Northern California - Don't Miss this Mendocino Monster

"In" on this ride so far are: (D) next to name = coming to Sat. night pre-ride dinner 7PM at Patrona (http://www.patronarestaurant.com/)

Lanceoldstrong(D)
Midland (D)
MarcoPolo (D)
Bigbossman(D)
Obiwan kenobi (D)
Bike Club Friend of Obiwan (D)
Cccorlew (D)
MyLilPony(D)
Bikingshearer (D) and (D) also for his lovely new bride.
Princess Zippy


I just want to put the word out there to the forum. This will be special.

I don't have an affiliation with this ride. I just have a love for Mendocino County scenery and many years of knowledge of the county's back roads tell me the first ever Mendocino Monster Century (http://www.mendocinomonster.com/) is going to be one not to miss.

107 Miles, 8000 feet of climbing. June 6th, 2010

Just $55 before May 1st and $65 after.

Includes SAG, barbecue dinner and a tee shirt.
Rooms up there are cheap too. I got us a double for $45 a night.

Here is a Ride With GPS route (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/54714) From the event site
(Note: Ride with GPS is notoriously high in estimated climbing)

The route will climb Orr Springs Road out of Ukiah where it will also take riders through old growth redwoods in Montgomery Woods State Preserve. Then it will wind it's way to the hamlet of Comptche. From there it jogs over to HWY 1 for a few northerly miles along the ocean before heading back inland on Comptche Road.

The eastward inland trek back to Ukiah promises to be very special since it includes Masonite Road 31 miles of private, closed road (http://www.mrc.com/history_project/stories/masonite_road.htm).

"Masonite Road is an exception to this image of narrow, unpaved, even treacherous logging roads. Winding approximately 31 miles from near the coast to Ukiah, Masonite Road is "one of the biggest private road projects on record" (The Redwood Journal, November 1, 1948). According to Charles Marston, a consulting engineer for Masonite, the road did not follow the most direct route. That was not its intent. The construction did not simply cut a path through a dense forest but created a road grade that was safe for log hauling. If a grade is too steep, a trucker must brake going downhill and chug going uphill. Road grading entails filling in gulches and leveling out hills. As a result, grading on Masonite Road fell within the "good" range for hauling.The road has a maximum grade of 6%"

Sound good? I know these roads (except never had the privledge of Masonite Road)
There will be some amazing scenery. Check these pics

Orr Springs Road
http://www.redwoodhikes.com/Montgomery/Montgomery%20road.jpg
Orr Springs Road, again
http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/1647429.jpg
Montgomery Woods
http://www.redwoodhikes.com/Montgomery/Montgomery%20grove.jpg
Comptche vintage redwood church
http://www.inn-california.com/redwoods/images/c6997.jpg
The view at Highway One & Comptche Road
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/59/61/48/storm-in-mendocino.jpg

Darn, it's the same weekend as the Eastern Sierra Double.

I love the Mendocino area too. May be next year.
The fee even includes a t-shirt. Wow! Reminds me of the Grizzly Century in North Fork, same kind of deal and small town organization.

Looks like a great ride, I have to check on a camping trip that is the same weekend.

What beautiful photos. I would be very tempted, but have a family gathering that day. You'll have to enjoy it twice as much.

Ooooh, I was looking at this one, wondering if anyone else would be interested! I'm in. Where are you guys staying?

Ooooh, I was looking at this one, wondering if anyone else would be interested! I'm in. Where are you guys staying?

We are staying at cheap hotel on State Street. I found it on the ride site. http://www.sunriseinn.net/ (http://www.sunriseinn.net/)
There are lots of motels offering good rates listed on the site.
Need a lift? Talk Bigbossman into it, and I could see picking you both up at his place on Saturday the 5th.

We are staying at cheap hotel on State Street. I found it on the ride site. http://www.sunriseinn.net/ (http://www.sunriseinn.net/)
There are lots of motels offering good rates listed on the site.
Need a lift? Talk Bigbossman into it, and I could see picking you both up at his place on Saturday the 5th.

Why in God's name would I want to ride my bike around in some plant-infested wasteland?


I'll take a shot at it if you will, Mark. :)

Why in God's name would I want to ride my bike around in some plant-infested wasteland?

I'll take a shot at it if you will, Mark. :)

You're on. I signed up tonight.

That looks pretty nice, actually. If I finish Davis and skip ESD...

You're on. I signed up tonight.

Just kidding. :D

Just kidding. :D

Your are a real faccia di merda (http://italian.about.com/library/slang/bladultslangindexf.htm):mad:

Looks pretty awesome.

Your are a real faccia di merda (http://italian.about.com/library/slang/bladultslangindexf.htm):mad:

If I didn't know you personally, you'd be having a discussion with Uncle Bambi over that one. :innocent:

I'm really considering this. The pictures are spectacular.

Maybe I can ditch the tandem and disappear on a "business trip" for an extra day. Looks absolutely gorgeous.

Last day to register for the $55 early bird rate.

(bump)

I'm ............. in.

I don't know why.

I'm in too.

I'm in too.

Looking forward to meeting you at the ride.
I hope we can do a Bike Forums mass start at the beginning.

So, our family commitment may have it's date changed, leaving this a possibility. We'll know Saturday (I know, we missed the cheaper cutoff...)
Are ya' all planning on the 100 mile route?

That's a lot of up, but I do have a new triple.... still....8000 feet.

That's a lot of up, but I do have a new triple.... still....8000 feet.

Jeez Curtis - I'm taking a shot at it, for cryin' out loud. Hitch up your skirt, son. :)

If you can ride any double you can ride 8000 climbing. I mean, it also has 8k descending too.

