Marin Century(s) reports? [Archive]

taxi777

08-04-07, 07:42 PM

We'll I'll make it short, Scale of 1-10....a 12!. Best century in 20 years. Food support ,everyone seemed friendly, great conversation and weather. Got to do my fastest Marshall wall back descent 48.2 mph in the fog, but my bike computor died after tomalewood, I don't know if that was related. Met a rider and we Yak yak yaked past the a turn and ended up doing an extra 10 miles, missed the 2nd rest stop! so I bonked a little before lunch. The climb out of Petaluma was hot and tough, went by the cheese factory and dunked my head under the faucet. We got back to an amazing feed! Chicken, PIZZA!! lasagna, Garlic potatoes and Ice cream!. See ya next year........
One observation... No one seems to have a sucky bike anymore, and everybody has snappy cycle shirts.
Pete in sf, just woke up from my nappy poo, best part of the day/night:p

cantdrv55

08-04-07, 08:03 PM

I did the metric and since it was my first organized, endurance ride, I have no point of reference. All I can say is that it was the hardest physical event I had ever done in my life. The six weeks of US Air Force basic training was nothing compared to the climbs.

The weather in the morning was perfect for me. I did the first two climbs (Lucas Valey and Wilson Hill) with relative ease as compared to the late morning, afternoon rides. I didn't expect it to get so hot in Petaluma! The last big hill - Red Hill - almost did me in. But I sucked it up and completed the ride in under six hours. When I got back in my car, the thermometer said the outside temp was 97 degrees!! All in all, it was a great ride and I would do it again. Next time though, I would leave earlier than 8AM.

I agree that everyone was so friendly, support personnel were great and the food, especially the marinated rotisserrie chicken, was jammin'. Marin Cyclists know how to treat riders well!

I talked to a guy who was riding a tandem with his wife while at the last rest stop. I wonder if it was anyone on this board. I wish there was a way we could've identified each other out there.

senatorw

08-04-07, 08:17 PM

Had an awesome time too. Did the metric as well, and gearing up for the Napa Century in two weeks. Been doing some power meter training for the last two weeks, learning some better pedaling technique and climbing stuff, and it seemed to work. I had the same experience as cantdrv above, climbed the first two hills pretty well, but had trouble with the two hills after the rest stop in the park. That last one (Red Hill, was it?) was a *****. I kept thinking it was going to crest, was going to crest, was going to crest and it never did. At nearly the top of it a car with a camper trailer on it ran me into the side of the road and I went down. Luckily, I was going like 1/2 mph, so I popped up, crested and finished the hill.

When passing by the road that we turned left to go to the first Rest Stop, I thought maybe it was a dual function stop and that it was the last one, so I rode back there to re-fill the bottle and try to pee. Doh. Hit the last rest stop, did the same.

I lost a bottle on the first hill on Smith Ranch so I hydrated poorly and am pretty sure I de-hydrated (couldn't pee for about 2 hours after the ride).

I met some really nice people (cyclists seem to generally be a nice lot) and aside from the one car with the trailer, nobody heckled us. The grub at the end, with the music etc. was great. A real great feeling.

Oh yeah, and could you beat that weather? I think not.

Definitely doing it again.

spingineer

08-04-07, 08:22 PM

Great reports ... keept them coming. And oh, didn't you know it was a requirement to have photos for these ride reports? :D

cantdrv55

08-04-07, 08:31 PM

There was guy takings pics of everyone as they passed by him atop Wilson Hill. Does anyone know how to get a hold of the fella? I want to buy my pic.

Hermes

08-04-07, 09:17 PM

Velodiva and I rode the 100K ride on our tandem and it was a perfect day. The route was good and it was our first time riding in Marin since moving here last year. Below are a series of pics from the top of the second Hors Category climb.

Velodiva and I at the top.
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Marin%20100%20K/RFAMEATopHorsCat.jpg

Cyclist descending.
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Marin%20100%20K/Downhill1.jpg

Path down.
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Marin%20100%20K/Descent.jpg

Here is a profile of the terrain. Our Garmin showed 6200 feet of climbing which is what we expected for the area.
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Marin%20100%20K/GarminData.jpg

tprevost

08-04-07, 09:23 PM

VMC and I did the metric today and I have to say I loved this ride! It did get a little warm at the end but the route was great and the rest stops were well stocked... except the woman who was checking the
200k riders in at our first rest stop expected everyone to literally get off there bike and wait in the weeds every time a car went by! We listened to hear truly yell at people, point her finger and get nasty :eek:

My stats sucked but my motionbased shows 59.88 miles and 4300+ feet of climbing with a couple of pretty steep climbs... the majority were reasonable grades though and it was a really nice ride.

