Join Ride with GPS and discover even more new routes and riding buddies. Print turn-by-turn cue sheets so you know where you are heading. And then, log your rides and watch your progress.
I remember when I first heard about this route. Patrick had mentioned that he would be riding it and was very much anticipating it. I had to find out what it was about and took a look at the link that told me about the ride and how difficult it would be. I instantly wanted to do it. It was a challenge, a gauntlet. I hate to leave gauntlets there without doing something about it.
As the time went on, it was last year, some time after the initial pre-ride took place. The crowning ride in Max's adventure series. I had ridden the Marin Mountains 200K with Max, Megan, Patrick, Carl and Mike early in the year. By that time I was giving the ride a considerable amount of thought. I had only ridden a 200 miler (double century) as my longest ride. I told Max I was looking forward to the Orr Springs 600K he had put together and he warned me that it shouldn't be my first 600K. Good advice. At the time I didn't realize how difficult it is to ride for 370 odd miles in one ride. I would soon find out. I rode the Fort Bragg 600K Brevet as my first. That was a brutal 1st. I managed to finish a sub-30 and rode through with the use of one 200mg caffeine pill. I never drink caffeinated beverages so I have a very low tolerance. I felt pretty strong but my legs were screaming with pain. I couldn't get comfortable no matter what. As I came into the toll plaza several people were there with Carlos and Tom Haggerty among them. I remember deciding right there that I would not do the Orr Springs 600K. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do another 600K. Tom told me I should do it and that I was one of the stronger riders on the Fort Bragg 600K. Good time.
A few weeks later, I rode my second 600K. The Santa Rosa 600K to Winters and back. This one felt better and I slept a couple of hours. Not sure if this helped or hurt me. But my legs felt better at the end. Still in pain but, really, pretty manageable. It was hot and I like hot. The climb up Hopland grade was awesome.
The next week I rode the Davis 600K. A night start. This was very tough. I took a lot more caffeine pills. The ride before getting to Tobin on Highway 70 was brutal. Reclamation Road tore me apart. I did finish and in 33 hours. I rode that with Matthew Fitzpatrick. I had given him a ride up there and he reserved a room in Oroville and at the end, in Davis. It was good to sleep but that night start was pretty hard to deal with. Too many hours awake before the start. Should have taken the day off and slept.
So, Orr Springs 600K is coming up. Two weeks away. I was planning on doing the Terrible Two but I decided to go back to mountain biking that day. Some mountain biking friends and I usually get together to ride Henry Coe State Park on the hottest day and longest day of the year and ride 50 - 60 miles and 10,000 feet elevation gained. I wouldn't be putting in the miles but Henry Coe Park has some extreme percentage climbs that I like to "clean" (pedal through without putting a foot down). This was the place that made me the road rider that I am today. It was fun riding with friends that I hadn't seen in a while thanks to my road obsession.
In the months and even weeks I am vacillating between doing the Orr Springs 600K and doing something else. When I really thought about it, it scared me. Total respect for dirt climbs on a slick tire, 42-28 minimum geared bike. Many miles. Out in the middle of nowhere. There were times on the Davis 600K I just wanted to stop. Stop and lay down and have someone sweep me up and put me to bed for a long time.
But I signed up, paid. Rob sent me a short reply as usual, "all signed up". I replied that I was scared. He said I'd be fine. I appreciated the encouragement. I had also told Patrick and Metin I feared this ride. They also built up my confidence. A little more than one week before, last minute, not knowing how I would fare; uncharted territory once again. I also signed up for a hotel room. This ride would need sleep in between. This one would hurt for a while afterwards. I also wanted to ride with someone. That was a must. I emailed Metin and we decided to ride together. I was scared. He had done the bulk of the ride so it was a good idea. I could get lost out there and it would be hot. Solo riding was OK for a lot of the SFR Fort Bragg 600K but this was out there.
The day got closer and two nights before, I got my stuff together. I would have to wake up at 1:30am to get ready and then drive to San Francisco to be there by 3:30am. I have been late to rides before but I absolutely COULD NOT let that happen on this one. Sports Basement had allowed us to park in their lot so that would help out. Huge thanks for Rob in arranging this.
