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Saturday 03/05/05

I had been looking forward to this ride all winter long.  It was my chance to actually start riding once again.  Due to the weather warming up some I did have about 2 weeks to prepare.  I’m glad I only signed up for the Metric Century and not the full Century ride.

I stayed the night at my parents in Elk Grove so the drive wouldn't be as long in the morning.  We were up and ready to go by 6:00 a.m.   After loading the bikes we were on the road by 6:15 a.m.   It was a bit of a drive as we headed South through the central valley but we arrived shortly before 8:00 a.m. After a quick drive through Merced we found the first sign of the event, a very large tractor trailer with the logo of the event sponsor, McLane Trucking.  The trailer was right in the middle of the intersection to block off traffic from entering around the park where they were holding races.  

After finding the designated parking lot we made our way to the park where all of the activity was going on.  It took us a minute to figure out that the registration was in the middle of the race track.  Soon we had our maps, asked a few questions, studied the maps some more, and saddled up to head out of town which felt kind of weird after having driven 90 minutes just to get here.  

The morning was on the cool side and there was still a bit of fog in the air.  I couldn't decide on whether or not to wear my long sleeve or just the short sleeve.  I figured I’d rather be too warm with the jerseys than too cold so I left them both on.  

The roads heading out of town were fine as they went through the middle of town and near the college.  In a matter of ten minutes we were now in the country and then right in the middle of the fertile farm lands of the central valley.  The fog wasn't too bad but thick enough that I left my glasses off due to the moisture in the air.  

Moving along through the farms I was able to fall in line with a group that formed a nice pace line.  We changed positions dropping to the back, moving to the front, just like we had been doing it for years despite the fact that most of us had never ridden together.  We were able to keep a rather quick pace of 19 to 21 mph as we cut through the crisp morning air.  During the course of heading through the farms we ended up on some rough farm roads that would jar most fillings loose.  This lasted for at least 3 to 5 miles.  I looked down and we were nearing the 17 mile point.  I decided I had pushed hard enough and needed to stop for a minute or two.  At the next intersection I stopped and my dad was just right behind us.  He had been drafting near the back of the pack keeping right up.  I check my stats and we had average 18.5 mph since the beginning.  

After a quick break it was time to head the road again.  The first rest stop wasn’t too far ahead and the fog was starting to thin out rather quickly.  I was plenty warm and was glad that I had both jerseys on at this point.  I just hope I wouldn’t regret it later in the day.   

At the first rest stop we found a rather small group of maybe 30 to 40 cyclists.  Since we started towards the end of the  start window we could only assume most of the other riders were already out on the road. We enjoyed a few snacks consisting of cookies, breads, nuts, fruits, and plenty of liquid.  Not a huge selection but more than enough to have a filling snack.  It was time to study the map again to see where we were headed next, break out the sun glasses, use the restroom, and saddle up for the road.

The roads started to wander through vineyards and orchards now.  This was a nice change of scenery but meant a change in profile as we started climbing through some small to medium rolling hills.  Nothing big just enough to get the legs burning.  Now that the sun was out I started to notice more of the surrounding area.  Both near and far.  Near consisted of a lot of road kill.  Far consisted of rows of grape vines as far as the eye could see.  Here and there orchards were blooming with pinks and even a hint of purple.  Spring was in the air.

Most of the roads were very lightly traveled.  The road surface had improved and was much better than the rough road just before rest stop #1.  Riding along there were a sprinkling of cyclists.  Every now and then one would pass me and I would pass a few as well.  Soon signs for Lake Turlock were along the side of the road and then the lake was in view.

Rest Stop #2 was the lunch stop for the day.  Again there were approx 30 to 40 cyclists here with a full rest stop crew.  Plenty of happy faces to encourage us on.  There were lots of fixings for a nice meat sandwich, ham & turkey.  Plus more fruit, cookies, nuts, water, Gatorade, soda, and other munchies.

