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Mike
Thanks for bringing Purple Rain skirts to my attention. I’m always on the lookout for versatile off-the-bike clothing options and these seemed perfect! Indeed, my new black skirt arrived today and it “fits” the bill perfectly!
Enjoyed your journal - I’ve been considering the ACA Death Valley ride for a while and you gave a good preview of what to expect.
You're spot on ... that view was jaw dropping. I mean, honestly, all of Death Valley is unreal. I'm so glad we did this ride.
2 years agoAbsolutely! You gotta eat the whole hamburger, no fair throwing away the bun. : - ) Margaret's of the same mindset ... if there's a long and short option she hates herself for it, but always takes the long way.
2 years agoThe climb from Furnace Creek to Dante’s View is epic alright, one of those climbs I doubt we’ll ever forget. We rode it back in 2012. We took our time and stopped for lots of photos, because that’s what I do - especially at Zabrieski Point, which was incredible. And you’re right about that last climb to the summit. I don’t remember if I pushed up the final stretch, but Rachael stayed on her bike and was rewarded by a round of applause at the top. And the downhill just keeps going and going. It was late November, and as I remember we had to stop several times to warm up.
The view though!
I admire your decision to ride up to Dante's View. I've been there. I'm not some kind of world class climber or anything, but I would never accept a ride to the top of any road so I could just coast downhill afterward. I've seen that behavior a couple times while on tour. NOT COOL! Sisyphus would have had it so much easier if he only had to roll that boulder downhill.
2 years agoGood on you for biking in this area! We drove through Beatty way back in September 1993 with our infant daughter as part of a couple of week camping road trip. It was so hot that you risked burns if you touched the roof of the car! Such a stark and desolate landscape but still really beautiful. Being outside at mid-day, one word sums up how I felt …. Desiccated!
2 years agoI'll never forget that descent down Daylight Pass! The unending miles of hurtling along was unreal. And ... Stay tuned for Dante's View!
2 years agoThe previous rider had some pretty specialized biomechanics, for sure!
2 years agoThat saddle angle looks awkward, to say the least.
2 years agoI remember that descent from Daylight Pass. We’ve stayed in DV a couple of times on day ride tours and climbed up its passes and then coasted back (Dante’s View is another incredible one). Coasting back down is so amazing - it feels like you’ve been racing downhill forever and you look out at the desert floor still many miles away.
2 years ago
My wife will love the fact that you bought a PR skirt!! She truly is a huge fan. Thanks for reading the journal, and I think you will love riding with ACA, especially in Death Valley.
2 years ago