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Saturday 06/05/04

05:00 am - It was very early when we started out this morning.  The sun was just barely waking up and so was I.  But my Dad and I wanted to be there as close to the start as possible so we could be sure to make lunch this time.  We arrived just a little after 6:00 a.m. and were able to find the fairgrounds without any problems.  There were signs out and people directing traffic as well.  Soon we were making our way to the registration booth to sign in and pickup our information packets with our maps, numbers, and free stuff.  All along they way I'm just taking it all in.  I just couldn't believe how many people were there.  It's one think to read about it and see pictures, it's a whole different thing to be a part of it.  After check in we made our way back to the car and unloaded our gear, checked tire pressure, made sure we had everything, checked our maps and headed over to the starting point.

06:20 am - This was our official start time.  We took a quick picture of each other and then it was off.  Dad took the right turn while I took the left.  He was going to do the Half Metric Century this time to make sure he didn't have any problems finishing.  I wasn't confident that I could finish 100 miles in the allotted time so I chose to stick with the metric century.  As I rode down Old Sacramento Road I became part of a big group, cyclists in front, either side, and behind.  It was a brisk morning and I was trying to work off the chill from the morning air.  We came up and over a quick hill and as we came down a group of cyclists were off their bikes and standing around what looked like an accident.  As I rode by I looked down to where I heard crying, "It's okay, girl, it's okay," is what I heard as I rode by.  At mile 1.56 there was already an accident, not a good way to start the day.  Everyone talked about it the rest of the day wondering what happened and if she was okay.  No one knew any of the details, just that she went down.  I said a quick prayer for her and myself hoping the day would be safe as I continued on.

07:00 am - I've worked off that chill now and the pack is briskly moving along.  I've settled into a nice pack with three other riders in front of me.  We are all drafting off of the person in front of us and it is making for a quick ride.  My average is 18.3 mph at this point.  The route is marked very well, lots of white arrows.  I don't think I'll be looking at the map much except to keep a reference as to where I am at.  We're heading east on State Route 16 and there are a number of cars with bikes on top heading for Plymouth and the start of the route.  Soon we turn onto Carbondale and then we make for Irish Hill, a chill goes up my spine as I remember what roads with the word Hill in them turn out to be.  Up ahead there is a sign on the side of the road about a photographer up ahead.  Soon everyone is looking over to the left as we pass by the photographer taking pictures.  Then there is another sign telling you to remember the time you passed by, 7:12 am. I've not been able to get a good picture of me riding my bike, hopefully this one will be a keeper.

7:30 am - We're really starting to climb now and the front two have dropped off, it's now just me and number 134 in front of me.  We continue on for another mile or so and then I pull along side to ask if she doesn't mind me following behind, I feel it's only polite to do so since I'm benefiting.  She said feel free to follow along.  We have a quick conversation about cycling, this is her first time on the Sierra Century, she started cycling because running was to hard on her knees.  Her name is Laura and she also plays soccer, she's probably much more fit than I am for this event.  Soon it's back into the cycling mode.  It's still getting steeper.  We are passing cyclists as we cruise along, we are also getting passed by cyclists that are just flying by making it all look so easy.  I've already seen a few cyclists pulled over for one of two things, to take a quick pee break or due to a flat.  Hopefully I won't have to do either.  I've seen a number of vehicles pass us back and forth keeping an eye on things, highway patrol, Cal Trans, and the actual SAG Vehicle.  It's nice to know help isn't too far away if needed.

08:00 am - Soon Ione is here and it's a quick left turn and up the hill to the Rest Stop.  It's a nice park area next to the cemetery.  I'm amazed how many cyclists are already here.  I only started 20 minutes later than others did, there must have been a lot of cyclists that started right at 6:00.  I park my bike among the sea of bicycles and make my way over to the canopies set up for the rest area.  There are a number of water stations setup, big plastic containers that have a PVC pipe coming out with 4 turn nozzles so more than one person can fill up at a time.  But it's not just water, there is Gatorade and Lemonade.  Then over at the food tables there are  all kinds of fruits like strawberries, grapes, bananas, & watermelon.  Next you have trail mixes, cookies, Peanut M & M's, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, and more that I didn't have room for.  After a restroom brake in the porta-potties they had brought in I filled up my water bottles with Gatorade one more time and headed for the bikes.  Laura was ready too so we headed out in the pack.

8:30 am - We venture out of town and head up the hill again.  There are a lot of cyclists ahead and just as many behind.  I am following behind Laura when I here someone close to me, then a really loud hiss.  At first I think it is my tire going flat, but I don't notice anything different, then the two that were following behind me fall back, it was one of them that got a flat.  Bad for them, good for me, I didn't want to change a flat today.  Laura is now starting to pull ahead and climbs up the hill with the rest of the pack.

09:00 am - The road is getting smaller and smaller.  We're now heading up into the high country.  The oak trees are turning into trees that are grouped closer together and you can tell there is pine in the area.  There isn't much of a bike lane, okay so there is no bike lane.  But there aren't that many cars either so it's not really needed.  I can't remember the last time I saw an actual house.  Every now and then I see what looks like a cabin through the trees, not much room for driveways.  The road continues to go up and we continue to climb.  We've climbed about 2000 feet, still 2700 feet to go.  The next rest stop is in Volcano, isn't that like a really big hill?  I've never heard of the town, I just know it's got to be straight up with a name like that.

