Whew.  Yesterday I rode the Death Ride up in Markleeville, South of Lake Tahoe.  It was impossible.  It didn’t snow so I can’t say it was worse than the Eastern Sierra Double, and I didn’t get lost in the dark and add 40 miles, so I can’t say it was worse than the Heartbreak Double, but it was brutal.  Hotter and much windier than last year, and had a rainstorm on the final climb like last year (although it did not hail).  I was toast and barely finished.  However I did and I’m proud of myself; I think about 3,000 riders started, and about 1,000 finished all five passes :)

129 miles, 5 passes, 15,000' of climbing

-plus-

heat and wind on the 8%+ climb up to Monitor Pass

-plus-

a rainstorm on the 12 mile climb up to Carson Pass

-equals-

one Death Rider who was pretty happy to finish and sign the ride poster

how many passes did I climb today?

Well now it's over and I can rest and recuperate and brag about it.  The best part :)