Last fall when looking into goal events, I decided I wanted to do the Solvang Spring Double Century. I was definitely inspired by Kevin completing many doubles over the last few years and knew that Solvang would be a good first double. Kevin and I decided to do Solvang together. I set-up a training plan that started with lots of weekend cycling miles the first weekend of January and increased from there. When we successfully completed our 150-mile training ride at the end of February, I knew I would be ready for my first double century.
Besides the obvious benefit of my getting to draft behind Kevin for hundreds of training miles, Kevin and I really had a great time riding together every weekend. It became our strange version of a standing date. Every Saturday we had a long ride with a lunch stop along the way, Subway, Quizno’s, Clarksburg Market, and South Pine Café all became regular lunch stops. We rode regardless of the weather and mostly lucked out with the rain. Training for Solvang turned out to be one of the best things we’ve ever done as a couple.
We drove down to Solvang Friday afternoon before the ride and stayed at the event host hotel in Buellton. Saturday morning we woke at 5:20 and hit the road a little after 6:00am. It was my first time riding in the dark with a headlight, but the first miles were through town and fairly well lit. The weather was cool, but not cold.
I was feeling nervous and anxious about the task before me, but thought I had my nerves under control. That was until I got a massive cramp in my left thigh about 20 miles into the ride. I don’t usually get cramps and was so upset wondering how on earth I was going to finish 200 miles when I couldn’t ride after 20. I got off my bike and spent a few minutes stretching until my leg muscles relaxed.
I hopped on the bike again and tried to slowly spin it out until I got my rhythm back. The first big climb of the day was just around the corner on Foxen Canyon Road, and I was worried about my leg continuing to cramp. Foxen Canyon Road in the spring is one of the most beautiful sights around. Rolling, lush green hills, wildflowers, lovely farms and wineries, and very little traffic. We really started climbing pretty quickly and my legs felt great. I settled into a good rhythm, and Kevin and I maintained a conversation while riding up the first part of the climb before it got more difficult and I had to really concentrate on riding.
As I crested the hill and began the descent I felt absolutely exhilarated! I went from terrible self-doubt to knowing I could do it within the span of 10 miles. I felt like I was flying down the mountain and looked down at my bike computer to do a speed check, 40 mph, the fastest I’ve ever gone on my bike. After the steep descent ended, we continued to ride slightly downhill for a few miles with a tailwind we were effortlessly spinning along at 22 mph.
We were quick to refuel and use the porta-potties at the first rest stop before continuing on the way. The longest stretch of the ride was the 45 miles between the first stop and the second stop. We rode through farms near Santa Maria, before taking a highway 101 frontage road to Arroyo Grande and cutting through the hills to San Luis Obispo. From the second rest stop we rode through San Luis Obispo onto Highway 1 and out the Morro Bay. There is a “not so secret” checkpoint just past the halfway mark in Morro Bay where you get your number marked. From there we rode along some beautiful miles of coastline in Morro Bay.
I felt so happy there, riding along the Pacific Ocean with a big stupid grin on my face. Eventually we turned inland and headed to the lunch stop back in San Luis Obispo. We spent about 30 minutes there eating Subway sandwiches, Oreos and drinking Coke. We sat down on the grass and Kevin had to pull me back up again to get going.
From lunch we continued south reaching frontage roads along 101 in Pismo Beach. From there we traveled along highway 1 through coastal towns and then inland toward Guadalupe. At 136 miles there was a nasty little climb up Mesa View Drive that almost did me in because my front derailleur wasn’t working right, and I couldn’t shift into my small chain ring. I was forced to stop on the climb, I absolutely hate stopping up any incline let alone ½ mile up a fairly steep hill. Kevin got my chain into the small chain ring, but I didn’t want him to give me a push to get going again. Instead I rode back down the hill turned around and started again.
Fortunately the aid stations were closer together in the second half of the ride because I felt like I was running on empty by the time we reached the stop at 147 miles. Kevin did a little mechanical work on my bike and I ate bananas, red vines, and peanut butter crackers. Repaired and refueled, we continued toward the last stop of the day before the hardest climb of the day.
We rode on Highway 1 again, but this time it was on the freeway near Vandenberg AFB, what an odd experience! We were gradually climbing uphill most of the way, and as we progressed along the view of the central coast mountain range became more and more spectacular. It didn’t take long before we reached the last aid station at 177 miles. We were almost there, with only the longest, hardest climb standing between me and the finish of my first double century.
I think we spent more time there than Kevin wanted because sunset was fast approaching and we wanted to be out of the mountains before dark; but I needed a few minutes to get up my nerve for that tough climb. The 1500-foot climb started almost immediately out of the aid station and continues at varying grades for about 3 miles, sometimes winding sometimes switchbacks. At one point the road got so steep I had to ride back and forth across the road to keep going and wasn’t sure I was going to make it. The feeling of accomplishment I had at the top of that mountain is hard to describe, but a picture is worth a thousand words and the look on my face in this photo says it all.
The descent was tricky because the road is absolutely horrible with cracks and potholes everywhere and the light was fading fast. We made it down and finished the ride uneventfully. I’ve never felt such full body exhaustion in my life! I spent 11 hours 58 minutes in the saddle and total time with rests was about 14 hours. We enjoyed a much earned post ride meal of pizza and Beck’s.
There were definitely a few things I learned through this endeavor. Core strength is so important. I started doing Diane Cressey’s boot camp for women three mornings a week last October and my core strength and muscle tone are much better now. She did so much to help me prepare for the double, including looking over my bike training plan and tailoring a core strength plan to complement my double century goal. I’m sure her program contributed to my newly found mountain climbing skills.
Planet Ultra served lots of “real” food on the ride along side the Hammer drinks and gel. I used the hydration products but skipped the gel, choosing nuts, crackers, peanut butter and jelly, even red vines near the end, and found that my digestive system was much happier with real food than the formulated performance products I typically use for long training and events.
