Southern California - Grand Tour Triple

I've been considering the Grand Tour Triple; has anyone else done it, or considering doing it?

I've been considering the Grand Tour Triple; has anyone else done it, or considering doing it?

I did it in 1991. It is easier than some doubles I have done.

I've been considering the Grand Tour Triple; has anyone else done it, or considering doing it?

DanteB has done it the last two years I think and is doing it again this year.

Steve, my friend Francis rides this triple every year (I think he's done it four times now). He digs it and has encouraged me to ride it this year. I just laughed at him, because no way in hell I'm going through that torture. But from what he says, he thinks it's easier than the Highland Double in terms of layout and climbing. But he's an endurance athlete and I'm...well...not. I think Dante may have ridden it as well. Dante?

Steve, my friend Francis rides this triple every year (I think he's done it four times now). He digs it and has encouraged me to ride it this year. I just laughed at him, because no way in hell I'm going through that torture. But from what he says, he thinks it's easier than the Highland Double in terms of layout and climbing. But he's an endurance athlete and I'm...well...not. I think Dante may have ridden it as well. Dante?
You are an endurance athlete, but just not as much endurance, that's all. Bunch of the ADO Gang is doing the triple as well.

You are an endurance athlete, but just not as much endurance, that's all. Bunch of the ADO Gang is doing the triple as well.


Really??? Is Clem, Ron and Roland doing it? Or Lynn?

Really??? Is Clem, Ron and Roland doing it? Or Lynn?
I know Lynn is doing it, probably Clem .... hell, I think they all are doing it. I think they are starting at 3:30 am.

I know Lynn is doing it, probably Clem .... hell, I think they all are doing it. I think they are starting at 3:30 am.
:lol: That's when I'm starting the double!

Dante, I think, mentioned that more riders are doing it as training for the PBP this year.

About how long does it usually take?

:lol: That's when I'm starting the double!
I'm not sure if I'll be able to get up that early ... gotta see when everyone else will start.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to get up that early ... gotta see when everyone else will start.

I think most folks are starting at 5am. I'm starting with the triple folks if I can swing it. I do not want to be on PCH again in pitch dark. But that's just me. I figure most riders will catch up to me anyway as I break no records on these rides.

Riding back on PCH in the dark simply sucks....even with good lights. I'm starting at 5am too.

If I start at 3:30 am, I'll need to sleep at 3 PM!

Riding back on PCH in the dark simply sucks....even with good lights. I'm starting at 5am too.
Yes, and you'll catch me if I go earlier. Last year I had a flat just after it had gotten dark, four miles out from the finish. That sucked so badly and the last four miles with traffic flying by within inches is not something I want to repeat.

Yes, and you'll catch me if I go earlier. Last year I had a flat just after it had gotten dark, four miles out from the finish. That sucked so badly and the last four miles with traffic flying by within inches is not something I want to repeat.
You've seen me ride ... I'm not that fast.

:lol: That's when I'm starting the double!

The info page lists the start times for double, triple, and quads as 4:30am to 6:30am. Is this a typo on their site?

http://www.lawheelmen.org/gtoverview07.htm

The info page lists the start times for double, triple, and quads as 4:30am to 6:30am. Is this a typo on their site?

http://www.lawheelmen.org/gtoverview07.htm

I checked in and was ready to start by 4 am last year and no one said a word that I couldn't.

DanteB has done it the last two years I think and is doing it again this year.

I'm doing the Highland Triple again this year. I've always started at 4am, they have never said anything to me. Last year to took me 20 hrs. on the bike and 22 overall. I was back at 2am. As far as PHC, I find it easier to be on it from 12-2 than earlier when I was doing the doubles. It seems there is a lot less traffic. Its just a long day and riding the second time in the dark can play mental games with you. Once you leave Rincon headed north you're more then likely to be alone for the rest of the ride. Be prepared for all kinds of weather, it can be cold and foggy in the morning along the coast, hot in Santa Paula and Ojai and then cold and foggy back along the coast in the evening. Have plenty of lights, it seems you never have enough. I've done harder doubles, it's just keeping your mind in the game.

Hmm, I like riding long, but I think I'll probably just do the double. Are most of you doing the highland?

Hmm, I like riding long, but I think I'll probably just do the double. Are most of you doing the highland?

I think so...

I'm doing the highland double. I think it's time to start a new thread on GT Highland Double

I'm doing the highland double. I think it's time to start a new thread on GT Highland Double

Start it, start it!

(Actually, there may already be one)

Ron, YOU already started one! :rolleyes: :p
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=289590&highlight=grand+tour

Ron, YOU already started one! :rolleyes: :p
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=289590&highlight=grand+tour
I thought I did ... I guess I'm getting more senile than I thought.

I thought I did ... I guess I'm getting more senile than I thought.

That is the problem with senility, ya never know when it hits you. Want me to have my wife call you and let you know how senile you are? She's experienced.

That is the problem with senility, ya never know when it hits you. Want me to have my wife call you and let you know how senile you are? She's experienced.
I get enough of that here at work ...

Ok, so I signed up for the highland double.

I thought I did ... I guess I'm getting more senile than I thought.

OMG!!! :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: that is SO funny :p

I've been considering the Grand Tour Triple; has anyone else done it, or considering doing it?


The Grand Tour Highland Triple was my first ever Ultra event 2003. I was on bike just barely 8 weeks (after 2 years completely off the bike) and had not done any centuries. It is a easy triple. The event is very well supported. It can be boring at times because the climbing ends about about mile 150 or less. Then it is flat city stuff, the 1 to Gaviota and then flat or rolling from Gaviota to Malibu on the 1. Usually a great tailwind to Malibu.

