2/13 Ride Report - Palm Springs Century

Thursday – The Night Before The Day Before The Ride

I am stoked! I am pumped! And darn it, I haven’t been able to sleep well. My brain has been running at 110%, but I have not been able to focus on anything other than thoughts about the Palm Springs Century in the last few days. Also, I have not been able to release this energy as I have been “saving” myself for the ride by not doing any physical activities. I mentally go over the checklist one more time: GU… check, power bars… check, lube the chain… check, arm warmers… check, helmet… check… check… check… check! Arrggg!

I shoved everything into my bike bag and placed it by my bike. I am ready to quickly transition my stuff into Toan’s SUV when he comes by tomorrow. The plan was that Fixie Girl and Sang would drive to Toan’s house at 4:30 AM, load their bikes up, and then they would come and pick me up at 5 PM. I reminded myself to not talk too much in the car and to reserve my energy for the ride. I checked the bags again to see if I have everything I need for the century.

Photo #1 - All pack and ready to roll!

A sudden thought hit me. Am I ready for a century? I am by no means a century veteran as this would only be my second century, and I suddenly have doubts of finishing this century in one piece. Last week’s San Clemente was my first ride, that went over 60 miles, for the past 4 or so months, and I suddenly was not sure if this was enough. Then I suddenly remembered that we had an extra workout in last week’s ride with lots of saddle time, and with a strong head wind.

I relaxed and a sudden calm came over me. It feels as if I am now in the eye of the storm, where everything is at a perfect stillness, while the storm is howling and raging just beyond a hand’s reach. This is it I thought! This century ride is what we have been training for the last 2 months. There is no turning back now, just a forward momentum. I programmed my mind for the last time so that tomorrow I will be a mechanized soldier, within the VeloViet’s cycling pack, moving along as one cycling unit with my 30 other brothers and sisters cyclists. Let’s get it on baby!!!

Friday – The Day Before The Ride

I do my final once over on the Ducati at 8 PM, and discovered a possible broken spoke! Are you kidding me? This can’t be happening the night before the epic ride! I took off the tire to take a closer look at the spoke, and discovered that it was just the nipple had loosen up. Good thing I have the Reynolds spoke wrench.

I spent the next hour truing the Reynolds wheel. While I was at it, I changed the tire out as there were several cuts that started developing. Quang had suggested replacing old tires before the ride to ensure no flat develops during the ride. The Ducati is up and running an hour later.

Saturday – The Ride

I had read from an e-mail that Toan sent after the ride that he had woken up at 2:15 AM too excited to go back to sleep. Suffering from similar over excitement, I had woken up at 3 AM, a whole 1-1/2 hour before my planned wake up time. I lay in bed thinking... man, did I get enough sleep? I am going to suffer later? After tossing and turning for a while, I decided to might as well get up. I got up and get ready.

Toan, Sang, and Fixie arrived at 5:10 AM. We quickly loaded my bike and bag into the SUV, and got on the road. This group was a great group to travel with! We talked about everything and anything. Sang shared with us a little of the VeloViet club’s rich and dramatic history. Toan shared with us how he found VeloViet, and how he got hook up with us. Fixie talked to us a bit about her school and her love of camping. We had so much fun talking that the next thing we knew, we were at Palm Springs already. Folks, this is the group to carpool with to bike rides!

Here we are at Palm Springs getting ready for the ride.

Photo #2 - Sang, Toan, and Fixie Girl getting their bikes ready.

Photo #3 - Last chance to look good and pose for a picture before the battle begins!

VeloViet’s Mechanized Warriors showed up to Palm Springs in force. The cast for this ride includes Cap’t, The Animal, Mad Dog, Mrs Mad Dog, Fed-Ex, The Warrior, Duc, Bily P, Billy D, TZ, Martin, Greg, David, Nick, Long, Mac, Co, Michelle, Ironman (Tri Crew Duc), Toan, Sang, Fixie Girl, Rock Racers (Can, An, Loi, Tan), Ngoc, Mad Mac, Viet, Tan, Candy, Candy’s tandem partner, and special guest Tim. Tim is a cyclist from San Diego, who contacted Cap’t about VeloViet, and decided to drive up and ride with us on this century. These are the 33 VeloViet riders that will tackle the 102 miles of the 2010 Palm Springs Century.

Photo #4 - VeloViets lined up for a photo op.

