I've never done the Solvang Century, but I did do the Solvang Double Century back in 2001. I was just a young kid back then. An up and coming bike racer trying to balance USCF bike racing and these crazy endurance rides. It was a last minute decision. I drove from Huntington Beach at 3am to make the start just in time in Solvang. Yes, drive 180 miles, bike 200 miles and then drive 180 miles home. I remember showing up at the last minute and giving Hugh Murphy 80 dollars. He said ok and that was it. No route slip, no number and no wrist band. That's how things were done back in the old days. I guess I was in pretty good shape because I remember being in the lead pack and leaving lunch with about 8 other people. After each taking turns on the front we came to this long straight road that looked like it was a 1-2% grade for several miles. Since I didn't have a route slip this would be a good spot to pull and not worry about any turns. This was around the 130 mile mark and I felt pretty good. After giving a good pull on the front for 10-15 minutes, I looked back and only 1 rider was still on my wheel. It was the only female able to hang in the lead pack all day and I could tell she was sponsored by Hammer Gel. So I eased up and told her I didn't have a route slip and didn't know the next turn. This was no problem for her, she had a route slip and trains on these roads all the time. After talking some more, I learn that she is Cassie Lowe, the 2000 Womens RAAM Champion. For those of you who have never heard of RAAM (Race Across America) it is a bike race from the west coast to the east coast (3000 miles). The race is won on sure will and sleep deprevation in about 8-9 days. We arrive at the next rest stop (150 miles) and nobody is there, that's how it was back in the old days. She said there was a gas station nearby where we could get something to eat and drink. I didn't have a route slip and she was my golden ticket to the finish. The closer we got to the finish the faster we kept riding knowing we were going to go under 10 hours for 200 miles. We arrive at the Hotel finish and noboby is there, so we get a pad of paper from the desk and write our names down with our time. Total time from start to finish was 9 hours and 50 minutes. Riding time was probably 9 hours 20 minutes. (Cassie also went on to win RAAM again in 2001)
The 2012 Solvang Double Century started off the same way. I didn't feel like driving up there on Friday, so I woke up early Saturday and drove 180 miles in the morning. Took off with all the top dogs at 7:30am and stayed with them till we hit the first major climb at mile 25. I'm not even close to the shape I used to be in but I still like to give it a good try. Then I rode with a few other riders who were also dropped to the first rest stop at mile 41. There was a bunch of people at the rest stop but the fast guys had already left. As I'm filling my water bottles I notice a good size group of guys leaving and think they would be perfect to ride with. After chasing this group of 10 guys for 15 minutes I finally catch them and can now get a rest. The rest doesn't last long because they slow down to regroup with some other riders in their club. Now, I'm on my own passing all these other riders who left early before my 7:30 late start. Most of the turns are at lights or T-intersections and of course I miss the one that isn't. I knew a turn should've been coming up so I just kept going and going up this climb and then decided to go back when I couldn't see any turn up ahead. I finally get back on course and have to pass up the same riders again till the next stop at mile 86. I'm hoping to find some good riders to ride with because it's not fun riding these things by yourself. Knowing that all these riders I passed are too slow I take off solo. I make the 100 mile mark in 5 hours so I'm right on time. The lunch stop is next at mile 113 so maybe I'll hook up with some decent riders there. I saw a couple groups leave but I wasn't done with my sandwich and bottles, so I'm off solo again. I'm really enjoying the ride as I'm riding through Shell Beach and Pismo Beach and then I hit the headwind from HELL at mile 130. For the next 10 miles was a headwind till the next stop at mile 141. I'm really drained after riding the last 100 miles solo and the headwind to boot. I see a familiar looking jersey at this rest stop and tell him "That's my tri-clubs jersey". It turns out his name is Rene Rodarte and he has done several Ironman races and Ultra trail runs. We leave the stop together and then for the first time all day some dude finally passes me. He is wearing a Vineman jersey, so I take off and hunt him down and wait for him to slow down. He doesn't slow down, this Vineman guy is trying to drop me on a little rise and then the descent after. I can tell he doesn't want me on his wheel and doesn't want to work together so I let him go. 10 minutes later Rene comes by behind a tandem and a few other riders. I finally get what I've been looking for and latch on to the back of this group. There's still 20 miles to go into the Headwind from Hell. Riding solo I was going 9-11mph but with this group it was more constant till we reached the next check point at mile 168. I don't have any lights on my bike so I can't stay too long at this rest stop. I've lost Rene and the tandem somewhere. I have a cup of chili and a nutrition shake and I'm off. Solo again but done with the headwind from Hell. Around 180 miles I find a group of guys who are all lit up with lights and finish safely with them. I end up with 202 miles for the day, only 5 miles over the official route. 5 hours for the first 100 miles and 7.5 hours for the second 100. My fitness has sure changed in 11 years but the long 180 mile drive home hasn't. I stopped for a 2 hour nap in Calabasas on the way home.
