Macpaulster's Blog: Murphy Mack SuperPro Spring Classic Adventure Ride Race Report

Calm before the storm, bike is ready, I am ready. Photo by Paul Chuck

On Sunday, March 9, I completed the Murphy Mack Spring Classic, and oh, what a ride it was! The ride is basically a mixed terrain route, from San Francisco, to Santa Cruz, over what appeared to be the hardest route imaginable, a creation by a twisted mind, including steep, slimy, slippery dirt trail ascents. Murphy doesn’t announce the course, or the destination, for that matter, until the day before the event. So we are left wondering, where are we going? What is the route? And what bike setup is best? A $500 cash prize is offered to the first finisher, and my Cat 1 Teammates, Chris HD, and Keith Hillier attended, with an eye on that stack of Ben Franklins. They actually finished 1-2, but due to a missed turn, they, and many others, were DQ’d. Adriano Castro, though 5th overall, was the first to correctly navigate the course, and hence claimed the prize. I somehow pulled a rabbit out of the hat and finished 13^th overall. By the time the dust settles, and the appropriate names are deleted from the leader board, I should be well into a top 10 finish, maybe top 5. This was an excruciatingly difficult ride, with 115 miles, and 11,500’ feet of climbing… but those numbers don’t tell the real story. Here’s how it went down from where I sat: Paul Chuck and I arrive and the start, sign in and get ready. We look around, and see some bikes that are full road race set up. Carbon tubular wheels, 22mm tires, road pedals, etc. Did these guys not get the memo? This is a Murphy Mack Ride, people! I’ve set up my Ritchey Break Away Ti for this ride, with SRAM Force 22 WiFli, Hutchinson Sector 28mm tires, and mt. pedals and shoes.

Final Instructions from Murphy Mack, including a request to deny we even know him if asked.

At a tick or two after 8:00 AM, after some quick announcements from Murphy, including instructions to deny to authorities, any involvement in any organized ride, Paul C and I roll from Roaring Mouse Cycles, at Crissy Field along with a hundred and something other cyclists. For the first 5.3 miles through SF, riders are able to choose their own route. I‘m near the front at the start, but Hillier immediately starts throwing down, and the leaders are gone. I know it’s prudent to ride a sensible pace here, so I’m sliding back — and not the least bit worried about it. Riders are darting off in different directions, Alley Cat style, trying to gain an advantage. Paul and I follow the main group on more or less the prescribed route, and make it to mile 5.3 without incident. We have a large group rolling down the coast at good speed, so time to settle in, cruise, and save matches.

Route finding was a major challenge. I attached a truncated route sheet to my top tube, although I didn't use it much.

Route finding was a major challenge. I attached an abbreviated route sheet to my top tube, although I didn't use it much.

We arrive at the Pedro Mt. Rd. climb, a.k.a. “Planet of the Apes,” our first dirt test at around mile 20. There’s a bottle neck at the gate so I lift my bike over, remount cyclocross style and leave a dozen or so riders in the dust…errr mud. I settle into an easy sub tempo pace on the climb, while Paul C forges ahead with a slightly faster group. Toward the top I start passing people and know I’ll make up a lot of time on the dirt descent. The first part of the descent is very narrow and I’m caught behind some timid riders single file. Bummer. So frustrating! I finally get around them, and go rippin’ down the dirt, passing all the riders in the group ahead, ending up solo on the coast for the next leg. On the way down, a very fast woman on a ‘cross bike, (Elle Anderson, click on "comments" above), washes out in front of me and goes down. I just miss running over her, but she’s fine, back on the bike, and catches up near the bottom! Down the coast I soft pedal, as I’m alone and there is no point going hard into the wind solo. Paul C catches back and we roll into the first Check Point in good shape. A quick bite of the fresh hot pancakes right off the griddle and we’re gone. Next obstacle is Higgins, Purisima, Grabtown Gulch, and Tunitas. This turns out to be the most epic part of the ride. Higgins (paved) goes well and we descend to Purisima, a dirt trail. While Pedro Mt. was free of mud, Purisima is not. The dodgy clearance of my 28c tires becomes a problem and I start to clog, having to use extra effort to keep going. Uh-Oh.

