Northern California - Super Sugar Crisp - '09 goals

So at snack time on Sunday in Point Reyes Station the topic of that bear jersey came up. I think I want one too since it does look nice. However I don't want to do any sandbox doubles (as if) so I'm thinking the three toughies around here would suffice. Devil Mountain, Terrible Two, Mt. Tam double. Who is in?

http://theimaginaryworld.com/oxbox05.jpg

I think it would be cool.

But my (our) main goal is to do EC on the tandem.

EDIT: I looked it over... We're up for those 3!

Sugar Bear is stoned out of his mind.

So at snack time on Sunday in Point Reyes Station the topic of that bear jersey came up. I think I want one too since it does look nice. However I don't want to do any sandbox doubles (as if) so I'm thinking the three toughies around here would suffice. Devil Mountain, Terrible Two, Mt. Tam double. Who is in?


Doubles are on my radar for next season, but I have to get a whole bunch faster climbing to realistically finish any of those within the time limits. Another, more moderate one is the Eastern Sierra Double - only 10k of climbing spread over 200 miles. BigBossMan posted some pretty incredible photos from the same roads a while back.

The other one that might be interesting is the new one Alta Alpina is putting on - the Death Ride passes plus Blue Lakes, Luther Pass and another that goes over to Tahoe from the Nevada side. The link is here: http://www.altaalpina.org/challenge/ChallengeSummary.pdf

The Terrible Two is really interesting - we did a 100 mile ride that incorporated some of the climbs, and they were pretty tough - the Fort Ross climb up to Kings Ridge in particular was eye-opening.

JB

Hey it would be awesome if they pick the 3 Ramon said for the 2009 Triple Crown "Stage Race"

They pick 3 of the hardest ones (but change them up every year) and record the combined elapsed times.

Then you can wear this jersey:

http://www.CalTripleCrown.com/images/VolerRedStageRaceBackL.jpg

I'm doing
1. solvang, SSpeed, with Ron
2. Davis, Sspeed, and Hopefully with more NorCalers
3. Mt. Tam double full compliment of gears! (Constant Rider)

Maybe 2010 for the crazy stuff!

I'll be looking to get some single centuries under my belt next year...but I'm definitely seeing some more of these intense rides in my future. Doubt I'll join you in 09 Bostic, but like Pete says, 2010....hmmmm?

I'm in the same boat. I don't know about doubles, but I'm definitely interested in getting some single centuries in this Spring/Summer. If anyone has recs or specific plans I could latch onto I'd be all ears.

I've no specific plans - I suspect I'll end up on one or two through BF and one or two through the non-BF riders I know. I've a funny feeling that there will be the usual round of early notice threads to pick through in the next few months.

You guys are pretty young, so just take your time...You don't have to do everything tomorrow...Damn I'm as old as the Crypt Keeper and I'm just starting to roll!

You guys are pretty young

I'll take that kind of comment where I can these days :thumb:

Wow, I think we have a triple crown club here. That's great. However, I think any of the three that Ramon mentioned .. Devil's Mountain, Terrible Two, Mt. Tam .... is chewing off more than I can handle.

If I was to do the triple crown next year, I would do the same three as I did before ... Solvang Spring, Davis, and Grand Tour Highland Double. Now if you are really interested, they have a Grand Tour Triple Highland.

Other good ones are:
Bass Lake
Eastern Sierra
Knoxville

BTW, age doesn't matter. Have you seen the age of some of the triple crown winners? Average age is somewhere in the mid-50's. My friend Clem, down in SoCal, is 71, and he's done over 50 of them.

I don't often have occasion to invoke Sarah Palin, but this is the perfect opportunity:

"Thanks, but no thanks!"

Whew! :eek::twitchy::eek:

Devil Mountain, Terrible Two, Mt. Tam double. Who is in?

Exactly the 3 doubles I have my eyes on, possibly Davis too. Devil Mountain will be my first double. :lol:

Yep,

I've been toying with the idea of adding a double (or three doubles) to my 2009 goals. Not sure if I am ready mentally to tackle any of the big three quite yet. I think I want to get at least one knocked off (perhaps Solvang) and see what that was like before I go and ride w/ the big boys.

BR

These doubles are also all close so I would not have to spend much on the traveling/lodging side. I have the triple on the steel bike and combined with a 12-29 cassette should be enough to welcome Sierra road at mile 150. I could always swap the 30t granny with a 28t for even lower gears.

These doubles are also all close so I would not have to spend much on the traveling/lodging side. I have the triple on the steel bike and combined with a 12-29 cassette should be enough to welcome Sierra road at mile 150. I could always swap the 30t granny with a 28t for even lower gears.

