Southern California - Alpine Challenge - April 25

Anybody doing the Alpine Challenge (http://www.AlpineChallenge.com) this year? All you SD peeps? I'm in for the 60-miler.

I'll be there... probably do the 72mile ride.

I plan to. I am undecided between 60 and 72 miles.

We did it last year and it was super fun :thumb: Hope we can do it again this year.

I am planning on doing this ride too.

"The Descanso Ride measures 60 miles and has 5,700 feet of elevation gain. It remains one of the toughest rides in California."

REALLY!?!?

I'll be there, I'm all signed up and paid. I agree, an excellent event, very well presented with some good climbs!

Rick / OCRR

I'm planning to do the Descanso ride but I'm worried about the 60 miles, 5700 of elev gain. How difficult is this ride? How would you compare this to like Cruising Conejo and Solvang centuries since those are the only ones I've tried? I'm just a weekend rider doing around 40 miles, no more than 2000 ft elev gain regularly.

I'm planning to do the Descanso ride but I'm worried about the 60 miles, 5700 of elev gain. How difficult is this ride?

In general terms, it's about the same as GMR/GRR from Glendora to Mt.Baldy village and back (= 44 mi. and 5,000 ft. of climbing). So Alpine Challenge 60 miles would actually be easier than GMR/GRR since the elevation gain is only 700 feet more, but the milage is 15 miles more.

So really, no worries. Plus, on Alpine Challenge you get rest stops, food / drink, which you don't get (unless you stop at the Lodge in The Village) riding GMR/GRR. Oh . . . and much easier than the Solvang Century.

Rick / OCRR

Rick;
Why not 72-mile option? On their website it says that the difference between 60- and 72-miler is additional 1,000 feet of climbing in 12 miles. I am not sure which one I should do to be the best training before Breathless Agony. Any advice?

Rick;
Why not 72-mile option? On their website it says that the difference between 60- and 72-miler is additional 1,000 feet of climbing in 12 miles. I am not sure which one I should do to be the best training before Breathless Agony. Any advice?

The longer one of course!:D


Really, it depends on where you are in your training. If you haven't done anything like the 60 miler in terms of climbing recently, then do that. If you have then try the 72 mile one.

I have such a hard time paying to do what i consider a twice a month training ride.

this used to be my saturday ride every week.

I'd pay to do a ride with Crash.

I'd pay to do a ride with Crash.

How much one has to pay to ride with CRASH:roflmao2:

Rick; Why not 72-mile option? I am not sure which one I should do to be the best training before Breathless Agony. Any advice?

Hi Maria,
I was answering a question from bolshoi2008, who was interested in the 60 mi. in the post above.

I will be riding the 72 mile (like I always do at Alpine), and you should too. It will be easier than the ride we did in Anza Borrego / Santa Ysbel / Julian. Lots easier, really, since Alpine has good food / drinks at the checkpoints.

Worry not, you'll be fine and you'll be passing a lot of the guys and most of the women :thumb:!

Rick / OCRR

How much one has to pay to ride with CRASH:roflmao2:

i don't think you can put a price on it. It's like playing catch with Curt Schilling.

Rick;
Why not 72-mile option? On their website it says that the difference between 60- and 72-miler is additional 1,000 feet of climbing in 12 miles. I am not sure which one I should do to be the best training before Breathless Agony. Any advice?


72 miles is your only option! :notamused:

OK, I was wondering why you'd do 60 miles cause knowing you my Dear, you always go for the max. I was wondering however if it might be more beneficial to give your legs extra rest before the BA but of course seven days is a lot of time to rest.
After reading your description of the Alpine Challenge in comparison to our beloved GMR/GRR ride, I have a better feeling of what I am getting into.........and the feeling is not too shaby:innocent:.......I am up for the 72-miles.

OK, I have a better feeling of what I am getting into.........and the feeling is not too shaby:innocent:.......I am up for the 72-miles.

Maria,

You will Rock the World on the 72 mile Alpine Challenge; absolutely no worries and you'll have a great time:)!

Rick / OCRR

I'd pay to do a ride with Crash.

you'd probably drop me like a sack of potatoes right now.:thumb:

You Guys (R and D) Rock:love:

How much one has to pay to ride with CRASH:roflmao2:

a little attention and allot of patience

a little attention and allot of patience

Sounds way over my budget.......;) Can't afford it right now.

It's really not that bad...there are only about 2 little sections where you need to come out of the saddle....the rest is just some climbing...not too hard, usually about 4% i think.

I'm planning to do the Descanso ride but I'm worried about the 60 miles, 5700 of elev gain. How difficult is this ride? How would you compare this to like Cruising Conejo and Solvang centuries since those are the only ones I've tried? I'm just a weekend rider doing around 40 miles, no more than 2000 ft elev gain regularly.
If you've done the Conejo and Solvang centuries, you should be OK, but don't underestimate this ride. It's pretty hard. The main climb is about 20 miles long (approx. from mile 20 to mile 40) and although the average grade is not that bad (I would go with Crash here - about 4%), there are a few very hard sections. The last 5-6 miles are also uphill.


