Death Ride provides cyclists with ultimate rush

TURTLE ROCK PARK - With cars lined up on the side of the road for miles amid a bucolic countryside, the setting was vaguely reminiscent of Woodstock or Altamont.

But instead of naked flower children, Hell's Angels or the Rolling Stones getting crazy at Turtle Rock Park on Saturday, it was an estimated 3,000 cyclists who were grinding their way through the Tour of the California Alps, also known as the 26th annual Death Ride.

Of those 3,000 participants, roughly 1,700 chose to take on the most difficult challenge - a five-pass, 129-mile course, which consisted of a cumulative 16,000 feet of vertical gains.

Although some may treat it as such, the Death Ride is not a competition. Rather, the honor was in finishing the course, signing a skull-laden board and maybe besting personal records.

"The amazing part is not all participants are five-percent body fat types," said Jeff Mathews, of South Lake Tahoe, who finished 20th in slightly less than nine hours. "There are all shapes and sizes in this race. There's not just skinny people here."

I should be noted, however, that the 41-year-old Mathews, who works for Sierra Pacific Power Company, carried about as much fat as a toothbrush, having prepared himself for the event by participating in several "century" (100-mile) events throughout California.

"This is the longest, the toughest (event) - no doubt," said Mathews, who began his ride around 5:30 a.m. "The east side of Monitor Pass is always hot. The sun hits that first at sun-up. It's a long, amazing drive - and an even more amazing ride. It's a beautiful ride. There's no leveling off anywhere. It's straight climbing for 10-11 miles."

Mathews said the participants that most impress him aren't the ones who finish first.

"Those people that finish at 4-5 (p.m.) are the people that are amazing," he said. "That's amazing - 10, 11, 12 hours and they don't stop all the way to the finish. There are others that try to beat the 4 o'clock cut-off and they'll stop to rest. When they get close to cut-off time, they'll start back up and make it. Others don't make it. They're devastated."

Jesse Bushey, of Squaw Valley, Calif., was the first cyclist to cross the finish line in the five-pass event, with a time of 7 hours, 9.49 seconds, his personal best.

The 23-year-old Bushey, an apprentice blacksmith for Mountain Forge, in Truckee, said he rides about 200 miles a week and participated in his inaugural Death Ride last year, finishing "around fourth" in 7:35 or so.

"It was a killer ride (this year). Phenomenal," said the 6-foot, 178-pound Bushey, who was sporting a mohawk. "The roads are killer, the climbs are really worthy. There was no wind today. The clouds kept it cool."

Originally from Cabot, Vt., Bushey said he was already looking forward to next year's Death Ride.

"I want to break my own record, my own personal time," Bushey said. "It's pretty motivating. It's awesome the way all of these people turn out to do a big ride like this."

When asked which part of the course was most difficult for him, Bushey smiled.

"Carson Pass, for sure," he said. "You just lag, get tired. (The vertical gain) is pretty gradual, really. But you reach that part and you're toast. I was, anyway."

Bushey said he was ready for a little post-race celebration of pizza and watching the Tour de France.

Bill Condrashoff, of Jackson, Calif., owns a printing business and an electrical instrumentation business, but said he trained 10 hours a week for three months for the Death Ride.

"You have to be ready for this race," said the 47-year-old Condrashoff, who grew light-headed and had to sit down and drink some ice water during his interview. "You have to put the effort in, or you're not going to finish."

It was Condrashoff's second Death Ride and his 9:21 bettered last year's time by 6 minutes, even though he finished 32nd last year, compared to 41st this year.

"Whether the conditions were better last year or whether the better riders came this year, I don't know," said the 5-10, 160-pound Condrashoff, who also said that Carson Pass was the most difficult part for him. "It kicked my butt. You have only so much energy stored in your body. That last bit of energy, you squeeze out to finish the race."

As tired as he was, Condrashoff said he still didn't hit the wall.

"If I would've hit the wall, I would've gotten off the bike and walked," said Condrashoff, who is used to training at 2,000 feet (Ebbet's Pass is 8,732). "You don't finish if you bonk. They have to drive you back. Those riders that go 12-14 hours? They're heroes to fight that long."

While many of the riders grabbed some Blast Energy Drink upon the conclusion of the race, one rider passed, saying he was ready for some beer.

Not so for 60-year-old Suzy Stockdale, of Minden. Stockdale was once ranked third nationally in triathlons after competing in the National Triathlete Championships, in Hilton Head, S.C., in 1986.

Stockdale, who quit triathlons 10 years ago, is nonetheless the kind of person that would put McDonald's and Marlboro out of business, looking fresh as a daisy after her 129-mile ride.

"If you have a good quality of health, you're ready for anything," Stockdale said with a laugh. "Cycling is a superb sport for anyone. Triathlons take their toll."

It was the 14th Death Ride for Stockdale, who supplied her recipe for success in what is a grueling event for most others.

"I rested, ate, and drank a lot of water," she said. "I didn't eat a lot of food. I ate oranges. You don't want foods that require a lot of digestion - for obvious reasons."

Stockdale also keeps handy Gu Energy Gel. One 1.1-ounce packet of Gu - she handed over one called "Chocolate Outrage" - contains 100 calories and 20 grams of carbohydrates and is easily squeezed into the mouth while on the go, supplying a quick burst of energy.

Stockdale is active enough to make the average sportswriter cringe, swimming, taking spin classes at the gym and participating in centuries.

"I'm just sitting all day, advertising," she said with a laugh. "It gets you off your ball, so to speak. (The Death Ride) is just an event that I've been doing for so long, that it's a way to keep in shape. The event comes and you get in shape and keep in shape for it. "

Stockdale said the Death ride, which was co-organized by Alta Alpina Cycling Club and Alpine County Chamber of Commerce, is a huge revenue-earner in addition to bringing in cyclists from all over the United States and even some from overseas.

And while it may have lacked the cultural impact of Woodstock and the controversy of Altamont, the Death Ride once again turned out to be one killer event.