This ride report brought to you by HammerSchlagen of BayAreaRider.com fame.
The Dunbarton/Calaveras Challenge is a ride Thor originated a few years ago. An 88-mile mountainous route, it starts from his house in Palo Alto and goes over the Dunbarton bridge, up Niles Canyon, up over Palomares Rd out to 580, then east to Foothill Blvd, south to Sunol, then southwest over Calaveras Road and ending back at Thor's house for some post-ride (race) festivities. The ride is considered a climbing ride since it is mostly over hilly terrain. In fact, Palomares and Calaveras are the two major climbs on the day, each regarded as significant climbs. They aren't terribly tough climbs but riding them with this group is brutal!
The previous year's race (I mean RIDE), was won by Switch with a brutal attack on the final pitch of the Calaveras climb. HammerSchlagen took second with Feel Good a close third. In five attempts on this climb, last year's event was the only one that Feel Good had been beaten on the final climb. Needless to say, Feel Good is like an elephant when it comes to getting hammered by his buds.
Anyway, the ride rolled-off around 8:30 AM with the following notable riders on the start list:
1. John Larsen (Thor) - MVV
2. Mark Fischer (Fletch) - Unattached
3. Mike Jessen (Spike) - LGBRC
4. Mike Whitlatch (BroSchlagen :) - LGBRC
5. Darrel Brokeshoulder (BigGear) - LGBRC
6. Bill Nowlin (Lurch or TurboHammer :) - MVV
7. Steve Stewart (HammerSchlagen) - LGBRC
8. Chris Daugherty (CD) - LGBRC
9. Mark Jongsma (Switch) - MVV
10. Jon Simms (Feel Good) - MVV
The peloton rolled out at a good clip from Palo Alto and had a pretty uneventful trip out to the bridge and over. Feel Good led the charge over the bridge climb and most riders took a nature break at the park on the other side while Fletch continued up the road. He's known for his headstarts and Yetiman-like tactics but this was a bit too early, even for him. A small chase group formed to collect Fletch and bring him back to the field. The peloton continued out through Fremont and maintained a good pace up to Niles Canyon for a pit stop at the usual 7-11 and another nature break. With Palomares looming, everyone seemed content to stay together and enjoy the beautiful calm weather before the coming storm of pain.
As the field made the turn off of Niles Canyon onto Palomares, the usual climber suspects went to the front with Feel Good leading the way. Feel Good actually opened up a good gap in front of a chase group consisting of BigGear, CD, Switch, TurboHammer, and HammerSchlagen. The peloton remained close as the tempo and subsequent pain increased. Feel Good didn't appear to be trying hard to escape so Switch turned the screws up a bit and pulled the chase group onto Feel Good's wheel in no time. Of course, about half way up the steep and relentless climb, the pace was quickening and the effort getting more painful with several of the riders taking a turn on the front of the break.
It was mostly Feel Good and BigGear pushing the pace early but everyone (except the wiser HammerSchlagen) took a shot at the front. With about two miles to go, TurboHammer launched a brutal attack on a pretty steep section of road. The other riders looked pretty shocked by the explosiveness of the attack. It was pretty amazing to see the big man accelerate like that (he's about 6'5" and close to 200 lbs!). Last year it was Feel Good launching early attacks with Switch taking the final sprint to the top.
The other riders could do nothing to counter and were barely able to grab TurboHammer's wheel and hang on for dear life. With a few of the riders in serious difficulty, TurboHammer took a breather and spared the demise of some--for the moment (including HammerSchlagen, he would later say). The expectation was that a counter-attack would go next. But it was--again--TurboHammer launching yet another attack. Fauck! This guy was defying the laws of everything--let alone gravity!
TurboHammer launched another two or three attacks that were exceptionally long and on the steeper portions of the climb (it is largely believed that the MVV team recon'd this one like they do Solvang). TurboHammer was sure doing some serious damage leading up to the final steep pitch at the top. The other riders were clearly on the ropes and it appeared that TurboHammer was going to shatter the group and take the most vicious KOM victory ever witnessed on this mountain.
Either TurboHammer cracked right before the final corner or it was just the team tactic to wear everyone down so Switch or Feel Good could take the KOM. Whatever the case, HammerSchlagen was on TurboHammer's wheel when he slowed just before the final corner and went ahead at the perfect moment. With riders to his left and right and very close on his wheel, HammerSchlagen wound up for the sprint to the finish marker. HammerSchlagen would comment later that he was pretty surprised to be in the front at that point. "I was shocked that I rounded the corner first. I knew the top was close so I just put the hammer down and started my acceleration to the only marker I could see near the top. I knew Feel Good was half-wheeling me as we approached the marker but he wasn't coming by and I took the first KOM of the day."
