The Joshua Metric Double 2009 Ride Results
Mountain High's spring destination was Joshua Tree, CA. This was the perfect weather day for riding Joshua Tree Metric Double Century.
At the ride start, eight happy excited Cyclists showed up, of 11 who said they would be there.
Four of the cyclists decided they felt a bit intimdated by the strenuous ride and opted to do a shorter version on their own. This left four committed cyclists left. These were:
Dan Crain
Joe Brown
Kevin Baer
Shayne Flores
Of these four, one rode the entire ride...and that was the newcomer to ultra cyling...from Yucca Valley, Shayne Flores.
The beginning headwinds riding westward were not a big deal. On down to Desert Hot Springs, the winds were giving you a big friendly push all through the climbs over to Dillon Road and on up Freeway 10. Lunch was at a rest stop mid-way on Fwy 10.
It was here, while munching down the fresh fruit salad, that Joe mentioned he'd had some cramping coming into the rest stop. I offered him the pre-digested liquid minerals and calcium that I take to prevent cramping which he gladly took. Everyone took off in good spirits, headed towards the fabulous JT National Park.
As Joe began the arduous climb up Joshua Tree's wouth entrance/ Visitor's Center, he told me he wasn't feeling well at all.
We all know the rule...never try anything new on the day of a long ride. I have yet to meet one cyclist that has faithfully kept that rule.
It's one thing to break that rule on your own, and it's another thing to break that rule because someone offered it to you. The lesson I learned is to never offer anything, even if they are cramping.
At the Visitor's Center Joe got in the car to recover. His riding buddy Kevin got in the car to be supportive...and I decided to get the tandem down and give a fresh pair of legs to Dan, and along with some encouragement to Shayne. Just around the corner was a long, sweeping downhill to the desert floor where the three of us would then climb out the 15 miles we'd just desended. This would be the toughest part of the entire ride. On and on and on it went.
The weather went from 85 degrees to 82 degrees with mild breezy winds that were appreciated. I felt really bad for Joe, but I also felt really good for me...as the reason I put on this ride is because I like it so much. Riding this part made me realize that I would need to have several roving sags through here available to cyclists for water, and moral support.
The roads would snake around preventing us from seeing more that a half mile ahead.
Kevin did an excellent job of staying with us and stopping to re-fill water bottles and re-supplement. He and Joe seemed to be capturing the moment with the camera.
We knew were getting real close to the top. I wan't sure exactly how far it was but I didn't want to push it all the way there without any water. Kevin pulled over, Dan sat on the edge of the car door with water bottle in hand, and began a series of seriously painful cramps that did not subside. He decided to get in the car telling all of us he just would not be able to continue on.
By this time Joe was feeling better and wanted to ride again...so, he jumped on the tandem and off we went. To our surprise the top was about a half mile away!!!.....I let out a war hoop "Yee Haa!" with hands of Victory straight up in the air. The panoramic view was spectacular, the pavement smooth, the sun behind the mountains to our left. Shayne was right there behind us like a faithful dog. Dan had taken him under his wing through the entire day, with Shayne never whimpering or whinning, taking turns to pull and sharing in the team effort. Joe and kevin made a great team as well, and most of the day the two teams stayed within sight of each other, and pushed each other. Later on they admitted they probablly could have focussed more on pacing than pushing. (We've all played that gaime...that's so much fun while its going on, until payback time later on in the day).
With Joe and Dan having life-time national park cards, and Dan offering to pay the other cyclists $5. entry fee, we all went through the Park on a "free" ride. Of course it didn't seem so free with the arduous climbing that dronned on and on.
National Park Rd. at the bottom of the hill gave us a short cut to the ride start.
Well Shayne, I said, this makes you the first place Finisher...and you're the Rookie!
The awesome part of this first Joshua Tree Double Metric is that everyone supported each other and we all came in together as a Team.
This is what Ultra-Cycling is all about. It's about riding with each other, and not against each other. It's about encouraging and helping other cyclists that are sruggeling. We all have days where someone came along and helped us get there, and we all have those times when we help someone who's having it a little tougher time than we are.
Looking back, Dan said if he'd known the top was that close, he could have made it. However, it gave Joe the opportunity to fly the tandem home. It seemed it was all meant to be. And though four started out riding, five actually were out there riding and pulling each other along, be it on the bike, or in the van. It's because of the team effort, that I'm coming up with a new word. Instead of DNF, I'm putting the word TF for Team Finisher for each of the courageous Cyclists who sacrificed something from their own Finish to
support another cyclist. This is the true spirit of an Ultra-Distance Cyclist. We all applaud Shayne who said he'd never ridden more than 80 miles. He lives and trains out there in Yucca Valley and demonstrated to all of us a positive, determined to hang-in-there attitude.
To the four who took the initiative to ride out there on your own, unsupported in the desert, Job well done! You were smart enough to choose miles that were within your limits and still challenging!
To Shayne, Dan, Joe, and Kevin, ...Job well done. You were all flexible, and courageous.
To all who ride this in the future, remember these Cyclists who have paved your way, and remember... the Ultra -Distance Cyclist who helps his fellow cycling friends is always a Winner.
Congratulations Winners of Joshua Tree Metric Double Century, 140 miles. Congratualations Shayne Flores of Yucca Valley for finishing First. Hope to see you all out again next year. Lookin' Up, Anny Beck
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