By Louise McCracken

Pena Adobe Park in Vacaville was dark but dotted with headlight and helmet lights alike as approximately 240 participants started their journey on the Knoxville Double Century.  Ranked ninth out of 20 with the California Triple Crown in elevation gain, this 200 mile ride is considered quite a challenge amongst the cycling community with 12,600 feet of climbing.  With that inconsideration, many started this ride at 5:00 am in hopes to finish the ride before sunset.  Leaving the park and going through a maze of streets to get out of town for the first ten miles was smooth.  A little climb over Mt George to Napa Valley glowed as the sun rose over the horizon.

Arrived at the first rest tom at Napa River Ecological Reserve, I needed to shed my leg warmers.  Topped-off the water bottles had my number checked off and hopped back on the bike.  More rolling hills and some gentle to moderate climbing on Silverado Trail and Howell Mountain Road.  Gary F was provided a few words of motivation and encouragement as he passed me.  Joe F was reassuring moments later telling me that this course is “a piece of cake Louise-a piece of cake!” After the decent and onto Pope Canyon Road I suddenly struck with shooting pain down my left leg and my arm started feeling numb.  I had mobility in my hand; I just noticed my arm was numb.  Pulled over to stretch, when I put pressure above the hip bone near my spine, it was swollen and tender.  Okay, this could be a pinched nerve, should have made a visit with my Chiropractor the day before the ride.

Rest stop #2 at Knoxville Road-Lake Barreyessa, Gary was leaving as Joe, Paul D and Mark D were grabbing their bikes.  As I was shed my arm warmers, Paul advised I take some ibuprofen and also take my time on the climbs.  That was when the others cautioned me that Knoxville Road was going to be a struggle for me.  After a few rollers, it becomes a relentless and consistent grade to the next stop “after the tunnel” which provides water only.  Okay, I followed instructions, grabbed a handful of pretzels and stuffed my bento box for the next leg and mentally prepared myself for the next challenge.  Much to my surprise, the ride was quite pleasant as my focus was concentrated on the battered and beaten-up narrow, two-lane road.  Jeeps and Trucks were parked on the shoulder-dotting along the side the road.  It hunting season and there were occasions where I saw them at their respective vehicles packing their rifles away calling it a day.  Gary F surprised me as he passed me again on the course.  I told him about my suspected pinched nerve and my determination to finish the ride.  He was gracious in providing more encouragement as he sped off into the distance.  I learned later on that he took a wrong turn and went off course for awhile.  One of these days I will be able to pass the same person on a double century ride like he does on two occasions.

Just when I gained confidence in myself and thought I was doing well with this challenge when the grade of the climb increased.  The road started to get smoother so the concentration was shifted to power on the pedals as opposed to maneuvering around the potholes to avoid a pinch flat.  Now I knew what everybody was warning me about.  My arm was still numb, hand functional and the ibuprofen as wearing off.  Passing through the “tunnel,” a rider was stopped along the side of the road.  It was very tempting to do the same as lighting bolts of discomfort was shooting down my leg at every pedal stroke.  But I knew there would be a stop to refuel and medicate soon.  A few hundred yard up the road, a photographer as sitting on the shoulder taking pictures of riders.  He got a good shot of me munching on some of those pretzels I just stuffed in my face.  Guess I will become the poster-child advertizing the ride for next year.  When I approached him, he asked me if the rider down below was okay-oh yea, he’s just catching his breath.  “You don’t have very far to go!  Slip it in the lower gear and spin, spin, SPIN!”  Yes sir, I can do that, I am on my way.

Up and around the corner a sign along the road warning that there are cyclists on the road asking hunters not to shoot us.  The water stop was within my sights-as I approached, I found Russ S and Debra H dressed in camouflage and painted faces.  Russ was checking off the rider’s numbers and Debra was providing accolades acknowledging our accomplishment by blowing a duck caller (synonymous to the Quack cyclists who organized the event).  As I approached the tents to refill my camelback and bottles, I saw Shelia S and David H in the same attire of camouflage and painted faces.  It was quite the festive theme and well receptive after a good tough climb.  Shelia was pushing chocolate milk as it was “good fuel for the thighs.”  Okay Shelia, serve me a double, one for each thigh.  More ibuprofen and continued on course as there was more elevations on conquer.

The humor of the organizers was sustained at Morgan Valley Road as marking on the road indicated “Last climb before lunch, (Promise?!).”  After the 2nd identical marking was passed, it was clear that there was more work to be done before the next rest stop.  As I arrived, Gary, Joe and Mark were on their bikes and getting ready to roll.  They gave me a resounding applause knowing of the additional and unexpected obstacles I was facing.  Joe tried to me humor me as he announced that “there is no more climbing.”  When I heard the surrounding cyclist burst into laughter, I knew better.  After some friendly banter describing the climb of Cobb Mountain-the degree of difficulty, distance, etc., I was reassured that this was the “easier” side of the mountain.  Thanks guys, I read the course description before the ride, I know there is more climbing to do-just not as much.  I appreciate your vote of confidence.

Quack cyclists made a healthy sandwich as opposed to the skimpy ones at the lunch stop of the Grand Tour.  A bag of chips and a soda, more ibuprofen, filling the camelback and topping off the water bottles, I was refreshed and ready to for more.  A Quack cyclists announced that “bonking was not allowed” on this ride and encouraged us to stuff our jersey’s. Another maze of streets out of town and the climb of Cobb Mountain began- the toughest climb of the ride.  The pain returned to my leg after the climb just as I started the descent.  Everybody loves to see those road signs warning trucks to use low gears when you are working so hard to reach the summit.  The Detert Reservoir/Pelican Lake rest stop was a welcome sight as I headed straight for the ibuprofen.  Quack Cyclist noticed I was slow climbing back on the bike as my number was checked off.  “The hard climbing is over” he shouted as I rolled back on the course.

Other cyclists were friendly and encouraging as we all shared our desires of finishing the ride-the countdown to the finish commenced.  Lake Hennessey rest stop was a welcome sight as it was dusk.  Paul V was serving freshly cooked hot dogs as I broke my six year ban of eating them-it tasted so good!  Everyone had to show the Quack Cyclist their lights as their numbers were checked off the list.  It was going to be dark soon and people visiting the lake in their boats were sure to be leaving soon for the day.  The narrow shoulder on HWY 128 was going to provide some safety concerns.  It was necessary to activate my lights about a mile before the last rest stop at Pardehsa Store at Hwy 121 and Pleasants Valley Road.  More ibuprofen, some pretzels and a soda-I was ready to roll. Quack Cyclists were insistent that riders left in pairs using the buddy system.  The boaters were leaving the lake and the ability to see two or more cyclists on the road was better than one.  Some of these boaters were quite confident in their passing capabilities as you could feel their draft as they passed.

“Thirteen miles left to go!’ I was reassured by my cycling buddy.  His helmet light was very bright and I preferred he be the front man when we needed to ride single file as vehicles passed us.  In contrast, it was a little ways to go-but it felt like one of the longest sections of the course.  I was tired, full of ibuprofen and eager to lay flat and rest my leg.  Deer scampered across the road in front of us before the next car sped along, passing us on the road.  It was a welcome sight and distracted me from the exhaustion I was facing.  Once we were at the end of Pleasants Valley Road and turning onto Cherry Glen to cross over the freeway, I knew we were to quickly approach the finish line.  YAHOO!  Thanks to all the support and encouragement of the organizers and fellow cyclists alike, I was able to accomplish a personal goal of completing my 3rd double century for the year and earn the Triple Crown award.
Day of Event = September 20, 2008