2014 Central Coast Double Century

The Central Coast Double is the first stage of the Stage Race for 2014. The Stage Race is three of the hardest double centuries on the calendar. The lowest combined time from the three rides will determine the winner. The top three riders from last years Stage Race showed up and also the top double rider for the last few years Joel Sothern.
The ride started off very mellow until we started up our first climb. Quickly, we had a six man lead group. Joel and myself were doing most of the pulling. Some squirly guy from San Luis Obispo was just sitting in. I didn't have the proper gearing for the 20+% grade sections of Santa Rosa Creek Rd. I had to stand up and power climb it and was first to the top. The descent down is a very treacherous  section that I almost crashed on 13 years ago. (Back in 2001, I was coming down this crazy descent, I got thrown off road into the gravel and slashed a tire.)  A few of the guys said they were going to take the descent slow, as was I. Next thing I know, they have all left me as I cautiously take this descent. One guy not from our 6 man group (Carl) even passed me on the descent. For the next 5 miles, I had to chase extremely hard to finally get back on. Now it's a 7 man group as we head north up Hwy 1. We were going north 20 miles into a very strong headwind. Brook suddenly broke a spoke, now we have 6 guys. Two more guys got dropped on the Hwy 1 rolling climbs. At mile 87, it's a four man group as we approach the deciding climb of the day. Nacimiento is a 7 mile climb with some very steep grades in the first 3.3 miles of the climb. At about 2.5 miles into the climb, I finally had to let Joel go. My standard crank set-up (not compact) with a 26 cassette on the back, just didn't cut it. Had I known it was going to ease up in 1/2 a mile, I would have stayed on. All I knew was that it was a 7 mile climb, next time I'll know. Joel had a minute plus lead on me coming into the lunch stop at mile 116. He filled up his bottles and was leaving as I pulled in. I took my time. I went to the restroom and was going to grab some food. Carl came in shortly after and I gladly waited for him to go to the restroom and grab some food. Thank god, I waited for Carl. For the next 10 miles we headed into a crazy headwind. We stayed together most of the way, until the climbing got too much for Carl. At the 120 mile mark, I was left on my own. I never saw Joel again. I take my time at rest stops, as I would leave a stop, Carl would be coming in. More headwinds and crosswinds but mostly tailwinds to the finish. 2nd place for the day. http://www.strava.com/activities/139782784
1st place - Joel 11:26
2nd place - Rod 11:46
3rd place - Carl 11:50

Hemet Double Century - 1st place overall

My history with the Hemet Double Century.
2003 - 3rd place http://www.inlandempirecycling.com/HemetDC/rslt2003.htm
2004 - 1st place http://www.inlandempirecycling.com/HemetDC/rslt2004.htm#M200
Last year I was planning to do it, but I couldn't get up at 4am to make the drive.

This year was a different story. I woke up at 4am and made it there just in time for the 6am start. Most riders start between 4 and 6am depending how long they think they're going to take. When I was finally ready to leave, I checked out at 6:17am. I was dead last and ready to start picking everybody off. I had passed 5 riders by the time I arrived at the 1st rest stop at mile 36. I passed another 10 when I reached rest stop #2 (mile 65). Now I can see riders up the road everywhere and that helps me not make a wrong turn and get lost. By the time I finish the first loop (107 miles) I quickly check the sign in sheet and only 20-30 riders have checked in. Most of them started at 4-5am. Pork and pasta for lunch and I'm ready to go.
The 2nd loop had less stop lights, more climbing and a mean headwind. I reach the first rest stop for the 2nd loop (137 miles) and Frank Neal tells me I'm the first double century rider there. That's a good thing to hear, but I also know I'm not going to see anybody up the road for the rest of the day. I take off knowing it's going to be a very lonely 70 miles to the finish. While I'm daydreaming about my victory, I look back and see a rider in white about 20 seconds back. I quickly surge up to 25mph into the headwind. I'm going to make this guy work if he thinks he's going to get a free ride for the next 65 miles to the finish. Now I have a nice little climb that I surge over and that should do it. I reach the next stop at 163 miles and they are happy to see me, I'm the first rider there. I was there a little too long (10 minutes) and while I'm leaving the next rider comes in wearing a white RAAM jersey. I lose 5 minutes at one point in Lake Elsinore thinking I'm lost. I wasn't, just didn't understand the route slip. Last rest stop at 179 miles and they're happy to see me too (1st one there). I don't really crave any food there so I fill up a bottle and take off. I tried to keep the pace up but the headwind and crosswinds were rough. Not much fanfare at the finish. No reporters or cameras. Just good food, more pork, pasta, cake and rice crispy treats.
1st Place Overall
http://www.inlandempirecycling.com/HemetDC/index.htm
First Loop - 5:36
Second Loop - 5:46
http://www.strava.com/activities/129663530

2014 Desert Duathlon

3rd place age group
4th overall male

2014 Camino Real Double Century

I started off this year in better shape than normal for February. Missed 4 weeks due to the flu, had 2 weeks to train for a half marathon and 2 weeks after the half, to train for Camino. My weight is down back to where I like it. I'm starting to feel like I can do anything on the bike again.

My plan was to stay with Joel Sothern. He's won Camino the last 2 years and set the course record last year. I won it 3 years ago. Our group started at 6:15am and immediately some people took off and started running red lights. I didn't worry too much about it, because I knew we still had a lot of fire power in the pack. As we turned left on Jamboree, Joel took the lead up the climb and I quickly got on Rick Anderson's wheel as he kept the gap close. We made the light for the left hand turn going up San Joaquin Hills and never saw the pack again. We caught 2 of the 3 riders who took off running the red lights. I asked one of the guys, "who's still up ahead?" and he said it was a Furnace Creek (508) guy. We stayed together and eventually caught the Furnace Creek guy around the 27 mile mark (Aliso Creek Rd). I noticed this Furnace Creek guy was strong and taking long pulls. I asked Joel who he was and he told me he is Sean Cuddihy, the 2012 Furnace Creek 508 Champion. We pretty much worked together except the fifth member of our pack. He was wearing a Bahati jersey and didn't pull at all. I knew this guy was in over his head and would be dislodged as soon as we hit a tough climb. All 5 of us came into the lunch stop at mile 87 and there was no lunch. Planet Ultra was not set-up for us, but Frank Neal was there with some Heed and water. As I return from the restroom, Joel asks me if I'm ready to go and says two guys already left. Planet Ultra is finally there but I'm not going to eat now with everybody leaving. We start climbing a decent hill right after lunch, as I pass Rick, I tell him this is a long climb. I have to back off on this climb because my bottom bracket is grinding really bad. Sean and Joel end up putting 20-30 seconds on me over the top. I'm in 3rd place and don't expect to pull back these guys at all. I make it to the 135 mile mark and they tell me I'm 5 minutes behind 2 riders. Next stop at 168 miles, they tell me I'm 15 minutes back. I tell the guys at the station to tell whoever is behind me to hurry up because I'm tired of riding alone. As I'm 5 miles from the finish, Joel and Sean pull up and Joel says "your prayers have been answered." They tell me they went off course and added 12 miles to their route. Now I'm thinking, who are the two riders in front of me. We make it to the finish and they tell us we are 1st place. Next to come in are Marc and Lou. They unknowingly took a wrong turn on the way back and ended up ahead of me. They added an additional 6 miles to their route before the finish to correct the error.
1st place tie
Sean Cuddihy
Joel Sothern
Rod Palomino
http://www.strava.com/activities/113573992

Surf City Half Marathon

1:39 half marathon time.
Better than I thought, considering I only ran 4 times in 6 weeks, due to the flu.