Cyclist rides 508 miles

Gregg Geser grinds out the miles in the California desert during the Furnace Creek 508. Photo By Rich Hummel

Local cyclist Gregg Geser, 49, has learned a thing or two about himself in the past week.

Riding a bike for 508 miles, virtually nonstop, in under 34 hours with a headwind through Death Valley, California, in blistering heat and achieving 35,000 feet in total elevation gain will do that to a person.

Geser finished in fifth place in the annual Furnace Creek cycle race on October 12-13. Touted as "the world's toughest and most prestigious 500-mile bike race," it takes place every year in the fall, starting at Santa Clarita and finishing a maximum of 48 hours later at 29 Palms, California.

Traversing the Mojave Desert and Death Valley, with a whole lot of ups and downs, this is indeed a grueling test of mental and physical endurance.

More than 100 riders from the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia competed. In an average year, only 50 percent of the riders will complete the race.

Geser had experienced previous success in shorter (200 mile) races, and was ready for the next step up, he said. Intrigued with the thought of perhaps riding across America, he began researching rides on the Internet.

"I kept hearing about this Furnace Creek race and wondered about it," he said.

"The mental preparation for the race was tremendous," he said. "Every day I would read stories about it on the website and try to imagine what it would be like."

Realizing he would need some physical help as well, Geser enlisted the help of Rich Hummel, a trainer at Sisters Athletic Club. A bike racer himself, Hummel understood the levels of training that Geser would need to achieve his goal.

Nine weeks prior to the race, the serious training began. Hummel's workouts for Geser were all done on the bicycle and by the end he'd racked up 6,500 miles of training.

A typical long training ride would take Geser on 1-1/2 hours of flat riding, then over Santiam Pass toward Eugene, back across McKenzie Pass, returning to Sisters for another hour of flats.

Most of this was done after a full day on the job as a contractor.

Every competitor in the Furnace Creek race receives a totem for identification rather than a number. The totem is plastered all over the support vehicle and becomes the competitor's permanent Furnace Creek identity.

Geser's totem was "Gorilla."

Geser arrived at the starting point of the race with his support crew of wife Ann, Rich Hummel and friend Jerry Norquist. Although they had never done this before, the crew meshed together perfectly.

"We just sort of fell into a unit," said Ann. "We found our strengths, did our jobs, and then discovered it was very hard to rest during the night because we didn't want to miss out on anything."

Geser agreed.

"They had great synergy: Rich was the verbal one, Jerry was a rock, and Ann knew me the best," he said. "Words don't convey what a good support crew does."

The crew provided Geser with food from a special liquid diet, lots of fruit and electrolytes. They cooled him off when temperatures reached the high 90s and dressed him warmly during the night. One of them navigated the course while another drove. They hollered encouragement and silently cheered.

During every event which tests endurance, athletes experience extreme highs and lows.

Geser's lowest point came about 200 miles into the race. A notorious hill called "Towne's Pass" was ahead. Thirteen miles of 10- to 13-percent grade, with elevation gain of 3,800 feet, Towne's Pass was the most difficult of the race's many climbs.

"It was dark, and I was feeling good, in fourth place, looking forward to Towne's Pass," said Geser.

"About a quarter of the way up, though, my legs and mind gave in. I couldn't pedal, so got off and walked the bike for a while. I tried again but it just wasn't working."

Meanwhile, the support crew was formulating a plan.

"Rich initiated getting Gregg into the van and we started massaging his legs and feet," said Ann. "While quitting was never an option, this was the first time I'd ever seen Gregg unable to call up reserves of strength."

Eventually, the massage and mental energy of the support crew got through and Geser climbed aboard the bike again.

"The hill was easing a bit by that stage," Geser said. "I got to the top and then hit the most incredible high, even though I'd slipped back to 12th place by then."

By the time the hill was behind him, Geser had gained back two places and all of his strength.

He never felt that tired again and continued to reclaim his place near the front of the pack.

Finishing in fifth place with a time of 33:52, Geser met the goals he had set in training.

He first wanted to finish -- and in under 35 hours -- ahead of another rider whom he had chosen from the list after studying that rider's stats.

He wanted to be in the top five and to qualify for another prestigious ride, the Ride Across America (RAAM). In this event, cyclists head from West to East, completing the journey in eight to 10 days.

The personal achievement in completing a ride such as Furnace Creek is huge, according to Geser.

"It taught me that when it's working hard, your body will go a lot further than you think it will," he said.

"People hold back on trying stuff like this because of fear of failure. I've put all that behind me."