2/12/2011
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


104 miles of Attrition!

Our group had really planned for the Tour De Palm Springs and most had even registered early. We had about 20 riders set to make the ride and we were planning on getting our Jerseys based on them being delivered in time for the tour. The plan was made and we decided to meet on a corner about ½ of a block north of the parking lot on Indian Canyon. Not all 20 decided or made it there but quite a few of us did.



The plan changed as soon as we were ready to start the Century. Attack Cat, Casey Jones and Doug decided to try and do a 5 hour century so they took off as soon as we got started. The rest of us started out at a more modest pace and managed to work our way through a mass of other riders heading up Indian Canyon and making ready to turn north on the long climb to the first SAG stop. As the road inclined a bit more we started to spread out but everyone seemed to be doing quite well. Metric man and Wolf seemed very relaxed and eventually started to lead the rest of us.

We saw the first crash of the tour about 12 miles into the climb. In all the years I have been doing this Century I have never seen this many people clumped together in one place and it was clear it would only one moment of inattention and someone would be going down. Little did I know that thought would turn out to be prophecy? When we got to the first SAG area I began to suspect that a lot more than the 100 mile riders had started at 7am. The place was literally packed with riders and you had to dismount to make any forward progress. Still we not only collected all the riders we picked up one or two that had missed our starting place.




We were all looking forward to the long downhill on Dillon road and a few of our riders decided to leave before everyone had refreshed themselves with the promise to meet up again at SAG stop two. By the time we had assembled what was left of our group and were ready to go we were ahead of most of the people that had stopped at the first SAG with us. I got out first and was moving down the hill in from of a string of our riders and a few others that were going down the hill the same time we were. I sat up to get one or two pictures and managed to get the camera put away just before disaster struck.

No sooner had I turned back around to continue my downhill run I heard Sea Lion let out a yell and turned back just in time to see him fly off of his bike at about 30 MPH and slam into the pavement. I don’t know when I have seen anyone go down as hard as he did. Several of us rushed to his side and attempted to render aid. Another rider called 911 and we thought Sea Lion might have broken his shoulder or collar bone. As we moved him to the side of the road and waited for the fire department rescue to arrive we naturally checked his bike for him. The frame and fork looked fine and there was some minor road abrasion on his saddle but the front rim was tacoed about as bad as I have ever seen. I figured Sea Lion was through for the day. So we called Huntress’s husband to come pick him up and left Double Time to wait with her as I took the rest of the group on to the second SAG stop.


By the time we arrived at the second SAG stop I got a call from Huntress saying that Sea Lion was back on the road. They put one of my spare wheels on his bike and he was determined to finish the ride. I had a hard time believing he was up to it and we decided to wait a few extra minutes at each SAG stop to give them a chance to close on us before the end of the ride. We took our time at the truck stop and discovered that Sea Lion, Huntress and Double time were behind us by about an hour. We headed for the SAG stop at the park and tried to put the accident behind us.


We got close to the park and Daredevil had to pull over with serious leg cramps. We left a rider with him and D’Artagnon gave him some electrolytes as we made it the last two miles to the SAG stop. Once we got there I noticed Ink Jet sitting on the grass all by himself. I didn’t see any of the rest of his group he had been riding with so I asked how he was doing. He told me he was shot and the only part that didn’t hurt from cramps was his legs. He got some of the free energy drinks one of the stops happened to be handing out and it went straight through him. He was done for the day. I refueled and filled both water bottles with ice and water and downed a small cup of M&M peanuts and got ready to hit the road with the main group again. By this time Huntress, Sea Lion and Double time were only about 12 miles behind is so I figured they were gaining a bit. We left and did the slight climb to Eisenhower before heading towards the SAG at Lowes.

I am not a big candy eater but I was very surprised at how well I felt after eating all of those M&Ms and found myself out front and pulling for all I was worth. I was passing people and holding off challenges to pass and even catching the occasional pace line full of young riders. At least for the first 5 or 6 miles till the sugar high wore off and it was like someone had pulled the plug on my electrical connection. I needed real energy and real food and there was none to be had. We all ended regrouping because Wolf had a flat and finished the ride into Lowes together. I quickly headed for some oranges, bananas and more cold water. I was also determined to stay there until Sea Lion arrived s I could ride the last 11 miles with him. Most of us just stood around and tried to guess how far back Huntress’s group was.


It took about 25 to 30 minutes for them to arrive but soon we noticed some of our jerseys riding up the road and heading in our direction. I can’t tell you how impressed I was to see Double Time then Sea Lion and finally Huntress pull into the parking lot. It takes quite a lot to suck it up and ride any distance after the kind of crash Sea Lion had experienced. To finish 70 plus miles after such a crash is almost more than I can imagine. I felt quite a bit of pride seeing sea Lion standing before me and knowing how tired I was without crashing after the first stop. Some of the riders had appointments so they left before the last group arrived but were still a few of us waiting to welcome Sea Lion as he pulled up to the last Sag.


We took off to finish the last few miles together. Phoenix was so used to hearing me say that it was all downhill from here it had become a joke between us. Still it more or less was a decent into Palm Springs from Lowes. It took us a bit longer than expected but we all got back to the vehicles. It was about then that we discovered how the other riders had faired. I knew Metric Man had made it back safe and sound and that Doug had finished in less than 5 hours. I didn’t know Attack Cat had crashed and had been unable to finish. I also didn’t know where Bloodhound was but I knew his parents were there to take care of him if I missed him. I called him while heading to the Italian Restaurant and he said he made it fine. We ended up with only about half of the people for dinner as we had planned but for those of us that did make it we simply called ourselves the survivors of attrition. At least we had some great food and great conversation and developed a closer bond as a group. Something that often happened when a group lives through adversity together and helps each other get through it. I for one am proud to be part of this group and am proud to wear a Jersey that lets others know who we are.