Hole in the Ground Trail

Is It Or Isn't It

Early Morning Warm-up Ride

 Up at 5:00a and hit the trail by 7:00a.  My hubby and I were going to hit "Hole in the Ground" trail.  He was psyched, but I had reservations.  After all, if you google this trail you find that some say it is intermediate, some say its hard and others say if you take the first 800ft climb slowly the trail is doable for beginners.

We spent at least an hour trying to find the trail head.  Google this and you also get several sets of different directions.  We finally decide we have found the right spot.  Bikes removed from the car and off we go.

The trail is a bit more technical than anything I have ever done.  Rocks and boulders are completely part of this heavily wooded trail.  To make matters worse, I am being eaten alive by mosquitos.  Haven't seen these since I lived in Minnesota, ARGH!

Fire Road to Nowhere

We pop out from a relatively short trail onto a fire road.  Hmmm.  No more trail.  It must be further along this road.  We ride down hill (I'm pretty sure the directions we were given said it was up hill at first but who am I to tell my hubby something might be wrong) on this gravelly road until we hit a river crossing. 

River Crossing

Closer inspection of this river tells me that there is no way I am crossing.  Deep, Icy, and Rocky are just a few words that come to mind.  Darius decides this isn't the right trail head and we climb back out to our car.  I am now calling this our mosquite infested morning warm up. 

BTW we found out later that Hole in the Ground Trail is closed right now and never got a chance to check it out.  DARN!  I was soooo looking forward to an overly technical trail to start my travels to exciting bike destinations, NOT! 

Onwards to a bike shop to get a MAP!  

Bike Destination Vacation - Day 2

Things Change!

Day 2 Plan:  Early bike ride in Truckee and then off to Twin Falls for the night.

Good Morning, Truckee!

Up at dawn (which was 5:00a in the mountains), we grabbed some breakfast and took off for Hole in the Ground Trail.  After several searches for the trailhead to include a two mile trail that was most definately NOT the one were were looking for, we decided to go back to our hotel and find a different trail to ride.  Did I mention the mosquitos?  We were eaten alive up here at 7:00a.  Sooo happy to try another trail.



Zooming in on some possible trails

As we were driving back to our hotel, we saw an open bike shop and stopped in for some trail finding tips.  $23 later for a map that didn't even have the correct street names, we were back on the hunt for a new trail called Sawtooth.  Realizing we were gonna miss our check out time if we rode this trail, we decided to extend our stay in Truckee for another day so we could RIDE - we quickly added another day at the hotel and headed to the trail.

Lake Tahoe

After our wonderful ride, I was exhausted.  We took a short nap and checked out some local action by heading down to Lake Tahoe.  Beautiful, beautiful place. 

Getting ready to jump in Lake Tahoe

We hiked down to some boulders and Darius took a dip in the COLD water while I took pics of the mountains.

Mountains

Of course, we DID scope out some OTHER trails we plan to ride on our way back through (still working this angle with the hubby).

Could this be a down hill course or a ski slope?

 

Day 2 Results:  Stayed in Truckee another night, heading to Twin Falls, Idaho, in the morning.

Bike Destination Vacation - Day 1

Goin' Ridin' in a Car (RAV4)

Day 1 Plan:  Leave home after Darius gets off work and head to Trukee, CA for the night.

UGH!  Darius (the hubby) is NEVER going to get off the phone with work. . .I wanna get GOING!  My OCD has ensured that I have been packed for two days now.



Bikes are packed too!

Finally, at 4:00p, we manage to get on the road.  This is our fist vacation in 23+ years sans children.  As we drive across California, we realize how strange this is and get a little down-in-the-dumps.  Discussion of going home lasts about - OK, there was no REAL discussion about turning around - but we sure do miss having the kiddies along.

A quick stop at the reservoir for a quiet moment and we were back on the road.

The bikes arrived safely too!

FINALLY!  At 8:30p we arrived at our fist destination:  Truckee, CA

We tucked our bikes into their little wallspace and crashed for the night.

Ridin' in the Wind

Come On - It Will Be FUN

As our mountain bike group received notice that there would be a 24 hour race in our area, I looked at the ladies and said, "I wanna do this."  With a little begging for some and not so much for others, I convinced them to help me make a ladies team for this race.  We started to brain storm who we could pull in to ride with us when the men announced THEY were going to do a corporate male/female team.  Going with the flow, three of us decide to join the men.

