Levi's King Ridge Gran Fondo.
Before we go any further, I must say that I had zero idea what I was getting myself into. To me, Gran Fondo just meant Long Ride. And a long ride I could do no problem. Climbing? Sure why not, throw in some climbs also. What the hey?
What the hey indeed.
The day began in the dark. Specialized had a whole posse going up, but some of us were heading out from Morgan Hill morning of. I was in that group, in addition to being the driving ring leader. At 4:15, we assembled in the parking lot and began loading up one of the awesome SBCU minivans (Thanks, SBCU!!) with bikes and gear.
Crappy flash courtesy of iPhone.
This early departure was really only possible because we were lucky enough to snag a VIP parking pass, which put us literally right next to packet pick up and registration (for which we were also in the VIP line). The Finley Center in Santa Rosa found itself completely overrun with spandex and carbon fiber. Once we collected the needed materials (front bike tag, back bike tag, bib number, and swag), the gearing up began.
I rolled to the start, knowing that I had a front staging sticker, but not knowing that front staging sticker would literally place me AT THE FRONT OF 7500 CYCLISTS.
And next to Patrick Dempsey.
The picture on the left was taken by a professional photographer in a lift. If you look closely, you can Where's Waldo me literally at he very front in the black jersey with the Red S on it.
Once we got rolling, the ride itself? It's hard to describe...
What I can say is that it was HARD. The hardest thing I've ever done to date, literally, no doubt about it. What I can also say is that the riding I've been doing the past month was completely critical to my success. I didn't even know it, but I was slowly training for this ride. I did area climbs one by one each weekend. This ride put them all together and then some.
Up, down, up up up up, DOWN, up again. Then DOOOOOWN, down down, UPUPUPPPPUUUP.
That was pretty much the entire ride.
While the weather held (for about the first 34 miles), I was able to stop and snap some amazing pictures:
Ok, one amazing picture.
Why not more?
Well, first of all, it turned foggy and drizzly and chilly and just downright miserable. I was SO glad I had my armwarmers, because I definitely put them back on. Second of all, it turned into the sort of ride where if you stopped for very long, getting started again felt like agony.
The thing though, was that all 7500 people were suffering together. At each rest stop, you knew that the throng surrounding you were all just as tired, chilly, achy, and happily miserable as you were. You also knew they everyone was thinking the same thing:
Oh holy hell, you have GOT to be kidding me.
After each rest stop, I had to take a full water bottle to rinse off my cleats and pedals before I could clip back in and resume the march towards the finish.
Yes, that sort of ride.
The descents were all rippingly fast if desired. For my part, I played it safe, though I still thought that for someone who's only really been descending for a month I did rather well. The roads were just slick and wet enough that one beginners mistake or panicky brake grab or washed out tire or misjudged line could have had dire consequences, and more than one person had to be helicoptered out of the event for just that reason.
The scenery? Ungodly gorgeous, especially on Route 1 along the coast. Sure, there was a brutal headwind on that section, but when you glanced over and saw the Ocean and the sun and the clouds, it was all worth it.
Twice I had to stop in the middle of climbs and let me HR back off a bit, but I didn't have to walk any sections, and in the end I was proud of how I rode. I didn't push myself ANYWHERE I didn't have to, because I knew that there would be enough uphill to push me enough as it was.
And remember what I said earlier? Oh Holy Hell?
Oh Holy Hell:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/52781546
Cut and paste. Click on "Climbs."
Yes indeed.
Oh, and do not listen when it says it was only 6400 feet. It was 9500 feet at least.
There were some grades so steep people were literally tipping over.
But. I did it. I finished it, and I SMACKED DOWN the food afterwards at the VIP tent. It didn't stand a CHANCE.
The best part of the day, though, if I had to pick the best part, was getting to spend time outside of the office with my Specialized crew. While it's true that I work with some of the coolest people imaginable, it's even cooler that we regularly CHOOSE to spend our free time together outside of work. Because to us, riding bikes, and anything to do with bikes, isn't really "work." It's a job, yes, but it's not work. We joked, rode, caravaned, talked, ate, and just generally had an amazing time at an amazing event.
And we never took it for granted, which is probably the coolest part.
The day also saw the true Maiden Voyage of my NEW Gold Bike: Ruby
She still has some kinks to work out of her. The saddle of course has got to be swapped out, and the left shifter has a warranty problem (thanks Shimano). Other than that? Perfect.
PLUS, my fit is so dialed now that I rode 103 miles and 9500 feet of elevation on a bike that was only built up 4 days prior, and I came away with ZERO pain.
Well...there was pain, but none of it had to do with my fit.
And that's about it. Next up.....
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