We were trying to hook up with Maddmike and his girlfriend Lilly afterwards but didn't coordinate very well so missed them :(... the good news is that Lilly may accompany us for all or part of the route when we do Cool Breeze in a few weeks! I also ran into SesameCrunch and said hello... he did the fully century and I'm sure just whipped right through it! It was pretty cool running into him :D

Anyway, we are home now and gonna do a recovery ride on the tandem tomorrow that I'm really looking forward to!

Trac'

ps. candrv55... usually when an event has photographers like that, the pics (or a link to them) is posted on the ride's website w/in a few days so you can check them out and purchase one if you'd like! BTW... Congrats on finishing your first organized ride! Well Done!!! :D

BlastRadius

08-04-07, 10:00 PM

Wow. It sounds like it was fun, I'm sorry I missed it. Just as well, I ended up meeting a Craigslist buyer for my Bianchi EV4 frame so at least some good came of it.

waterboy

08-04-07, 10:36 PM

Agree with OP- a 12 for sure!!

We started a little late, but our group of seven laughed and enjoyed every mile. Marin Cycling Club sest a high bar for rest stop food - outstanding support throughout the entire ride. Great food, great folks, a little fog, plenty of sun without getting completely cooked. Marin is such a great place to ride. I honestly can't think of anything I would have wanted different. "cept maybe if I coulda hit 48.2- I topped out at 48.1- dang!!

cgallagh

08-04-07, 10:40 PM

Red Rider and I took the new CoMo Roadster on it's maiden century today. We met up with Hermes and Velodiva and rode the first 25 miles or so before the split off to do the metric. This was a beautiful ride but it was the most climbing I have done in my short cycling career. The Marin Club really knows how to do a ride. To any Marin Cyclist, thank you.

My Garmin said 8295. I know they publish it as 6200 so I don't know what to say. Here is a screen shot.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w76/cgallagh/MarinCentury-1.jpg

Red Rider

08-04-07, 10:53 PM

Cgallag and I did the full century on our tandem; it's our 7th one this year and by far the prettiest, never mind the challenge. We met Hermes & Velodiva, and rode with our good friends who've done many centuries with us.

The climbs were very challenging. I'd heard rumors about the Marshall Wall and couldn't wait to give it a go. We climbed from sun into the fog, a very ethereal experience. The rollers along Tomales Bay were great! There's something about cool weather, fog, and the smell of eucalyptus trees that is, to me, definitively Californian.

Then there was a 300' climb straight up :eek: (or so it seemed) before the 2nd rest stop where I had a brief "come to Jesus" moment from the stoker's seat. Oy! A rest stop has never been so appreciated as #2.

In Petaluma we noticed that the volunteers had sliced the brie and placed it on that scrumptious whole grain bread. At previous stops they left the brie in wedges and let you slice 'n' spread it yourself. I was impressed with their foresight -- saving us from expending too much energy. ;) Watermelon has never tasted as sweet.

After Petaluma the climbs were hot and dry until we got to Lucas Valley Rd., where the ride through the redwoods was a lovely antidote to windswept hills and inescapable sun. We enjoyed that climb, as it wasn't as steep as previous climbs, and what's not to love about riding through a redwood forest?

Coming down Lucas Valley Rd. presented the only hitch in our giddy-up -- at a series of "S" curves just below the peak a large vehicle was coming around a right-handed turn as we were coming down -- it was in our lane :eek: and cgallag had to act fast to avoid disaster. He did, but his quick reaction resulted in the rear wheel of the tandem skidding out from under us. :eek::eek: It's okay, the Co-Motion is fine -- handlebar tape is easily replaced. The skin I left on the road, however, will take a little longer to replace. :( I have a large bruise on my left hip, with lots of scraping down to just below my knee, and my left arm from elbow to shoulder is a nasty mess. My helmet did its job and has two dings, and I suspect my neck will be stiff tomorrow. The two cyclists who stopped and offered first aid until a SAG vehicle arrived are guardian angels -- they offered antibiotic cream and some gauze to staunch the bleeding, and offered to stay even longer. Thanks, guys!

