lose the name "Death Ride"?

[email protected] (Dan) wrote in message
> The official name of the ride is "Tour of the California Alps" but the popular name has been Death
> Ride for many years.

The claim in the Sac Bee article that the original name is "Tour of the California Alps" is simply
not true. I know the person that founded the ride in the early 80's and it was called, right from
the start, "The Death Ride". The "Tour of the California Alps" was added some years later when an
insurance company balked at issuing a policy to an event called "The Death Ride".

Interesting. I bet that Dr. Lambert himself usually referred to the ride as the 'Death Ride'; seems
to be implicit in the part of the Bee story where it says his daughter had nightmares when she found
out he was to ride in an event with that name. I think the organizers took a good tact; honor the
guy, but keep the event names intact - probably part of the draw that lured him to ride in it in the
first place.

- rick warner

"Dan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> Dr. Scott Lambert died after crashing in the 2002 Death Ride (www.deathride.com). His family is
> protesting the continued use of the name Death Ride and the skeleton mascot. Lambert is the
> only rider to have died in the 23 year history of this popular ride. The official name of the
> ride is "Tour of the California Alps" but the popular name has been Death Ride for many years.
>
> The family viewpoint: http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/7003991p-7952696c.html
>
> The ride org viewpoint:
>
http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030711/SPORTS/307110301
>
> I sympathize with the Lambert family but would be very disappointed if the ride lost such a great
> name. I am curious how you, the bike community, feels about this.
>
> I finished all five passes this year making 3 years in a row. 10h 40m on the bike and 12h
> 48m total.

I can understand the families feelings on this, but I'd bet Dr. Lambert liked the name and it does
have the mystique to us "Fred" riders that like the challenge. My wife didn't want me to do this
ride because of the name either. It certainly isn't PC. Personally I hope they keep the name but I
noticed that this years Jersey doesn't have "Death Ride" on it at all. The T-shirt does. But the
Jersey does have one of my favorite Grateful Dead song titles on the back (Fire on the Mountain). I
bought a 2002 sleevless Jersey at discount because I needed one and it was a good deal. Glad I did
because it may be the last Jersey with Death Ride on it.

I did the Death Ride this year for the first time (Did the RAMROD a couple times before) and
completed in 9h 43m riding time 12h 6m total. I am particularly proud of myself because I moved from
Seattle to Michigan last year and trained in the flat lands and only had time this year to do about
810 miles of training yet the ride didn't kill me. Yes I'd like to do it again. Its a great ride, by
far the best supported I've ever seen with the nicest people. Its amazing what adrenaline, scenery
and support will do, and I used the ride to raise almost $8000 dollars for a Brain Tumor Research
and Information Foundation (Musella Foundation).

See ya at the DR or whatever they call it next year.

Kendall (in Ann Arbor Michigan)

"Dan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> I sympathize with the Lambert family but would be very disappointed if the ride lost such a great
> name. I am curious how you, the bike community, feels about this.

I did it once and had a great time; it's a beautiful route. I'll do it again sooner or later
(got shut out in the lotto this year and last), but the name is stupid.

I have to agree with Jobst Brandt that calling rides things like "Death Ride" is a negative. It
sends a message to people that riding a bicycle is an unpleasant event that one must struggle
to endure.

Todd Kuzma

In article <[email protected]>, Todd Kuzma <[email protected]> wrote:
>I have to agree with Jobst Brandt that calling rides things like "Death Ride" is a negative. It
>sends a message to people that riding a bicycle is an unpleasant event that one must struggle
>to endure.

The vast majority of people who have never been athletic think that anyhow. A plain old century
is unimaginable to them, and the thought of riding 130 miles with lots of climbing is completely
off the scale. They could name it the "Lite 'n Easy Tour involving only a few small hills" and
your non-riding co-workers would still give you funny looks when you answer their "how far is
it" question.

I like the name. I didn't realize that this years jersey didn't have "death ride" on it or I'd have
gotten one of last years as well. Its too bad the organizers wimped out.

Eric