Marin Century

Bill Bushnell — Sunday, August 5, 2001

Zach and I arrived at the start just before 6:00. Zach was riding his ICE micro trike, and I was riding a Gold Rush with white fairing and sock. We lollygagged at the start for a while after registering to say, “Hi.”, to several people who brought ‘bents or who have ‘bents but were riding uprights. We were on the road at 6:34.

The course climbs over a few short hills in the suburbs of north San Rafael before heading west on Lucas Valley Rd. Zach and I started together but I lost him somewhere along the relatively flat section just west of San Rafael. I was feeling good that day, feeling no hint of the ITB problems I have had on and off over the last couple of years. (I think I found the right combination of bike fit and ITB stretches). I decided to press on at a relatively hard pace of 80-85% of Max HR up the hill to the rock that marks the summit of Lucas Valley Rd. and wait for Zach further along the course. In spite of this effort, I was still being passed by more uprights than I was passing. Maybe these were all the “go fast” uprights, I thought.

The descent through the redwoods and into Nicasio Valley was swift and cool in the early morning air. A right turn onto Nicasio Valley Rd. took us through the town of Nicasio and on to the junction with Pt. Reyes-Petaluma Rd. I stopped briefly for a call of nature, executed within the privacy of the sock and removed my long-sleeved top.

The climb up through the pass to the northeast between Nicasio Reservoir and the Marin Cheese Factory was shorter than I expected. As I neared the top I could see a small group of upright cyclists gaining on me. One of them was a tandem. From the expressions on their faces, that I could barely make out, I figured they were serious “go fast” cyclists. I decided I’d rather stay ahead on the descent, so I gave an extra burst of energy to get over the top a hundred yards or so ahead of them.

I managed to increase my lead on the descent, but they began closing the gap after we passed the Cheese Factory, nearly catching me at the left turn onto Wilson Hill Rd. (aka Hicks Valley Rd.) The first rest stop was located at a small school on the left about a half-mile ahead. I had plenty of water and food and didn’t need to get off the bike to stretch, so I decided to continue without stopping. So did the tandem team. As the road began the short climb, the tandem team passed and so did a couple of other uprights hanging onto the tandem like sea gulls off the rear of a fishing boat.

Wilson Hill Rd. descends briefly to a T junction with Marshall-Petaluma Rd. We turned left and continued along a gradually descending road for the next several miles. Along this stretch I came upon the tandem team and another recumbent bike just ahead of the tandem. They had reduced their pace somewhat, so I passed. It was Derek on the Optima Baron. After I passed I noticed that Derek jumped on my tail. Well, all right, let’s make him work for my draft, I thought. So I kept the pace at my 80-85% mark for the next several miles. I knew the tandem would catch us again on the climb over the “Marshall Wall”, a fairly steep climb of about 1 mile followed by another 1/2 mile or so of less steep climb, but I didn’t want them to pass us on the rolling descents where I felt we had an aerodynamic advantage.

Shortly before the bottom of the climb Derek dropped off suddenly. Maybe he flatted. I thought briefly of going back to check, but then realized that he could probably handle such a minor mechanical problem.

Of course, everyone passed me on the climb up the Marshall Wall. While I was spinning up the hill in my winch gear, I could see Derek gaining on me as I neared the top, and he just about caught up to me at the top—or maybe he decided to hang back to let me lead on the descent. Derek told me later that he’s a cautious descender. I took the descent pretty much full out, braking lightly a few times in the middle and again more aggressively near the bottom. My max speed on the ride (48.6 mph), which would have been greater were it not for the thick fog and gusty headwinds, was on this section.

On the rolling hills on CA-1 north of Marshall I managed to catch most of the upright cyclists who passed me climbing the Marshall Wall, though I was unable to regain contact with the tandem team. The rollers on this section were great fun. Build up a head of steam on the downslopes and cruise over the crests of the following upslopes without having to shift into the small ring.

After passing through Tomales I turned left on Dillon Beach Rd. and began a short climb to Middle Rd. and then after several minor dips and climbs found myself in Valley Ford at about 9:25. I decided to get off the bike and walk around a bit just to shake the lactic acid out of the muscles. I saw Derek arrive about 10 minutes later, and then the tandem team came in. They had apparently ridden some bonus miles when they missed a turn earlier on the course.

Northern Marin County is mostly grassy rolling hills. The few trees in this region are located in the narrow canyons and along the roadways and around buildings. Most of the climbs are less than 300 feet high and no more than a mile long. Today’s ride north to Valley Ford was into gusty headwinds giving me a relative speed advantage on the recumbent over the upright cyclists. The trip east with the wind would be faster but offer less of a relative speed advantage.

After resting for about 25 minutes I got back on the bike and enjoyed an easy spin in the mid 20 mph’s with the wind on the road from Valley Ford to Petaluma. I passed several groups along this section and was passed again for the last time that day by the serious tandem team. Up ahead I could get the occasional glimpse of Derek on the Baron, but my legs just didn’t feel like working to close the gap.

A right turn onto Tomales Rd. took us into the wind for a couple of miles before we turned left onto Chileno Valley Rd. After a brief uphill on which I was passed by several upright cyclists and a couple of small groups, Chileno Valley Rd. began a series of rollers followed by sections of what seemed like flat sections. Whether by trick of the wind or some other illusion I could not tell whether I was climbing or descending while riding through this valley.

I could occasionally see Derek ahead, but I did not catch up to him until he stopped abruptly on a short hill. I asked him if he was O.K., and he said he was.

Chileno Valley Rd. into Petaluma offers another rolling descent that is great fun on the recumbent. I spent more time than I needed at the Petaluma rest stop in part because it was the nicest place to rest: green grass, refreshment, and plenty of shade.

After another 20 minutes I was back on the road heading southwest out of Petaluma on Pt. Reyes-Petaluma Rd. The warm climb up Red Hill on this narrow road with frequent beach-bound traffic was the low point of the day. I was asked a couple times if I was hot in the sock. I said I was warm, but as long as there was a breeze, I wouldn’t overheat. One nice thing about the sock is that it helps keep the sun of my arms and legs. In fact the only skin directly exposed to the sun for any length of time while riding with the sock is the skin on the back of my neck, my nose and cheekbones, and the outside of my lower legs.

Derek and I climbed the last half of the grade together until my legs started to threaten cramps. When I backed off he passed but then stopped at the top. I continued without pause down the other side into Hicks Valley. I didn’t get that far as the course turned left on Novato Rd.

After a short climb Novato Rd. descends fitfully into Novato. Again my legs complained each time I started up after a red light or stop. Now was the payback time for pushing the pace earlier in the day. I had been training recently with high intensity rides up to 80 miles in length, but now I was extending that distance. Still, I managed to stay below the full-on cramp threshold and after taking the grand tour of the Suburbs of Novato found myself back at the finish area at 13:24, 6:50 after starting.

Overall it was a fun ride that pushed the limits of my conditioning.

Ride stats:

distance: 102.73 miles

climbing: 5310 feet

average speed: 17.27 mph (while-moving)

average speed: 15.03 mph (overall)

maximum speed: 48.6 mph

total time: 6:50:00

riding time: 5:56:54

average heartrate:130 bpm (~73% of max)

©2004, Bill Bushnell

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