The car that caused this mayhem? Drove away, la-dee-dah, la-dee-dah, as though nothing was wrong. I think the driver had no idea what his poor skills had wrought. :mad: Boo.

For now we're really happy with our ride and the support (First Aid peeps rock!) and plan to do it again next year. And I agree with whoever mentioned the quality of the bikes and snappiness of jerseys -- those were in evidence all along the ride.

Cheers to the Martini riders -- the drinking group with a cycling problem. Very clever jerseys!

taxi777

08-04-07, 11:01 PM

Hey co mo roadster people, I checked out your bike about three times today and I recognize you now, wished I had known you guys were BF'ers, well now I know so Hi! Bike looked great.
Pf in SF
Maybe from now on when BF people do a ride we should put a BF in magic marker on our number bibs so we'll recognize our gang. Maybe even a secret handshake when we meet...like one potato two potato! ;)

SesameCrunch

08-04-07, 11:07 PM

I started out to do the Mt. Tam century. Very early on, I hooked onto a fast paceline. I just put my head down and kept pumping my legs to keep up, so I didn't pay attention to the route. So, at about mile 30, I asked, "When do we hit Mt. Tam?" After they fell off their bikes laughing, they let me know the turnoff for Mt Tam was 15 miles back. Well, guess what, the paceline was on the Marin Century, not Mt. Tam.

Oh well, it was still a beautiful day and wonderful ride. The weather was foggy to start, then turned pretty warm in the afternoon. Scenery was good, route was good, food and support were great. It was probably the best century I've ridden, considering all the factors. The best part was the Haagen Daaz (sp?) ice cream bars at the end. That made the 100 miles worth it!

I'm pointing for this one again next year!

Tprevost: Nice to run into you again. I won't tell the folks where I saw you lurking about (tee hee).

spingineer

08-04-07, 11:10 PM

I started out to do the Mt. Tam century. Very early on, I hooked onto a fast paceline. I just put my head down and kept pumping my legs to keep up, so I didn't pay attention to the route. So, at about mile 30, I asked, "When do we hit Mt. Tam?" After they fell off their bikes laughing, they let me know the turnoff for Mt Tam was 15 miles back. Well, guess what, the paceline was on the Marin Century, not Mt. Tam.

Oh well, it was still a beautiful day and wonderful ride. The weather was foggy to start, then turned pretty warm in the afternoon. Scenery was good, route was good, food and support were great. It was probably the best century I've ridden, considering all the factors. The best part was the Haagen Daaz (sp?) ice cream bars at the end. That made the 100 miles worth it!

I'm pointing for this one again next year!

It's a good thing the paceline wasn't for the double :eek::eek:

Red Rider

08-04-07, 11:11 PM

I looked at every cycle and rider who passed us, as well as those we passed, and wondered if they were BFers. Dang! I'm sorry we missed you. What were you riding, and what jersey were you wearing?

SesameCrunch

08-04-07, 11:12 PM

It's a good thing the paceline wasn't for the double :eek::eek:

:eek::eek::eek: I wouldn't be alive to write about it...

taxi777

08-04-07, 11:24 PM

Hey red rider, I had Liquigas Kit with Magenta/Blue Kline. I saw you guys around your bike at lunch but I was talking to the wifey pooh on the cell. I probably would have asked about the bike.
Pf Sf

Red Rider

08-04-07, 11:29 PM

I remember seeing you. I recall thinking how pretty your bike is -- don't know why I didn't say so -- I usually don't hold back that kind of stuff.

Glad you had a great time. I'm excited about doing it again next year. And yeah, maybe we can put a "BF" in the corner of the bib, just so we know who's who.

BlastRadius

08-04-07, 11:43 PM

Next ride we'll have our jerseys! :D

mazpr

08-05-07, 12:31 AM

It looks like many people ignored the Marin Century guidelines as they are a standard on most if not all cycling events.

I see numerous times how riders complain about driver's attitude toward cyclists on the road, but in this case it was the other way around.

• Please be courteous to local drivers and respectful of traffic.
• Bicyclists must obey all California Vehicle code laws, including all stop signs and signals. Local authorities may cite violators.
• Ride single file and stay right.