Home Sweet Home

Camping was first come, so my hubby and I arrived the night before and set up with a few other team members, we stayed the night in order to preserve our location which was right at the start line.  Best decision EVER!

Our crazy crew plus two

With twelve of us on the team, I knew that I would only be hit up for a max of two laps. My first lap was at about 6:30p and I was thankful it was still in the daylight hours even though I had preridden the course two days prior to this race.

Our first three riders came in under an hour each and we were clearly front runners in this race.  UH OH!  I was originally in this for the comraderie but now I wanted to win.  Darn competitive side!  What was I gonna do?  I'm the only BEGINNER rider in the group. 

Our next three riders finished in less than 75 minutes each.  As each guy came in, my adrenaline would rush and I would get dizzy and nauseous knowing that I was the slow one on this team.  I prerode the course at an hour and thirty minutes.  If I could hold that pace and not get off my bike, I would be happy. . .or would I?  I REALLY wanted to go faster! 

The dreaded staircase

As first female on our team to ride, my first obstacle was to carry my 30 lb. bike up these stairs, accross the overpass and down the other side.  I considered riding down, but I didn't want to risk breaking something before I even hit the trails, so I took the conservative route and walked my bike down.

Up and over to get out to the trails

My second hurdle was to get over the first BIG one mile long hill so I could start riding the trails.  I had so much adrenaline going through me, I was worried I'd go too fast at the start and not be able to finish strong at the end.  I hit the spin mode on my bike and managed to keep a steady pace up and out of Laguna Seca.

After that first climb, we tooled up some fire road that had rolling hills with gravel.  A couple miles of this and we finally hit our first single track - trail 50 (pics above).  It was somewhat downhill and fast but very narrow in some places with many sandy turns and Lee's tree (he had a mishap at a sneaky right and warned me of it during our preride).  A little over a mile of this beautiful downhill stuff and it was time to climb 49.

Trail 49 UP

I knew trail 49 was 1.4 miles long with 500 feet of climbing so I set by bike back on spin mode and began to climb. Looking at the time on my Garmin, I was right on track as to where I wanted to be. I was feeling pretty good. . .all of a sudden my left handlbar hit a tree. . .my bike did a little hop to the right and I lost control.   Knowing I was going down, I leaped off my bike as it started to skid down the cliffy embankment.   WHEW!   It caught on a tree, I didn't have to chase it down that hill. . .as I was pulling my bike back up to the trail, I was passed by a guy whose comment was "impressive dismount, you OK?" Humbled by getting too comfortable, I jumped back on and finished my uphill climb to the rock paying a bit more attention to what I was doing.

Trail 49 DOWN

My third hurdle was the back side of 49.  That 1.4 mile climb was now a .1 mile drop for that same 500 feet.  It was wide but rutted and I had walked it during my preride.  I was determined to ride this down.  Three guys were in front of me taking it at breakneck speed when I heard a "pop" followed by some very choice words.  The front rider blew his tire and the other two stopped to assist him (no injuries).  Me?  I got off my bike and walked it - CHICKEN was my new middle name.

Ewok

It was time again to start climbing.  First was Ewok which was a mile of beautiful single track with lots of twists and turns that ended at the bottom of Three Sisters.  Next it was climbing up Outhouse which was another two miles just like Ewok.  Saw lots of riders on these two trails which I found kind of pleasing since most of my races, I'm out there all by myself.

Skyline

Exiting Outhouse put us on Skyline Road which was my final big hurdle.  Two more miles of uphill climbing but these were rolling so there was rest options (I thought).  What I learned was when I cleared the top of each hill, the headwinds took my breath away and I had to pedal down hill as well as up.  As I worked my way through this, I realized I wasn't going to make my goal of 1 hour and 30 minutes.  At this point, I was passed by a gazillion people while I struggled to catch my breath and told myself to just keep going.  I started counting my spins (four sets of four seated, two sets of four standing) and that kept me focussed to where I no longer remember this part of my ride.