Feel Good was a close second with Switch taking the final podium spot. Of course, Feel Good was not happy about missing out on the first KOM points. He filed a protest that the sign wasn't exactly at the top of the climb. However, the UCI ruled in favor of HammerShlagen since it was the only sign/marker on the hill. Feel Good mumbled something under his breath as he acknowledged the decision and admitted defeat. :)
A NOTE FROM FEEL GOOD: Folks, first of all, the UCI did not vote on the decision - only HammerSchlagen! I did not admit defeat - I never admit defeat :-) Winning a KOM usually means winning to the top of the climb not just the last sign post where you were leading at before you got passed! Let the record show that Steve led up to the left hand turn sign that was actually pointing to the top of the hill (aka: the KOM is just up ahead!). I passed him at that point and led at the summit. You decide - who do you think actually won the KOM?
"I still don't know how I managed to take that particular KOM.", said HammerSchlagen. "I rarely hammer the first climb on a ride but TurboHammer's attacks were so fast that there was actually a decent draft behind him. I think getting the best part of his draft saved me from getting dropped and left me with enough in the tank to make the sprint. Plus, I knew that might be my only shot at some points on the day."
Anyway, the peloton regrouped at the top and looked forward to the bonsai fast descent down to Dublin Canyon Rd. Spike railed the first half mile or so then a group formed and rocketed away. The peloton split for the first time here and again on the climb over Dublin Canyon Rd. but regrouped at Foothill Blvd for the cool roller-coaster ride over to Sunol and the only sprint points of the day.
It was, as always, a great paceline going into Sunol. The whole group shared the work and everyone took good long pulls at the front, getting them to Sunol in no time. The sprint in Sunol is usually a very close one with nearly everyone together going into the final twist and turns and then fighting for position coming into the final sharp right turn before the finish straight.
Switch was at the front setting the pace up to about a 1/4 mile before the finish. Then HammerSchlagen made a move to the front and starting winding up for the finish. Of course, everyone was in tow and waiting for the final corner to launch themselves toward the line. Hamerschlagen made it into the final corner with the good inside line but there was what looked like a speed bump right in the middle of the corner. As HammerSchlagen hit the apex of the corner, him and his rig flew up over the bump and well over the double-yellow and into the oncoming lane. The bump pretty much hosed Feel Good's shot at the sprint because he hit the bump even harder and had to make a much wider corner taking him out of the final sprint by a good margin. HammerSchlagen handily got to the line first and pocketed the only sprint points of the day.
"I didn't really know who was behind me, I just went as fast as I could go around the final corner and hoped for the best. Lucky for me, the bump was bigger on the outside line and the other riders lost momentum as they fought to stay on the road and make the corner. It was an easy victory, but could have just as easily been a disaster," said HammerSchlagen.
The field came in seconds later and the group refueled and hydrated for the final stage up Calaveras. There would be two KOM's on Calaveras. And, of course, the overall winner of the race (Oops, sorry--Ride) would be decided over the summit of Calaveras Rd.
It's always a nice stretch of road going from Sunol over Niles Canyon Rd to the base of the Calaveras climb. The peloton was all together and everyone was enjoying the great weather and easy pedaling. Thor was feeling strong and did most of the work over to Calaveras. From there, Feel Good and HammerSchlagen went to the front and stepped up the pace as the field headed into Calaveras canyon and the upcoming final climb.
As in previous years, Fletch launched a flyer about a mile before the climb really starts. Always hopeful that his aggressive moves will pay off, he stayed out front until the field caught him just before the first pitch of the climb. Feel Good, as always, took over the work of setting
the pace and started ratcheting up the speed (and pain). The same suspects that contested the Palomares climb, were all together again as the pace quickened and the lactate acid begin to flow again. Feel Good continued at a feverish pace with CD, Switch, HammerSchlagen, BigGear, and TurboHammer in tow. Nobody seemed interested in going to the front so the lead group just stayed on Feel Good's wheel for the first couple of miles. With the first KOM point just 300 meters or so away, TurboHammer rockets his way to the front and leaves the group helpless to counter the tremendous attack. TurboHammer crossed the KOM line and was turned around before even Feel Good got there.