Paul C heads up the Higgins Climb.

I know we need to turn somewhere on Grabtown Gulch. What I don’t know, is that it’s a very steep single track trail that leaves Purisima, and is hard to spot. Almost by coincidence, I look over my shoulder at a sign facing the wrong way, and it says, “Grabtown Gulch Trail.“ Huh? That’s it? Are you kidding? Many riders will miss this turn we find out later. We take the trail and try to ride this thing, but it’s just impossible. The mud is so slick and with road tires and gears, we just can't quite stay on the bike. A good bit of it we ride, a good bit we don't. It’s just so hard, it’s beyond description. I'm absolutely red-lined, trying to keep the rear wheel from spinning, trying to keep moving forward, meanwhile, my rear brake and stays are clogging with mud. Ridiculous.

Paul C gets a break on the Grabtown Gulch Trail bridge, possibly the only flat section on this trail.

Paul C gets a break on the Grabtown Gulch Trail bridge, the only flat section on this trail.

Paul C has road shoes with Speedplay pedals, which will eventually lead to his demise. In pounding the cleat on the pedal to try to make it engage, Paul breaks a cleat. I don’t know this yet, but I get to the top at Tunitas and wait for him for a bit. Then I decide I’ll head to the next Check Point, as I desperately need food and water. I'll get fueled up, and then wait for Paul there. Well, I miss the Check Point as it isn’t obvious from the road, I blow right past it. Now I’m in trouble. No food, no water, and 30 miles to go to the next Check Point. I figure, well, I’ll just stop at a store and grab something. Then a group of about 8 or so riders working together catches me. I latch on and this is a good ride as I am able to sit in and draft. I don’t want to let them go, so I wonder if I can make it to the next Check Point? It’s risky, as I am dehydrated, hungry, and running on fumes already. This group is fast, but several riders are not good group riders. I’m wary of them, and keep an eye on the dicey ones.

I found a good group to ride with. On left is Chris Lundy, who despite a flat tire 4 miles from the finish, I believe she was the 1st female finisher.

We almost miss the turn onto Gazos Creek, and I yell from the back as the group heads the wrong way. They abruptly slow down, and one of the less attentive riders plows into another rider and they both go down hard. They are laying there for a bit, then slowly get up. One rider is OK, the second has a broken collarbone. I’m tempted to just leave the scene but feel it best we all stay until we know the injured rider is OK. But I am starving, I haven't had a sip of water for 3 hours, I'm running on fumes, and need to get to the check point, which is just a few miles up the road! Every moment is precious as the full bonk is only minutes away.

This poor guy suffered a broken collarbone. Although seemingly in good spirits, he doesn't look thrilled about being photographed.

A motorist stops and agrees to give the injured guy a ride. He seems fine other than the collarbone, and in good spirits considering. The other rider, John, is able to carry on with some rash and a sore neck. I head on up the road and see Murphy Mack. I stop him and advise him of the accident, and he assures me he'll take care of it. I arrive at the Check Point and proceed to consume about 2000 calories, something like 4 grilled cheese sandwiches, two Cokes, some chips, peanut butter pretzels, etc. I put some potatoes in my pocket and a granola bar. I don’t want this to happen again! The volunteer at the Check Point tells me I am about 5^th overall among those who have done the complete course. Huh? Are you sh%$#tin’ me? I can’t believe this, but it’s pretty motivating. Then up the epic dirt of Gazos Creek and Johansen Rd. This climb is so freakin’ hard it’s absurd. Super crazy steep, red line the whole time, more slippery mud, more brake clogging. It is ridiculous. I’m able to ride essentially the whole thing, with a few stops to clear mud, but this climb takes its toll. It’s really slow going and it takes what seems like forever. I feel I’ve burned all my matches!

My bike set up was pretty bitchin' except for the lack of mud clearance on the rear, my achilles heel for sure.

