129 miles (2003: 124 miles measured)
16,000 feet of climb (2003: 14,500 feet measured)
Update 8-10-03:
I looked at the elevation profle data and compared it to Topographic
map elevations
(see www.topozone.com) for as many
high and low points as I had the patience to check and I found
that the error varied with elevation. So, using 13 elevation
check points and the ride data I made a plot on excel. The error
looks fairly linear so I used a straight line least squares fit
and got a correction factor. Using the correction factor and
re-analyzing the data I found a total climb of 15,900 ft. Good
enough for me - I will quit the analysis. I work in transducers,
data acquisition, error analysis and data analysis. I now think the
claim of 16,000 feet climbing is OK.
After riding this thing twice I swore I wouldn't go again.
It is too hard to consider finishing the DR "fun". However,
my friend called and asked if I had registered yet and I decided
it didn't hurt to sign up for my 3rd. Then I got my spot and figured I
didn't have to ride all five. Four passes would be a fun ride.
Once I started I knew I would finish or die - its just my nature.
My goal this year was to finish in a shorter time and collect a
continuous data set for the whole route. I succeeded in both of
these goals. I finished in 10h 40m riding time and 12h 48m total.
Not a set of times that will impress anybody but I felt pretty good
afterwards. No sore muscles, no aching joints but my butt was
pretty fed up with the ride.
I collected data during the ride with a CicloMaster 436M which
stores a data point every 20 seconds for up to 64 hours. I started
it at the car and stopped it when I got back to the car. You can see
some data plots linked below.
From my training rides (Henry Coe Park, Sonora Pass, Metcalf Road, etc.)
I think that I can climb forever if I keep my climb rate below
2000 ft/hr. You can see from the plot that I start out climbing
too fast on the first three passes and sort of fade out from there.
The heat was also a big factor. I recorded a high of 111 degrees F
on the blacktop in the sun.
As I returned to the top of Carson Pass after the final rest stop,
I pulled in with a large group of Harley Davidson riders who were
just pulling out from the summit parking area. As I began the descent
I found myself pacing the pack of motorcycles and just about in the
middle of their group ... I was running with the big dogs. Eventually
we reached a place that was not so steep where they pulled ahead and
left me behind. One woman solo rider waved a one-fingered salute has she
pulled by. I couldn't tell which finger it was but I like to think it was
a skyward index finger in a positive gesture.
My data measured 124 miles which is 96 % of the advertized 129 miles. I
don't know why there is this discrepancy but 4% is not much and 124 miles
is still a long ride. I recorded 14,500 feet of climbing which is 91% of
the advertized 16,000 feet. The difference may be due to calibration errors
and the size of small bumps that are ignored. My computer ignores changes
of 30 feet or less.
Note: I have spot-checked actual elevations and there does seem to be a
calibration error. I have posted the data below.
In 2002, a rider died. His family is now protesting the continued
use of the name "Death Ride" and the skeleton logo. If you are
interested in this you should read:
Sacramento Bee article
Tahoe Daily Tribune article
A plot of Elevation and Gradient
A plot of Elevation and rate of climb
A plot of Elevation and speed
A plot of Elevation and Temperature
Spreadsheet: CorrectedDeathRide.xls 1320 kb
Spreadsheet: DeathRideError.xls 820 kb
A photo of the evening before.
A photo of starting up Monitor before sunrise
A photo of the rest stop at US395
A photo of the Monitor Pass rest stop, West bound
A photo of bones going up Ebbetts Pass West bound
A photo of West bound riders getting stickers at the top of Ebbetts Pass
A photo of signing the 5-pass rider's poster
Dan Merrick
danmerr@ix.netcom.com