I got my stuff together and rode up to San Francisco. Sports Basement. I had a map, cue sheet, telling me how to get there. I'd been there before but always need a reminder for the 1st twelve times going anywhere. As I'm driving on 19th Avenue, I see a car with a road bike. Had to be a fellow randonneur. I stay close, follow. It would make it easier that way. As I get ready to turn on McDowell, the car stays on Lincoln. I turn a bit confused but follow my directions. Maybe that person had a faster route.
I park and get ready. I see Roland Bevan. We plan on sharing a room but he tells me I have to pay if I get there first. I'll deal with that when the time comes, many, many hours away. For some reason I have never seen Roland riding. He apparently rides a recumbent bike. It sinks in as I ride that that type of bike and this type of route are very, very wrong for each other. But, I think my bike might be similarly wrong also. I see Patrick who had got in a bit later. He packs his things and I wait and we both ride to the toll plaza, plenty of time to sign up.
We are off. Familiar start. We divert from the bike path and head toward Highway 1. The riding is good. Big pace-line and we are all staying together for much of Highway 1. We see the first information control in a blur. The weather is a bit cold. Fog, sometimes quite heavy, surrounds us and keeps it cool hiding the portent of the northern climes and what lay ahead on Sunday in a land far, far off.
Our next control in Bodega Market in Occidental we ride off of Highway 1 on the lovely Bohemian Highway. Really a nice area and scenes of early morning on the SFR Fort Bragg 600K crop up in my head. We stop for food, snacks and water. I try and drink more as I know I will need it. It is getting warmer so I take off my jacket. Arm and leg warmers remain as there is still some fog in the air and I am part reptile.
Metin and I take off. I assume the group will disperse but I am pleasantly surprised when I hear sounds of road bikes behind me. Steffen and Eric Marshall join us and we ride enjoying Steffen's long and greatly told story about a flesche ride a while back involving a hurrying pace to catch a train. I tell Steffen that I cannot top that story. I wish I had more long anecdotes for long rides. So useful and entertaining.
Bits and pieces including the pretty Austin Creek Road lead us to a very significant climb, our first. King Ridge Road. It is very steep in places and I am quite impressed. I know steep and it is satisfying to get that on a ride. This was a long one and was quite satisfying to top it when we finally did.
We come upon another control, informational. We answer the question. There are quite a lot of fire trucks in the area and we have to weave our way through those. No emergency it seems. Maybe just a training exercise. Going down Skaggs Springs Road the 4 of us are tooling along passing cattle grates and one comes from around a corner and catches Metin's wheel just right. We stop. Metin insists that I ride on but I have time. Besides, it gives me time to eat a chocolate cookie I got from the Bohemian Market in Occidental. I had been trying to open the packages most of the way up King Ridge unsuccessfully. Plus I can take off more layers including my foot warmers. Not long after we stop Patrick and Megan whizz by. Patrick yells "boo!" floating a bit of sympathy Metin's way.
We take off and up the road Patrick is on the side of the road with Megan fixing a flat. Same grate, just took longer. We fly down the rest of the road being careful to avoid potholes and soon we are on Highway 1 again. This time it is windy. Very. Metin pulls for a while. I am just getting ready to take over when Patrick and Megan pass. We catch the Herlihy Express and get carted all the way to Gualala. An open control we opt for the Surf Market. A break while we eat and soon we are off for what should be the namesake for the ride, Fish Rock Road. I have feared this road for some time. I heard about it through the Pre-Orrdained ride and it sounded impressive.
Pacific Wood Road gave us a portent of our trials ahead. Then Old Stage as the climb eased. Then, Fish Rock Road. Boy. Dirt. Steep. Ball bearing-like rocks all over. This would be tough. I bulled ahead and found this was to my liking. Very much so. I had to go faster since my gears are so high. Soon, I looked back and there was no one. I continued on, not wanting to stop. Must of looked impressive from back there. This is what I love. Remorseless climbing, endless and just about to loose and almost slipped off many times. Yet I didn't. I didn't put a foot down at all. Only afterwards while on the corner of Fish Rock Road after all the climbing was in hand and a lovely downhill to CA-128 while I let out some ballast discretely. They won't catch up I told myself. I rode into Boonville solo and took my time buying food and relaxing. I had an ice-cream sandwich for desert. Soon Metin showed up. We ate, then we took off. We are joined by Eric, Tom and Ernesto.
