I have to say this ride is beautiful but has your soul, questioning what the hell? It is challenging like no other road. Like they say, its the King of all roads.
The morning was great, except for the sheets of rain, wind, and fog. This seemed to get worse as the day progressed. Otherwise all good.
I will say that the road was about forty miles of just turn after turn of climbs. Not the 7% grades but 14% to 20% grades. Ones that make you say, oh mama or fudge fudge fudge , and shit shit shit. You get the picture. All I thought was don't look up.
I saw many bad accidents too. On one of the 20% descents I couldn't stop as we were made to dismount and walk. A horrible accident had happened at the bottom when two people skidded into a ditch. Fire trucks, ambulance, and police were there. I was squeezing my brakes hard the whole way down as the rain poured and I just couldn't slow down to a stop with the wet roads. I took my foot out ready to bail off the bike. I was already hydroplaining sideways and my cleat and I just kept kidding down at least thirty feet towards an ambulance parked there. I yelled, I can't stop!! A guy caught me to a stop. Crazy stuff for sure.
We were being made to walk at least a while with our bikes, as more and more police, fire trucks and ambulances arrived. It was harrowing for sure. The thought of those folks whom we saw in the ditch, were of hopes that all was gonna be alright for them.
I had friends here doing this ride, but none of them did King Ridge. Sometimes being naive to what's in store is a good thing, because had I driven it two days before, I may not have given it a go. It was spectacular by all means, and that experience I can't erase. The towering trees and winding roads make this spellbinding indeed.
That said, the weather conditions made even the most avid rider grimace.
I eventually had to in SAG at Jenner as time was not on my side.
The stories I heard while on the bus ride back to the Finley Center were riveting to hear, as alot of these guys and gals were half my age. They spoke of finishing the ride last year. The weather was treacherous especially for someone like me who has not the experience of training in inclimate weather. I come from Southern California, sun and beaches...
At that the point I sagged, I still had one more monster road and that was on Coleman Valley Road. The steepest part of the grade there is at the beginning. At that point there are I think seven miles of climbing still before rollers down to Santa Rosa.
They actually had a busload of cyclists that had to be sagged, and one bus for the riders still coming in to the Jenner rest stop. They advised not finishing as darkness would loom as we reached the top of Coleman and there would be no more support. This was at three pm. The weather played havoc on everyone.
I was soaked to the bone, shivering from the wind, I didn't care about the views I love to see along the beach, I just wanted a warm something to drink, and nice warm clothes. It didn't help that we rode nine miles to the start in the morning, because of warnings of sparse parking. We felt it was a good idea at the time and what a way to help out the parking situation, however, not when you are shivering and cold from being wet, and realizing, damn, we have to ride nine miles home. Ughhh!!
The day started perfect, I felt good and strong to the base of the first stop. Billowy clouds above the mountains looked breathtaking. No rain yet....
Friends that did the medio did experience some light drizzle and wind, but that's all. Luck was with them.
During my trek up King Ridge,I remember my pulling down my arm warmers at one point as I was feeling warm as we climbed more, and more chatting away with whomever I encountered riding aside me. I said, Is that a raindrop I feel? Within minutes it became more and more steady. Then it came down, fun at first as we climbed, the misty erieness within the trees and silence interrupted by the patter of raindrops on the canopy of redwoods we were beneath. A damn great experience, until the decents I used to love changed. I began to be wary of turns that were so unfamiliar and that were difficult to judge with the fog. On the ridge that we rode on at the top (there was actually a top) was raging cold with a blast of cold air from the ocean I was supposed to be able to see. Rain was sideways. I almost felt I'd be toppled off the road. Spectacular sight being in the clouds. I had to have my glasses pulled down just enough to see through, but if I took them off the rain pelted my eyes hard. So they stayed on.
Something told me to put DZ Warming gel on my legs, arms and lower back. Mind you its only for your legs... lol! I sure was glad I did. Funny me.
All in all I will be ready to do this again. Baldy is the way to go. I promise to enjoy the experience full on next year....
I have unfinished business and demons to conquer.
Patiently waiting to sign up again, 2012....
Cheers...
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