Cyclists win 'lottery' to compete in Death Ride

This gives new meaning to the term winning the lottery.

For avid endurance bicyclists who will ride on Saturday in the Tour of the California Alps, otherwise known as the Death Ride, the chance to participate in the event is the same as winning the lottery. That's because they had to enter a lottery just for the opportunity to participate.

There were 5,000 riders who entered a lottery in February to be in the Death Ride, with the maximum 3,000 selected.

"It does seem like the most fair way to do it," said Jennie Hamiter, president of Alta Alpina Cycling, co-organizer of the Death Ride along with the Alpine County Chamber of Commerce.

Hamiter said organizers try to make allowances for those who want to ride together. She also said online registration has been difficult on the past.

"There was one year it just crashed the server because so many people tried to get on the first day," Hamiter said. "People are passionate about it."

Riders also come from overseas to ride in the event. "It's almost kind of taken on its own mystique and I don't know when that came to be," said Hamiter, commenting on how a popular event has reached another level in popularity.

There are some of the obvious reasons. "It's a real tough challenge because of the amount of climbing in the ride," said Hamiter, commenting on how the high altitude of the event makes it that much more challenging.

Riders who complete all five stages of the event do an estimated 16,000 feet of climbing. "It's actually one of the highest elevation gains," said Hamiter about the event offering some of the most climbing that can be found.

"It's very well organized," said Hamiter, commenting on another reason why riders like the event.

And of course there's the scenery of the Sierra Nevada mountains. "It's absolutely beautiful," Hamiter said. "It's a beautiful, beautiful ride."

The event is unique in what it offers. Saturday's forecast calls for temperatures in the low 90s and there's no expectation of thunderstorms, so riders should only have to deal with the heat. But riders will also have a chance to see snow covered peaks at the highest elevations.

Hamiter said the riders "for the most part are pretty experienced so they know what they need to do" to handle the heat.

The event will begin at 5:30 a.m. at the start-finish line at Turtle Rock Park near Markleville. The fastest riders should be able to cover all five stages of the ride in about eight hours.

It takes a mammoth volunteer effort to put on the ride and Hamiter said as soon as this year's event is over, planning will already begin for next year's event. There's also an obvious positive economic impact for the area, especially in Alpine County.

The event is also Alta Alpina's major fund-raiser. "The financial impact on our club is huge," Hamiter said.

Hamiter, who has completed all five stages of the event herself, described each stage.

The first stage is the west side of Monitor Pass. "Everybody's got a lot of energy," she said. "It's pretty pleasant."

The second stage of Monitor Pass gives riders a chance to descend - and then go back up - its east side. "Going down the other side is always a rush," Hamiter said. "Coming back up the east side, I'd say that's the warmest part of the day."

Then its on to Ebbetts Pass, which Hamiter said is the favorite stage of most of the riders. "Most people think it's the prettiest pass," she said.

On the backside of Ebbetts pass, the fourth stage, there's some steep climbs, but they level off and there's only about 1,500 feet of climbing, but by that time the riders are feeling the effects of the event.

Riders have completed 96 of the 129 miles when they hit the final and longest stage, the Carson Pass. Once the riders cover that pass, Hamiter said, "It's a pretty festive atmosphere."