Uh, oh - if Ramon's talking triple with a 28 small chain ring, I should probably just not do this.:eek:

I've hit Sierra road about 65 miles into a tough ride (started in Livermore, down Mines/San Antonio Valley and over Mt. Hamilton - basically the 2nd half of the Devil Mountain Double) a few times - I spun up with a 30/27 combo that was plenty of gearing, even for me. That's already pretty close to what you're talking about (although a 28/29 combo - less than 1/1?). I don't think that climb would have been any easier with different gearing, even though a few folks on the ride had mountain bike gearing - it took them forever to climb that road!

JB

edit - I think the Terrible Two has a couple of climbs that may be even tougher than Sierra - that one from Fort Ross, for one - maybe not as long, but just as steep. The Gualala Wall (spelling?) is really steep, too, but not very long. I had pretty fresh legs when I hit those climbs - on the Terrible Two, half the ride is already over when the real torture begins. The triple crown website has climbing profiles of most of the tough climbs on these rides. http://www.caltriplecrown.com/

Terrible Two is terrible because you have the same elevation profile in the first 100 miles as you do the second 100 miles. Most doubles that I have done, will have most of the climbing done in the first 100+, then go flat for a good portion, then possibly spike up at the end. With Davis, it's an 80 mile descent to the finish ... weeeee!!!!!!

With Davis, it's an 80 mile descent to the finish ... weeeee!!!!!!

NICE!!! That's my second planned one for '09. I would like to try Solvang first. Hopefully it won't be all cold/rainy the entire day in Solvang. I'm such a fair-weather cyclist, it's almost embarrassing reading my own admission.

NICE!!! That's my second planned one for '09. I would like to try Solvang first. Hopefully it won't be all cold/rainy the entire day in Solvang. I'm such a fair-weather cyclist, it's almost embarrassing reading my own admission.

I think I'll skip showin my Sack! and just do the easy three for the Jersey....:roflmao2:

Solvang can be a little unpredictable, due to the time of year. When I did it, it was pretty damn cold in the morning. The nice thing about this ride is you can dump your lights, and battery packs at a "check point", after the sun comes out. Then, near the end of the ride, pick up the same lights and battery pack, and carry them with you till you finish the ride.

I started @ 4:30 am, and finished by around 8:30 pm (so definitely needed the lights).

Be prepared for cold and warm weather. That's just the logistics that comes with riding a double century.

As someone who's never ridden more than 120 miles in a day all this talk of double centuries and triple crowns intrigues me. Solvang seems like a good place to start since it's early in the season and looks pretty light on the elevation gain. I can still do Bostic's three doubles in addition to Solvang :D

I don't think Ramon's gonna be happy until he rides up the side of the BofA building! Or maybe a shot at the Real Mt Everest...that just may slow him down a little!

I don't think Ramon's gonna be happy until he rides up the side of the BofA building! Or maybe a shot at the Real Mt Everest...that just may slow him down a little!

Isn't he supposed to do a ride up the transamerica building? :lol:

I need some training. I was thinking something like this:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Double-Century-Training-SMC

Anyone care to join me? :)

When? I'm out of town this weekend. On the other hand, even if I was, you'd be waiting for me all the time. Gotta be careful not to overtrain too early.

When? I'm out of town this weekend. On the other hand, even if I was, you'd be waiting for me all the time. Gotta be careful not to overtrain too early.

Not sure when I was just messing around on Bikely. If no one does it, I'll just go out on my own or on the tandem.

I want to find out what happens to me after mile 130, since I have never been further than that. I would like to make any tweaks necessary before the first double.

PS - I am going to research all the water spots and add them to the bikely route.

I'll have to find out when my friend Ken is doing the Winter Solstace. It goes through parts of Hollister and Gilroy. Good off season training for the double season.

Not sure when I was just messing around on Bikely. If no one does it, I'll just go out on my own or on the tandem.

I want to find out what happens to me after mile 130, since I have never been further than that. I would like to make any tweaks necessary before the first double.

PS - I am going to research all the water spots and add them to the bikely route.

Lights are mandatory on this ride, right?

Lights are mandatory on this ride, right?

You can do whatever you want.. No helmets, no lights, all black kit. ;)

But I'll have lights, at the least :lol:

Steve and Cheryl from WW has a plethora of good routes ... http://home.pacbell.net/spro/routesheets/

The Big Basin routes look interesting. :)

Crestview at mile 153.. after all the other stuff including Alba.

Crestview at mile 153.. after all the other stuff including Alba.

That was the idea.

It will be a little version of what it feels like to hit Sierra Rd @ mile 150, etc...