Tour de Palm Springs

[Neccros]

Ok.... I have yet to do some long distance road riding since I built my bike, but I'm tossing around the idea of doing the TdPS this coming year.

I have access to a resort timeshare that has a location in PS(they have studios to 3 bedrooms) so if anyone wants to share a place for the weekend...

What I wanna know is people say it sucks, but for 2007, they change locations. So do you think it will be better?? or will the route be as crappy?? I'm not worried about the crowd so much...

Your thoughts??

[Extort]

I think that only the starting location changed, not the route...

[Neccros]

hmmm.... Im debating if I wanna work up to doing this or not...

[caligurl]

they changed the start postion from the school to downtown.... i can't imagine how they could change the route to make it better.... they almost have to leave dillon in... that's the best part of the ride.... so unless they made it out and back (ick).... you HAVE to go through suburbia on the other side of the freeway to get back to the start/finish... there is NO escaping it! can they reroute one traffic/suburbia section to another? yep.... but you'll still have traffic... suburbia...

[merider1]

Unless I get a report back from riders at 2007 that the roads are now as smooth as a baby's butt, I'm not riding it ever again. I did not like my teeth chattering and my elbows being jammed when I rode it in 2005.

[caligurl]

let me add this.... i personally like TdePS a LOT better than stagecoach... and stagecoach is an out and back with NO traffic....

i say go for it!

[caligurl]

Unless I get a report back from riders at 2007 that the roads are now as smooth as a baby's butt, I'm not riding it ever again. I did not like my teeth chattering and my elbows being jammed when I rode it in 2005.


we crossed the road and rode the wrong way for that short distance... i mean... seriously.... airport road is a small portion of the century! just like the bad roads in imperial county are a small part of borrego.. and old PCH is a small part of the centuries it's included on.....

the rest of the roads for TdPS are just normal roads... nothing wrong with them... the airport road sectin is VERY short!

[caligurl]

we've had a long discussion about TdPS already... you might want to check out this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=250140&highlight=tour+de+palm+springs)! might give you some insight....

[Neccros]

If I get serious about doing this, I might be looking for someone that wants to split a timeshare with me.... Id like to ride this with someone instead of solo

[Extort]

TdPS is a pretty cool ride.... I really like the juxtaposition of the desert on the first half of the ride, and then the cities for the second half.

The roads suck (in a couple of places), but so do roads everywhere.

EDIT: I'm open on the timeshare option. How many days/nights were you looking at, and what is the cost?

[octico]

Hey Neccros,
Nice to see you, I started a thread on this a couple of days ago :
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=250140
I like the TDPS. I am sure there are better rides. I like PS that time of year and we make it a family event. If you decide to let me know and maybe we can get together for dinner. Just be warned it is a very crowded ride. SAG stops are sick, some much damn food it was crazy.

[merider1]

the rest of the roads for TdPS are just normal roads... nothing wrong with them... the airport road sectin is VERY short!
Perhaps we rode in two different centuries in two different Palm Springs? I rode Palm Springs, CA and like, maybe, you road Palm Springs, MARS! :rolleyes: There was more than just a short stretch of bad roads as I recall. Unless you mean short in Martian terms...:D :lol:

Oh, I'm so going to get an angry smilie...:o

[octico]

If I get serious about doing this, I might be looking for someone that wants to split a timeshare with me.... Id like to ride this with someone instead of solo
I've done it solo the last 3 years, I such a big mouth I talk to anyone. Last year was cool I did the 55 mile ride with two lesbians, and we had a blast. Thats just me I love meeting new people.

[merider1]

i personally like TdePS a LOT better than stagecoach...

:eek: Say it isn't so. The roads at Stagecoach are not bad.

[caligurl]

i guess cuz i don't ride on glass smooth roads for my normal, daily rides... so no.... i don't think the roads are bad, at all..... *shrugs* i seriously ONLY have issues with airport road... but then.... i don' have issues with old PCH like a lot of rides complained about after... whatever rides it was that used that road.... can't remember??????

[caligurl]

:eek: Say it isn't so. The roads at Stagecoach are not bad.

i'm talking about the overall ambience of the ride.... sag food.... course... just the "feel" fo the ride.... no... the roads are not bad at stagecoach.... i just really don't care for that ride... i guess it's like ron and butterflood.... he says he won't do it again.. but then does it... well.... i wanted a century in january and stagecoach was available... so as much as i personally dislike the sag food and out and back organized rides... i signed up!

[merider1]

i guess cuz i don't ride on glass smooth roads for my normal, daily rides... so no.... i don't think the roads are bad, at all..... *shrugs* i seriously ONLY have issues with airport road... but then.... i don' have issues with old PCH like a lot of rides complained about after... whatever rides it was that used that road.... can't remember??????

Yes, I actually agree - I often ride on screwed up roads. Griffith Park is a perfect example. That canyon is torn all to hell, but I LOVE it. Now, if the scenery in Palm Springs was better, I'd probably stop whining about the roads. It's just my ONE experience there was not positive (and the group I rode with felt the same way and none of them wish to ride it again). I guess it really depends on your experience.

Stagecoach, I loved. And yes, it's out and back. And yes, it's in a desert. But I rode part of it with Deb Moss who is an amazing cyclist and person. So, my experience there was greatly influenced by the company, the scenery (I think Calexico and JT are far prettier than PS) and the volunteers/organizers (Stagecoach was well organized the year I rode it).

