Ride Report
Saturday, April 17th, in the wee morning hours with storm clouds a-brewing, 106 daring and ambitious riders took to the roads on one of America’s most challenging and most epic events, the Mulholland Double Century. The predicted weather was so ominous that eleven riders didn’t even show up at the start line!

This one-of-a-kind 195 miler traverses over 13,600 of vertical gain from Malibu to Ojai and back via world famous Mulholland Highway and many of the roads less traveled in the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains.

Mulholland packs an early punch, with over 5,000 feet of climbing in the first 50 miles. Starting up Topanga Canyon, riders head onwards and upwards on Old Topanga Canyon, Mulholland Highway, Little Sycamore, Yerba Buena and Cotharin, before heading down the steep and curvy Deer Creek to the beach. A flat and easy section through Oxnard and Ventura to Ojai followed, but the party was over soon enough thereafter.

New for 2004, after climbing in and out of Ojai, the middle 100 includes the treacherous Balcom Canyon, which has an average gradient of 13.1%, climbs 440" in .65 miles, and has pitches of 20% and steeper. It doesn’t end there! The last 50 miles are about as tough as the first 50, with the long climb up Mulholland and the last super tough climbs up Stunt Road and Saddle Peak. The final descent down Tuna Canyon is a wild, wild ride! Awesome!

This year, Mulholland was the first event of the 2004 California Triple Crown Stage Race – and oh, what a race it was. The initial lead pack of seven riders eventually dwindled to a quartet before Balcom Canyon: Lasse Bjerga, Robert Choi, Jeff Landshark Landauer and Graham Python Pollock. They rode together most of the day, battling it out for the early lead. Lasse and Jeff surged ahead on the long climb up Mulholland on the way back, but missed a turn about 40 miles from the finish. Graham Pollock, riding strong, took the lead and never looked back – winning the first stage with a course record time of 11:18. Way to go, Graham! Robert Choi came in second, with Lasse and Jeff getting back on course and finishing together with the third best time of the day.

In the women’s division, Janet Christianson took the Cal Triple Crown Stage Race lead with a winning time of 13:02, followed by Emmy Klassen and Doris Bingo.

In spite of the rain, which came down on and off throughout the day, and occasionally came down in buckets, 88 riders finished the course, and an incredible 20 riders broke the prior course record. Congratulations to everyone who completed this epic event!

Kudos to the four riders who completed the Muholland course expedition style (meaning unsupported) on April 10th: Deborah Caplan, Thomas Fante, Rick Jacobson and Sean Smith.

Sandra Summers Update, April 26:
We are pleased to pass along the great news that Sandra is out of the woods, and on the mend! For those who’d like to drop in and bring some sunshine, Sandra is in room 5104 at Kaiser Hospital in Woodland Hills, off the 101 freeway, at the intersection of DeSoto and Burbank Boulevards.

Last Sunday, Sandra had 27 visitors! Also, the wonderful cards, letters, photographs and flowers keep pouring in. Words can’t express how much the visits and correspondence uplift and encourage her. Thank you all for the kindness and friendship you’ve shown her.

The basic medical update is this: Sandra had successful surgery on her hand Tuesday. Today, she’ll have a more significant surgery on her face (primarily the eye area) to repair various fractures. Her orthopedist has decided that she doesn’t need the knee surgery, as the fracture is minor, and will heal with the use of a brace. She’ll also have a back brace to support and heal the various fractures to her upper spine. The latest news today is that there’s a good chance Sandra will be released from the hospital this weekend!

Please keep those cards and letters coming! No doubt her recovery is made easier with the love and support of her friends in the cycling community. We all look forward to having Sandra back on the road with us! Here's a pic of Sandra from the Mulholland DC. Click it!

Awesome Feedback
This was a pretty intimidating ride, what with starting in the dark and with the rainy forecast and the dreaded Tuna Canyon!! Actually the descents in the first 50 miles were technically much tougher since the roads were very off-cambre, and covered with loose dirt and slick from rains. You could tell who were the regional riders because they really knew how to handle them, and could make up a lot of time!

