Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.crockett
08-02-09, 08:23 AM
Thought Id drop a quick ride report and recommendation.
The Death Ride 130 miles, 5 passes, 15,000 elevation gain (www.deathride.com).
Great ride, fabulous support spectacular views and very tough ride. Pass #3 (Ebbets) has a few short grades >16% (actual state hwy sign says >24%), total climb of this 3rd pass is 10 miles long with consistent grade >6%, and for a some miles consistently >8% - think of Magnolia in Boulder, then double the length of Magnolia and this pass climb comes after the first 2 passes climbed which each had consistent grade of 4-8% and so the 3rd pass at mile 40 in the ride, and with more than 25 total miles already climbed .ouch. Ebbetts Pass the most beautiful pass of the total 5, but it is also the most technical and potentially dangerous. The other passes have two distinct lanes, separated by a painted divider (i.e. Monitor and Carson are wide enough to have two lanes). Ebbetts, on the other hand, is more accurately described as a 1 & ½ lane, no shoulder, bordered by rock wall on the uphill side and steep drop-off on the downhill side type of twisty jaunt over the mountain. Very much like Independence Pass outside of Aspen. Similarly, the views are stunning, but a little distracting. Making it more difficult is that there is a steady stream of quickly descending riders going downhill while you are struggling with the uphill climb.... and of course, I was trying to stay away from the inside of the numerous hairpin turns which had the most grade ... but doing so was at my constant peril of being killed by a descender who were (typically) going >40mph (I know some who exceeded 55mph on a few straightaways - and I was 50+ on one (and I am a slow, nervous nelly on downhills...)
But I finished. Weather was close to perfect, spectators lines streets shouting encouragement and ringing cowbells, NO CARS allowed on first 100 miles of ride so its peaceful and quiet If you had to be SAG'ed out, it was on the back of a motorcycle and you had to carry your own bike - or you could be helicoptered out.
The ride is the single biggest economic event for the small mountain towns and the citizen support was amazing and reminded me a little of Iron Horse in Durango-small town fully supportive of great event
FWIW by comparison to Triple, Id say Death Ride is definitely tougher steeper climbing, longer distance, more elevation gained and DR can be especially hot (tho, this ride did not match the 100 + temps seen in prior years). Both are great rides but you got to choose one since they always occur on the same weekend!
J
The Death Ride 130 miles, 5 passes, 15,000 elevation gain (www.deathride.com).
Great ride, fabulous support spectacular views and very tough ride. Pass #3 (Ebbets) has a few short grades >16% (actual state hwy sign says >24%), total climb of this 3rd pass is 10 miles long with consistent grade >6%, and for a some miles consistently >8% - think of Magnolia in Boulder, then double the length of Magnolia and this pass climb comes after the first 2 passes climbed which each had consistent grade of 4-8% and so the 3rd pass at mile 40 in the ride, and with more than 25 total miles already climbed .ouch. Ebbetts Pass the most beautiful pass of the total 5, but it is also the most technical and potentially dangerous. The other passes have two distinct lanes, separated by a painted divider (i.e. Monitor and Carson are wide enough to have two lanes). Ebbetts, on the other hand, is more accurately described as a 1 & ½ lane, no shoulder, bordered by rock wall on the uphill side and steep drop-off on the downhill side type of twisty jaunt over the mountain. Very much like Independence Pass outside of Aspen. Similarly, the views are stunning, but a little distracting. Making it more difficult is that there is a steady stream of quickly descending riders going downhill while you are struggling with the uphill climb.... and of course, I was trying to stay away from the inside of the numerous hairpin turns which had the most grade ... but doing so was at my constant peril of being killed by a descender who were (typically) going >40mph (I know some who exceeded 55mph on a few straightaways - and I was 50+ on one (and I am a slow, nervous nelly on downhills...)
But I finished. Weather was close to perfect, spectators lines streets shouting encouragement and ringing cowbells, NO CARS allowed on first 100 miles of ride so its peaceful and quiet If you had to be SAG'ed out, it was on the back of a motorcycle and you had to carry your own bike - or you could be helicoptered out.
The ride is the single biggest economic event for the small mountain towns and the citizen support was amazing and reminded me a little of Iron Horse in Durango-small town fully supportive of great event
FWIW by comparison to Triple, Id say Death Ride is definitely tougher steeper climbing, longer distance, more elevation gained and DR can be especially hot (tho, this ride did not match the 100 + temps seen in prior years). Both are great rides but you got to choose one since they always occur on the same weekend!
J