Sights look familiar from the SFR Fort Bragg Ride and we pass Philo and Indian Creek which was a great memory. Wonderful control. Soon we hit Flynn Creek Road. I am feeling quite good and we are pace lining loosely. A bit looser as Eric leads after a while and I am right behind. The others fall back and we charge on. It feels good to be bombing down this road and making time. We hope to be in Ukiah by midnight so we can get some sleep. Distances are so different with a bike. But you really just keep going and surprise yourself just by keeping some kind of pace. Mentally you can mess with yourself by thinking about the long, long gaps of only riding, riding. Maybe best to put your mind in neutral and think of other things.
We get to the control and stop while we all regroup and answer the informational control. Comptche-Ukiah Road is up next but we are in need of water. I have been accused of being a camel by Matthew Fitzpatrick and I always seem to have more water then anything else. Tom is real low, a half a bottle and I give him half of my full bottle. But soon we see a guy in front of his house walking to his door. We stop him and ask if he knows of a water source. He offers us water from his tap and we are very grateful. It happens to be very good water. Water would become an issue tomorrow but surprising solutions appear. We thank him and continue on. I would do the same, definitely for a bunch of marathon riders. Total respect for that sort of thing.
Larson Grade is up next. Some decent climbs, not anything too taxing. Enjoyable as we all have great time passing conversations with various people at various times. Metin and I stop to put on our lights and reflective gear as it is getting dark. Four miles to the top and a nice descent marred by potholes to dodge in the dark. It becomes a game with me. A live action video game but live. My bag feels a bit loose but I don't have time to move the bungi cord back on it. While I got my jacket out, I failed to lash it down. Now I had that unsettled feeling. A portent of future disaster?
The downhill is long, a bit taxing with the bad road surface. I take it easier than the rest. Finally on a section before a downhill, Ernesto tells me my bag is jumping around with that cool accent of his. I don't understand him at first but finally understand. I stop and pull the bungi to strap over the bag so it is stable. I shouldn't worry about being dropped at that point. The long and tortuous climb to Orr Springs Resort is looming and most people don't drop me on hill climbing. It is usually where I catch up. My equalizer.
Then we have it. The mighty Orr Springs Road climb. It does not disappoint. There is no, "yeah, but when does the hard stuff happen?". No, this is the hard stuff. On and on and no letting up. The good thing is a long downhill is on the way. We pass, get passed, change positions and we talk and we roll forward. Pushing on. Some would downshift into their small rings and these roads are what you have a triple for. I've never known a triple except for on my mountain bike. That bike is a long way from where I am now. Metin mentions that on the cue sheet is say that you will see the lights of Ukiah when the downhill is nearing. Finally we notice lights down below. Our long descent is about to commence.
Yup! Downhill in the dark. Tom and I are out front and he is taking it faster. I linger and take it easy. I feel uneasy in the dark. I will feel a whole lot better when we get to the control. Our time is good! Nearing 11:30pm. With that we would be able to get 2 or 3 hours sleep. Metin has the times worked out on a cue sheet and it is very useful for all of the ride. By the way, Metin has taken the lead at this point. We are wondering if he is already in Ukiah.
Downhill descent complete. We roll into Ukiah and through the streets of Ukiah. Funny how long 3 miles is when you are so close to a control. Especially when you are really ready for a break. We are getting close. Suddenly my bike feels funny. I'm thinking, "oh, great. A flat". Then I am having trouble controlling the bike and veering into traffic. Luckily the traffic is light. Then I feel a bit of a "sinking" feeling in front of my bike. Alright, that's it. I clip off and take a look at the front part of my bike. What I see doesn't make too much sense. My front brakes are jammed into my tire preventing it from rolling. I look to the fork and see the problem, but reality seems to be taking a holiday in my brain. My forks are broken and pitched forward. I am dead in the water. How is it that it happened now and not on the downhill? Amazingly lucky I feel but at the same time I feel a sucker punch in my stomach. My bike! What do I do? We are all together at this point and I mention it to everyone else. They are glad it didn't happen sooner. And feel bad for me.