This was absolutely the most wild and beautiful bike course I have ever done, bar none! That's what I like so much about these events, compared with the shrink wrapped triathlon and certain public rides that eliminate all the risks and challenges of riding these back country roads. Having participated in other not-ready-for-prime-time rides (no names please), I can really appreciate how very well planned and organized your events are! - Janet Osprey Christiansen

The first 50 miles were spectacular. I loved the start in the dark, especially the trail of red taillights snaking up Topanga Canyon road ahead of me. Little Sycamore Canyon and Cortharin roads were wonderful - it is so cool to ride on remote little roads that I didn't even know existed. And the vistas coming down Deer Creek were awesome!

Bill and Evelyn (on tandem #3) graciously pulled me through most of the headwinds in the middle 100 miles of the ride. Most of these roads were familiar to me, but I certainly got surprised (and whipped!) by Balcolm Canyon. I had my route sheet folded over so I couldn't read your editorial comment about the insane climb ahead. I was cruising up the lower part of the canyon, thinking "this is a pretty pleasant grade", and then I rounded a corner to see this vertical wall ahead of me. I ended up walking up the last 100 feet of the steep part. At that point, I figured as long as I was still moving forward I was doing all right.

I enjoyed the climb up Stunt road, the views of the ocean and the city in the waning light of the evening were fantastic. By the time I was on Tuna canyon it was dark, so it was definitely an adventure. Some day I want to come back and ride it in the daylight.

You folks, and all the wonderful volunteers, made it possible for me to complete this tough ride relatively painlessly. I admire the hearty souls (yeah Deb!) who did the ride without support as an expedition ride. Thank you so much for opening my eyes to a whole new world of bicycling adventures and challenges - Kerin Huber

My HAC4 computer recorded 13,261 Feet of Climbing on Saturday. However, we all know that the ride difficulty is made up of a whole lot of other factors like how steep the climbs are and where they are in the course.

Balcom Canyon was truly an epic climb: one of the toughest I have ever climbed with my HAC4 displaying 22 – 23 – 24 and then 25%!!

I was going so slow up Balcom I nearly fell over. This slow speed allowed for lots of 20 second data points to be recorded on my HAC4 including 25.0% at Mile 120.19 and again at Mile 120.26 with some 16.7's in between. I saw 22 - 23 - 24 - and 25% on the display. I thought the computer was going to blow up just as I was about to blow up. It was truly amazing.

Balcom Canyon is a brute of a climb made much worse after 120 miles. Stunt Road is a brute of climb made much, much worse after 177 miles.

The steep miles over say 7% gradients take a whole load of gas out of the tank and Mulholland has a whole bunch of those. My first count shows at least 30 places where the road pithches up over 7% on the Mulholland Double. - Chuck Bramwell

2004 Official Results (106 starters; 88 officical finishers)
(Those with * are expedition riders who completed the course with no outside support on April 10 with a 24 hour time limit.)

Of the finishers, 15 have now completed three Planet Ultra double century events, and ten of those are already signed up for the Eastern Sierra Double Century - and will likely earn their Planet Ultra Grand Slam at that event!

States represented: CA, AZ, NM, UT, and VA.

NEW COURSE RECORD: Graham Pollock!!! Congratulations!

Pollock Graham Folsom CA 11:18
Choi Robert Santa Rosa CA 11:30
Bjerga Lasse Cedar City UT 11:47
Landauer Jeff Fair Oaks CA 11:47
Bowling Brian Laguna Niguel CA 11:58
Parish Mark Chino Hills CA 11:58

Evans Paul N. Waynesboro VA 12:18
Sheeran Marty St. George UT 12:20
Stark Peter N. Hollywood CA 12:21
Trone Michael Encinitas CA 12:21
Storer Ian Carlsbad CA 12:25
van Daelen Ton San Diego CA 12:30
Laird Keith Ventura CA 12:37
Wilson Eric Palmdale CA 12:37

Christiansen Janet Palm Springs CA 13:02
Butler George Huntington Beach CA 13:05
Klassen Emmy Bakersfield CA 13:19
Egerton Craig Cedar City UT 13:20
Walsh Kevin Lancaster CA 13:28
Thomas Robert B. Atascadero CA 13:29
Bruce Brandon Santa Barbara CA 13:35
Hayden Todd Corona CA 13:35
Bramwell Chuck Irvine CA 13:51
Dickenson Richard Santa Monica CA 13:51
Hopkins John Carlsbad CA 13:52