Palm Springs was filled with cyclists, with somewhere between 7000 to 9000 confirmed registered riders. The first VeloViets had started arriving at 6:45 AM, and slowly our group built up in size as more and more VeloViets found their way to the meeting point. The 7 AM start was like a sea of people, with waves and waves of riders flooding out on to the streets of Palm Springs.

Photo #5 - Cap't trying to locate all the VeloViets as waves of riders flooded out of the start area.

It took over ½ hour to get all the 100-mile riders out onto the streets. During this time, we took the opportunity to snap some more photos.

Photo #6 - Tan and Cap't checking out their jerseys and sharing a joke.

Photo #7 - Rock Racers Tan, Can, An, and Loi ready to roll.

Photo #8 - Cuong, Sang, Warrior, Fixie, and Tan enjoying the moment.

Photo #9 - Tim, Phong, Billy P, and Toan posing for the photographer.

Photo #10 - Mechanized Warriors ready to roll into battle.

We finally started rolling closer to 8:00 AM. The first 7 miles of this ride was just plain slow, with lots of socializing. There were still a lot of riders around so it was hard to do any sort of paceline, so we were just cruising at around 18 mph and everyone was talking to each other excitedly. Some folks had never done rides in a large bike group, let alone a century, and the adrenaline level was extremely high.

Photo #11 - Long, Cap't, Tim, and Christina doing double paceline against the scenic background.

Photo #12 - Paceline action viewed from behind.

The hills started appearing and members of Group A got slightly anxious. The pace of the group increased to 20-22 mph. Fed-Ex, TZ, Cap’t, Duc, Greg, The Animal, The Warrior, and Billy P started driving at the front.

Photo #13 - Fed-Ex (4th from front) attacking the hill.

Photo #14 - Duc and Greg (red helmet) working hard up the hill.

We hit a wall of people around the 15-mile mark; the first break stop of the century. The VeloViet pack regrouped and loaded up on drinks. Our ride photographer Cuong was hard at work taking pictures of this memorable occasion.

Photo #15 - Cuong giving the Jason and Christina some posing tips.

After a brief stop, we were on our way. A quick right turn had us going downhill. At this point, The Animal let out his “Tet” Tiger fury and attacked on this long descent. The speed immediately jumped to 35 mph and the group quickly strung out in a long thin line. The Warrior, Cap’t, Mad Dog, and Fed-Ex joined in the pull. The string suddenly snapped and a gap was created between the VeloViets. I managed to sneak into the front group and we rocketed down the hill.

At the bottom around the 20-mile mark and we hit yet another wall-to-wall of bikers as two bike groups merged. These groups were ourselves, the 100 milers, and the folks that were doing the 75 mile ride who skipped the hills. Below you can see our pack waiting to merge on with the 75-mile pack coming on the right. It’s back to 16-18 miles an hour for the next 7 miles.

Photo #16 - Merging with the 75-mile riders.

At the 27-mile mark we hit the second rest stop. Per Cap't previous plan, this would be where VeloViet's Group A and Group B actually split into two separate riding groups. Group A would go kamikaze like Tigers chasing after a young gazelle during a furious hunt. Group B would be the “sag & survival” group, containing our toughen warriors who would follow behind to pick up any remains of those Group A strewn alongside the road. After loading up, we rolled to start the remaining ¾ of the ride.

Photo #17 - Second stop before Group A and B split.

As Group A waited for Duc at the rest stop, I started to roll with some of the Group B folks. 5 minutes into the ride, and up a slight incline, I looked over and saw Cap’t coming up to me like a locomotive. I swung in right behind him and we quickly ascended this hill. As we crested the hill, a small group formed and we started a paceline. Cuong, TZ, Warrior, Mad Dog, Duc, and I all took turn rotating to the front, but it was Cap’t and Fed-Ex who took some of the longest pulls.

As the VeloViet locomotive moved down the road, it picked up other non-VeloViet Palm Springs riders who started before us. This pack grew in size, but no other folks wanted to share the workload with us. It was all VeloViets who were driving this train. This was fine by us as we had enough of our mechanized warriors to share the front workload. It was smooth sailing until we hit the cobbles…

Around the 45-mile mark, we hit an extremely bad stretch of road. The road was pitted with potholes, cracks, bumps, and gravel that had everyone scrambling to dodge these road debris. On top of this, water bottles were flying out of their cages left and right as the bikes were hitting these bumps and potholes. We were playing water-bottle "dodge ball", as well as trying to maintain in the draft of the front rider, who was also weaving left and right trying to dodge those same obstacles. It’s like the Paris-Roubaix “Hell of the North” road race in France!