I was passing by and stumbled into the event while on my car, I lost count on how many times cyclists were in peloton style in the middle of the road and the same with single cyclists on numerous occassions. I read this and that complaining on how the DMV must educate drivers and follow the "Share the road" when in fact it goes both ways.

Here at work people do not know a do cycling and many did complain about how cyclists were just right in the middle of the street and even from bikers where not much space is needed. So to those who say it was a perfect day, many others disagree as SHARE THE ROAD goes both ways.

tprevost

08-05-07, 06:45 AM

jobob

08-05-07, 10:09 AM

Am I the only one who did the Mt. Tam Century? :o

I can see how you missed the turnoff for the MTC, SesameCrunch, the markings on the road were a bit, er, subtle. There were a couple of occasions where my friend Kim and I would yell out to the people in front of us as they blew past a turn we were about to make. If you kept an eye peeled for the markings for the Mt Tam Double you'd be fine, but I think a lot of people were looking for the teeny-tiny red arrows which were easy to miss on the road.

I'd never ridden up Mt. Tam before so I was looking forward to this. The climb up Fairfax-Bolias was nice and shady for the most part, and the Alpine Dam area was lovely. On the way up I happened to meet one of the organizers for this years Waves to Wine MS ride (see my subtle shill for donations in my sig line :D ) so Kim & I had a nice chat with him about the upcoming ride while we were heading up towards Ridgecrest.

By the time we reached Ridgecrest I was pretty tired, and the rollers on Ridgecrest wiped me out. We were well above the fog line and it was freakin' hot up there, and while I generally do well on rollers I was too tired from the climb to be able to get some momentum going and power up the rollers like I normally do. That made them all the more harder than they needed to be. When Kim and I reached the intersection of Ridgecrest and Pan Toll, we still had about 3 miles to go to the summit of Tam. It was an up and back, and after about 30 milliseconds of debate :o we wussed out on it and and hung a right to begin our descent down PanToll and Panoramic Hiway.

Heading down Panoramic we rode into the fog, and in the space of about a half mile it went from sunny and freakin' hot to damp and cold with nearly a 40 degree temperature drop, so we soon had our armwarmers and vests back on. We rode past the entrance to Muir Woods, which can be a bit dicey with all the cars parked along the road and pedestrians wandering about and the @#$% tour busses passing within inches on the narrow windey shoulderless road (can you tell I lurved that part).

We finally reached Highway 1 which alas wasn't all that much better, it was still rather narrow and windey and relatively shoulderless with lots of cars and a slog of a climb after Muir Beach to boot. But by the time we passed Stinson Beach the traffic volume went down considerably, the road widened, the fog had lifted by then and it was nice & sunny but the temperature remained pleasant, and all was well with our world. Just past Pt. Reyes we headed inland on Pt. Reyes - Petaluma Rd. and hung a right past the Nicasio Revervior. Almost done, yaaay! My lower back was tightening up a bit so I took a couple of vitamin I's and by the time we reached the final rest stop in Nicasio it was much better. It started getting really hot again as we went inland so we had some nice cold Cokes at the final rest stop at the Nicasio School. This rest stop was common to the final leg of all the rides so it was very busy and fun to chat with people - and everyone was glad that they were almost done! Lucas Valley Road was pleasant in the shade but the final (happily, short) climb was in the baking sun but at least we had the nice long descent to the finish.

At the finish I made a beeline to the ice cream freezer and wolfed down a Haagen-Dasz ice cream bar as we waited in line for the real food. You know that saying, life is uncertain, eat dessert first! ;)

We rode about 88 miles of the 94 mile route (since we wussed out on the 3 mile up & back to the summit of Tam) and my Ciclosport shows about 6300 feet of climbing. Since we skipped out on the final part of the climb up Mt. Tam, this is probably about right.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k186/jobob22/stuff/040807.jpg

Some parts of this route were really nice, but the traffic around Muir Woods and up Highway 1 was a bit of a drag, so next year I'll probably do the 200K instead.

LostInSanJose

08-05-07, 11:24 AM

Sean's friend, Andy, and I did the Mt. Tam. Thanks to zorrov999 for the registration, it worked without a hitch. It was an absolutely amazing ride with some great people. The rest stops were manned by friendly workers with oodles of Clif Bars, Shots, and Bloks; Hammer Endurolyte Capsules; and Hammer Sustained Energy (which was a very welcomed switch from Gatorade). At the end of the day, there was tons of good food, and music; and the vendors were a nice touch.

