Northern California - I need help with Sequoia Century route

I was thinking about doing the metric century and I'd like to load the route on to my Garmin. Naturally:rolleyes:, the website does not provide something simple like a map. I found the following route on mapmyride, but it doesn't seem to match the route description.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/los-altos/25644452

"Climbs Redwood Gulch and Big Basin Way to Saratoga Gap, goes north on Skyline, descends Alpine Road to La Honda, continues to San Gregorio, climbs Tunitas Creek Road, descends Kings Mountain to Woodside, and returns to Palo Alto."

1. Is the mapmyride route accurate? It shows that, after going north on Skyline, you take La Honda Road to La Honda, but the above description says that you descend Alpine Road to La Honda.

2. Is the general direction of the route accurate? It shows sort of a figure eight pattern. The west half of the figure eight is done in a counterclockwise direction and so is the east half of the figure eight.

3. This route is from last year. Is the route changed? Could that explain the discrepancy? (I did the metric century three years ago and this route doesn't look familiar.)

4. Anyone else planning to do the metric century?

5. Why do most of these century web sites don't provide maps of their routes? Are they trying to keep them a secret?


Thanks for your help.

Cliff'

They must have changed the route this year because your old map climbs Highway 84 (boring) and this year's ride description says they climb Tunitas Creek Road (much more fun). The route description should be about 65 miles, which is about right for a metric century.

The Sequoia Century route does change regularly to keep it interesting. Also, many century rides are reluctant to put detailed route maps on-line because they want to discourage poachers (who can be a safety problem). In past years, you could pick up a detailed paper map with turn-by-turn instructions the day before the ride.

They must have changed the route this year because your old map climbs Highway 84 (boring) and this year's ride description says they climb Tunitas Creek Road (much more fun). The route description should be about 65 miles, which is about right for a metric century.

The Sequoia Century route does change regularly to keep it interesting. Also, many century rides are reluctant to put detailed route maps on-line because they want to discourage poachers (who can be a safety problem). In past years, you could pick up a detailed paper map with turn-by-turn instructions the day before the ride.

OK, thanks. Yes, they do offer the map the day before, but I don't live in the area so that doesn't help me much. I guess that I may have to depend on some kind soul getting the route map and then plotting it on mapmyride the night before. Sound mighty iffy, unfortunately.

From the description above, it sounds like you might be able to guess the route. It sounds like they made a couple of mods to allow them to throw Tunitas Creek in there. I'll bet that the many peninsula dwellers that we have on the board would be happy to provide some comments.

Alternatively, if you register, I'd imagine that the organizers would be happier to confirm/correct your route.

I agree that the route sounds very simple. There aren't any real choices to make until the end of the ride when there are a few different routes from Woodside to Palo Alto.

I'm not familiar with the area so I could only find Alpine rd, Skyline, Tunitas Creek and Big Basin Way. I couldn't find Redwood Gulch, Saratoga Gap and Kings Mountain.

If one of you guys can plot it on mapmyride and send me the link, I'd REALLY appreciate it. And I'll buy you a beer (if I ever meet you).

The ride starts at the VA Center (3801 Miranda Ave Palo Alto, CA 94304).

Thanks, Cliff

I think the first half of the ride is the same as your old map (Redwood Gulch, Saratoga Gap, etc.). The part that is different starts at the town of La Honda. This year's route turns left to go to Tunitas Creek Road. When you get to the top of Tunitas, continue straight to Kings Mountain Road. At the bottom of Kings Mountain, you have several choices, but they are all pretty easy. The shortest route (which is probably the one they are using to keep the route under 70 miles) is to take Woodside Road to Alameda, then turn right on Alameda to get back to the Stanford University area. They probably take Junipero Serra along the west edge of the Stanford campus and back to the VA.

Here's a route for a BF ride I did a while ago ... http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Montebello-and-Beyond238513

Saratoga Gap is not a single street, but a region, Hwy 9 near Saratoga. This route also includes Montebello, which is not on the Sequoia Century route.

Saratoga Gap is the intersection of Hwy 9 and Hwy 35. The Sequoia Century usually has a rest stop at the nearby Saratoga Gap fire station.

OK, thanks.

This looks pretty darn hilly (if I did it right).

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/299406

I think I'd have guessed something similar. It'd be a great ride - I'm sure you'd do just fine!

Here's my scan from 11 years ago!

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/Rmm3RzX3X5I/AAAAAAAAAdA/gGipTfWGKRM/s800/Sequoia-Century-1998-Page-1.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/Rmm3STX3X6I/AAAAAAAAAdI/UkrdM--ViiM/s800/Sequoia-Century-1998-Page-2.JPG

I suspect the clubs are trying to discourage "scab" riders by not posting the maps ahead of time... an old philosophy that will eventually disappear as ineffectual.

They do advertise the route as "This mountainous metric is 68 miles with 6000 ft. of climbing."
Yes, there is some climbing, but only one section is really steep. The first quarter mile or so of Redwood Gulch is in the 15-20% range, then it gets easier. Since this is the first climb of the day, you learn right away if a "mountainous metric" was a wise choice. The Hwy 9 climb is a pretty steady 6%. Tunitas is flattish for the bottom third and top third. The middle third is mostly around 7% with a steeper half mile stretch mixed in. The rest of the ride is mostly mostly downhill or flat.

Be careful of speeding motorcycles on Hwy 9 and Hwy 35 and Hwy 84, but those should be wide enough for them to pass safely if you ride single file.

Oh well, I've signed up, so it's too late now. I figure there's always the SAG wagon (when the going gets tough).