John’s Ramblings

Although I had been seeing weather forecasts of rain for Valentine’s Day 2009, none materialized for the Tour de Palm Springs.  Last year, I lined up at the start line at 7 a.m. in order to do the 100 mile version of the ride.  This year I lined up an hour later in order to do the 55 mile version.  It was 43 degrees at the start, even colder than last year’s 49.  Unlike last year, it never got past the low 60′s all day, but it stayed pleasant.

The mass start was, well, massive. I looked for, but did not find Susan Kelly, of Century Ride of the Centuries fame (I’d see her briefly later). It took several minutes for the 1000′s of cyclists to shuffle through the start line, which was designed to be a bit of a choke-point.  Once on the road, we immediately loop back to the North, climbing a long gradual uphill past the city limits.  We turned left onto a frontage road, and parallel I-10 into some pretty nasty headwinds.  All the windmills were working overtime today, as were the cyclists during this part of the ride.  This is where I was able to chat a bit with Susan, although the conditions weren’t ideal for extended conversation.  I would end up losing her on the uphills to come, and I wouldn’t see her again the rest of the day.

Once you transition from headwinds to sidewinds, then you do some climbing that, while not long, still get your attention.  On the steepest part, I was feeling that my strength and core training were paying off, as the hill was less significant than I thought it was last year.  Soon after this, the 55 mile route turns right, away from the Century route.  Gifted with a long slight downhill and an 18 mph tailwind, your author ran out of gears trying to make up the time I lost in the headwinds section.

Soon I was approaching rest stop #1 (for the 55 mile loop, #2 for the 100), just about 20 miles into my ride.  It appeared from the distance that all 8,000 riders were at this stop, trying to get water and to pee.  I pulled out of the line a block ahead of the stop, however, for a planned rendevous with my ex-neighbors who were staying in an RV park about 1/4 mile down this road.  They brought me a fresh blended smoothie, and took my arm and leg warmers so I would not have to carry them.  Refueled, and with a slightly lighter load, I rode on past the rest area and continued South on Dillon Road.

As you head south along the eastern edge of the Coachella Valley, you have some lovely views of the lower portions of the valley, and the snow covered mountains beyond.  It wasn’t too long before we again left the 100 mile route by turning right, and beginning a long descent into the valley.

I stopped at the rest area at mile 33 for some of the M&M’s that I had missed last year (never quite made it over to that table, but saw the pictures later). Teenagers were staffing the rest area under the supervision of a few adults. This fine looking group were stocking the M&M cups.

The views to the Northwest were quite striking.

The rest of the ride was pretty uneventful. A few miles after the rest stop, we crossed back over I-10 to the more populated side of the valley. To avoid a plod through the traffic of Hwy 111, we zig-zagged up the valley on less trafficked roads.

I crossed the finish line around noon, through the balloon arch and the cheering cheerleaders.  Youth charities benefit from this ride, so all the schools and youth groups volunteer.  It’s a nice finish to a nice morning in the saddle.

This is a nice ride, especially when you have been living in rain and snow for a few months!  What a beautiful change to be able to pedal all day without looking out for the next weather system!!

The ride is well supported (good rest stops, patrolled by SAG vehicles and motorcycles), and has the assistance of every local law enforcement agency who’s jurisdiction you ride through.  That really helps when trying to get several thousand cyclists through a blinking 4 way stop!

On the downside, there are thousands of riders which can make the riding a bit congested at several points along the route.  It’s very much like the crowds one encounters on the Seattle to Portland ride.  Missing are the Ride Refs that STP has, semi-official riders that help limit the yahoo’s passing on the right, etc.  I tried to pass along my riding etiquette tips to these folks, but I didn’t get too far.  One guy didn’t speak english, and the rest were apparently hard of hearing.

I’ll likely be back next year, and the goal will be to have my 100 mile conditioning back.

Polar HRM curve

Tags: Cycling, ride_report

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