At the top of Mt. Tam, and again on the descent along Panoram and Muir (most perfectly paved road with the most beautiful views ever), I was thinking how I have to fly back next year just to do the ride again. I took two accidental detours. The first, I eventually ended up tailing a car though Muir, and went into Muir woods, not realizing I was supposed to hang a left. It was nice to see a tiny part of the park, as I won't have a chance for a long while. Second, I thought I was drafting someone on the route, and I followed him on a slight left off of Highway 1 -- I realized my mistake when we ended up at a boat launch and he was without the red bracelet. I suppose I should've taken a hint, a bit earlier, from the lack of number on his back.

My only complaint is that I wish they had swept the final ascent/descent to Mt. Tam. They knew a few hundred bikers would be going though there, but instead just put up some "Loose Gravel" signs. One woman went down in a corner in one of these sections. At first, it looked like some road rash, but she was still down on our descent. Medics/firetrucks were sent for her on our way to Muir. We asked at the end of the day, to see if she was alright, but the volunteers we talked to didn't know anything about it.

I was on the lookout for the few BF'ers I've met, but didn't see any of you that were there. Andy pulled the entire route on a 42-17 fixed gear with no rear brake, earning some serious respect from others on the ride, perhaps hero status. I enjoyed watching him hammer past guys on shiny bikes on the ascents, and their double-takes/exclamations of shock when they realized what he was riding. Some pictures from the Mt. Tam:

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/6278/img3758kt5.jpg

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/8151/img3771gc7.jpg

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/1931/img3793iv0.jpg

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/6989/img3791mq0.jpg

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/7112/img3773vf1.jpg

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/4174/img3794ft0.jpg

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/2319/img3781yl6.jpg

East Hill

08-05-07, 11:37 AM

I've read the comments here with much interest! I think that the day that Bike Forums has a booth at all organised century rides will be a great day. I would love to know who else is a BF member on rides that I do, but it seems that it is just too hard to get organised.

As someone who grew up in Northern California, and who retains ties via my immediate family, I'd love to eventually meet more of you (although I've been fortunate enough to meet BlankCrows and bigbossman :) ), and it seems the only way would be to have some sort of pre-arranged meeting spot...

Hermes, I can't see your photos. Anyone else having that problem?

East Hill

jobob

08-05-07, 11:45 AM

Andy pulled the entire route on a 42-17 fixed gear with no rear brake, earning some serious respect from others on the ride, perhaps hero status. I enjoyed watching him hammer past guys on shiny bikes on the ascents, and their double-takes/exclamations of shock when they realized what he was riding.

Hot dang, I saw him a lot! I was in my death throes on Ridgecrest when he passed me many times. He stopped a couple of times and I'd lumber past him, and he'd scoot by me again. I did tell him at least once that I thought he was extremely studly. :D

I was riding a pinkish Rivendell and I had on a sleeveless red jersey with an off-center green chainring logo. And the vultures were circling me.

SesameCrunch

08-05-07, 12:58 PM

That Andy is a human freak!

The picture shows him in sandals - don't tell me he rode in those :eek::eek:?

SesameCrunch

08-05-07, 01:00 PM

LostInSanJose

08-05-07, 01:32 PM

Hot dang, I saw him a lot! I was in my death throes on Ridgecrest when he passed me many times. He stopped a couple of times and I'd lumber past him, and he'd scoot by me again. I did tell him at least once that I thought he was extremely studly. :D

I was riding a pinkish Rivendell and I had on a sleeveless red jersey with an off-center green chainring logo. And the vultures were circling me.

Hmmm. I'm trying to figure out who you were... I remember a couple pink bikes, but they were far from "pink'ish" and definitely pink. I had an orange CamelBak on all day... here's a picture of me at Mt. Tam, maybe we never passed each other or met.

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/8498/img3783lg4.jpg

That Andy is a human freak!

The picture shows him in sandals - don't tell me he rode in those ?

