Epic Training Systems - 2009 The Grand Tour 300 Page 2

About five miles from the Port Hueneme Checkpoint I catch Francis and his Adobo Velo paceline. I
passed them at first and thought "WHY?". So I slowed down let them catch me and I integrated myself
into their paceline. We were cruising about 21-22 mph and I thought this was a good speed to maintain
for my Quad attempt. I asked if they were stopping at the first checkpoint or just checking in. They
were stopping but only for two minutes. I saw Dante B. at the Port Hueneme checkpoint.

True to their word Francis and William stopped for only two minutes and we were off. They had signed
up for the 300 mile option but had made contingency plans that if they felt good they would roll on to the
Quad. The three of us rolled out of CP #1 at a good pace over 20 mph with no real strain that I could
see. We shared the work equally and all was good. Our 10 man paceline was down to THREE.

Then we hit POTRERO RD. I had forgotten how steep this road was. I had a 11-27 cassette and a
53/39 chainring set-up and I was struggling. I paced myself up the climb but it was apparent that
William was the stronger climber that day. I slogged my way up the steep sections conserving all the
way but really wishing for a compact crank. The first steep section was 1/2 mile and the next steep
section was 1 mile. William crested first, then me then Francis.

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2009 The Grand Tour 300 Page 2

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William and I arrived and left CP #3 together. I had 16 oz of plain water and four (4) electrolyte
capsules and we rolled off. It was starting to warm up. I knew we were going inland and into the
hottest section of the ride. I felt fine but the electrolytes were for insurance.

William and I rode together at a comfortable pace always keeping in mind our enthusiasm needed to be
tempered but our pace must be hurried if we were going to make the 24 hour cut-off. I was feeling
good. I didn't have any discomfort. My nutrition plan was working. The Carbo Pro was working. I
had not taken any solid food from the aid stations...just water and electrolytes.

We climbed GRIMES CANYON together. I love descending so I went ahead. William seemed to be a
cautious descender. I descended without any cars behind me and was able to maintain high rate of speed
since I had the whole lane to do my out and ins. Near the bottom of GRIMES CANYON, where it
begins to level off, I was "fortunate" to catch the draft of an SUV that was stuck behind a dump truck. I
wasn't so fortunate actually because being preoccupied with maintaining the draft and a safe distance
caused me to miss a turn. The left turn on Bardsdale. Instead I followed the road as it curved right and
dropped into another town.

Once I realized things didn't look familiar I turned around and re-entered the route where I had gone off
course. By my cycling computer I had just wasted five miles of effort and precious time. I was
frustrated and it started to mess with my head. But ok put it behind you and keep going.

I had disconnected from William at the top of Grimes Canyon. I didn't reconnect with William until Ojai,
the lunch stop. I knew he was a good climber so there was no way I would make up the five miles I
had gone off course. I climbed Hwy 150 towards Ojai alone. I didn't see a rider ahead or behind on the
whole climb. It's always hot here. It is the end of June so temperatures in the 90's are usual. I had 92
degrees on my computer. I'd say it was within three degrees of that.

On the descent I crashed. I provided a chart of the speed data and it appears I was going at least 33.5
mph when it happened. Also according to the data it took me at least four (4) minutes to collect myself
and get back on the bike. To say it was painful to hit the tarmac at that speed is an understatement. I
didn't slide much but I did end up in the oncoming traffic lane. The details are little fuzzy but it appears I
lost focus for an instant and when I re-focused I was "in too hot". Other contributing factors, I just
taken a drink from my Speedfil (hose is a little short and I KNEW that), unfamiliar descent (not since
2004) and on a time trial bike. You live, you crash and you learn.

In the last hour I had gone off course by five miles and crashed at over 30 mph. I am a little over the
century (100 miles) mark. I am extremely disillusioned and doubting making the Quad. I am in pain
from the road rash up and down my right side, elbow and hand. I need to get to Ojai and reassess. To
complete the Quad in 24 hours there must be no mistakes no deviations from the course and a relentless
pace. You have to make time when you can because the urban areas slow you down significantly.

A quick stop for four (4) electrolytes and a refill (16 0z) of my SPEEDFIL (40 oz capacity). The
weather had been cool thus far and I had not had much to drink much to the amazement of the
volunteers at the CP. I was using Carbo-Pro 1200 in my Speedfil. At the start I put 600 calories of
concentrate which is 8 oz and the rest (32 oz) was water.

I didn't want to stop for long and so I rolled off without William and Francis and asked them to just
catch up. I made it clear that I would not be hammering but keeping pace. Potrero Rd continues to
climb from this checkpoint. It was at least 30 minutes later before I saw William but no Francis. Now it
was down to TWO. By the way, the volunteers said there was only one other rider that had checked in
besides us. I saw and passed him on Westlake. William and I were now the lead riders.

Wyatt and I roll out of the start in a haste. Right from the start you have to be on task. You must
maintain 16.6 mph average speed for the entire 24 hours if you want to complete the 400 in 24 hours.
And that means that you must have a rolling average of over 20+ mph. We hit the first two rollers and I
can see that I will have an easier time climbing than my new friend Wyatt. He is 6 foot 5 inches tall and
at least 200 lbs after all.

I notice that I am traveling at a good speed with little to no effort thanks to the aero positioning on the
P3. I slowly pull away from Wyatt and start chasing down the blinkies. It's still dark and I'm feeling
fine. About and hour later, the sun is rising, and realize if I am going to make a nature stop I better make
it now before too many people are out and about. I pull over and also realize that I don't have a speed
indication. Urg!! I've done about 18 miles or so over the infamous rollers of Malibu and don't have any
record of it. The problem was I hadn't tightened down the magnet on the wheel enough. Remember this
was a borrowed wheel and I didn't have access to the wheel until the day before the event.