72 miles is your only option! :notamused:
Ha!! I'll do the 60 miles and I'll leave no beer for you at the finish. :D

Thanks Rick and JimmyH. I'm registered now and will add gmr-baldy in my training.

Thanks Rick and JimmyH. I'm registered now and will add gmr-baldy in my training.

Hi bolshoi,

If you'd like to join us on a GMR/GRR ride, we're riding this Sun. April 5th. Meet at Boulder Spring (only traffic signal on GMR) at 7:45 approx. for 8:00 AM start. To The Village and back with optional Ski Lifts Assault.

Oh . . . and breakfast at The Lodge!

Rick / OCRR

For those of you who haven't done this ride before - you can check the new route and elevation profile on the Alpine Challenge (http://www.AlpineChallenge.com)web site.

Highly contemplating it.

I'll be wearing my red / white OCRR Jersey, say "Hi!" when you go by (I'll be riding a blue Calfee Tetra).

Rick / OCRR

Wow Rick! You consider the ride easier than GMR? When I did the 72 Alpine ride, I felt like I barely finished it!:D....Maybe cause I wasn't familiar with the course and it seemed to go on FOOOOOREVER!:p

Here's my ride report...

The day started off with mild temps high 50's low 60's. It was supposed to get to mid 60's with 15 - 20 mph winds later in the day. Start/finsh/parking was in Viejas Outlet center which was ideal because 1) Bathrooms 2) Security 3) Gambling/Shopping for your spouse 4) Bathrooms.

The course is basically an out and back and started off with a downhill run south of Alpine before heading uphill towards Pine Valley.The climb was steady with a couple of steep sections, averaging about 4 - 6% the entire way. Infact the course used part of the Grand Fondo section on the way to Alpine - Japatul Valley / Old High 80. There were about 6 or 7 rest stops, well stocked with typical food. There were so many stops that you could in theory do the entire course with a single water bottle. The course itself was well marked using large wooden signs as turn signals instead of the small stickers on the road. You really didn't need to look at the course map.

The finish again was at the Viejas outlet center. You recieved a t-shirt, lunch (pasta or burger) and free beer! The course and organization was excellent and would definitely do this ride again.

My ride data:
Dist: 70.71 miles
Climbing: 6825ft (supposedly 7k)
Ride time: 4:35hrs
Total time: 5hrs
Avg Power: 175w
Max Power: 800w

Ian in SD

Yeap, I agree with Ian - very well organized ride. I like the new start location better, hopefully they'll keep it. It was too cold and windy for my liking but otherwise - excellent ride. Saw Rick, Wu (I think he posts here too) and a few other OC Rebels. Nobody that I know from the BF. I did the 60-miler, here is the data according to my (very basic) computer:

Actual distance: 59.4 miles
Total time: 3 h 58 mins (Avg. speed 14.97 mph)
Ride time: 3 h 46 mins (Avg. 15.77 mph)

Yes, it was a one bottle ride with all those rest stops - I never came close to emptying my 24 oz bottle. The cooler weather than I’ve been experiencing locally had me over-hydrating to the extent that I was using almost every rest stop to rid myself of excess fluid. (Heh.)

I dropped off my vest at the 2nd rest stop – mistake, as the winds were close to getting to me. But I learned that I can tolerate those temps with just an SS base layer and a LS jersey.

On a previous ride I reached 49 mph on one of the early descents, but there were so many people 2 and 3 abreast that I had to be a bit cautious.

Tweaked my semimembranosus tendon at around mile 40, so it was a bit challenging toward the end. Might have to cancel my Breathless Agony ride.

6,640’ climb over 4:40 per my Polar.

Other than an amazingly stupid SUV driver that tried to take out the first 30 riders near the bottom of the first descent, it was a great ride. The idiot in the green Ford SUV was coming toward us on the road, then the pulled a quick uturn so now the SUV was just in front of the pack going the same speed as us, about 35 mph, on a narrow 2 lane road. Then they nailed the brakes to stop as they wanted to make a left turn. We were left with about 5 feet between the SUV and the dirt. I was first thru the gap, and I think everyone made it without falling. Thanks to everyone else in the pack for paying attention.

Moral: expect the unexpected and have a plan, when you see something that might turn stupid....such as this potential newspaper headline.

I agree with JimmyNH that Alpine Challenge was very well organized, and the road markings with the huge signs were great; impossible to get lost or make a wrong turn.

Food at the checkpoints was acceptable, but nothing wonderful. Food after the event was excellent though, as was the beer!

The ride was difficult for me, but it was my own fault for hammering up the first long climb, thinking "Only 7,000 feet, only 70 miles, no worries!" So I went too fast (for me) in the first half and suffered for it in the 2nd half. Still, . . . good training miles for Breathless Agony!

Saw Jimmy, Tony, David Wu and Jose, plus Link and Cathy, Bob Davidson . . . oh, and Andy Hampsten. Nice guy and not impressed with himself like some ex-pros.

Rick / OCRR