Southern California - Breathless Agony - am I ready?

My first time on this ride ... and getting worried about my readiness for it. I climb a lot, but have never done a continuous climb like this ... and won't have time to do so before the ride.

Most of my continuous climbing is in the 20-30 mile range with 3 to 6,000 of elevation gain.

Did Death Ride last year ...

Am I ready? How tough is this ride? I can see how it's a sufferfest from a mental perspective - what about on the body?

Any tips or guidance would be grrreat

Thanks!

I rode it a few years ago when I was doing half the climbing I do now. I was able to complete 3 of the 4 passes before deciding that the cold was getting to me. The second pass – to Oak Glen – was challenging to me. You get through that and you’ll experience the pure heaven of 11 miles at 5.2% for the 3rd pass.

Get to the start and ride your bike.

I completed it 2 or 3 years ago(?). I had only done one or two long climbing rides. I'd have to say I would have been more comfortable if I had trained better, but it's doable.

Whatever you do, don't forget to check in at the rest stations or ya get penalized 10 minutes!:D Don't ask me how I know!:p

if you can climb 6k feet easily and are used to long steady sustained climbs (i.e. ACH to mt. wilson or 39 to ACH to dawson's saddle or GMR to Baldy lifts) you will be fine for BA. don't get psyched out by all the climbing stats. think of it as a 70 mile ride w/ 12ft of climbing, since the last 35+ miles are all downhill. so basically doing your hardest climbing ride of 30miles and 6k ft twice.

use the first pass as a warm up, you'll have fresh legs for oak glen which you'll need since its the steepest... and pass 3 is just like doing GMR 1.5x... piece of cake really. the only tough section is barton flats which really isn't flat at all. that section can definitely be a bit demoralizing... but once you hit the slopes of onyx, you're in the homestretch and its really not that steep, so all you have to worry about is the elevation and cold. but by then you'll be determined to finish and will make it on adrenaline alone.

BA is great route, so enjoy it while you're out there.

if you can climb 6k feet easily and are used to long steady sustained climbs (i.e. ACH to mt. wilson or 39 to ACH to dawson's saddle or GMR to Baldy lifts) you will be fine for BA. don't get psyched out by all the climbing stats. think of it as a 70 mile ride w/ 12ft of climbing, since the last 35+ miles are all downhill. so basically doing your hardest climbing ride of 30miles and 6k ft twice.

use the first pass as a warm up, you'll have fresh legs for oak glen which you'll need since its the steepest... and pass 3 is just like doing GMR 1.5x... piece of cake really. the only tough section is barton flats which really isn't flat at all. that section can definitely be a bit demoralizing... but once you hit the slopes of onyx, you're in the homestretch and its really not that steep, so all you have to worry about is the elevation and cold. but by then you'll be determined to finish and will make it on adrenaline alone.

BA is great route, so enjoy it while you're out there.

Also, this is by no means a continuous climb. It is 4 climbs separated by downhill sections and some flats.