Southern California - sep 24th - grand tour lite

so do we have everyone who is coming? and listed under the correct ride?

metric:
nesdog
jonnelrc

century:
kar3368

double metric:
caligurl
sirlanceimnot
jschen
scvroadie
cassave
merider1
the fixer
markw

so do we have everyone who is coming? and listed under the correct ride?

metric:
nesdog
jonnelrc

century:
ptbryant
kar3368

double metric:
caligurl
sirlanceimnot
jschen
scvroadie
cassave
merider1
the fixer


Looks good to me!!
Thanks!

Looks like a good group for the Grand Tour Lite.

Let's hope the weather holds and they are able to get control of the DAY FIRE. I hope that the distance between where the fire is burning and where we will be riding is sufficent enough that it will not affect the ride.

Saturday is Planet Ultra's Tour of Two Forests, basically the route runs around the perimeter of the fire. I am sagging for Planet Ultra and they have indicated one way or another the double century will happen this weekend and that the route may change, either portions or the whole route.

I have attached a link from the forest service that will give you an idea of what is happening with the DAY FIRE.

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/news/article/475/3127/

I'm signed up for the double.

I'm not registered for this ride. :)


so do we have everyone who is coming? and listed under the correct ride?

metric:
nesdog
jonnelrc

century:
ptbryant
kar3368

double metric:
caligurl
sirlanceimnot
jschen
scvroadie
cassave
merider1
the fixer

I'm not registered for this ride. :)


http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/206.gif

That's okay. There's day of registrations.

That's okay. There's day of registrations.


http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/88.gif http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/94.gif http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/98.gif

I have not registered yet as I won't know my status until the last minute. I'm still leaning towards meeting up with the group where I can.

Sheldon

caligurl, out of curiosity, how long did the highland double metric route take you last time?

june 06 - 8 hours 31 min 48 seconds (14.3 mph, 122.36 miles)

sep 05 - 9 hours 44 min 15 seconds (13.30 mph, 126 miles)

jun 05 - 8 hours 50 min 15 seconds (14 mph, 122.5 miles)

Cali,

Is that ride time or total time?

ride

total time for the GT this past june is 9:39:24

i don't have that info for last year (pre edge)

and i had a flat tire :mad: that had to be changed on PCH ("funny" my flat during mulholland was also on PCH!) :mad:

markw, still thinking about carpooling? I hopefully will finish in 9 hours, but that's still a bit slower than you. But if you don't mind waiting around a bit, carpooling would sound great to me.

Yeah, sure. I can go pick up my hub while I wait. I do have to stop and get the hub, figured I'd do that on the way home. I doubt I'd be much faster on this ride. I'll be cruising to the base of the first hill, then the grind begins. I'm only going up Torrey at around 10-12 if I push it, but to be aerobic I'm at 7-8. From the profile, it looks like the first 20 miles will take awhile, we'll see. If you guys want to paceline on the flats, I'm good for 23-25 without drafting. My best century so far is 5:33, but that only had something like 800 feet of climbing, and 108 degrees. I was on a 4:30 pace until the heat kicked in around 10:30-11am, then it was hard to hit 20. Realistically, I think this will be around 8 hours give or take. I climb slow @ 215 on a bent.

Cool. I'll PM you contact info so that we can work out carpooling. I'm not sure that there's much of a "you guys" that you'll find out there. We'll probably just be scattered, especially since there's a decent bit of climbing up front. But when I see you passing by on the flats, I'll be sure to try to hang on for a while if I can.

The consensus is the draft is a little further back on the bent, and you should be in the drops. :) If it's anywhere close to a downhill slope I'll be around 30. Of course, I'm expecting to do about 6-9 up that first climb. Looking at it now, I'm already doing 1300 feet in 20 miles cruising over Mission Gorge, so 2000 feet may not be as bad as it looks. We'll see, I'm expecting to get dropped and then start picking riders off on the downhills and flats.

anyone know what time registration opens for us to pick up our route sheets?

The consensus is the draft is a little further back on the bent, and you should be in the drops. :)

Good to know. I would have figured the lower down part, but didn't know about the further back part. Or, I can always hope some big rider picks up your draft and I can just draft him.

anyone know what time registration opens for us to pick up our route sheets?

I think registration opens @ 7am....
I plan on getting there around 6:30 am, and I will be wearing my cool breeze jersey...I think :)!
I am a little concerned about the winds though!!

Hydrate well. Oxnard NWS office has temps in the mid 90's with gusting Santana winds.

Good to know. I would have figured the lower down part, but didn't know about the further back part. Or, I can always hope some big rider picks up your draft and I can just draft him.