10:00 am - Rest stop #2, Volcano, CA.  We've now ridden 43 miles since the beginning.  It's definitely warmed up. It feels like 90 with all of the climbing we've been doing but it is still only in the high 70's.  Volcano is a quick little town and in the middle of it we have taken over the park.  Just like the first rest stop there are tents will food, water containers that are iced and cold, and lots of restrooms to use.  I take advantage of all three.  I've met up again with Laura, rider 134, and we talked with some of the other cyclists.  I'm amazed by the instant camaraderie that is felt and shared with everyone.  There is talk of the road we just traveled, the poor girl from the beginning of the route, and of what lies ahead.  We're here about 15 minutes and then it is back on the road.  

10:30 am - As soon as we leave Volcano we see a sign that says Rams Horn Grade ahead.  I am wondering if 'grade' has the same connotation as 'hill.'  In no time at all I have found out the answer to that one, it does.  While the Tour de Lincoln route last month had more extreme climbing that the Sierra Century, the Sierra Century has longer climbing.  Rams Horn has got to be at least 2 miles of 7% to 10% of a grade.  All along the way there are signs at the side of the road with encouragement to keep going.  About halfway through it I have to just stop before my chest explodes.  I'm all the way in my lowest gear and it's just not low enough.  I either need to do some serious climbing exercises to build up my strength or I need to change out my gearing to allow me to gear down further.  

11:00 am - Finally I reach the top, at least I thought it was the top.  Instead it is a water station that you can fill up at.  Laura is waiting at the station and asks if I'm okay, I must not look that good, I need more practice.  After a minute or two it's back on the road, I'm thinking we're at the top, instead we still have another mile or two up, not as steep, but it's definitely not down hill.  I keep riding to the next turn thinking okay it's downhill now, no.  Finally at 50 miles it's a left turn onto Fiddletown Road and it's now time to enjoy the ride down the hill.  I try and watch my speed, I don't want to end the ride early.  I hit a bump or two while I'm sitting on the seat, bad idea.  I feel like I'm just screaming down the hill, about that time someone screams by me even faster, easily they are going 45 miles an hour.  It's not as steep now, a sign up ahead is warning to slow down you are entering a town, "25 MPH Speed Limit, Radar Enforced."  I look down only to see that I'm doing 34 MPH, I start to brake in hopes that I don't get caught in a radar trap!

11:30 am - The weather is now in the mid 80's. As we come into town we are directed again to a local park.  This one has a nice tennis court that they have us park our bikes in.  Most are laying down due to the lack of kick stands.  I figure there is around 100 to 150 bikes in the court.  I estimate I'm looking at $75,000 to $100,000 easy in bike equipment.  At this rest stop it is more crowded than the other two.  This is also the 3rd rest stop for those that rode the Half Metric Century.  After this stop the Half Metric and Metric Century riders head back to Plymouth.  The regular Century and Double Metric Century riders head up the hill for more climbing.  I'm enjoying a nice sandwich, trail mix, and lots of Gatorade.  I spend almost 20 minutes here enjoying the talk.  As I sit there listening I'm looking around at all of the shirts: Triple Crown (represents 3 200 mile rides in a year), Davis Double Century (a route that was just done within the last month, Death Riders (a grueling ride in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, various Bike Clubs, Sierra Century 1999, 2000, 2001, 508 (Death Valley 508 Miles), and so many more.  I know what many of these shirts now mean, I know what they represent, the training, sweat, and sometimes pain. Laura feels so good she decides to go ahead and ride the 100 Mile route instead of just the Metric Century.  I'm surprised myself how good I feel.  If had trained for another month I might have been able to do so, but not this time.  We say goodbye and good luck to each other and I head towards the finish line.

12:20 pm - The finish line.  It wasn't a very grand finish.  I came in with a couple of other riders.  I looked around  for my Dad to see if he was back and then decided to take a look at some of the vendors that had setup booths for those wanting to take a look at something you just couldn't live without.  After milling around for about 20 minutes my Dad came strolling up the road.  I found out that he had finished his route around 9:00 am.  He had already looked at the fairgrounds, taken an hour nap, and then he felt so good he decided to ride back out on the route and go to his first rest stop and hang out with the bike club volunteers.  He had a great time picking their brains about bike gear, touring, cycling, and more.  Then it was the moment we had been waiting for, Lunch!  We enjoyed a nice spread of salads, lunch meats, cheese, and a great pasta dish.  Just like the rest stops there was plenty of cold drinks and of course desert, carrot cake.

01:30 pm - After loading the gear and changing my clothes we headed out, sooner than I thought we would.  It was now in the 90's and very warm.  I couldn't wait until I got home so I could jump in the pool.  On the way home I couldn't help but think about the ride, it was awesome to say the least.  I was totally amazed at how well organized it was, how many staff where there to help out, everyone was so friendly, there was plenty to eat and drink, and the route was very well mapped out and was not hard to stay on.  A big thank you to the Sacramento Wheelman Club they made my 2nd Metric Century ride one that I will not soon forget, I will be back for more next year!

EPILOGUE: After a quick visit to the Sierra Century website I was able to find this information about the girl that had the accident:  "Accident Update: Some of you may know about the accident that happened early on in the day's ride. A rider suffered a fractured collarbone, three broken ribs, and a punctured lung. We're happy to report that she will make a full recovery and will be back next year to do Sierra Century 2005!"

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