2009 Winter Break Training Trip Oxnard, CA to Las Vegas, NV Total Miles: 481 Total Time: 6 Days Total Elevation Gain: 24,205 ft (4.6 vertical miles) |
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