We made it to the third rest stop all in one piece. We are now at the halfway mark of the ride and all are thankful that at least the cobblestones are over. A short time later, members of Group B started to arrive to the stop.

Photo #18 - Aerial view of the large crowd at the halfway stop.

Photo #19 - Top (left to right) – Co, Fixie, Long, Mad Dog, Cap’t, Duc, Animal, Nick, Fed-Ex, Tri-Crew Duc, Martin. Bottom – Warrior, Billy D, Phong, Billy P, Dave, TZ, Cuong

Group A took off first. From miles 51 to 66, the VeloViet Group A riders worked as a smooth team in a paceline. There were about 7 guys rotating and working the front, with about another 7 drafting behind. Miles and miles of road were flying by as we quickly covered grounds. Riders either joined us, or get left behind, but NO ONE passed the VeloViets.

At the mile 66 mark there were some constructions, the road was not marked, and we missed a turn! Cap’t asked for the route map and I gave him mine. We incorrectly went the wrong way for an extra couple blocks so we did a quick U-turn. This is when we saw how many people were drafting behind us. I saw what seemed like 200 riders drafting behind us. Wow!

The VeloViets quickly accelerated to catch up to the folks who had made the correct turn. This sudden acceleration created just a slight cramp in my legs. Oh no, I thought, not so soon, not now. We passed Billy and TZ, who was initially slightly behind the front VeloViet group, but who had made the correct turn. I thankfully got in behind them. They paced me back up to the VeloViet group who had caught on to the front riders.

Around this time, the VeloViets met a group that matched their speed and energy. On the road was the Pacific Triathlon Club. The VeloViets had passed by, and the PTC swing in to latch on to the train. Their members started to work with us and also took long pulls at the front. The speed increased to another few miles per hour and we quickly close the distance to the 71-mile stop. At the stop, we shook hands as both teams earned the respect of the other in the even sharing of the workload.

At this stop, we again stacked our bikes together and I flopped on the ground. I was too exhausted to move and it took a couple of minutes to get my energy back and to lift my water bottle for a sip of drink. Cuong had worked hard too, and had cramps developing on both legs so I shared one of my salt pills with him. The run into this stop was hard, and all the VeloViets were exhausted.

Photo #20 - Stacking the bikes in the 71-mile rest stop.

We started rolling again after a 15-minute rest. Straight out from this stop was a hill. On a normal day, this hill would be a piece of cake for us. Today, after 71 miles on the road, the hill feels like our famous 17% gradient Yorba Beast. This did not seemed to affect Fed-Ex though. Like Contador on the last hill of the queen stage, Fed-Ex stood on his pedals and danced his way from us, rocking from side to side and pulling strongly on his handlebar. Cap’t and Mad Dog had also powered away. I was fourth and struggled up this beast.

A quick right and we started descending. We slowly regrouped. This was now a flat section and quickly the speed grew again. We once again were moving like a locomotive passing or picking up riders. The guys were rotating nicely at the front.

Photo #21 - Double paceline action on the final leg to the finish.

I hunkered inside the protective envelop of the VeloViet pack. As I rotated through, I looked over and saw that each of us had bloodshot eyes and most looked like they were probably feeling like me. I was queasy from the constant liquid intake to avoid dehydration, and hours of the grinding, mechanized pedaling had saddled us all with a fatigue thick as the grime caking our weary bodies. I slowly lost my will as I depleted all reserves that I had.

The 83-mile mark was the lowest point of the bike ride for me. This was the point where the road had eaten up all of my reserves, and the sun’s powerful rays had started to burn holes within my mental psyche. The cramp had started in again, and I started questioning whether I could hold with the front group. I also questioned whether I could make it to the next stop at all.

My spirit was low, the lowest it has been a a long time, and it felt like I was in a 50-feet deep, dark hole in the ground. I dreamt that my VeloViet brothers were reaching their hands, from the top of the hole, to try to pull me up to safer ground, but the distance was too great for them to reach me. I scrambled and scrambled as hard as I could, but the muddy vertical wall of hole prevented me from getting higher to catch their hands. I looked up and can see bright sunlight that filled the hole’s opening, but the bright spot is getting smaller and smaller, as I slowly and slowly gave up hope.

Around this time, being a good soldier, I was still rotating through the front. I had plan on giving all I have to the group until I could ride no more. For the team to succeed, all we need is for one member to survive and all others to work for this one. I was not going to be one to give up on my team. Was this not how a bike team is run?