Palmer Bill Santa Barbara CA 14:02
Jones David A. Canoga Park CA 14:04
Locker Shawn Lafayette CA 14:07
Beck Anny Bellflower CA 14:14 (tandem 1)
Crain Dan Irvine CA 14:14 (tandem 1)
Clare John T. Long Beach CA 14:14
Hoge Jerry Stockton CA 14:14
Bertrand John E. Norco CA 14:18
Bingo Doris Anaheim CA 14:33
Joelson Elliot Tarzana CA 14:33
Wang Tony Torrance CA 14:33
Hartnett Tom Bakersfield CA 14:38
Kido Raymond Bakersfield CA 14:38
Cohn Merrick Camarillo CA 14:48
Chester Mike Oceanside CA 14:50 (tandem 2)
Koppenhaver Karen Fallbrook CA 14:50 (tandem 2)
Inauen Martin Winnetka CA 14:56
Williams David Palmdale CA 14:56
Boyle Craig San Jose CA 14:58

Cornell Jim Glendale CA 15:00
Kashima Michelle Irvine CA 15:14
Hiebert Greg San Jose CA 15:20
Phillips Chuck Tustin CA 15:23
DeSantis James Oak Run CA 15:35
Hesse Mark Fairfax CA 15:35
Huber Kerin Pasadena CA 15:35
Jensen Franklin Cedar City UT 15:35
Wolff Lonnie Cedar City UT 15:35
Rhinehart Kirk Capistrano Beach CA 15:37
Buntrock Robert Discovery Bay CA 15:38
Milton Tom Fairfield CA 15:38
Hastings Geoffrey San Francisco CA 15:45
Ignacio Francis Duarte CA 15:54
Wong Felix Fremont CA 15:56

Anderson Bruce San Luis Obispo CA 16:02
Sullivan Tim Coronado CA 16:02
Biddick Margie Aptos CA 16:03
Birnbaum Mark Novato CA 16:03
Griffice Charles Orange CA 16:05
Sturgill Michael Phoenix AZ 16:06
Hurst Robert Lake View Terrace CA 16:13
Kingsford Adam Lake View Terrace CA 16:13
Dehanke Mark Glendale AZ 16:25
Watson James Ventura CA 16:25
Evans Dave Lakewood CA 16:26
Robinson Stan Phoenix AZ 16:26
Bott Linda Ventura CA 16:27
Buchwitz Evelyn Novato CA 16:28 (tandem 3)
Ellis Bill Santa Rosa CA 16:28 (tandem 3)
Koivisto Gary Santa Maria CA 16:38
Comar Louise Atascadero CA 16:40
Razavi Roshan Menifee CA 16:40
Asombrado Doris Vista CA 16:41
Greenlee Kevin San Leandro CA 16:41
Tran Lan San Diego CA 16:41
Cordero Raul Hawthorne CA 16:49
Rosenberg Joel Palo Alto CA 16:49
Caplan Deborah Agoura Hills CA 16:52*

Wildin Rowena Glendale AZ 17:13
Watters Vernon San Rafael CA 17:39

Jacobson Rick Reseda CA 18:45*

Fante Thomas Citrus Heights CA 21:48*

Arnold Michael Los Angeles CA DNF
Bartolai Clem Sierra Madre CA DNF
Cherry Lori Fresno CA DNF
Clark Larissa Carlsbad CA DNF
DeBardeleben Dennis Clovis CA DNF
Haddakin Christopher Hemet CA DNF
Harris Ian Arcadia CA DNF
Hathaway Thomas Pacific Palisades CA DNF
Hoskin Mark Roger W.Los Angeles CA DNF
Kopit Paul Sunland CA DNF
Long John D. Signal Hill CA DNF
Mazzola John Cedar Crest NM DNF
Parkes Thomas Costa Mesa CA DNF
Rosebro Jack Los Angeles CA DNF (fixed gear)
Spence Jeanine Fresno CA DNF
Summers Sandra Oak Park CA DNF
Warren Mike Santa Barbara CA DNF
Yee James Folsom CA DNF