Preparing for the annual Death Ride

Teresa Burkhauser, director of Alpine County Chamber of Commerce, calls it a "never-ending process" and the rest of us refer to the event as The Death Ride.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the 129-mile grueling bike ride and Burkhauser's ninth year in charge. "The ride brings the community and the county together," Burkhauser said. 

Just how does one person coordinate an event that brings 6,000 people to a small town surrounded by huge natural beauty and few services? 

There is no beginning and end to the work, but the calendar dictates some imperatives. 

In December the Web site is updated and the new logo is revealed. This year's logo and jersey sports the Olympic theme, with gold, silver, and bronze stars on a red, white, and blue field. "We honor the many local Olympians and celebrate our 30th anniversary with this theme," she explained. The emblematic Death Ride Skull is centered on the jersey tops. 

 Six months to the day before the ride, on Dec. 10, a reputable online registration company in San Diego, named Active.com,  opens the Death Ride registration process.  "It was incredible to watch the 10 minute updates in number of spots filled.  We sold 3,000 spots in 90 minutes this year," Burkhauser claimed. 

She thinks that the reasons for the ride's popularity are:  Alpine County's beauty and the best support team possible. "It is unheard of in the biking event world to have highways closed for an event and we are able to close two major highways, thanks to Caltrans, the Highway Patrol, our local sheriffs deputies, and many, many more support groups," Burkhauser beamed. Bikers appreciate the safety.

There are 500 spots held back for major sponsors of the Death Ride and for out-of-country riders.  Among the sponsors are the Riding/Training Camps at Kirkwood and Bear Valley, Schwan's Foods, Cytomax energy drink, and Specialized water bottle company.  This year there are two riders coming from Japan, along with strong groups from Germany and Canada. 

January means ordering and more planning.  "The planning is common sense," Burkhauser commented.  She does have extensive background planning events for the Nevada Commission on Tourism, including a Governors' Conference on Tourism, attended by President Bill Clinton.  Her relaxed form of diligence tells that she knows and enjoys the work.

Among the items ordered are: water, food, ice, water bottles, porta-potties, garbage containers, jerseys, socks, patches, posters, coffee mugs, and advertising.  Most items can be referenced through years past ordering, but there are always new and changing items.  The Record-Courier printed a new information packet this year, which will be sent to the riders and additional copies are available at the chamber.  On the other hand, ice cream is the traditional treat for riders who make it to the top of Carson Pass. 

The current year's event takes 90 percent of the chamber's time, but requests for merchandise from past years' rides keeps the chamber busy.  The Markleeville Post Office does a brisk business with the chamber.

Weather is a factor in ordering:  hotter weather means more water and ice are necessary.  At the moment  Burkhauser's main concern is "that the 16 feet of snow on Ebbett's Pass melts so that the road will be clear on July 10."

Burkhauser's assistant Amy Broadhurst coordinates all the volunteers.  That is an army of over 700 people.  Safety is most important, which depends on medical professionals and course communications.  Dr. Richard Harvey of Alpine County is the head of physicians and is a volunteer.  Other physicians are paid for their duty.  Ambulances, including Sacramento Valley and Lake Tahoe, are paid to stand-by.  The CareFlight helicopter volunteers its service on the top of Monitor Pass.

Beside the bike riders, the only people allowed on the closed portion of the course are the SAG motorcycle groups.  "They are our eyes and our ears on the course," said Burkhauser.   The motorcyclists monitor the course and, when necessary, ride to the nearest stop where he/she communicates with radio experts in the TARA organization.  They bring their own Hamm radios and set up a trailer at Turtle Rock Park, which allows them a command center to contact Chris Branscombe at Alpine Sheriff dispatch, who alerts the medical and sheriffs' teams.

REI Sports has some volunteers at aid stations with extra biking equipment, as well as some who ride in the event.

Volunteers from the Woodfords Fire Station, the county Search and Rescue, the Special Olympics, ROP students (who provide much needed manpower) and volunteers who man the 13 aid stations are all important parts of the volunteer army.   

A new feature this year will be a booth at the bike expo staffed by the Over 50 Club. Members will give riders items donated by many of the sponsors of the event.

Jerseys must be purchased separately.  Some group riders, such as the Team in Training, wear their own team jersey. Any rider who finishes all five passes (meaning 129 miles, 15,000 feet of climbing) is eligible to buy a special gold-star jersey for finishers only. 

 Alpine Kids group provides a traditional pasta feed for about 1,000 before the ride.  Live music is provided at Turtle Rock Park. 

The Death Ride Committee and their family members lend their expertise and hard work to the event, especially immediately before and after the ride. Members include Dave Zellmer, Teresa Burkhauser, Amy Broadhurst, and Corey and Di Bolton.  The Boltons are experts and members of the Alta Alpina Cycling Club and who love the Death Ride. Monday before the race, Di Bolton prepares the warehouse area at the Early Learning Center.  Trucks start arriving and continue bringing supplies all through Friday night.  The ROP students are on hand to unload into the warehouse and reload for volunteer stations.  Corey Bolton is the safety coordinator, carefully checking the course for signage problems, any irregularities in the road, and of course for any riders in distress.

After race day, the committee and their families clean.  In an incredible 48 hours, the county is restored to its pristine beauty.  All plastic is picked up, food remains retrieved, trash cans removed, porta-potties returned, and signs taken down. 

"Our hope is foremost that the riders have a safe and enjoyable time in our beautiful county so that they will return in other seasons and tell friends about the county," Burkhauser said.  And the financial side?  She explained that, "there is a big upfront expense, but last year we were able to give over $40,000 to nonprofit groups.  The remainder of the money is used to support tourism in the county by purchasing visitors guides, maps, paying for fish plants, and paying for the large dumpster outside the chamber.  It is a full circle event; it gives back."