Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Camino Real Double Century

The first double of the season, February 20th of course the weather will be iffy and it was. When I looked at the Weather Channel it said it was going to rain until around 6am, starting at 5:30 that should be about a ½ hr. or so. I didn’t put my fenders or raincoat on because it wasn’t raining when I went outside, mistake. As soon as we started it started raining and it rain for about 1 ½. The rain made the painted lines in the streets a little slippery and of course I got wet but it wasn’t cold.

By the time we hit the coast it had stopped raining, the sun was coming out and it was warming up. The next few hours were spent pedaling down the coast with various riders, stopping at the mini stop and visiting with Jon. The first rest stop was run by John Long and was well stocked with goodies. I sampled them and then dropped off some of my clothes. After we left the stop we had to ride under I-5 in the mud and water, oh so much fun. After the mud its a few miles then you get to ride on I-5 for 7 miles to Oceanside. Once off I-5 it’s onto the bike path heading east towards lunch.

At lunch I visited with Lori working the stop, had a Subway sandwich, took a few minutes rest and visited with other riders. 200 yards after leaving lunch you make a left turn and start climbing, nice long hill, a full stomach, but having ridden this ride before I knew not to eat too much because of the climb. I caught up with Justine checking her directions and then Frank on his fixie and we started riding together. At a stop sign Foster and Linda on their tandem caught us and there were five of us riding together.

We were on the bike path back into Oceanside into a pretty stiff headwind when we found the much needed mini stop with Jon from the morning mini stop. Now it’s back on I-5 heading north to only go through the mud filled underpass again. At the rest stop we put on our lights and warm clothing for the evening’s ride to the finish. We picked up a couple more riders after the rest stop, Kerin and her friend. The ride is back loaded with most of the big hills at the end. On the way up one of the roads Linda said we were stopping at Burger King for a break and a restroom, little did I know it was also for a burger and a coke, what a treat. A few miles later there was a rest stop that we stopped long enough to get our card signed then hit the road.

A few climbs and then we were dropping down to Irvine and the finish. Done, it wasn’t the fastest double I’ve done but I had a great time visiting with the rest stop workers, thank you for being there, and the riders I rode with.

Dang you and your 'warm enough to do a double' weather so early in the season! (although, it's been just beautiful up here the past week so I can't complain too much)

Sounds like it was a great ride, even wtih the rain. I don't have my first one (well, almost; 300k) scheduled until the last 2 weekends in March. So what was your final time on this ride?

That must be one of the newer doubles or I have been out of the doubles scene for too long. ;) There are so many of them now it's hard to keep track. I've ridden those tank roads under the I-5 on a few occasions. They're special, especially when they are full of water and mud. :) I saw Foster at the 508 in October. He is riding well now days.

That must be one of the newer doubles or I have been out of the doubles scene for too long. ;) There are so many of them now it's hard to keep track. I've ridden those tank roads under the I-5 on a few occasions. They're special, especially when they are full of water and mud. :) I saw Foster at the 508 in October. He is riding well now days.

It used to be called the Butterfield Double.

Ohhh, the Butterflood. :-) I know that one! Guess I should have recognized it by the description. When did Mrs. Planet Ultra change the name?

Ohhh, the Butterflood. :-) I know that one! Guess I should have recognized it by the description. When did Mrs. Planet Ultra change the name?

2008 PU changed the course some and changed the name.

Guess I haven't been paying too much to the doubles scene. :) I only do them if they strike my fancy anymore. They don't really fit too well into my RAAM training.

Guess I haven't been paying too much to the doubles scene. :) I only do them if they strike my fancy anymore. They don't really fit too well into my RAAM training.

So does this mean you're back into the double scene?

Guess I haven't been paying too much to the doubles scene. :) I only do them if they strike my fancy anymore. They don't really fit too well into my RAAM training.



Something is unclear to me, don;tyou do RAAM on a team, how many? How would this be different than doing a double century? Seriously, I don't know the process!

On a team, you ride 80 miles (?) Rest while others do their leg? How long? With all the rest time, wouldn't that make it possible to do several days on the bike?

Same thing with the 508. Some riders do it alone which gives meaning to the 508. Others do it on a team. Rest while the other 3 guys ride. When it's all over and done, the riders have done 125 miles each? Seriously, I don't know the process but why would this be any different than a double? I don't know enough to know if there is a difference or not!

Me? I've done several centuries but if I were to sign up for a double and do it on a 2 man team, would I just still be a century rider? Or a 50 mile rider on a 4 man team. I'm sure there is no such category on a double but wouldn't the same principle take place in a 4 mand teamdoing 508 miles?

I know there are riders that do the event solo, so why a team?

Congrats - that sounds like a fun ride. Maybe you could post the route with one of the online bike route planners?

Something is unclear to me, don;tyou do RAAM on a team, how many? How would this be different than doing a double century? Seriously, I don't know the process!

On a team, you ride 80 miles (?) Rest while others do their leg? How long? With all the rest time, wouldn't that make it possible to do several days on the bike?

Same thing with the 508. Some riders do it alone which gives meaning to the 508. Others do it on a team. Rest while the other 3 guys ride. When it's all over and done, the riders have done 125 miles each? Seriously, I don't know the process but why would this be any different than a double? I don't know enough to know if there is a difference or not!

Me? I've done several centuries but if I were to sign up for a double and do it on a 2 man team, would I just still be a century rider? Or a 50 mile rider on a 4 man team. I'm sure there is no such category on a double but wouldn't the same principle take place in a 4 mand teamdoing 508 miles?