He's a beer-powered human-machine (he stopped for a few brews during the ride), and pedaled every inch. I couldn't believe the sandals either, but they did have cleats on the bottom. That picture is how he rode-- cargo-shorts and a t-shirt.

spingineer

08-05-07, 02:21 PM

I couldn't believe the sandals either, but they did have cleats on the bottom. That picture is how he rode-- cargo-shorts and a t-shirt.
Actually, I know quite a few riders who ride with tivas with spd cleats on the bottom. Is it a coincidence that every one of them I know is an awesome rider? One of them even rode the double century ... all 15,000 feet of climbing of it :eek:

jobob

08-05-07, 02:23 PM

I think I remember an orange camelbak whizzing by me on Ridgecrest. :p :D

By "pinkish" I mean sort of a dusty rose/mauve as opposed to a true pink. One guy on a bright pink Serotta (I think - too many brain cells perished yesterday) was joking with me about how pink bikes rule. I joked that he must be very secure in his masculinity, before he too took off and left me in the dust.

Ed. to add: Cyclofiend from the Riv list took a photo of my bike at the finish:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclofiend/1019122164

For what it's worth, one of my other ride buddies wrote thusly to me clarifying the ride up Ridgecrest:
Those are not "rollers" on Ridgecrest toward the top of Tam. Rollers are pleasant elevation changes where you can carry momentum through to the next one. Those are what are referred to politely as the seven b!tches, or seven sisters in mixed company.

Looking at the elevation profile after I downloaded it last night, I was thinking to myself, "self, those sure as heck don't look like rollers" (at miles ~30-34 on the profile) but external validation of my suffering is always appreciated. So I feel a lot better about my crummy performance heading up the seven, er, sisters. :o

spingineer

08-05-07, 02:29 PM

I think I remember an orange camelbak whizzing by me on Ridgecrest. :p :D

By "pinkish" I mean sort of a dusty rose/mauve as opposed to a true pink. One guy on a bright pink Serotta (I think - too many brain cells perished yesterday) was joking with me about how pink bikes rule. I joked that he must be vey secure in his masculinity, before he too took off and left me in the dust.

For what it's worth, one of my other ride buddies wrote thusly to me clarifying the ride up Ridgecrest:

Looking at the elevation profile after I downloaded it last night, I was thinking to myself, "self, those sure as heck don't look like rollers" (at miles ~30-34 on the profile) but external validation of my suffering is always appreciated. So I feel a lot better about my crummy performance heading up the seven, er, sisters. :o

I think you're ready for Solvang Double :D

East Hill

08-05-07, 02:31 PM

The BF jerseys will help a lot. We'll have an excuse to talk to each other! Can't wait to receive them. Should be next week as I recall from one of Blastradius's previous posts.

I should have gotten one! I kept thinking about it (I don't live in Northern California, but grew up there, in San Jose). We don't have a jersey for the Pacific Northwest :( . We aren't that organised :p .

East Hill

jobob

08-05-07, 02:45 PM

BigSean

08-05-07, 02:54 PM

That Andy is a human freak!

The picture shows him in sandals - don't tell me he rode in those :eek::eek:?

Those are the only riding shoes Ive ever seen on his feet and Ive bben riding with Andy for atleast 3 years. He is actually really out of shape right now because he has been busy working on his car. Yes he wears those mt biking too.

jobob

08-05-07, 03:07 PM

He is actually really out of shape right now because he has been busy working on his car. Lawd a mercy. I guess I only would have seen a blur whizz by me, once, if he was "in shape".

SesameCrunch

08-05-07, 03:14 PM

Those are the only riding shoes Ive ever seen on his feet and Ive bben riding with Andy for atleast 3 years. He is actually really out of shape right now because he has been busy working on his car. Yes he wears those mt biking too.

I wish I was so "out of shape"...

spingineer

08-05-07, 03:15 PM

Aw, you're so sweet, Ron.

While we were slogging up the climb on Hiway 1 from Muir Beach, I was informing my friend and anyone within earshot that no way in creation was I attempting a freakin' double century in this lifetime.

But I feel a bit better about the concept today. :)
I've been in your shoes, and I'm just telling you from the other side. You just gotta keep doing the long rides, and not think of 100 as a landmark point in the ride ... I just kept doing centuries as a training ride.

BTW, Tracy and I are doing a 50-60 miler next weekend. Interested?

BigSean

08-05-07, 03:21 PM

Lawd a mercy. I guess I only would have seen a blur whizz by me, once, if he was "in shape".

Normally he wouldnt have to stop on the climbs.

ConstantRider

08-05-07, 07:21 PM

I went to bed at 10PM, and after five hours of tossing and turning, I finally felt like I was ready for a good night's sleep; unfortunately, it was time to get up. A half hour later I was out the door; I got to the start of the ride around 4:15AM. One benefit of doing the Mt. Tam Double: You will not have to search to find a parking space.