I did it again (Highland Triple) the following year 2004 with very high heats in Ojai and really bad winds in headwinds heading south to Malibu from Gaviota. A freak year for weather the organizers said. I was attempting the 400 and settled for the 300. I finished in 20:37 total time. I easily could have done sub 19 hours total time that year.

You will be fine. I think you are familar with the route so you should do sub 19 hours. The highland triple is much easier than most doubles. It's just far but actually if you put aerobars on your bike you can smoke this course.

BTW, you will notice on the results, for 2004 that no one finished the 400 in 24 hours. Five riders attempted it but the weather prevented all of us from finishing the 400 in 24 hours

Edit to add in 2004 last paragraph and link

http://www.caltriplecrown.com/04gtresults.htm

I'm curious, how many doubles do most people have under their belts before they make the jump to a triple? I've only done a couple doubles, and the last one almost killed me, but the prospect of a triple intrigues me. Bone

I'm curious, how many doubles do most people have under their belts before they make the jump to a triple? I've only done a couple doubles, and the last one almost killed me, but the prospect of a triple intrigues me. Bone

I'm going to defer to George on that one, he's the expert at distance riding.

The Grand Tour Highland Triple was my first ever Ultra event 2003. I was on bike just barely 8 weeks (after 2 years completely off the bike) and had not done any centuries. It is a easy triple. The event is very well supported. It can be boring at times because the climbing ends about about mile 150 or less. Then it is flat city stuff, the 1 to Gaviota and then flat or rolling from Gaviota to Malibu on the 1. Usually a great tailwind to Malibu.

I did it again (Highland Triple) the following year 2004 with very high heats in Ojai and really bad winds in headwinds heading south to Malibu from Gaviota. A freak year for weather the organizers said. I was attempting the 400 and settled for the 300. I finished in 20:37 total time. I easily could have done sub 19 hours total time that year.

You will be fine. I think you are familar with the route so you should do sub 19 hours. The highland triple is much easier than most doubles. It's just far but actually if you put aerobars on your bike you can smoke this course.

I think I'm a little too familiar with the routes, I do them all the time and I don't know if I would be able to resist the pull of going past my house on the way to Gaviota. The highland double seems like a good mix of distance and climbing and routes that I don't ride as often. I couldn't tell from the map, what roads does the triple take to get through the Santa Barbara area?

I think I'm a little too familiar with the routes, I do them all the time and I don't know if I would be able to resist the pull of going past my house on the way to Gaviota. The highland double seems like a good mix of distance and climbing and routes that I don't ride as often. I couldn't tell from the map, what roads does the triple take to get through the Santa Barbara area?

Rincon to Montecito via Ortega Hill. Then up Cabrillo to Hope Ranch through Goleta out to Gaviota. Almost the same route back except they route you through Castillo to Cabrillo then its back to Rincon.

Rincon to Montecito via Ortega Hill. Then up Cabrillo to Hope Ranch through Goleta out to Gaviota. Almost the same route back except they route you through Castillo to Cabrillo then its back to Rincon.

Does it take Hollister or Cathedral Oaks through Goleta?

I'm curious, how many doubles do most people have under their belts before they make the jump to a triple? I've only done a couple doubles, and the last one almost killed me, but the prospect of a triple intrigues me. Bone.




I'm going to defer to George on that one, he's the expert at distance riding.

Thank you DanteB. But I lucked out on my first Ultra, highland triple. I sucked 2 tandems from mile 60 to the end. It was my first time doing anything more than 125 miles. I stopped when they stopped, I ate what they ate, I copied everything. I was actually doing the double and got talked into the triple. So I just did it without any training. I suffered the next 3 or 4 days afterwards.

My progression in this ultra stuff went like this: Club rides, Centuries, doubles then brevets. Once you can doing your doubles sub 15 with climbing (13k and more) and sub 14 on non climbing ones (10K or less) I think a triple is well within your grasp. It really only is another 6-7 more hours on the bike. Fuel, hydrate, pace and stay on course and you can finish a triple. DanteB said it is a mental challenge on the GT300. He is right, when you start heading north to Gaviota you make a distinct break from the rest of the riders. You will be alone from that point forward for a while.

Bone. You have to ask yourself why did that last double almost kill me? And look to learn from those experiences and go at it again. If it intrigues you then you are more than halfway to completing one. Most people think we are nuts so if you are thinking of doing a triple then you will finish. Good luck and report back.

Does it take Hollister or Cathedral Oaks through Goleta?

Hollister

The 100 miles out and back to Rincon are pretty boring, junky miles with lots of traffic, and the potential for very strong headwinds. Most of the riders who do the triple start at oh-dark-thirty (3:30am) - so if you're the type of rider who likes to sleep in, you'll be by yourself that entire section. That's a drag too. When I did it in 2001, I started at first light and was by myself the entire last 100. I seriously thought about selling my bike for ten bucks the next day. But, alas, I restrained myself, and lived to ride another day. Lots of rides. Just not THAT one.
:rolleyes:

Hollister

That's too bad, taking Hollister through Goleta sucks. You won't be going right past my house, but very close.

That's too bad, taking Hollister through Goleta sucks. You won't be going right past my house, but very close.

The rest stop in Goleta is at a bike shop on the south side of Hollister. It's a rest stop going both ways.