We were drafted by these guys (http://www.precisiontandems.com/hhh06.htm) on the Hotter than Hell Century. He even gives the recumbents some mention. That's motivation having a 4 place tandem breathing down your neck. Jim Kern was pulling everyone on that ride. I eventually dropped out and rode with a couple other people we went with. 25 miles in 1:02, 50 in 2:10. Explosion at 75 in the heat taking about 2 hours to do the last 25, but we were stopping to get cooled down 5:33 ride time. 108 degrees at the finish. Oh, only 800 feet of climbing.

Just a friendly warning here:

I believe at least one route takes you through Hidden Valley starting at the Westlake side and coming out in Newbury Park.

When you exit the valley, there is a short climb then a downhill run. Within the first 3/4 mile or so of that downhill is a left handed sweep turn. By then, you've had a chance to gain some speed. Even I'll get to 30's and I'm slow downhill!

PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!! There is often a small (maybe 12-18" wide) bit of water at that spot crossing the road. It's neither deep nor nasty looking. You would ignore it if you were walking. But you are not.

Because it tends to be there all year, it develops slime. I've been on group rides where riders fell and tacoed a wheel. A couple of weeks ago, a rider slid out there and died of injuries. When I ride with Agoura Cycles, the leaders always warn the group to watch out.

So, just be aware of the possibility that this hazard may be there. It's a come and go thing.

Sheldon

oxnard: Tomorrow: Mainly sunny. High around 80F. ESE winds shifting to WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Stronger winds in and below canyons and passes.

westlake village: Tomorrow: Generally sunny. High 83F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Stronger winds in and below canyons and passes.

malibu: Tomorrow: Mainly sunny. High around 80F. ESE winds shifting to WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Stronger winds in and below canyons and passes.

No wind of any interest here at high noon. Just a warm gorgeous day! It's fantastic out...we're going to lunch.

Makes me want to get back on the bike and ride some more!

Sheldon

i can't decide what to wear.... those temps are right in the middle of long sleeves and sleeveless for me... UGH!

i can't decide what to wear.... those temps are right in the middle of long sleeves and sleeveless for me... UGH!

Gonna be warm inland. I would skip the long sleeves. I had just arm warmers on this morning, no wind breaker at all. I dumped the sleeves by 8 am. Mind you, I wasn't starting at the beach which could be a bit cooler but you will be climbing pretty soon and warm up.

Sheldon

Any guesses as to what time the BF'ers will be reaching Mulholland and Kanan? I'm still considering climbing up Rock Store and meeting up with some of you for a portion of the ride.

Sheldon

Gonna be warm inland. I would skip the long sleeves.
You forget that this is caligurl that we're talking about. It's marginal for her. But ultimately, I agree. If it's marginal, use arm warmers. They're removeable.

Gonna be warm inland. I would skip the long sleeves. I had just arm warmers on this morning, no wind breaker at all. I dumped the sleeves by 8 am. Mind you, I wasn't starting at the beach which could be a bit cooler but you will be climbing pretty soon and warm up.

Sheldon


westlake is only supposed to be a a high of 83 though!

You forget that this is caligurl that we're talking about. It's marginal for her. But ultimately, I agree. If it's marginal, use arm warmers. They're removeable.

i won't remove arm warmers with a short sleeve jersey and get gawd awful tan lines! http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/149.gif

I'd assume someone like you would have arm warmers that reach high enough for a sleeveless jersey. (Do they make such things?)

You could wear two jerseys and just take one off partway through. Or just wear your least insulating long sleeve jersey.

I'd assume someone like you would have arm warmers that reach high enough for a sleeveless jersey. (Do they make such things?)

You could wear two jerseys and just take one off partway through. Or just wear your least insulating long sleeve jersey.

no... they don't! lol! and i don't like the sleeveless w/arm warmers look... PLUS that leaves my shoulders cold!

OK.... i know what i'm wearing.... and i have my socks, sports bra, gloves, headband, etc.... all picked out.... and ready to get dressed!

all i have left to do it put my after-ride shorts and t-shirt in the bag.... eat dinner..... eat my ricotta dessert.... go to bed.... get up.... get ready..... and leave!

Just a friendly warning here:


So, just be aware of the possibility that this hazard may be there. It's a come and go thing.

