Holy granny gear, Batman! I have a huge amount of respect for anyone who does this double now!

We did a 110 mile loop starting at the Lake Sonoma lunch stop (see Terrible Two route map at: http://www.srcc.com/ttmap.html) and did the Skags Spring/Las Lomas climbs, some unknown, short and nasty hill after Camp Gualala, cruised along the coast (20 mph tailwinds - yippee!) to Fort Ross and then a nasty couple of climbs (one averaged well over 10% for more than 2 miles). At mile 58, we had 8,500 feet of climbing, and finished with more than 10,000 feet. A hard, hard ride - I can't imagine doing this as part of a 200 miler with even more climbing.

JB

some unknown, short and nasty hill after Camp Gualala

aka Rancheria Grade or the Gualala Wall. I've finished the Terrible Two twice, and that to me had to be the toughest part of the ride (Ft. Ross after all the miles behind was a very close second). One of the years I finished the TT was the 30th anniversary year, in which the original, longer route through Annapolis was used. More miles, more cumulative vert, but it bypassed the Rancheria Grade and for that I was thankful!!

Kudos to you and your gang for doing that tough ride.

Thanks - our coaches have this thing for using parts of double centuries in our training. In two weeks, it's the first half of the Devil Mountain Double (Mt. D., Morgan Territory and Altamont/Patterson passes, then heading back to Danville). The 2nd half (Mines/San Antonio Valley to Mt. Hamilton, Sierra Rd and Calaveras) comes later in the season.

This all has me curious about attempting these doubles, but I'm struggling to get in shape for the Death Ride - this would seem to be a whole 'nother level.

JB

This all has me curious about attempting these doubles

Evil, evil coaches. LOL. Perhaps it's all by design, eh??