Trail 47

The final climb out was Trail 47.  At this point I was so tired, I don't even remember riding this trail.  All I know was when my bike hit the tar and some guy said I was almost home, I looked up and realized Laguna Seca was less than a half mile below me and I increased my gears and FLEW down that final hill.  Soooo worth the climbs - it was like your little half mile bonus. 

Yep, that would be me

At the finish were all my team mates and it felt GREAT to have them all cheer me on as I rode in and our next rider rode out.  Even though I was the slowest, they were incredibly supportive of my decision to do this with them.  I know I rode this the best I could and I plan on doing this again next year.  Maybe even with an all gals team - though I may have to do some hard convincing.  8-)

 Our last five riders, cleared their first laps and the second round began.  Our whole team completed 23 laps in 24 hours and we scored second place behind an all male team of eight guys that finished 24 laps.  What a great weekend of biking, camping, grilling (my hubby had steak already cooked for my after ride meal) and beer.  One more item marked off my wanna do list.

A matching set - One for me and one for my hubby

No Longer a Two Lap Racer

Picking Up the Pace

PreRace Workout:  OK, four to five rides a week at first but getting a little overworked and exhausted so the last two weeks before this race, I backed off to two rides a week and WOW!

PreRide:  NONE, serious migraine on Saturday - didn't think I'd even make the race.

Back in the Dragonfly outfit and ready to ride!

Not starting in the last position.

Starting out my goals were:  Beat Julie (+3), don't get lapped by Anya and get three laps in.  Wasn't sure how this was gonna go as I just came off a two day migraine and could still feel the headache but it was being controlled at this point.  I knew I was a lot stronger coming into this race, but was very nervous about the headache kicking in somewhere out on the trails.

I loved riding with this girl - note we are both in pink/black ensembles.


Lap 1:  Darius was able to snap a great pic of me chasing down another rider.  For the whole first half of this loop there were three of us together.  Right before this drop turn, a young girl in blue wiped out in the sand and we passed her up.  I held my own with this racer for 30 minutes or so.  On the back section of this loop there is a quick down then up and I lost my chain on that up.  Having to stop cost me a lot in this race.  I never saw my pink partner again.  Clearing the first lap at about 33 minutes, I knew this was a fast race and if I could hold my pace, I would clear all three laps. 

This is the counting corral.

Lap 2

Lap 2:  Coming through the counting corral and starting lap two was awesome.  I felt great.  No headache and I knew I had a great time at this point.  The corral is designed to be a slowing down point.  Typically they put in a hairpin turn or place it in the grass on an uphill slope.  There is no way I can ride quickly through here.  Even though it is a planned slow down point. . .it would be cool if you could rip through here since it is also the point where everyone sees you.  Anyway, I walked a couple hills on my second lap.  I lost my chain three times in this loop and just couldn't get my rhythm back.  I was now gasping for air and desperately trying to hold any semblance of a pace that would get me through lap two by 1 hour 30 minutes.  I completed lap 2 at 1 hour and 15 minutes.  OH YEAH!

Arm warmers are down - its getting hot out here.

Lap 3.  What was that?  Lap 3:  Ahhhh!  When I heard the counters tell me I had one more lap, I thought about how awesome that was.  As I started up that wicked hill afterwards, I began thinking how stupid I was.  I hadn't been riding 15 mile practices.  I had been riding 10 milers.  I now had to complete 15+ miles just because I pushed myself to go faster.  What was wrong with me?  As I gasped for air after walking up that first big hill, Cory (a riding buddy) is preriding the course behind me and catches me off my bike (could I be more embarrassed?)  He checks that I'm OK and off he goes on a side trail.  Me?  The mortification gives me a new ooomph so I get back on my bike and ride.  My new mantra was 30 seconds. . .30 seconds. . .I can ride this pace 30 more seconds.  My chain fell off a couple more times (total 6 the whole race, I think) and I was getting a little frustrated and trying not to let it rattle me but failing miserably.  As I clear one of the last big hills, my chain drops and I know someone is behind me.  I jump off the course only to see Lee (another riding buddy).  As I put my chain on yet again (BTW getting faster at this task), I wonder why I am always off my bike when the people I KNOW go by?  I push to the finish with a final time of 1 hour 45 minutes and 36 seconds.  Four seconds off my two-lap time the previous race. 

