I was looking foward with great expectation to do the Everest Challenge. This was the year of climbing a lot, hill repeasts, interval training and just putting in a lot of miles on the bike. I felt ready to do the ride and get a good time. But the weather has not cooperated. I had held out hope that maybe the forecast would change so I waited until this morning to make a final decision. When I got up it still showed a 60% chance of rain and cooler temperatures. This webcam shot of Tioga Pass says it all and that is not even as high as we would be climbing (click photo to enlarge).

I already expected very cold temperatures near the summit, but when you mix that with rain, it is not only misserable but more dangerous than I want to take on, especially considering I still have the Furnace Creek 508 in two weeks. And that ride is a much bigger investment, both in terms of money and time as well as others depending on me.

It is not all lost however. The initial reason why I decided to do the Everest Challenge was to kind of force me to ramp up the training and not wait too long to get in shape for the 508. That was all accomplished.

We all started out a couple months ago with Joe, Gary and myself doing a lot of training together. We all rode the Death Ride together. Gary and I were going to do the Everest Challenge together and Joe and Gary were to be a two man team for the 508. So between the three of us, that meant two doing the Everest Challenge and three doing the 508. Gary was injured and pulled out of the Everest Challenge, but still had hopes of doing the 508. But that is not going to happen now, so amongst the three of us, all that is left is my doing the 508. Oh well, there is always another year.

I have another great local ride I will do tomorrow, 100 miles with 10,000 feet of climbing.  Not quite the challenge of the Everest Challenge, but the training I need for the FC 508.

Categories: Everest Challenge, Furnace Creek 508
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