It was hot (104 degrees), it was epic (217 miles with 12,000+ feet of climbing), it was the 23rd Annual Tour of Two Forests, held September 27, 2003. There were 134 starters, 108 finishers, and 26 DNFers. That big climb up 30-mile Pine Mountain, high above Ojai in the heat, took its toll on some of the riders. We salute everybody who took on the challenge!

Congratulations to the riders who earned their Planet Ultra Grand Slam after completing ToTF:
Carol Breed, Russell Cammell, Richard Grantner, Doug Grattan, John A. Long, John D. Long, Ralph Pacini, Kenneth Pang, Ken Rodenberg, Jorge Saavedra, Tim Sullivan, Mike Warren and Eric Wilson.

Special kudos to Jim Cornell and Roshan Razavi who completed ToTF as their first double ever!

Extra Kudos to the always wonderful super SAG Lee Mitchell for saving the day for many riders, including David Nakai who needed new handlebars (yes, he broke them and yes, Lee had an extra pair) and Tim Sullivan, who needed a new rim strip.

Special Thanks to Our Incredible Volunteers who Slaved under the Hot Sun and Late into the Night:
CP#1 in Santa Clarita: Jann Coury, Christine Pacini and Laura Perone
Santa Paula water stop: Kerin Huber
CP#2 in Ojai: Bobbi and Kent Costin
CP#3 on Pine Mountain: Julian Aguirre and David Jones
CP#4 at Heartbreak: Stan Alvidrez and Brian Rapp
CP#5 in Lebec: Elaine and Robert Macdonald with their awesome motorhome!
CP#6 at the side of the road: Tracy Bowers and Doug Bowers
Roving SAG: Bobbi & Kent Costin, Jann Coury, Lee Mitchell, Christine Pacini, Laura Perone, Susan Rosenblatt, Eric Smith, and Jim Winfrey
 

Finish line pizza by Famous Pizza in Palmdale. Yum!

Read G.M. Rosenblatt's personal ride report.

Official Results, 2003 Classic Tour of Two Forests (134 starters; 108 finishers; 26 DNF)
Landauer Jeff Fair Oaks CA 11:05
Palomino Rod Newport Beach CA 11:29
Ashabraner Rick Livermore CA 11:30
Pollock Graham Folsom CA 11:33
Breed Carol Gardnerville NV 11:41 (tandem 1)
Grattan Doug Garnderville NV 11:41 (tandem 1)
Wilson Eric Palmdale CA 11:50
Halpern Phil San Diego CA 11:53
Klassen Emmy Bakersfield CA 12:35 (tandem 2)
Moseley Mike Bakersfield CA 12:35 (tandem 2)
Woodhead Mike Santa Barbara CA 13:03
Browder Christopher Shasta Lake CA 13:10
Leach Bob 13:10
Schmidt Rob Palo Alto CA 13:10
Stevenson Jeff Solvang CA 13:13
Bowling Brian Laguna Niguel CA 13:18
Williams David Palmdale CA 13:23
Burgart Cal San Diego CA 13:30
Poles Gary Escondido CA 13:30
Palmer Bill Santa Barbara CA 13:38
Walsh Kevin Lancaster CA 13:38
Chester Mike Oceanside CA 13:43 (tandem 3)
Koppenhaver Karen Fallbrook CA 13:43 (tandem 3)
Clare John T. Long Beach CA 14:00
Dewey Jeff Moorpark CA 14:00
Dimkich Michael Woodland Hills CA 14:00
Nelson Neil Anaheim CA 14:11
Kido Raymond Bakersfield CA 14:20
Marsh Ken Los Angeles CA 14:20
Linert Edward Las Vegas NV 14:21
Gluckman Philippe Sunnyvale CA 14:22
Nakai David Fallbrook CA 14:22
Amerine Tom Lakewood CA 15:07
Borgers William Santa Barbara CA 15:07
Stephens Jeffrey Palo Cedro CA 15:07
Sullivan Tim Coronado CA 15:07
Kain Robert Del Mar CA 15:12
Meichtry Steve West Hills CA 15:13
Saavedra Jorge Huntington Beach CA 15:13
Schmunk Steve Vista CA 15:28
Gabrang Gerald N. Hollywood CA 15:33
Ignacio Francis Duarte CA 15:33
Cornell Jim Glendale CA 15:34
Razavi Roshan Menifee CA 15:38
Trone Michael Encinitas CA 15:39
Bonnett Karen Sacramento CA 15:40
Hoge Jerry Stockton CA 15:40
Uglietta Dan San Diego CA 15:42
Melczer Andrew Garden Grove CA 15:43
Warren Mike Santa Barbara CA 15:43
Cooper Victor Torrance CA 15:48
DiLuccia Don San Clemente CA 15:48
Hernandez Luis N. Hollywood CA 15:48
Irizari Alexis Las Vegas NV 15:48
Birnbaum Mark Novato CA 16:06
Dehanke Mark Glendale AZ 16:06 (Bull-Shifters of AZ)
Lorenz Kathy Redlands CA 16:06
Mahaney William Cedarpines Park CA 16:06
Pfiefer Shirley Foster City CA 16:06
Redmond Robert Petaluma CA 16:06
Rodenberg Ken Phoenix AZ 16:06 (Bull-Shifters of AZ)
Rosenblatt G.M. Berkeley CA 16:06 (read his ride report)
Smith Sean Newport Beach CA 16:06 (riding a frame he built himself!)
Smith Renee Pasadena CA 16:06
Sturgill Michael Phoenix AZ 16:06 (Bull-Shifters of AZ)
Pacini Ralph Redlands CA 16:09
Sullivan James San Francisco CA 16:09
Olson Greg Gresham OR 16:21
Koenig Dick San Diego CA 16:22
Skipper Tim Castaic CA 16:25
Kopit Paul Sunland CA 16:39
Martin Greg Citrus Heights CA 16:39
Boyle Craig San Jose CA 16:44
Patterson Doug Orange CA 16:50
Houck Timothy Pleasanton CA 17:03
Sullivan James N. Thousand Oaks CA 17:15
Gross Joe San Francisco CA 17:16
Barnes Raymond Woodland Hills CA 17:17
Bartolai Clem Sierra Madre CA 17:17
Clemes David Oakland CA 17:17
Evans Dave Lakewood CA 17:17
Foster Lydia Half Moon Bay CA 17:17
Koivisto Gary Santa Maria CA 17:17
Leedham Matt San Francisco CA 17:17
Mirich David Las Vegas NV 17:17
Struck Bruno San Diego CA 17:17
Jones Greg Moorpark CA 17:18
Lichtenstern Fred Moreno Valley CA 17:24
Barbaruolo James N. Hollywood CA 17:41
Isaak Kenneth Santa Ana CA 17:58
Vargas George San Diego CA 17:59
McMenamy Ed San Rafael CA 18:04
Hill Dale Ramona CA 18:08
Pang Kenneth Redlands CA 18:08
Rathmann Thomas Pleasanton CA 18:14
Cammell Russell San Bernardino CA 18:19
Clarke Richard Thousand Oaks CA 18:19
Grantner Richard Santa Ana CA 18:19
Ross Michael Scottsdale AZ 18:19
Wagner Catherine Santa Ana CA 18:19
Waltmire Catherine Irvine CA 18:19 (tandem 4)
Waltmire Wick Irvine CA 18:19 (tandem 4)
Long John D. Signal Hill CA 18:24
Parkes Thomas Fountain Valley CA 18:24
Lunstrum Timothy Grand Terrace CA 18:28
Martinez Tony Cherry Valley CA 18:28
Sevaly Jim Riverside CA 18:28
Long John A. Vacaville CA 18:43 (easily beat the cut-off by seventeen minutes!)
Sullivan Tim Coronado CA 15:07