TurboHammer had mistakenly assumed a regroup would occur at the KOM marker, but Feel Good and the rest of the break just blew over the hill and continued on. Certainly, the turn-around and subsequent bridge by TurboHammer was costly. The group continued with Feel Good again setting the torrid pace. A short while later, Switch made a move towards the front and turned the screws up a bit more. It was a little while later when the lead group split. BigGear and TurboHammer went off the back succumbing to agony but certainly happy their job was done for the day.
The pace got even quicker as Switch and Feel Good swapped attacks trying to put the LGBRC boys, CD and HammerSchlagen, into difficulty. At one point, things looked like they might go LGBRC's way when Feel Good over-cooked a slight downhill corner and almost ended up in the bushes. The rest of the break thought for sure the bridge would be too much for him to overcome but he caught back on quickly and went to the front as if nothing had happened. The attacks continued as the two MVV riders seemed to battled each other as well as the LGBRC riders. With about two miles to go to the summit, HammerSchlagen had had enough and popped off the back also. Leaving his teammate CD to the unmerciful duo of Feel Good and Switch. CD would later say, "It was the most pain and suffering I'd ever endured on a bike ride." With a teammate up the road and ensured a podium spot, HammerSchlagen could only watch as the group of three riders continued the epic battle up to the summit.
With nobody to work with, HammerSchlagen continued as fast as he could go, but continued to lose time on the trio of riders battling for the final KOM and possible overall. All he could do was watch as they got up the road into the distance.
In the end, the MVV pair could not drop the LGBRC rider and the trio rounded the final bend in the road and sprinted for the KOM marker. Feel Good easily took the victory with Switch close behind and CD just behind Switch. It was an epic battle right down to the wire. Our camera on the peloton quit working but the finish over the final summit looked something like this:
- Feel Good
- Switch
- CD
- HammerSchlagen
- TurboHammer
- BigGear
- BroSchlagen
- Fletch
- Thor
- Spike
The final stage of roughly 25-miles of flat straight roads to Palo Alto was uncontested as Feel Good took the overall and HammerSchlagen taken the second podium spot by virtue of the Palomares KOM and the Sunol sprint points.
Provisional GC standings:
- Jon Simms (Feel Good) - MVV
- Steve Stewart (HammerSchlagen) - LGBRC
- Mark Jongsma (Switch) - MVV
- Chris Daugherty (CD) - LGBRC
- Bill Nowlin (TurboHammer) - MVV
- Darrel Brokeshoulder (BigGear) - LGBRC
- Mike Whitlatch (BroSchlagen) - LGBRC
- Mark Fischer (Fletch) - Unattached
- John Larsen (Thor) - MVV
- Mike Jessen (Spike) - LGBRC
There was plenty of action that this reporter didn't capture due to being a typical media wanker and only following the action of the lead groups. However, surely others have some stories to tell about the tactics in the main field and the other battles that took place on the day.
Feel Good was clearly the strong man taking second on the first KOM and in the sprint. Switch rode a brilliant ride and nearly captured the final KOM. CD amazed everyone with a killer final stage on Calaveras, hanging with the pair of MVV hammers all the way to the final throws of the climb, a very nice ride!
TurboHammer was faucking unbelievable! Other than BigMig (Mike Egan), we have never seen such a big dude rocket up a steep hill like this man can! I think the industry may need a bigger wattage scale to keep track of this faucker's power -- shiet!
Did anybody notice? BigGear did the whole ride with a couple of Clif bars and a small water bottle -- maybe we should call him "The Camelman." He also gets the Most Aggressive Riders jersey for being in the front the most! (Feel Good will protest this. :)
Another notable effort was BroSchlagen. He's only been road riding for a year and he has a training schedule worse than Yetiman! He clicked this ride off with a very respectable overall finish and loved every minute of it.
All in all, the Solvang peloton looks very strong. Everyone put in a great ride and I'm sure we're going to have a blast at Solvang. I have never seen Thor ride so well and Fletch is clearly gaining long-haul form.
Feel Good's Stats:
* Distance..........................91 miles
* Total Ascent.....................4,600 ft.
* Rolling Time.....................5 hrs 02 min
* Ave Speed.......................18 mph
* Max Speed.......................50 mph
* Ave HR...........................141 bpm
* Max HR...........................191 bpm
* Calories..........................6,500 cals.
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