I put the bike on my shoulder and we make it to the Ukiah Control, Best Western. It is obvious which room it is. I walk up and Angela and Paul are there. Paul has a camera and looking at his shots, I am very grateful he had it. He is very good at capturing the moment. And, that was a moment to capture, at least for me. I am torn between impressing everyone and extreme depression for my only road bike. So many miles, it has carried me far. It has had its share of issues. I believe I have been pushing its limits in some ways. But, that feeling of almost relief also. But the horror the those three letters float into my brain. D! N! F! Which makes me feel like a quitter. My own thing, Even though it is entirely not my fault, I still think poorly of myself. This would be my first. I am slowly resigning myself the those letters. Angela will take me back in the morning along with my shattered bike. I was thinking that I would have to call my roommate and ask a JUPITER SIZED FAVOR!!! Luckily, at least I don't have to make that call. I am very grateful for that.
Then Angela senses my feelings and asks if she can find a bike for me, would I want to ride on and complete the brevet? My mind is in the almost relief side of the decision and I am a bit on the fence. I say yes, a bit indecisive and uneasy. I grab the room upstairs and go to sleep.
In what seems like an eternity, I am woken up by a hesitant a polite voice. Steffen has come up to my room and is offering his bike so that I can erase that D! N! F! My mind was still in relief and give up mode of this ride. I really didn't think this scenario would present itself. But, somehow, it has. I tell Steffen, or I hear myself telling Steffen that I will get ready. He says I can try it out in the parking lot to get a bit comfortable. He has lowered the seat by the time I come down, and it is not long. I have learned to be ready to ride at the drop of a hat, or helmet. It feels pretty good. Steffen had mentioned that it is a 61cm. That worries me. Later I find that it has 650b tires. I ride it briefly and it feels surprisingly good. Tom is out there giving me confidence. Pedals are an issue as they are flat pedals and I am used to clipping in. Why wouldn't you, especially for stuff like Fish Rock Road and Orr Springs and King Ridge and, and, and, too many and's. Also, the seat was hard as rock. That would hurt. But, Blue Tentacles is a fast bike. Great brakes and no issues whatsoever as far as potential mechanicals. I was getting more confident.
Tom and I get ready to take off. We wonder where Metin is. Angela says still asleep as she has kept a keen on on the comings and goings of the riders. Tom and I take off anyway. I feel kind of bad about this, unsure. This coupled with the uncertainty of riding in a pace line with an unfamiliar bike. I don't want to slow anybody and really don't have that luxury anyway if finishing on time is a desire. And it definitely is. We turn on Talmage Road and then Old River Road chatting about different things. I feel pretty refreshed after the sleep. I brought essential, not much more. One of those is 200mg caffeine pills. Plenty. We talk about Metin and if he already is ahead of us or still at the motel asleep. We didn't know which room he was in. Need to plan better in the future. No one on the road at all! Then we see a single light. Bike light? Has to be. No engine sound. It must me Metin! He catches up, he had to pour it on to do that. I am very happy. Perfect group to ride back. Not too large and we all will encourage each other the whole way, in a silent way.
We come the the round-a-bout and soon come by a bridge where Metin tells us to donate fluids to the parched river. It is bone-dry. We all let off the extra ballast. Then we ride on and hit the dirt in the dark. Lights still on, this climb in the dirt is my least favorite. Maybe the pitch isn't enough, maybe it is uncomfortable climbing in the dark on a slippery, dirt road. Dunno. I wasn't happy. I suppose getting used to the bike was a big factor. I really like the upstroke of being clipped in. It feels like I have more control also. That is one thing I am glad I learned. But we all ride differently. I keep my misery to myself and continue on. Good group and the talking is always helpful.
We get near the top. Informational control. Brevet cards appear in triplicate. We count. We scrawl our answers. We roll. Soon downhill. Soon we acquire pavement. Relief sets in. Downhill and pavement good. We roll at our comfortable speeds. I am getting more comfortable by the mile. And downhills are starting to be very much fun on this bike. Although I'd like to be clipped in. Details.