I am in heaven!  Two more goals were accomplished:  Complete 3 laps and Anya didn't lap me.  Still chasing down +3 girl - would it be wrong to hope she gets too busy to ride and slows down enough for me to catch her next race?  Nah, I'm gonna do it the hard way (I always do).  See you in July Julie - watch your back!

Girls Got Spunk!

One BIG Hill

PreRace Workout:  Riding four days a week where at least one is at Toro Park.  Toro Park?  What's that mean?  Well, the next race is here and involves 900-1000 ft of climbing and then 900-1000 ft of downhill.  Much of the downhill is either exposed cliff or cliffs with trees.  VERY SCARY!

PreRide:  After preriding this with the guys, I came off the downhill having walked most of it.  Sooooo scary.  Adamant I was not doing this, I told them it was too technical for me.  Cory, in his great wisdom, told me many beginners would be walking the tough spots (I think he lied to me, but I won't tell him that).  Leaving my options open, I decided to see how I felt in the morning.

CRAZY PERSON:  About to ride a non-beginner race course.

Woke up feeling pretty good and decided to race.  Weather looked to be a scorcher, so I donned my sleeveless jersey (unattractive though it is) and wished for biking shorts (all I own are leggings).  As I left the parking lot, I clipped in my right foot and immediately fell right.  I can't repeat the words that came out of my mouth, but REALLY!  In the parking lot, in front of the registration stand, in front of EVERYBODY, I had to fall.  BTW the parking lot was made of rocks.  I was bruised before I even got started.

Found +3 girl from my last race (hey Julie) and met another lady, Anya.  A-Mazing rider, usually first for all females or darn close to first in beginner races.  My new goal after this race:  Don't let Anya lap me.  For today's race, the goal is getting up that darn hill twice without walking.  As it is up with no breaks and then down, its gonna be a tough goal.

I decided to start conservatively (last place) as I wasn't really comfortable with this course.  Being last wasn't a matter of concern as I am sooooo not a climber, yet, and this course was a lot more advanced than was really qualified for.  I held my position (again, last place) for the whole race.

Lap 1:  Whew!  I made it up and down and am still in one piece.  The up was killer, but I managed to do it without walking.  Well, except for the last little bit of up. . .did I mention the cows?  We rode through a cow pasture on the way up.  I swear those mama cows were looking at me.  I was more scared of the cows than the up hill climb.  After passing through them, I shook for about five minutes.  In our preride, Darius and I followed a mama and her calf down the single track for quite a long ways.  During the race, it was my greatest fear. . .being alone with the cows.

WAIT!  I lied!  My greatest fear was going down that hill.  It took me 32 minutes to get up that hill the first time and 16 minutes to get down it.  I walked a LOT of the down hill.  My vertigo was brutal that day and I was nervous about these small drops that were part of the downhill couse.  Darius showed me how to get through them, but I just didn't think I could do it without falling.

Lap 2:  So they sneakily looped us a little differently on lap 2's uphill and we had to carry our bikes up a severely exposed, narrow staircase.  After humping my 30 lb bike up and nearly being frozen in fear getting through this part, I had almost no energy for my second trip up Toro's hill.  What took me 32 minutes the first time took me over 40 minutes the second time.  I was sooo tired, I walked a large portion at the top where I was lapped by +3 girl - guess I wasn't beating her this race.  I'd be happy to just get down the hill, safely, for a second time.  By now, the temp has hit 80+ degrees and I was out of water.  My face was cherry red and I really did want to be done.  With a big sigh, I unzipped my jersey and rode down the hill - no walking this time.  OK, maybe once for safety reasons.  As I hit that last short drop, there were medics helping a guy with a neck brace.  Major crash and he has hurt - I slowed WAY down after this because it was a reminder that I was an inexperienced rider on an intermediate course.  I happily completed lap 2 and was stopped for not clearing it within 1 hour 30 minutes.  Honestly, I didn't have a third lap in me anyway.  I was just happy to have pulled off another race without major injuries.  Two laps completed in 1 hour 45 minutes and 32 seconds.

Although I finished last, I still felt good.  Many didn't finish this race. . .between the tough climb and the heat I watched several contenders drop out of the next race, as well.  Doing these things in the heat can be extra tough.  All I need to remember is that my new goal is to NOT be lapped by Anya.