Sheldon

Thanks, Sheldon. It's really nice that you are looking out for fellow riders. I will keep this in the back of my mind once I enter Hidden Valley tomorrow and I'll warn other riders.
:)

Thanks, Sheldon. It's really nice that you are looking out for fellow riders. I will keep this in the back of my mind once I enter Hidden Valley tomorrow and I'll warn other riders.
:)

No problem..I ride through there all the time as it's one of my regular routes. Gotta help each other out where we can :)

Sheldon

i don't remember water in june??????????? but i'll be watching! (so where's hidden valley?? so i know where you're talking about..... we go up latigo.... then around the lake.... then down potrero... oh wait! i know! the "hidden valley" sign! ok... right after that sign you go UP.... so where do i watch for water????????

i don't remember water in june??????????? but i'll be watching! (so where's hidden valley?? so i know where you're talking about..... we go up latigo.... then around the lake.... then down potrero... oh wait! i know! the "hidden valley" sign! ok... right after that sign you go UP.... so where do i watch for water????????

After descending Decker/Westlake, I think you get a rest stop at the elementary school. You leave there and head to the right towards Lake Sherwood. There is a climb but I think you get taken around the lake on that frontage road. Once around the lake, you re-join Potrero in front of Rupert Murdock's farm. That area is the beginning of Hidden Valley. Takes about 15 minutes to cross the valley then you start a climb which takes you out...it's short. HV is one of our heavily traveled routes...love it in there. My wife loves it because once on the valley floor it's flat! (But, sorry Cali, it's does feel every bit of wind)

Anyhow you leave the valley on that two lane twisty part. After topping the hill (and looking back at the fantastic view!), you start a couple mile descent. If there is any water, it's in the upper part on the left handed sweep turn. Like I said earlier, it's not always there. The thinking is that it's being fed by some homes to the left. It's not a stream per se, and never looks like much, but because it runs so often, the slime builds up. 99.9% of most riders aren't even aware they cross it. I merely posted the info because of the recent issues with it.

Sheldon

okey dokey.... i'll watch for it! thanx!

caligurl (or anyone else), can you tell us what the food is like at the stops?

Just talked to Bobbi Fischer, and she said it's pretty well supported. However, like usual, you will want to pack your normal food/water. There will be stuff at the rest stops. I'm planning on burning up the rest of my perpetuem in 30oz bottle and carrying enough malto so that between the two I have about 9 hours of fuel. Worse case, there will be convience stores on the way, and those always have the 400 calorie Nestle Chocolate milk. :)

Mark

caligurl (or anyone else), can you tell us what the food is like at the stops?

i don't remember what they had... but i remember it was all good! (otherwise i wouldn't be going back this year!)i NEVER take my own food... that's what i pay for!

However, like usual, you will want to pack your normal food/water. There will be stuff at the rest stops.

like i said to jason... i never take my own food... that's why i pay them for! lol!

i do remember they had plenty at the stops last year... and there is a lunch stop... (it was sandwiches at the GTL in june)

Cool, I'm planning on packing light, 70oz bladder in the fastback, 1 water bottle with perpetuem/malto, probably stop a couple times.

I'm packing pretty light, too. A bottle of water. A bottle of electrolyte drink. Extra electrolyte powder. Spare tube and patch kit. Pump. Two Clif bars (don't intend to touch them, but in case I want a bite between stops, some food onboard is always nice). Bringing knee warmers, arm warmers, fingerless gloves in the car, but may or may not use them.

i can't remember if there are 3 or 4 stops?

the first one is about 30 miles... you have to go beyond a couple miles to get to the bathrooms and double back (they didn't rent porta potties last year cuz it's not a big ride like the grand tour)

lunch was in the park....

there is one in port hueneme

not sure if there is a fourth one? really can't remember!

i start out with 2 water bottles and 2 propel bottles filled with gatorade.... then just fill with their water after that! (i throw away the propel bottles as i drink the gatorade)

About 30 miles to the first stop, huh? Hmm... I guess I'll bring an extra bit of water to drink pre-ride to ensure I start with two very well topped off bottles. Don't want to risk running out of water with all that climbing in the first segment.

the three times i've done it... i haven't even touched my water bottles... only my propel (gatorade) bottles.... so as long as you have 2 bottles od something to drink.... you will be fine! and remember.... it's gonna be cool for that climb... not the heat of the day! (and i hope there's no fog so you can see the AWESOME and GORGEOUS views as you go around each hairpin! TOO TOO TOO pretty! if you can see it!!!!!!!)

Okay, good to know. Two bottles it is.

Cool, I'm planning on packing light, 70oz bladder in the fastback, 1 water bottle with perpetuem/malto, probably stop a couple times.

What is that, markw?


electrolyte drink. Extra electrolyte powder

What do you use, Jason?


Just gathering info. ;)