Alley Ray Escondido CA DNF
Brown Barclay Carlsbad CA DNF
Chepin Stephany Las Vegas NV DNF
Chepin Frank Las Vegas NV DNF
Crain Dan Irvine CA DNF
Escanuelas Cynthia Arcadia CA DNF
Fields Marvin Newhall CA DNF
Giffin Scott Irvine CA DNF
Jacobson Rick Reseda CA DNF
Kammarmeyer Greg Laguna Beach CA DNF
Katano Lynn Monterey Park CA DNF
Kibble Greg Lake Forest CA DNF
Liu Paul Oakland CA DNF
Martinez Mark Los Angeles CA DNF
Paul Adam Fremont CA DNF
Perone Mike Monrovia CA DNF
Pohle Steve Mission Viejo CA DNF
Quintero Nicette Scottsdale AZ DNF
Quintero Juan Scottsdale AZ DNF
Smith Ron Chula Vista CA DNF
Taylor Bruce Alta Loma CA DNF
Tepper Lloyd San Rafael CA DNF
Wildin Rowena Pasadena CA DNF
Young Cheryl Oakland CA DNF
Young Steve Davis CA DNF
Zurakowski Ryan Goleta CA DNF

Awesome Feedback:

ToTF was an epic event! As my first double ever I wouldn't say it was fun, I truly suffered up the mountains, but I did a lot better than I ever imagined (13:23) and now take every opportunity to crow about the experience to anyone who'll listen. Your staff and all the volunteers are what made this a truly life-changing experience for me. I am a much stronger, more confident and complete rider than before. I plan on completing at least four of these next year and have talked five of my riding buddies into trying their first double next year.

Thanks for everything!
David Williams, Palmdale CA

Thanks again to Deb and you and all the support folks for another great TOTF.

Don't ever change your style of rides - they are the best.

Tom Parkes

Wasn't that a fun ride, the Tour of Two Forests. Perhaps they could of turned the heat down a bit. It was great getting to ride a double with all of you. I missed it. Subway sandwiches for lunch. Yum. And pizza at the end. Was that a ride or an excuse to eat. Thank you for acclimating me for the temp with our rides which went through some warm weather. Normally I would have melted down, but it felt quite fine to me. Barclay's tip to take it easy in the heat helped.

First, I want to warn riders to check their equipment thoroughly before a ride. This was the second time I've snapped off my handlebar and luckily again, I was not going fast. I was following the road to the right and my bike swerves to the left and my right hand is holding up that half's handlebar. I'm fortunate I didn't crash, or take someone down. So please, have your equipment thoroughly checked periodically. I don't want to read about another accident involving faulty parts. Again, this is the second time this year, I've broken a bar and don't ask me what kind as I just ride them.

Secondly, say thank you to all the great support on the rides. I know you all do. But I was especially thankful for the ever present and best friend to long distance riders, Lee Mitchell. After riding 20 miles with 1/2 a bar ( and fortunately the hills were slight), I flagged Lee down and lo and behold, he had a spare handlebar. It would have been quite a trick even for me to go up Dennison Grade with what I had. With new bar, I was able to continue on. And not knowing how to adjust the brakes, I took the Pine Mt descent extra slow. (I'm slow going down in the first place, I was even slower squeezing whatever brakes I had. Fortunately at check point Heartbreak, they fixed my problem and I was flying. And for those who saw my retro look, I'm sorry. I'm having the bar taped and installing brake hoods. (What do you expect, next you'll think I'll be riding in a t-shirt and cut offs.)

Happy safe cycling,
David Nakai