Tandem Cycling - Death Valley Double Century - i saw two Forum tandems there!

I saw sprinter (Ric and Anna) and 508Jaguar (Jeff and Jo) riding back up the Salsberry climb on the way back to Furnace Creek. I was riding my fixie and having a tough time of it. I was dead last as it was my first attempt at a double on the fixie. I DNF'd at Badwater after riding 131 miles and climbing 7900'. I had done all the hard work (that 9 mile descent was tough!). I guess I shouldn't feel too bad as it was longest ride on my 44x17 gear. Next time, I'll be on a tandem!

I did the 100 on my single with all my speeds. This looks like it would be a very good tandem century, lots of rollers and only 1 significant hill, if you are doing the 100 mile. If you are going to do the ride I would suggest making it a 2 or 3 day stay in Death Valley. It is not the easiest place to get to but an intersting place once you are there.

Doing the double on a fixed gear! you gotta be crazy!

I've done Death Valley Spring Double for the last 7 or 8 years. You're right, it's a tough ride. Persoanlly, I wouldn't drive 550 mile to do the century unless I was riding with my sweetie on the tandem. Admittedly, I bit off a bit too much I feel with the fixie this year, as I have only done a century on the fixie. But I will be doing the fall DVD on the fixie. The spring ride is harder IMHO. Don't mean to be second guessing myself (but I guess I am), but I could've finished if I had not listed to my darn brain.... I did do practically all the climbing and I was listening to that little feller in my head :-O

The Death Valley Double on a Fixie!!!!!????? YIKES :thumb:
We wanted to do the single Century there but it was sold out a while ago (only 300 riders) so we missed the window and ended up going up to Reedley last weekend and doing the Blossom Ride instead...it was fun but left us wanting more so we are going back up that way this weekend for the Covered Bridge Century out of Snelling....Are you recovered enough, or are any of the other Calif. Tandem Teams going?

Bill J.

The Death Valley Double on a Fixie!!!!!????? YIKES :thumb:
We wanted to do the single Century there but it was sold out a while ago (only 300 riders) so we missed the window and ended up going up to Reedley last weekend and doing the Blossom Ride instead...it was fun but left us wanting more so we are going back up that way this weekend for the Covered Bridge Century out of Snelling....Are you recovered enough, or are any of the other Calif. Tandem Teams going?

Bill J.

Hey Bill,

I love your part of the country! We drove through Tehachapi yesterday and then we hit Bakersfield :-O

Yeah, I'm recovered. I'll be commuting home tomorrow afternoon on the fixie with my stoker/honey/fiance. Normally, we'd be on the tandem but we can't get the tandem on BART to go to work in the morning...

I took my tandem on BART (two years ago?) and didn't have any problems. Maybe because it was a Sunday and not very crowded?
DV is one of my favorite places to ride. It's beautiful and lots of fun. The price for those particular rides are a bit steep, especially when I can ride out there for free whenever I want. :) On the other hand, I have paid to do the FC508 eight times so I don't know why the $'s for the dbles is such a big deal but it is..;)

I took my tandem on BART (two years ago?) and didn't have any problems. Maybe because it was a Sunday and not very crowded?
DV is one of my favorite places to ride. It's beautiful and lots of fun. The price for those particular rides are a bit steep, especially when I can ride out there for free whenever I want. :) On the other hand, I have paid to do the FC508 eight times so I don't know why the $'s for the dbles is such a big deal but it is..;)

Yeah, I'd be on a train during commute hours. They barely tolerate singles....