Good thing Tri Crew Duc was behind me, and he spoke about slowing down and enjoying the scenery. We were passing multi-million dollar houses, each with its own rolling gate covering its entrance, but we hardly gave it a glance as we were too much in the zone. I thanked Tri Crew Duc and slowed the pack to 21 mph.

The next thing I knew, Cap’t blew by at 24 mph! This abrupt response somehow snapped me out of my daydream mode and I quickly latch on. It also pumped me full of adrenaline and I found the energy to follow Cap't and the other VeloViets to the 91-mile stop. Whew... I needed this break bad! We loaded up and start the final leg of our journey after a brief rest.

Fed-Ex must have been like a caged tiger, waiting to be release, pawing at the fence surround it. At the first sign of an opening, and thirsting for blood, Fed-Ex could not contain himself any longer and attacked at the 92-mile mark! We let him go...

The last stretch into the run-in we met the Grease & Glory Club. They were a bike crew that also had that competitive instinct, and were positioning themselves for the final sprint. VeloViets and G&GCs jockeyed themselves in the front to take the second position in the pack, as Cap’t was pulling hard at the front. The final sprint was climatic as both a VeloViet and a G&GC were sprinting side by side before we hit a wall of people pooling into the finish. VeloViet managed to slightly edge out the G&GC. At the finish, members of G&GCs came over to shook our hands as both groups appreciated the friendly competion.

Here you can see some of the VeloViets who finished in this first group. The finish time was somewhere between 2:30 to 3:00 PM, and we had spent about 7 hours on the road. Total ride time for Group A was between 5 to 5-1/2 hours.

Photo #22 - Part of the Group A Fast Crew.

We then all high-fived, fist pumped, and congratulated each other. The group was still stoked from the ride. Cap’t made a quick call and found out that Group B were still a long ways off. We decided to disband as most everyone had to go home to get ready for Valentine’s Day and the Vietnamese New Year. Sang, Mad Dog, and I were the only ones left.

Around 4:15 PM, the first of Group B showed up. It was Rock Racer Tan. We sat and talked, and he updated me on some of the action in Group B. It seemed that the Group B was in serious trouble sometime after the halfway stop. Everyone was cramping up… Viet, Toan, Rock Racers, Billy D, and Mac. Billy and Mac were pulling extra weight as they were on heavy tandem bikes with Co and Michelle, and the rolling hills were quickly sapping their energy.

Then Tan told me a wonderful story of heroes and hope. During this greatest time of need, when our strongest VeloViets were too far to help, there rose new heroes from the Group B. The first Tan spoke about was Long. Sometime before the halfway mark, Long had noted that Toan had cramped in both legs, and Long slowed to escort Toan to the stop, sacrificing his own chance to stay with Group A. Also between the halfway and the 71-mile stop, Long was going up and down the line, encouraging others and helping to push Viet and Mac up the hills.

For this ride, Fixie Girl had decided to leave her single steed behind and had borrowed a geared bike from Toan. Fixie was like a wild pony finding the joy of learning to fully galloped for the first time on this geared bike! Tan mentioned that Fixie and Ngoc were often at the front of Group B, doing the hard work to help pull the group along.

Tan said that Viet suffered the most of all of Group B. He had cramps in his left hamstring and right calf and quad, and after the 60-mile mark was discouraged and considered quitting. The several times that Viet tried to quit, Toan and the others rallied around him and encouraged him to continue. Courageously, Viet finished his first century with almost full cramp in both legs.

Here you can see the guys were all elated after the ride. Great job!

Photo #23 - Group B riders still stoked from the ride. Check out our 4 gorgeous ladies who looked like they did not break a sweat!

In the end, everyone left feeling that they have accomplished something great and had just experienced one of those few lifetime memorable moments. The VeloViet’s Mechanized Warriors performed as a team. Group A was exceptionally strong and no other teams exceeded their speed and intensity on the ride. Group B showed us a valuable lesson in teamwork and camaraderie. When one of their warrior fell in battle, the others stood in, covered, and dragged the wounded to safer grounds. This was team unity at its best!

A couple of days after the ride, the e-mails started coming in and flooding my inbox. VeloViets retold the wonderful stories, confirmed what I had experienced in Group A and what Tan had told me about Group B. Some also recapped the rides from their perspective, and raved about how memorable and life affecting this ride was to them. Most importantly from this ride, we were successful as a team, and our strength, teamwork, and camaraderie earned the respect of each other and from those outside our team.

I will always treasured this moment. Thanks to all who shared this wonderful experience with me. Until next time…

Phong