I know there are riders that do the event solo, so why a team?

A 4 man team on the 508 means that each rider will cover 127 miles, or about a 200k. For maximum rest, you'll ride rotating shifts of 2 hours each, giving each rider 6 hours between rides. An average relay team finishes in 24-25 hours total. That's a 20.32mph - 21.17mph overall average for 25 straight hours on a course with 35,000' of climbing and nototious 50mph+ headwinds. If each rider does 2h shifts it looks like this:
R1 - 1-2...9-10...17-18
R2 - 3-4..11-12..19-20
R3 - 5-6..13-14..21-22
R4 - 7-8..15-16..23-24
Say you're Rider-1 with an 8am start time: That's a 40mi TT at 100% effort at 8am, 5pm, and 2am. 3 super intense TTs in the span of a day.
In your "down time", you're eating, checking equipment, navigating/driving, supplying your guy on the road, and maybe catching some sleep.
I'm not familiar with team relay on RAAM, but assuming a similar structure for a 4-man relay it's still going to be far more intense than just a weekend of 2-a-day workouts. While the average speed on RAAM solos drops to between 12 and 14mph after an insane starting average of 18mph+ for the first 300mi or so; averages for relay teams are expected to stay more consistent. The top 4 4-man teams last year finished in under 6d 16h 30m, with average speeds above 18.8mph.
Take that schedule for the 508 of 3 sprint TTs in 24 hours, and make it 19 of them in under a week.

Ah! So it seems that the 4 man teams finish ahead of the single riders on the 508?

The format of the 508 is unique in that you are required to ride from time station to time station. You are not allowed to change riders between time stations. Depending on what stages you do will determine how long you're on the bike. The overall times are slower (I think about 3hrs) than they used to be in the old (similar to RAAM) format. They are still faster than the solo riders though.

RAAM is a whole different animal. We're out for maximum speed so we're on the bike for a much shorter time. Every team is different but the fast ones have the riders in a four bike rotation doing 30 minute maximum pulls. We're basically doing a 30minute TT followed by a 90minute rest then back on the bike again. We do that all the way across the US. At night we do one of two things. We'll switch to 45 minute pulls or we'll have two riders doing 30 minute pulls for a few hours while the other two sleep. I prefer the latter. On the climbs we shorten the pulls to as short as 1/4 mile. On the descents we let the riders go as long as their speed is hovering around 30+mph.

Ahh! See, I didn't know it was one time trial after another for speed. I just thought it was a bunch of guys taking turns cruising the parks!:D

Ahh! See, I didn't know it was one time trial after another for speed. I just thought it was a bunch of guys taking turns cruising the parks!:D

Unlike a brevet, the FC508 is an actual race. Sure some of the 508 riders also ride brevets, but the only time I see the guys wearing their 508 vests is at the start line before everyone gets going!

You can't be cruising in the parks if you're going to get your butt across the US in 6 days or less on a bicycle!

btw, the record for the 4man 508 in the current format is: 24:56:10
The record in the old RAAM style format is: 21:47:12 My 3hr guess was pretty close.

Beanz, am I going to see you at the starting line of the 508 this year? Doubles would fit much closer into a training schedule for doing the 508 that team RAAM. Actually, centuries would be even better!

Beanz, am I going to see you at the starting line of the 508 this year?

Nope! Only way I would ever do it is solo. But I'd have to train and come up with some money!:D...I did have another rider suggest the ride and volunteer to drive support for me if I ever decide to do it.:thumb: I looked into it a few years ago and GEEZE! Some of these people pay 3,000-7,000 dollars to participate. If I had that, I'd have a bike like that dude Homey I hear so much about!:p

Flying in pro support crews, food for all, heck, I can't afford to rent the official amber lights required!:roflmao2:

...Some of these people pay 3,000-7,000 dollars to participate.

Holy smokes! I've never paid that much! I don't know if I've spent that much on all 8 of the 508's I've done. The entry fee is kind of hi (IMHO) nowadays: $500. You can use any car for support as long as it has a bike rack and space for two crew. If you go really cheap you don't need hotels at the start or finish. You live close enough to drive to the start in the morning and then just head home afterward. Basically, all you need is entry fee, food for you and the crew and gas. It's usually nice to take your crew out to dinner or something. :)

Holy smokes! I've never paid that much! I don't know if I've spent that much on all 8 of the 508's I've done. The entry fee is kind of hi (IMHO) nowadays: $500. You can use any car for support as long as it has a bike rack and space for two crew. If you go really cheap you don't need hotels at the start or finish. You live close enough to drive to the start in the morning and then just head home afterward. Basically, all you need is entry fee, food for you and the crew and gas. It's usually nice to take your crew out to dinner or something. :)

Mc Donald's?:D...Did they change the rules? When I read them, a regulation size van vehicle required, and some other stuff, either way, I couldn't afford it. When I win the lotto, I'll do it. I'll even pay your entry fee!:D

Well, you better start buying lotto tickets! I'm actually going to win the lottery. yep, as soon as I buy a ticket. ;) I've got the 508 on the calendar again this year. Hopefully I'll do it on the tandem (solo). If I do, you're welcome to use the Colnago. :)

The rules on follow vehicles are to restrict vehicles that are too big, not too small. :)

Thanks but I've got too much power for that lightweight bike!:D.. I buy one ticket every Wed and Sat!;)

no doubt!