After a pleasant 30 minutes of enjoying the sites it was time to pack up and head out on the road.  As promised in the route description we started with some climbing.  Nothing too big, but more of those type of rollers that get your legs burning like earlier in the day.  Some pulled ahead of me while others saw me pass them by.  I was doing pretty good keeping a nice pace.  My average was dropping but it was still in the 16 mph range.  As I was coming down a hill I noticed a sign up ahead “bridge out.”  Right next to it someone had scribbled “bikes okay.” I continued ahead wondering if I would be able to cross or have to turn around.  Soon enough there it was the bridge blocked by signs to prevent cars but a wide berth for cyclist to go right through the middle of the bridge.  I keep looking down thinking it was going to give way but there was no tell tale sign of anything wrong with the structure, time to keep moving.

It’s a good thing I decided not to keep track of all of the road kill, I would have lost track hours ago.  You name it I saw it dead on the side of the road; frogs, cats, dogs, squirrels, frogs, skunk, big birds, little birds, more frogs, a few snakes, and a few carcasses that had been run over so many times you’re not sure what they used to be.  This could have been called the road kill century and you had to identify each animal before you got to move on.

Despite the road kill the views all around were gorgeous.  Lots of green rolling hills, vineyards, and more blooming orchards.  We eventually hook up with a State Route that takes us to the town of Snelling for our last rest stop of the trip.  I arrive ahead of my Dad and Connie by about 15 to 20 minutes.  The hills really slowed them down.

There were a few more people at this stop because it was part of the 100 mile route.  Cyclists were now heading back to Merced from the loop that took them north after lunch, while our route just took us East.  After another 10 minutes I’m ready to head back myself.  A few pictures later, using the restroom, and some more munchies we ride off down the road.

The wind has kicked up a bit now.  Not much, just enough that you can feel it against you as you ride into it.  It’s just one more thing to slow you down as you head up the hills.  I’m being passed now by the more serious cyclists.  Some just fly by in groups of 4 to 6.  It’s awesome to watch them pull up a hill like they were just setting a pace on the flats.

We’ve come down out of the hills and are in the final stretch.  I’m at about 60 miles and I’m starting to really feel it in my legs.  I’m struggling to keep up a pace at 17 mph on the flats with a little wind.  I decide to stop, I can feel the strength draining from my legs.  I’m not hungry, I’ve been drinking plenty of liquids, I just need to take a break.  Five minutes later I’m feeling better but I’m glad I’m only doing the metric century and not the regular century.  Soon we’re back in the outskirts of town, riding by the college, making our way through the residential area.  I’m in a pack of riders that I’ve been with most of the day, seeing them at each of the rest stops, lunch, and along the route.  I remember them by their jerseys and their bikes.

I can see the tractor trailers up ahead marking the end of the course for us and the beginning of the race track.  I stop, take a picture of my stats and wait for my Dad and Connie to catch up.  They arrive and we take our ceremonial group picture at the end.  Each of these turn into a little plaque and hang on my wall to remind me of the race and what it felt like to finish.

We put our bikes away and make our way over to the park to get the after race meal.  I’m hoping it’s something more than pasta.  We’re in line watching the race that is going on around us.  It’s amazing watching these cyclists fly around the corners at 30 to 31 mph.  There is a huge radar set up to show how fast they are going down the street.  There’s got to be at least 100 to 150 of them out there, racing in one big group.  I’d hate to see them go down, especially at this speed.  We’re at the beginning of the line now and our choices are BBQ’d chicken or a Hamburger but we have to wait 5 to 8 minutes for it to finish cooking.  Or if we want we can have BBQ’d Ribs for only $2.00.  I hand over the $2.00 before he can finish.  Hmmm, ribs.  We get our meal and head over to the tables that they have set up.  It’s right at the edge of the race track so you get to watch the cyclists zip into and out of the turns, you can just feel them go by, awesome.  So are these ribs, what a nice way to end the day.

After about an hour of enjoying the meal and watching the race it’s time to load up and head home.  Another successful ride and a great way to start the riding season.

Journal Pictures Taken by Connie Hathaway Copyright © 2005

Copyright © 2003-2013 Devin Holmes