The first 18 miles to Badwater is easy, the weather is good, slightly overcast and cool so I decide to just do the whole ride. I’m feeling pretty good at this point and jump ahead a bit. It was just a beautiful rolling ride through the valley. We are warned that the return trip usually includes headwinds. I don’t see how that’s possible because I detect a bit of a headwind going south which intensifies as we get to the base of the climb to Jubilee Pass. This pass is only 1293 so I’m not worried, but of course you have to add another 300 feet to that before we reach sea level. Directly in front of the spot where I’m standing you look up to see a sign way up on the valley wall “Sea Level” and I think my house in Baltimore is on a mountain from where I stand.

The climb up Jubilee Pass shouldn’t have been as tough as it was, again my heart rate didn’t exceed 155. I can easily get into and maintain 160-165 and generally climb into that range on local rides and spin classes. Not to make excuses but I’m just not firing on all cylinders. I get to the top directly behind the group I had been trailing and we head back down for the fast and bumpy descent. The roads in DV can be a bit rough but nothing to whine about.  The small group takes off while I’m in the can so I have a long lonely ride ahead-again. It will be twenty something back to Badwater and another 17 to Furnace Creek. The vistas are so long that you can see your destination from a long way off. I was quite happy to see the palm trees of Furnace Creek a few miles off, dropped into a low spin and enjoyed the last little bit of climbing. My left foot was the only really painful spot, ass hurt, legs ached but that’s to be expected. The shoes are new and 100 miles before any pain isn’t bad, slight cleat adjustment.

I feel pretty good for finishing both rides, two days, two mountain passes, about ten thousand feet of climbing in about 190 miles. Not bad for February. I have to get up at 4am again to catch my flight out of Vegas so I leave a note for our leader Chris Kostman thanking him for two days of great riding. Chris does a great job with these rides, a mix of great support, a bit of pushing us along like a tough coach and a great deal of positive support from both he and his support people. Death Valley is beautiful-Thanks Chris.