We ride along after the downhill. Thirty miles. Turns help. Long straight sections make it tough but for a while we are on the flat and there are short sections with a lot of turns. Rides need this. Gives the brain a break, breaks things up. Monotony is relieved. The weather is heating up. A lot of miles with no water in sight. We ride and our water dwindles. Mine, not as fast (you are a camel, Matthew jokes in my brain). We see Bob Redmond on the side of the road and he gives us a loud encouragement! That feels so GOOD! One we ride now with a bit of a charge. Up Bottle Rock Road. Now that I think about it, must be because of the obsidian littered all on the cliffs as we climb. Conversations lead to water more often now. Then, as we are climbing, something unexpected and unbelievably good happens. A cooler appears on the side of the road with the letters Orr 600K on it. We can't believe it but stop and open it up. Cold water is there, many bottles. We fill up and drink. So good to have cold water at this point. Wow. Bob is a saint! After a short break we continue our climb.
Then decent. Metin tells us the good news that this descent will take us all the way to Middletown where we have another informational control. We can also stop in a store and get food, ice cream, good things for the body. The descent if faaaaast and fun. This bike is a corker. Blue Tentacles can fly, maaaaan! I enjoy it but feel a bit unstable.
We come into Middletown, answer the control question. We also stop for food and cold items. Funny how the world just continues on even though your world is so different on a long ride. People don't know what this is about. There is so much that is all about just keeping on. Mentally tough, hang on, put your mind in neutral, gut up and just do it. Pain doesn't matter. You have to continue on. Such an experience.
Not far to Western Mines Road. By now it has gotten really hot. Hot, and a dusty climb ahead. As usual, I don't know what to expect and am a bit fearful of these dirt climbs. Metin jokes that as soon as I hit the dirt I will take off. Different bike. Gears are strange, too low. Hard to find what is comfortable. We do hit the dirt. Metin takes the lead and Tom and I are back. But soon I find a good gear and take off as the pitch increases. That and the unsettled surface makes for what I seem to be enjoying the best of all on this ride. The challenge of slicks and climbing on loose dirt. I wait at the top. It takes a while but soon Metin and Tom are with me again. I don't even realize there is a control here. Brevet cards appear…and stand there.
Downhill, dirt at first then bad pavement. The downhill is long and treacherous. The few cars we see don't move out of the way but we are cautious and take it easy around turns. But the speeds are fast. Long, long downhill. Long. It just goes and goes. FInally the bottom where it hits Highway 128. I wait for Metin (in the sun, or course). Here he is. We wait for Tom. We wait some more. Metin suggests waiting in the shade. We do. We wait. We contemplate riding up the road. It seems like a terribly bad idea. Finally I ride up the road a bit. Ah, there's Tom. He hit a pothole and got a pinch flat. He didn't think it took that long. Time stretches for some, others it shrinks. All together again, we ride on.
A bunch of turns. I don't have a cue sheet so when I lead the pace line, Tom or Metin calls out direction. Pulling is something I am getting better at. I am starting to enjoy it. It can be heroic, especially when you can pull someone for many miles while they recover. I want to be that hero sometime.
Safeway, Sebastopol. I know this town. Patrick, Brian Koss and I made a detour on a 200K in the past to check out a showing of Megan's printed work. So long ago. Before the 600K bug hit me. The Safeway was good. Question answered. Cold refreshments ascertained. Body refreshed. Tempers flair briefly as a woman in a truck comes a bit close to a pedestrian. I eat macaroni and chess which is good. Egg rolls aren't as good. Vegetables are way over cooked. But, hey, Safeway (new logo alert).
Metin leads the way and we try to escape Sebastopol in the heat. Not so easy. The route is funny and Metin's gps isn't happy. Then Metin's tire inexplicably goes flat. Slowly. We all stop and Metin starts the task of changing the tube. He can't seem to find what caused it. Always a worry. Will it happen again? I run my hand on the inside of his tire for several minutes. Nothing. It is hot. We are in a town far away. The natives are all pissed off, I can feel their bad vibes. Metin puts in a new tube and we continue on, snaking through the streets until we get to a long section by the name of Bloomfield Road. A very loud mini pick-up truck drives toward us and the driver flips us up. I am a bit pissed off myself and return the gesture. It feels good for a while.