My goal for the ride was to finish in 15 hours, or 8PM, as that would get me back while it was still light outside. But I wasn't sure how realistic this goal was; it was only my third double, with a lot more climbing than the first two.

Because I knew the route included some awfully maintained roads -- specifically Joy Rd., which may be the world's most inappropriately named street -- I put a new pair of Continental 4000 25c tires on my bike. Usually, I ride 23c 4000s, and they've been really dependable, very rarely getting flats.

Oh well. I got my first flat descending Panoramic. A split-second of panic as my front tire started wobbling violently, followed by fifteen minutes of frustration after I pulled off to the side of the road and changed the tube, watching other riders fly past me.

I got the second flat at the base of the Marshall Wall. "I'm going to take this one really slow," I was saying to a guy I'd started riding with. A minute later, I fulfilled that promise even more than I'd anticipated. This time, it was the rear tire.

Only 90 or so miles into the ride, and already I was out of spare tubes. Luckily, there was a volunteer at the Valley Ford rest stop who had a small mobile bike shop set up. I told him my tale of woe and he gave me a spare tube.

Then I inhaled a chicken burrito and set off toward the next big climb of the day, Coleman Valley Road. There were pitches on other parts of the road that may have been steeper, but at 130 miles into the ride, after all the climbing we'd already done, it was a killer. One guy ahead of me was weaving so erratically he looked like a boxer who'd been knocked out by a punch but had not yet fallen to the canvas. I truly thought he was going to collapse at any moment.

I was maintaining a straighter line but suffering just as badly. I could barely keep my 30x27 turning. Later on in the ride, a guy I'd started trading pulls with asked how I'd liked the spectacular view from Coleman Valley. Unfortunately, I'd missed it, because at that point the easiest way to keep going was to keep my gaze locked on the pavement two feet in front me.

And that sort epitomized the ride for me -- I was so busy enduring it that I wasn't able to enjoy it as much as I would have liked.

Still, there were lots of moments that were great even as I was experiencing them: the initial ascent up Mt. Tam as the sun was rising and casting everything in a technicolor pink glow; some fast pacelines up Highway One; the uniformly excellent support and organization of the Marin Cyclists; the riders I met along the way; cruising through the redwoods at twilight on Lucas Valley Road on the way back to the start.

Miles 100 - 130 were definitely the hardest. At that point, fatigue was taking its toll, but there was still too far to go to fool yourself into thinking that you'd be done any time soon.

Eventually, the route flattened out and my energy picked up. It was dark when I started and dark when I crossed the finish line at 9PM. Total time for the ride: 16 hours. Moving time was 14 hours. According to my Polar, I burned 10,000 calories. Even with all the Shot Blocks and Cokes and peanut butter bagels, I'm sure I didn't consume that many calories, so I immediately attempted to balance that equation at the post-ride buffet.

The pizza was cold by that point, but it tasted great. They were still cooking up chicken on the barbecue. Again, many thanks to the Marin Cyclists for organizing a great ride. As soon as the pain stopped, the painful moments began acquiring a positive aspect they didn't really have as I was experiencing them. In a few weeks, I may even be recalling the Coleman Valley climb fondly.

spingineer

08-05-07, 07:26 PM

Great report ConstantRider. I was wondering if any BF'ers did the Mt. Tam double. Congradulations for completing it ...:beer: 200 miles and 15,000 feet of climbing is some accomplishment. You have all the respect in the world from me.

jobob

08-05-07, 09:18 PM

Ever so ditto from me !

As I approached the turnoff for the Mt Tam Century from Pt. Reyes-Petaluma Rd. onto Nicasio Valley Rd, I was thinking how you folks on the double continued on and would still have about 120 miles to go. oy!

Congratulations on a huge accomplishment. :beer:

Hermes

08-05-07, 10:03 PM

Coming down Lucas Valley Rd. presented the only hitch in our giddy-up -- at a series of "S" curves just below the peak a large vehicle was coming around a right-handed turn as we were coming down -- it was in our lane :eek: and cgallag had to act fast to avoid disaster. He did, but his quick reaction resulted in the rear wheel of the tandem skidding out from under us. :eek::eek: It's okay, the Co-Motion is fine -- handlebar tape is easily replaced. The skin I left on the road, however, will take a little longer to replace. :( I have a large bruise on my left hip, with lots of scraping down to just below my knee, and my left arm from elbow to shoulder is a nasty mess. My helmet did its job and has two dings, and I suspect my neck will be stiff tomorrow. The two cyclists who stopped and offered first aid until a SAG vehicle arrived are guardian angels -- they offered antibiotic cream and some gauze to staunch the bleeding, and offered to stay even longer. Thanks, guys!

