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Two days prior to this event I had a cyst removed from my neck. The procedure had been postponed earlier, and I was very disappointed that the new date would probably prevent my attempting my first double century. During the procedure I discussed the Tour de France with the surgeon, and at the end I asked when I could go bicycle riding. He said to take the dressing off the next day, keep the area of the cinches clean and I could go riding the next day. The next day was spent getting the bike ready and fitting it with some lights.
I arrived in Malibu early with plans to get underway as soon after the 4:30 a.m. start time as possible. Late registration went smoothly. Returning to the parking lot to get the bike I found Dave Morris parked next to me. I had been introduced to him a week or two earlier, and he was surprised to see me because of the cyst removal. Dave introduced me to Forrest Roberts and invited me to join them. We were off at 4:45 a.m. headed for Port Hueneme
My front light was one of the new Catseye three LED units. The light was adequate, but our pace was pretty good and I was thankful to have Forrest in front with his bright light and Dave behind me with his dual tail lights. Before we got to Point Mugu there was enough light for me to take the front position and give Forrest a rest. When we got to Point Hueneme our average speed was about 17 mph. Those in the know left jackets and lights in paper shopping bags with their name and number affixed, so they could pick them up on the return to Malibu. I would have worn more clothing had I realized this service. I had only a tee shirt over my jersey for visibility and arm warmers. A jacket would have been nice.
| My bike at the Port Hueneme rest stop. Riders were checked in to each rest stop using the numbers affixed to our bikes or jerseys. |
From Port Hueneme it was off to Moorpark for the next stop. I took the lead for the grade into Moorpark although Forrest took the last part. The grade was not too bad and I was feeling pretty good at Moorpark.
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The rest
stop at Moorpark.
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From Moorpark the next route was via Saticoy to Ventura for the next stop. At Saticoy strong sea breeze head winds were encountered. Once in Ventura the route climbed a little to a park against the hills on the north side of Ventura. There was a short very steep climb into the park.
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The Ventura
rest stop.
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Out of Ventura was another grade up Highway 33 to Ojai and some how I got the lead again although Forrest pulled the last portion. In Ojai there was a full lunch waiting for us and it was about 110 miles into the ride. The lunch was excellent as was the food and support at all of the stops. SAG support was also very visible along the ride route.
| Lunch in Ojai. The burrito was excellent, but some time was required for it to settle in my stomach. |
Forrest tipped me that calcium prevents cramps. I had forgotten this, but he had some Tums and they prevented any serious leg cramps. The coast back to Ventura along the former railroad right of way that is now a bike path was enjoyable. Dave took the point as we went up the coast toward Carpenteria and the next rest stop at Rincon Park. I was glad he was taking the lead, because it was going to take a while for the Tums to do their trick. I had a commercial instant soup in a cup to replenish my electrolytes, and that tasted very satisfying.
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Rincon Park
in Carpenteria just inside the Santa Barbara County line.
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From Carpenteria we returned to Port Hueneme via Ventura along the Pacific Coast Highway and some side streets through Ventura, Oxnard and Port Hueneme. Just before the Port Hueneme rest stop Dave stopped at his mother-in-laws to grab another battery to use on his head light for the return trip to Malibu. At the Port Hueneme rest stop the crew had hot potato soup. Wow, was that good!
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Upon nearing
Ventura the route leaves Pacific Coast Highway to use a short bicycle
path. We stopped briefly to make some adjustments to one of the bikes.
As I looked back toward Carpenteria I recognized this at a 10 GHz amateur
radio installation. I asked the gentleman if his installation was 10
GHz. He responded yes, and commented that of the many people who asked
what he was doing I was the first to recognize what it was. I chuckled
and introduced myself. He was trying to set a distance record to a point
off the coast of Baja California. He was using a TWT with 15 watts output
into the parabolic dish. As we continued south I looked over his path
at the marine layer intensifying and wondered about the water absorption
at 10 GHz.
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We cleared Point Mugu before the sun was totally down. Forrest was struggling a little, so Dave stayed with him to get some food at a fast food place. I paired up with a younger man for the run back to Malibu arriving at the starting point at about 9:15 p.m. I waited for Forrest and Dave to arrive before leaving for a good shower and sleep. I felt good enough about my first double century to invest in a ride jersey at the end. Fortunately they still had one in my size.
My first double century was a great adventure, and I appreciate the help and suggestions provided by Dave and Forrest. Forrest had just completed a transcontinental ride with a group and is a strong lead man. At the end of the ride he discovered his front tire was partly deflated. This coupled with his not having ridden much the previous couple weeks contributed to his struggling a little in the last twenty miles. The joke between us was my commenting to him in the darkness of the start of the ride that he seemed to have excessive drag on the downhills. I was continually braking on the downhills to avoid overtaking him. Needless to say, Dave and I will not let him forget about checking his tires prior to departure!
After the double century I met Dave and Forrest on one of the "corner" rides. Dave had one of those higher powered computers on his bicycle and said that our total accumulated climbing on the double century was about 4800 feet and he and Forrest had an average speed of 14.7 mph for the ride.