The riding is hot but it is really pretty. We hit Valley Ford Road and that is good. Familiar turf. We are getting close. Feelings of confidence that we will finish on time conflict with anxiety of failure. This continues even to Camino Alto for me. We climb Carmody Road. Metin informs us that this is common Max ending section to rides. Chileno Valley Road, we ride on. We anticipate Wilson Hill.
Soon we are climbing. We dispense with the climb eventually. Another informational control. Just down Wilson Hill. Brevet cards fly out and pens are bandied about, scribbling away…no. Metin takes a picture and I memorize the answer. We will fill it in later. At the end. We must continue on. Time is of the essence. I'm starting to believe we can make it. I get the feeling that I might have a flat. I ask Metin but he says it is fine.
We stop at the Cheese Shop to fill with water. So often, we are really drinking a lot. It has cooled down a lot as the sea air feels nice. I lead us to Nicasio Valley Road and then Metin takes over. The hills. We know them well.
Soon we are on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. That is a good feeling. Time is winding down, though. We must carry on. We count the hills. White Hill is next. Ride, ride. Keep going. These last miles are easier because of familiarity but tougher because there is so many miles on the legs. But we gain confident. No flats. No mechanicals. I get the feeling that if we have even one flat, it will kill it. Tom jokes that if one of us has any issues that it is every man for himself. Let's just not let it happen.
We hit the descent into Fairfax flying. Then the wiggle. Tom gets ahead and we reel him in. Then Metin gets ahead. Finally we get to Camino Alto and climb. Then downhill. Then the light. We all are together once again at the light at East Blithedale. We wait. Bike path. It takes an eternity. We patiently pedal. Hopes just might turn into positive reality. Then we are on Bridgeway, after the light. Sauselito, and Alexander. Climb. Then the bridge. Three pillars. It is very cold on the bridge and the wind is blowing hard. Mercifully the bike traffic is minimal. It is nearing 7:00pm. It is all over at the 40 hour mark: 8:00pm. We got it. Just a little farther.
Wind around the masses of people and we pull into the toll plaza. A large cheer and it hits me very hard that it is complete. I am hit with a giant ball of emotion and could easily start bawling away, loudly crying. Such a long and hard effort. So many moods, events, obstacles, grit and pain. Hard to believe. I see Steffen at the end. He had given me his address in Berkeley and phone number making me promise to bring his bike back after the ride. I take it and absolutely assure him I will. I think about that on the way back nearing the end and I am glad he is there. What a kind soul to lend his bike to me. One brevet, two bikes. No D! N! F!. I did it. Jenny asks if I want a cream cheese bagel. I say yes. She brings me hot chocolate also. The taste is so good. I did it. Epic and the toughest ride ever. Thanks Max for such a great opportunity!
Page Views: | 363 |
Departed: | 28 jun 2014 03:46 |
Starts in: | San Francisco, CA, US |
Distance: | 383,5 mi. |
Selected distance: | 383,5 mi. |
Elevation: | + 29539 / - 29412 ft |
Max Grade: | |
Avg Grade | |
Cat | |
FIETS | |
VAM | |
Ascent time | |
Descent time | |
Total Duration: | 39:36:26 |
Selection Duration: | 142586 |
Moving Time: | 28:11:31 |
Selection Moving Time: | 28:11:31 |
Stopped Time: | 11:24:55 |
Max Speed: | 44,8 mph |
Avg Speed: | 13,6 mph |
Pace: | 00:06:11 |
Moving Pace: | 00:04:24 |
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.
Estimated Time shows a prediction of how long it would take you to ride a given route. This number is based on your recent riding history, and represents an estimate of moving time. Each time you upload a new ride, your Estimated Time profile will adjust to reflect your most recent riding. Only rides exceeding 10 miles (16 km) will affect these estimates.
Go BasicOur Basic members have unrestricted access to everything we offer in our mobile apps. Learn more by visiting our Compare Plans page.
Vertel ons iets over uzelf
Rock solid GPS logging, helpful navigation, live logging and more are all available when you install our app.