Porsche Bike Adventure: Death Ride on a Porsche bike?

Monday, May 2, 2016

Death Ride on a Porsche bike?

As I'm gearing up for my summer bike riding schedule, I am already daydreaming about next year. I have planned a 55 mile ride this May, 72 miles around Lake Tahoe in September and a 100 miler in Sacramento in October.

But now I'm starting to think about possible riding adventures in 2017. All of my 2016 riding plans include the challenge of riding a 1998 Porsche Bike S mountain bike.

Next year I'm thinking I'd like to step up to an even greater challenge: the Death Ride.

The Death Ride conquers five Lake Tahoe mountain passes in 125 miles on a bicycle in July each year. This a grueling ride and one of the biggest bicycle challenges in my area. With such a challenge, I don't think I should or could use my 1998 Porsche Bike S. I'll need a new bike.

So I have this dilemma. What bike to buy.

I'm thinking I'll need something lighter. The new Porsche Bike RS is less than 20 pounds and has state-of-the-art Shimano XTR components, a completely carbon fiber frame and 29" wheels. This would be a trade up from my 25 pound, aluminum frame and 26" wheel Bike S for sure.

Or the other choice would be the 1999 Porsche Bike R. This was an aluminum frame road racer with 700C rims. It was also less than 20 pounds with Shimano Dura Ace gearing. This bike however only has 18 gears compared to the 20 on the RS.

So, what bike would you choose?

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My Story

I am a fanatical Porsche enthusiast. I love all things Porsche. This has led me to explore the depths of the automobile brand including some of the least known items the marque is known for. My latest journey - Porsche bicycles!

When I was 13 years old, I fell in love with Porsche cars. Delivering the morning newspaper on my Schwinn ten-speed bike brought me face to bumper with a white 911T each morning and from there I was hooked.

Many years later, I have a garage full of Porsche automobiles and a plethora of Porsche paraphernalia including everything from posters, flags, hats, shirts, sunglasses, scale models, a wristwatch and much more; all of the normal stuff any average PCA member has collected.

Some of my more prized Porsche possessions are my three Porsche bicycles. Yes, three. One is a 100% original 1996 Bike S. The other is a heavily modified 1998 Bike S I use for road and mountain riding. And the latest is a touring-style 2004 Porsche Bike X that I turned into a road bike. I have ridden these three bikes over 5,000 miles in the last few years.

In 2016, I rode many training miles in preparation for a 53-mile ride in the California Sierra foothills, a 72-mile ride around Lake Tahoe and the grand finale ride of 100 miles at the Sacramento Century. The 100 mile ride I believe is a world record on a Porsche Bike S.

Then in July 2017, I completed the 2017 Death Ride with the rebuilt and ultra rare 2004 Porsche Bike X. The Death Ride is an extremely challenging 125-mile, 15,000 foot elevation gain bike ride that crosses five mountain passes in the California Alps near Lake Tahoe. I believe this was the first time a Porsche bicycle completed the Death Ride. Another record.

In the fall of 2020, I rode the 184.5-mile Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath across three days on the 1998 Bike S. My first multi-day bike riding tour. Another Porsche bike record?

And this blog shared every mile!

2016, 2017 and 2020 were great years of riding. What could possibly follow that?

In 2021, I completed my goal to ride the 360-mile Chesapeake and Ohio and Great Allegheny Passage on the 2004 Bike X. I converted the Bike X back to a hybrid bike for the six-day epic adventure. And in 2022, the Bike X also completed the 237-mile Florida Coast to Coast ride with eight other Porsche Bike riders.

More Porsche Bike adventures are coming up. And just like previous efforts, I plan to share every mile on this blog!

Monday, May 2, 2016

Death Ride on a Porsche bike?

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Phase One Complete: Sea Gull Century x 1999 Porsche Bike R