Curse you LanceOldStrong for posting those wonderful photos.
Curse you BigBossMan for your "hitch up your skirt" challenge.
Curse you Ygduf for mocking 8000 feet.

cccorlew and MyLilPony are all signed up for the monster now.

MyLilPony is making a request:
"Can we get some other females on this?"

I ask "Why are you making this request?"

She replies "OK, fine, I'll go play with the boys. Me 'n the boys....whatever"

Curse you LanceOldStrong for posting those wonderful photos.
Curse you BigBossMan for your "hitch up your skirt" challenge.
Curse you Ygduf for mocking 8000 feet.

cccorlew and MyLilPony are all signed up for the monster now.

On second thought - looks too tough for me. Have fun!











:innocent:

I need to get my compact before this ride or I'll suffer like I did on the break away ride.

MyLilPony is making a request:
"Can we get some other females on this?"

I'm not exactly a girl, but biggbossman says I wear my sister's cullottes. Is that good enough?

Yay, cccorlew and mylilpony are in!!

Bike Forums will represent!

Hey all, It looks to me like the last 15 miles is 90% downhill. That will help our cause.

I admit to being a little spooked by that much climbing, but the beautiful scenery & great riding companions have me looking forward to this.

On second thought - looks too tough for me. Have fun!:innocent:

Kidding, right?
Ya know you wanna do it
I know you can do it. Besides you already paid for it.

Just throw your sweet 11-34 Campy IRD cassette on any one of your Italian beauties that has a triple.

That will get you out of any jam.

I admit to being a little spooked by that much climbing, but the beautiful scenery & great riding companions have me looking forward to this.

You can have my spare SRAM 11-28 cassette.
Climbing in 30 x 28 with your triple will be easier than your current granny set up of 30 x 25.
I know this guy in San Ramon that might put it on for you if you buy him a sandwich, or possibly a burrito.

I know this guy in San Ramon that might put it on for you if you buy him a sandwich, or possibly a burrito.

I heard he's a real faccia di merda. Probably best to steer clear. Or bring BBQ.

Okay, I'm in, cullottes and all. A 30x29 is just going to have to get the job done . . . .




Besides, somebody has to help bigbossman limp home. :p

Besides, somebody has to help bigbossman limp home. :p

I've got a 30x34. Maybe I'll climb slower than you that day, but I bet I'll be fresher at the end of it all. ;)

Okay, I'm in...

This is so cool, the field for the Monster is shaping up to be one fun bunch.

Yeah, I think we were all waiting for the opportunity to pay the extra 10 bucks for late reg. It just makes the ride more valuable. Yeah, that's it, "valuable."

Dan, looks like a great ride, unfortunately I'll be Bishop doing the Eastern Sierra Double the day before.

Dan, looks like a great ride, unfortunately I'll be Bishop doing the Eastern Sierra Double the day before.

Man up, the Sierra ride the day BEFORE. Ride it fast, finish early and drive on up. You don't need sleep. Sleep is for the weak.

I admit to being a little spooked by that much climbing, but the beautiful scenery & great riding companions have me looking forward to this.

Come on Midland, you can't be serious!? Soaking wet, you weigh about the same as my right leg. At your size, do you even notice you're on a hill until the grade hits double digits? :D

This is so cool, the field for the Monster is shaping up to be one fun bunch.

For those of us headed up the night before, we'll have to find a good place to meet up for the pre-ride dinner? Anybody know Ukiah in terms of restaurants?

For those of us headed up the night before, we'll have to find a good place to meet up for the pre-ride dinner? Anybody know Ukiah in terms of restaurants?

Midland and I had a superb meal at Patrona in Ukiah last September when we were up there for a different century in the area.
Nice wine list, local in season dishes. A little pricey but very good.

Link: http://www.patronarestaurant.com/

Just being cautious of the unknown. But, heck we survived Oakville Grade. So whatever doesn't kill ya...

Just being cautious of the unknown. But, heck we survived Oakville Grade. So whatever doesn't kill ya...

. . . only delays the inevitable.

Midland and I had a superb meal at Patrona in Ukiah last September when we were up there for a different century in the area.
Nice wine list, local in season dishes. A little pricey but very good.

I vote for the nice restaurant, seeing how it might be my last meal and all.
:lol:

I vote for the nice restaurant, seeing how it might be my last meal and all.
:lol:

I see you are going with your Iron Pony avatar. Is that in honor of the Iron Man 2 movie release?
Or are you steeling yourself in preparation for the monster?

+1 on the nice restaurant.
How many else? Chime in folks so I can make a reservation.
Looks like 4 right now for sure with cccorlew, mililpony, midland and me.

Link: Patrona Restaurant in Ukiah (http://www.patronarestaurant.com/)

Anyone know if there is RV parking around the area, I think I am going to drive up on Saturday and spend the night.

Anyone know if there is RV parking around the area, I think I am going to drive up on Saturday and spend the night.

This looks like a good deal. $28 a night http://redwoodempirefair.com/rvpark.html

Are you interested in joining us for dinner at Patrona (http://www.patronarestaurant.com/) on Saturday Night?

I see you are going with your Iron Pony avatar. Is that in honor of the Iron Man 2 movie release?
Or are you steeling yourself in preparation for the monster?

+1 on the nice restaurant.
How many else? Chime in folks so I can make a reservation.
Looks like 4 right now for sure with cccorlew, mililpony, midland and me.

Link: Patrona Restaurant in Ukiah ("")

I think Valvol & I will want to join, but I'll have to get back to you to confirm.

I vote for the nice restaurant, seeing how it might be my last meal and all.
:lol:

Don't exagerate. Breakfast the next morning will be your (and my) last meal. :D

Damn, this sounds and looks great. If I hadn't already paid for then skipped out on a ride this year, and if I had any inkling of an indication that I'd be ready in a month, I'd be tempted.