Northern California - Death Valley Fall Double : Oct 25th

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rumbutter
10-13-08, 06:34 PM
I am signed up for riding this event for my first time. Has anyone ridden it recently and if so please let me know what the road conditions are like. Is the route potholes, bumpy, dirt roads or generally relatively smooth ? I am trying to decide which bike to ride.

http://www.adventurecorps.com/dvfall/

Footnote:

This event is going to be really hard for me as I have been sick for several weeks with a bug I just cant seem to shake off (travelling to Singapore hasnt helped recovery much) and I havent touched a bike at all in October (hope to get back on a bike tomorrow). I was originally planning to make this my first 200 on my recumbent and my 4th double this year but I am having doubts about which bike to choose.

spingineer
10-13-08, 06:49 PM
You might want to post to SoCal forum, since it's more local to those guys.
BlastRadius
10-13-08, 06:59 PM
I can't tell you much about the road conditions but I like their jersey.

gpelpel
10-13-08, 07:03 PM
I have never ridden my bike there but have driven these roads quite a lot. Their condition is actually pretty good. I do not have any experience with the road up from Scotty's Castle to Scotty's Junction, nor from the Beatty's Cutoff.
The climb from the valley to the Castle is very gradual with nothing over 3-5%. From the Castle to Ubehebe Crater there's a short steeper hill to the crater rim. The steepest will be Mud Canyon from the valley to Hell's Gate.
Temperature at this time of the year should be very pleasant. It should be the perfect route for a first double. Your main issue could be being bored on the long straight roads.
kjfitz
10-13-08, 07:52 PM
I'm signed up too. I'll be the one in the Jelly Belly jersey. Look for me. It'll be my first double.

I've ridden the Spring Century and the roads weren't memorably bad. I drove the Stove Pipe Wells to Furnace Creek section last week while crewing the Furnace Creek 508 and that part wasn't too bad either. I haven't been up to Scotty's Castle though.

See you there!

Kevin
pelikan
10-14-08, 10:24 AM
I signed up for the single a while ago...sadly might bail but might not since a friend & I signed up at same time and he is super excited about doing it. *sigh*