Hmmm...didn't we talk about getting a "rate the so cal rides" thread, Cali? Did that ever materialize?

[herbm]

I've done it solo the last 3 years, I such a big mouth I talk to anyone. Last year was cool I did the 55 mile ride with two lesbians, and we had a blast. Thats just me I love meeting new people.


Thats the best part...meeting someone on the ride...I met up with a guy from Ventura right after lunch..I was solo the first half...
Turns out he is an IT guy...we had a great time...we celebrated when he broke 85 miles which was his previous best...
It made the ride very enjoyable...and made the last half much easier to do!

[awiner]

Unless I get a report back from riders at 2007 that the roads are now as smooth as a baby's butt, I'm not riding it ever again. I did not like my teeth chattering and my elbows being jammed when I rode it in 2005.


This is the same sentiments that I have heard from quite a few people and the main reason I never had considered doing the Palm Springs Tour.

[herbm]

Yes, I actually agree - I often ride on screwed up roads. Griffith Park is a perfect example. That canyon is torn all to hell, but I LOVE it. Now, if the scenery in Palm Springs was better, I'd probably stop whining about the roads. It's just my ONE experience there was not positive (and the group I rode with felt the same way and none of them wish to ride it again). I guess it really depends on your experience.

Stagecoach, I loved. And yes, it's out and back. And yes, it's in a desert. But I rode part of it with Deb Moss who is an amazing cyclist and person. So, my experience there was greatly influenced by the company, the scenery (I think Calexico and JT are far prettier than PS) and the volunteers/organizers (Stagecoach was well organized the year I rode it).

Hmmm...didn't we talk about getting a "rate the so cal rides" thread, Cali? Did that ever materialize?


The scenery could be better...just stay on Extorts wheel!:D


Now Tahoe would be beautiful....and Honolulu even better ( except having to get a bike there)

[merider1]

The scenery could be better...just stay on Extorts wheel!:D


He'd have to ride wearing white shorts, jerseyless and oiled for me to want to ride behind him at Palm Springs - that's how much I don't care for that ride! :eek: :p :D

[herbm]

He'd have to ride wearing white shorts, jerseyless and oiled for me to want to ride behind him at Palm Springs - that's how much I don't care for that ride! :eek: :p :D


OMG...but you'll do it cause we are right??:o :o :o

[merider1]

OMG...but you'll do it cause we are right??:o :o :o
Do what? :rolleyes: Extort in white shorts, jerseyless and oiled? Need you ask? :p :D

[blue_nose]

I did this ride last year. I remember a few sections of rough road, especially in the last half of the ride. However, I would only estimate that 20% of the ride was on spotty roads.

Relatively easy ride with not much climbing. This is a good base / warm up for some more difficult rides I have planning later in the year. I may register – I would say I am about 50% right now.

[herbm]

Do what? :rolleyes: Extort in white shorts, jerseyless and oiled? Need you ask? :p :D


I knew that..I meant ride with us...we will protect you from those nasty roads!!

[merider1]

I knew that..I meant ride with us...we will protect you from those nasty roads!!
Well, since I'm riding the Butterfield double on February 17th, I don't know that I should be doing a century 7 days prior. But perhaps you or Extort, BBFB, can speak to that...? :D

[herbm]

Well, since I'm riding the Butterfield double on February 17th, I don't know that I should be doing a century 7 days prior. But perhaps you or Extort, BBFB, can speak to that...? :D


They have a 1/2 century...

[merider1]

They have a 1/2 century...
You want me to drive 300+ miles (2.5 hours) to Palm Springs to ride 50? :rolleyes:

[herbm]

You want me to drive 300+ miles (2.5 hours) to Palm Springs to ride 50? :rolleyes:


Then do the century!! come on....

[tprevost]

i guess cuz i don't ride on glass smooth roads for my normal, daily rides... so no.... i don't think the roads are bad, at all..... *shrugs* i seriously ONLY have issues with airport road... but then.... i don' have issues with old PCH like a lot of rides complained about after... whatever rides it was that used that road.... can't remember??????

I didn't really have any issues w/the roads this fall when I road the metric... I guess its what you're used to! Most of the roads here are pretty rural and not as well maintained as those in town...

I doubt I'll be complaining in Feb either ;) hopefully the goatheads will not be as plentiful as they were last year... I didn't ride but I heard LOTS of flat tire stories :eek:

[Extort]

Well, since I'm riding the Butterfield double on February 17th, I don't know that I should be doing a century 7 days prior. But perhaps you or Extort, BBFB, can speak to that...? :D

It really depends on your level of fitness at that time. It is not impossible to do a century one weekend and follow it up with a double the following weekend, but you need to be prepared for it.

How much training do you need before you can comfortably complete the Butterfield Double? How difficult are centuries for you right now? What is your recovery time after a century? Double?

People complete back to back doubles (I have even heard about some sick people that do back to back to back doubles!!! :eek: ) without any ill effects.... and a century 7 days before a double is not a bad thing.

[Scootcore]

do i feel a challenge coming on?!?!?!!?!?

[tprevost]

do i feel a challenge coming on?!?!?!!?!?


I think ya do :rolleyes: Hmmmm.... are ya up for it M.E.???

[Scootcore]

so it begins....