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Marin Mountains
I signed up hoping to complete the adventure series for a third year. The other 3 were difficult but felt pretty confidant in completing them. And I did staying with the lead group for a portion of the time on all of them. This ride would be different. I'm not the fastest dirt climber and the conditions might not be that great. The threat of rain, mud and other things that come along with water falling from the sky torrentially for hours.
The weather forecast was changing all week. First it was Thursday only. Then it was rain on Friday and a break, then rain in the evening on Saturday. Then it was rain starting at noon on Saturday in earnest. We ended up getting lucky.
I carpooled with Brian Koss to the start. We assembled our bikes, signed in and soon we were off. No oath this time. A true adventure then.
A group of 9, 10 eventually starting. We rode across the bridge, rode through Sausalito, the bike path, then up Highway 1. The climbing began and I rode up to the leaders. This ride would be different. I fell back after a while and back to the back. Along Highway 1 a new rider (Steve) from the east coast was riding along. I rode up to talk with him. Steve. Eventually we got to the start of Gravity Car Road and rode up to Mt. Tamalpais as Eric and Megan had caught up. I was lagging but with the others for most of it. We got to the gate and found others up there. We rode on to the highest paved road in Marin. After a fun downhill it was a dirt climb.
The dirt was good for climbing. Rocky Ridge is pretty scary on the downhills. Steep pitches on the climb. I managed to stay upright and inflated all the way down to the lake. Last coupled of times I crashed. Experience and luck I suppose. Bon Tempe Dam was beautiful. Just a bit of sun. We rode to the control, dealt with that and then onto the water stop. We were off again.
Up Bolinas-Fairfax Road. I remembered riding this road years ago on my mountain bike between dirt. It was a groaner back then and still quite a climb. Eric, Megan and I all caught up. Steve had gotten a slow leak from a pinch flat and was repair it. We decided to continue since it was going to be a tough job to finish. Every minute counted.
The climb up Pine Mountain Fire Road was tough but doable. I dabbed once but cleaned the rest. A mountain biker complimented me on my climbing with the bike I had. I felt pretty good. I continued on almost catching Megan and Eric but it was not to be. I hit a long stretch of mud, clay and sticky mud on San Geronimo Fire Road. I had picked up a stick earlier as I guessed I would have problems. After the worst of it I rode along scrapping the tires with the stick.
I got to the next control and answered it then continued on, solo and feeling a bit down of my lack of speed. These things get into your head and you must just continue. the fear of the DNF was looming.
The ride down to the road on Sylvestris Fire Road was scary as usual. Maybe a bit better from the rain. At the bottom there was a woman at the gate. She had a rather large dog on a leash (luckily) that started barking holy hell at me! Ahhhh! This happened last year too. Weird.
Now it was road. The road to Marshall. Cross Sir Francis Drake and then Nicasio and soon climbing the Marshall wall. All the while feeling slow and tired. The downhill was fun and much appreciated.
I got to Marshall and got a cookie and a peach soda. I really needed a Gatorade. They don't do that there. I'm getting ready to go and I'm surprised as Brian Koss and Froste show up. Wow! just the pick-me-up I needed. I'm surprised to see Brian. Apparently he got lost on Pine Mountain Fire Road riding 6 extra miles with a bunch of climbing. I decide to wait and then ride with them. I should have taken off. Brian's food takes an eternity.
We ride and I'm still feeling slow. Into Point Reyes Station and to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. I drop off along the way thinking I wouldn't be able to keep up with those 2.
Up the long climb of Mount Vision. Always tough. As I am climbing I see Brian ahead. I thought for sure he and Froste would ride to the end together. I get to the top and answer the control question and soon am descending the dicey single track downhill made tougher by the rain. I catch Brian on an uphill. He is beat. I am similar. We ride together down and across to Linantour Road. A nice downhill.
We both need food and a break. The thought of DNF looms louder now. Minutes are precious. We order many things and eat some of them. Just enough to carry on and I finally got my Gatorade. Boy, did I need that.
As we are about to ride the rain starts in earnest. Brian looks longingly at the Sir Francis Drake sign wanting to end it. I say we have to try. Riding Highway 1 is miserable. I have neoprene gloves (what would I do without those?) and don't bother with booties. No glasses either. They would just make it difficult to see.