OMG.:eek: Take care and get better fast.

ConstantRider

08-05-07, 10:19 PM

Great report ConstantRider. I was wondering if any BF'ers did the Mt. Tam double. Congradulations for completing it ....

Congratulations on a huge accomplishment.

Thanks!

jobob

08-06-07, 07:57 AM

I've been in your shoes, and I'm just telling you from the other side. You just gotta keep doing the long rides, and not think of 100 as a landmark point in the ride ... I just kept doing centuries as a training ride.

BTW, Tracy and I are doing a 50-60 miler next weekend. Interested?

Sure, if it's Saturday.

I'm thinking about doing the Tour de Max on Sunday (see http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=329536 ).

Gots to get my climbing in :p And if I can do so while being provided with food & rest stops, and supporting a good cause, all the better. And I NEED to see LostInSanJose bomb by me on a climb. I'll try not to blink this time. :D

uspspro

08-06-07, 10:52 AM

Stupid SUV, stupid collarbone! I would've been there :(

Glad you all had fun though! :) Sounds like it was a great ride.

silentben

08-06-07, 12:21 PM

I did the Mt. Tam century and, like everyone else has said, it was a great ride
on all fronts - scenery, weather, food at the rest stops, food at the end!

jobob and LostinSanJose did a good job covering the highlights. I must concur
that the gravel on the road up to Mt. Tam was very aggravating. I'm surprised
that only one person wiped out there. One corner in particular was in the
shade and it was completely impossible to read the road surface.

Descending on the Panoramic Hwy I got stuck behind two slow cars. There was a
cyclist in front of me who actually passed these cars and, after about 4 miles
of riding the brakes, I wished I had done the same. Descending down towards
Muir woods and the second rest stop, I got stuck behind two different slow
vehicles but I didn't mind as much since at this point it was cold and foggy
and the road was slightly damp.

The climb out of Rest stop #2 on Hwy 1 was a very welcome chance to warm up
after coasting through the chilly fog without arm warmers. I followed someone
in a Google jersey most of the way up 1 and somehow completely missed the mini
rest stop at Bolinas. The 36 miles until I finally got to the Nicasio School
stop seemed much longer than that.

It was cool having a rest stop close to the end and knowing there were only
10-12 miles left and not a lot of climbing. I picked up the pace a bit on the
ascent of Lucas Valley road and then finally got a chance to really fly down
the other side. On all the other descents to this point I had been impeded by
gravel, traffic, etc. and it was nice to let loose and go all out :)

My brand new Garmin Edge 305 said 94 miles, 7:10 total time, 6:02 of riding
time, and 8800' of climbing although that's higher than the published number of
7800.

Rick@OCRR

08-06-07, 12:47 PM

I was wondering if any BF'ers did the Mt. Tam double.

Hi Ron (spingineer),

I was on the Mt. Tam double too, but I finished at 10:08 PM so 17:10 with the 5 AM start. Nothing on the SoCal bikeforums about the Mt.Tam ride, so I'm just visiting the NoCal forum at the moment. I rode with a couple other SoCal (and Rebel Riders), Tom Parkes (this was his 100th double) and Dr. Jerry Brown.

No problems on the ride, no flat tires and my 34t x 27t Shimano compact was actually low enough for Coleman road. Very inspirational reading all the racers names on the pavement! My legs felt totally "done" by the Coleman checkpoint, but thankfully the strength returned by the time I hit the Valley checkpoint for the 2nd time.

I kept myself fueled with Sustained Energy and Cliff Gel, plus the occasional Red Bull, all mixing about in my Camelback :). Overall a great ride, excellent (and varied) weather, great support and checkpoint staff!

Yes, it was a long drive up there and back to SoCal, but totally worth it! Also, this was the most difficult double (and longest time on the road) I've ever ridden :eek:.

Now looking at either Bass Lake or Fall Solvang . . .

Rick / OCRR