There is a regroup of riders at the top, some of the same ones I was with before, so we have another good group to take us to Boulder Creek. The descent of 236 is glorious, super fun, as I lead our group down at a brisk, but safe pace, on more or less dry road. Just a few wet turns toward the bottom. I arrive at the final Check Point before the final push up Jamison Creek Rd. Mark Dawson is there and he tells me that Chris HD is in the lead by a big margin. Neither Mark nor I know that he’d missed the crucial turn, and despite his insurmountable lead, he’ll not be able to collect the $500 prize for first place. I leave the Check Point just before the group hoping to get up the climb and not get dropped before the top. Jamison is such a struggle. Legs are dead, nothing left, but need to get this final obstacle out of the way. I suffer all the way up, dreading every foot of climbing. But it’s funny, you kind of think, after Gazos, that Jamison really isn’t that bad! At the top, I am still alone, no one has caught. Then one rider from the group reels me in, it's Craig Chaney. He’s still strong and we work together. He drops me on the climbs, and I reel him back in on the descents. I am confident we’ll finish together. The miles tick by quickly as we descend Empire Grade. With Craig's help, I figure we won’t get caught at this point. Crossing Hwy 1 with just a half mile to go, the light turns yellow, but I have it covered. I think, “Good, this will prevent anyone from sprinting up from behind, since they’ll be caught at the light.” Well , this big dude out of nowhere sprints by me with an attack on the far side of the road! Where did he come from? Turns out he’s run the red light to chase me down, while Craig, maybe 10 meters behind me, stops at the light! I sprint and am able to get his wheel thinking, well, this is kind of a dirty trick! At a stop sign at the final T intersection, there is a car stopped. He makes a dodgy move and dives left into the oncoming lane and cuts left of the car, cutting the corner. I’m not really happy about this, but I follow, still on his wheel, refusing to let him steal this one from me. Can I out sprint this big guy? He's like 6' 2" 190 lbs. Looks like Marcel Kittel and has a similar accent. Doubtful. I think about how I can out fox him to the line, still miffed by his late attack, running the red light, and making the dodgy move in the corner. I'm tucked in tightly on his wheel. I’d studied the finish on Google Maps satellite, so I know exactly where it is. We're screaming down the wide Boulevard in the industrial section, I'm low in the drops, glued to his wheel, ready to rail the final corner and sprint for the line. Then, this hulk of a man overshoots the left turn by just a bit, has to brake hard, as I dive inside, keeping all my momentum into the final turn, roll to the line, not even having to resort to a sprint. I’m listed as 13^th overall, but many in front of me did not complete the full course, so final placing tbd, possibly 5^th as I was told, but that would seem optimistic. Going in, I expected I’d be thrilled with top 30! Paul C is at the finish and I learn he struggled up the rest of Grabtown Gulch, but wisely decided to skip Gazos Creek and Johansen. Instead, he stayed on the road, did Bonny Doon, and accumulated a comparable mileage and climbing number if not actually on the course. He was showered and fed by the time I arrived at around. 4:28 P.M. Chris and Keith are also at the finish, in good spirits and not too bummed about missing the turn. Apparently their front group was flying along at that point along Purisima, as someone attacked, so route finding wasn’t a priority at that moment. Also, everyone’s Garmins seemed to go all cattywampus in the trees, so there were times when you could not rely on navigating with your Garmin. This was an amazing, epic ride, Murphy Mack puts on a great event, if a little dicey. Check Points 1-4, if you could find them, each featured a hot food item, 1-Pancakes, 2-Sausage, 3-Grilled Cheese, 4-French Fries as well as other treats. Also there was beer and shots of bourbon at the Check Points, but for the life of me, I couldn’t imagine partaking, though some did. At the end was a wonderful catered meal with beer on tap at the Ibis warehouse. Following that, our bikes were loaded carefully and safely onto a specially equipped box truck, while we were loaded (no pun intended), beer in hand, onto a luxury bus for transport back to San Francisco. Thanks to Murphy and all the volunteers for making this an epic cool event. This one is definitely on my calendar for next year!