After an eternity (ah, getting late!) we start the climb up Randall Trail. Really tough. I manage to make it and Brian is right behind. The food and break has done us good and we feel strong. The rain is coming down steadily. The water piles up in the trail.
It is then the Bolinas Ridge Trail. Reasonable. No mud. Wet. We deal with the control (memorize it and read what the next one is). Onward. I am determined to finish on time. My talent for riding in this rain with large olympic sized swim pools of water that go up to your knees is something to behold! Brian has troubles falling in water a couple of times. I am in the lead pulling and hoping as we try to make time. It seems we do and even though it is a slog, we make good time. The puddles are amazingly deep! My feet are soaked and I power through them. I sometimes guess shallow, sometimes deep. I only partially fall once but catch with my foot, right myself and power on. I stop occasionally and see Brian catch up. Hills and roots are powered over and I only walk a coupled of steep hills. No time is lost. Forward or DNF.
After an eternity we hit pavement. Brian gets his lights on and I mine. Ridgecrest Road and the seven sisters! Good. I wanted to get to here for a while. We ride abreast of each other, casually. I heard later that the wind was so bad that riders had to walk their bikes for fear of being pushed off! The sunset is starting to show color. It is still raining pretty hard. We get to Rock Spring Trailhead and can't find the control quesion-answer. We decide to go anyway. And fast. Before Brian comments that the control question isn't necessary since with won't finish on time. I tell him we have to finish on time.
The road is downhill, wet, raining hard and fast. 5 miles of fun. It was 10 minutes to 6pm when we finished with the Bolinas Fairfax Trail. I knew it would be close. My thoughts were how I would feel if I DNF'd. The next day, the sobbing. That hollow feeling. The apologies. The pain. The lack of being able to get up in the morning. People telling me "it's ok, it happens". Nooooo! Faster, faster. Must finish on time. Highway 1 and then past Tennesee Valley Road. I am recounting all the sights of the morning ride out. Where I am time-wise. I want to know yet don't want to know how much time we have. We get on the bike path. Totally deserted, slick and we ride on.
Finally at the end I realize we will be hitting a large puddle. I ride through it fast, fast, fast! Brian comments, "more water". Not like our feet aren't completely drenched anyway. We just want to get back and get home. But in the mean time, the chase is unbeatable. Brian tells me it is 7 minutes to 7pm. We are close. A brisk scamper though Sausalito. Fewer people there since the rain. Up the hills and soon across the bridge. We come onto Lincoln avenue and continue until the finish! Max is there to tell us we made it! Yayyy! Was that tough or what. One minute to go. We are the last but we didn't DNF! So good to be though. Amazing ride. That one will stay with me a long time.
By: | plymmer |
Started in: | Sunnyvale, CA, US |
Distance: | 24.9 mi |
Selected: | 24.9 mi |
Elevation: | + 529 / - 542 ft |
Moving Time: | 01:46:20 |
Gear: | 2010 Volagi Viaje |
Page Views: | 31 |
Departed: | Oct 18, 2016, 6:41 am |
Starts in: | Sunnyvale, CA, US |
Distance: | 24.9 mi |
Selected distance: | 24.9 mi |
Elevation: | + 529 / - 542 ft |
Max Grade: | |
Avg Grade | |
Cat | |
FIETS | |
VAM | |
Ascent time | |
Descent time | |
Total Duration: | 11:16:22 |
Selection Duration: | 40582 |
Moving Time: | 01:46:20 |
Selection Moving Time: | 01:46:20 |
Stopped Time: | 09:30:02 |
Max Speed: | 21.2 mph |
Avg Speed: | 14.1 mph |
Pace: | 00:27:08 |
Moving Pace: | 00:04:16 |
Best format for turn-by-turn directions on modern Garmin Edge Devices
Best format for turn by turn directions on Edge 500, 510. Will provide true turn by turn navigation on Edge 800, 810, 1000, Touring including custom cue entries. Great for training when we release those features. Not currently optimal for Virtual Partner.
Useful for uploading your activity to another service, keeping records on your own computer etc.
Useful for any GPS unit. Contains no cuesheet entries, only track information (breadcrumb trail). Will provide turn by turn directions (true navigation) on the Edge 705/800/810/1000/Touring, but will not have any custom cues. Works great for Mio Cyclo. Find GPS specific help in our help system.
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