“On every double there is one point when you are wondering why you are doing it and at the end you can’t wait for the next one”—Comrade Steve Berry.

The crazy training ride Jack, Ward and I did paid off. DMD came off as a big success Finished (w/ Jack) 35 minutes faster that when I tried hammering the course in 2006—which considering I was down 13 minutes getting to the Junction was a nice turn of events.

Saw Kitty at the start—unfortunately didn’t see here the rest of the day except when we were going in opposite directions on Diablo. How the heck she can be in such good cheer  at 4:50 AM is beyond me but was appreciated, as I was real apprehensive going into the ride from 1) blowing up in 2006 and 2) pulling my back on Sierra Road every time we did a training rides over it.

Morning started off cool but nice.  Didn’t see Jack so thought I’d be soloing all day. About 1/3 up Diablo Jack pulled in next to me, but I had already set my sights on 3 young guys from Godspeed Messenger Service (must be the official messenger service of Ward Industries) who were setting a nice but not killer pace. Mini inversion layer on Diablo but high winds near the top, so it was good following their wheel all the way to the top. For the rest of the day seemingly whenever we left a rest stop they were pulling in.

Donna was a saint and met me at Ygnacio Valley Road so I could dump off extra jacket, sock liners and knee warmers (good move.)  Could have dumped tee shirt also but though going up and down Morgan would be cold–but it wasn’t. Jack must have passed when I was at this bonus rest stop.

When passing through Clayton made friends with a few out of town riders who wanted to know about the course when some guy holding a cup starts yelling at us from across the street. One rider wanted to know what’s he yelling about, I said “It must be some old drunk”—but voice sounded familiar. Later Jack confirmed that it was Ron.

Climb up Morgan was nice and warm, and I felt really good.  Saw Jack but he pulled out before me.  Near the bottom of the descent, Grizzly Peak Mark passed me, I joined him and we two manned back to some of his gang (lots of Grizzly Peak Cyclists) and then to Jack.   Mark/ Jack/ I rode the Patterson Loop together—NO WIND on Paterson Pass (actually a bit of a tailwind which would be the story of the day.

Great Mines Road rest stop—Craig has perfected the art of peanut butter half sandwiches with added pumpkin butter-and he was working with another nice guy and great cyclist—Ish, who was the first person I knew crazy enough to do DMD.   Ish confirmed he didn’t move out of the neighborhood just because I moved in.

Time to Mines Road stop has been 22 minutes better than 2006—and in 2006 no one passed me on the run to the Junction.  Today everybody, and everybody’s kid passed me. I was both wary of Mt. Hamilton and Sierra Road (the 2nd half of this ride gets harder), and was low on energy.  26 miles to go—eternity-25 miles to go-eternity-and if I drank any more Perpetuem I was going to barf.  Jack, who for once was dawdling at the last rest stop caught up and shot by.  Made up my mind that at lunch stop I’d sit down for at least 15 minutes and drink some NON Heed product as it was getting real warm.

At Junction ate a slice of bread and had a soda while bsing with a father and son from East County. Teen runs track and was on his first double, earlier he had one been one of the top 5 folks up Mt. Diablo-dad had joined him at beginning of Mines Road. But kid was now beat and ready to go down Mines with his dad to the car.   Dad talked about bad experience with East County bike shop, and pissy attitude of local bike shops and some riders out here. Hmmm, sounds real familiar.

Jack left the Junction way before me and I thought  that was the last I’d see him.  I did well on the rollers but had to pull off and stretch up Hammy.  Recumbent rider/ dealer Zack K. came along (Dave-congrats on your new baby) and we rode a slow pace (which was fine by me) up to the water stop 1 mile short of the top.  (Oh yeah—Dave—someone says you need to do Sierra on a recumbent)  To my surprise Jack was in the tent looking like he was in need of a transfusion (ok—not nearly as bad as I looked on the Eastern Sierra) He took off while I was still bsing with the folks I know at the stop, and I was wondering how I’d finish the ride with 80 miles to go and I was beat.  It took me +58 minutes longer to get to the summit than 3 years ago

I got three things I needed.  Long, long downhill, eventually punctuated by the rollers I love.  Some ass on a Colnago with a Colnago jersey pissed me off; he’d block the narrow road.  And a nice tailwind. I regained loads of energy and flew to the Crothers rest stop,  the +58 behind on Hamilton summit was down to +20 and Jack still had some stuff to do at the rest stop. From here on in we rode together.

Next stop the dreaded Sierra Road, but though I had to pull off once to stretch, did it faster than in any of the three practice runs. Very warm on Sierra which suddenly turned very cool on the fast run off of it—but first we had to stop at Pet the Goat as to pick up Jack’s lights. Feeling good but was still not gonna pet the fn goat.

Jack/ I ran a spirited two man over Calaveras—and when we left Pet the Goat there were a zone riders but no one passed us. We had a fast moving run into Sunol at twilight, when I thought that too bad Ward not here as he did all the stupid training rides with us. Out of the blue Ward comes driving along  snapping photos—really cool.

Action photo taken by Ward while Jack and I are trying to beat dusk into Sunol.

Get to Sunol 5 minutes before 2006. Love getting into rest stops and yelling out 96 & 97 (Jack and my number)—rest stop workers doesn’t believe that we have consecutive numbers until I’d add “he’s my grandpa” (hey blame Ward-on one of our training rides when Ward and I were acting like paparazzi Ward said—” its like Jack riding with his grandkids”)

Niles at night was f’d, we got to see Recumbent Zack zig zag all over the road to slow traffic.  The Palomaras Climb was like the Pirates of the Caribbean with the strange animal sounds.   The downhill wasn’t bad though suddenly it was cold—so needed to hammer the flat part.  Jack set a great pace up the magical Crow Canyon —magical because of the disappearing shoulder.  Then Norris was a desolate as Palomaras without the great sounds.  And finally were there—I had no clue what time we had finished until we checked in but was pleasantly surprised.  For once ate as much as Jack—3 helpings of lasagna—made up for all the plain bread I ate during the day.  –Jay