2001 Death Valley Century and Double Century

Photos by Chris Kostman, October 27, 2001

A strong field of riders assembled for another classic Death Valley Century and Double Century on October 27, 2001. The 77 century riders and 136 double century riders were met with a hazy to overcast sky that kept temperatures below 90 degrees, then cleared in the evening to reveal an awesome polychromatic sunset. The group set off en masse at civil twilight, 645am, then quickly spread out as they sped south along the new version of the route that puts the climbing in the first part of the day to avoid high heat.

Checkpoints provided food, drink, and encouragement at Badwater (mile 17), Ashford Mills (mile 45), a water stop on Salsberry Pass at mile 57, then the southern turn-around in Shoshone (mile 74) and back to Ashford Mills (103), Badwater (131), and Furnace Creek (139), followed by the final out and back northern extension to Stove Pipe Wells (171) and then the finish back at Furnace Creek (196). A brisk headwind in the morning thankfully subsided as the riders began the climbs up Jubilee and Salsberry passes. The rest of the day was mostly wind-less and quiet, with few motorists on the road. -Chris Kostman

Let’s all give a round of applause to the dedicated folks who kept everyone safe and well fed and hydrated:

Badwater: Karen Hewer and Wayne Rosenthal

Ashford Mills: Barbara Bridges and Reed Flamingo Finfrock

Water Stop: Hank Burroughs

Shoshone: Jim Carter and Scott Sawfish Scheff

Furnace Creek: Sandye Clare, Andy Stewart, Danny Stewart, and Debbie Dolphin Caplan (makers of the turkey sandwiches, which rider Bob Davidson referred to as "knee trembling")

Stovepipe Wells: Bill Nye the Checkpoint Guy

Roving SAG: Lee Maggot Mitchell

Roving SAG: Chris Kostman

And: Debbie Dolphin Caplan, Chris Kostman, and Ride Director Scott Sawfish Schef

Riders traveled to this ever-popular event from
such faraway places as:

Results

Congratulations are in order to all of the riders, especially the 79 hardy riders who completed the full 196 miles within the 17 hour cutoff. Of those, some extra kudos are extended to first time double riders Mark Nielsen, Jo Garuccio, Marty Kaplan, Chris Roe, Bruce Scott, and, all the way from Kansas, Bill Reisler. Congrats to first time century riders Donna Smith, Nancy Ottman, Stacey Bracken, and Chandra Cohn, too! Also, Wendy Georges completed her Cal Triple Crown with her finish. Hats off to the tandem duo of Carole Breed and Doug Grattan from Gardnerville, NV. They were prophetically wearing matching yellow jerseys from the Burley Duet tandem race that read "Race Leaders." They were joined by solo rider Bill Ellis, a self-proclaimed wheel-sucking "Cling-On," in completing the course in an impressive time of 10 hours 35 minutes.