Northern California - Fall Sierra Century

Anyone have a garmin download from a previous year they are willing to share? I talked HerbM into this ride and what to see if I can find comparable climbs over here :thumb: thanks!

Two rides from 2010 posted to Strava:
http://app.strava.com/rides/195506
http://app.strava.com/rides/444478

Doesn't look like you can download the data, but each climb is broken out with distance and elevation.

Exactly what I was hoping for! Thank you so much! :thumb:

Finding a comparable climb for distance and rise should be easy, but there is something else to consider - The Sierra Fall Century has three summits over 8,000'. You might need to get used to altitude, too.

Finding a comparable climb for distance and rise should be easy, but there is something else to consider - The Sierra Fall Century has three summits over 8,000'. You might need to get used to altitude, too.
:lol: Your avatar is awesome.

Finding a comparable climb for distance and rise should be easy, but there is something else to consider - The Sierra Fall Century has three summits over 8,000'. You might need to get used to altitude, too.

yeah, I'm not sure how much of that I can do... we'll be doing lots of climbing rides including several up hwy 4 (below and including Ebbetts). Unfortunately, I can't do enough to get acclimated... we do, however, live at 4000 feet; not sure how much difference that will make but crossing fingers 8-)

thank you for your wisdom! :D I will take all I can get!

okay, based on the two garmin overviews I've come up with..

5 climbs

1.6 Miles 3.56% average grade
2.4 Miles 4.3% average grade
2.1 Miles 4.75% average grade
15.4 Miles 1.85% average grade
1.2 Miles 4.65% average grade

does that seem correct to those of you who have ridden it? BigBossMan?

Where do you live in the foothills? I have a lot of climbs that I can share with you. I'm sure Sagebum does too. Basically, you want climbs that are long and fairly steep (5-8%) You can always do Iowa Hill - 13% average for 1.75 miles. If you have time and want a hard series of climbs, here is my recommendation. You can do all, or a subset of them.
http://www.bikecal.com/bill/columns-detail.asp?bRecNo=13
You will be way over prepared if you can do even a few of these. The Bisstlecone climb to Schulman Grove is the first of three climbs on the White Mountain Double. 20 miles and 6100' of climb, starting at 4000'. After you have completed it, you only have another 160 miles to go.:)

I've done the ride a bunch of times. The official route is short of 100 miles - something like 95. There are 3 major climbs, each one summiting at over 8,000' in elevation. They are, in order:

Deadman Summit, on Hwy 395
Sagehen Summit, on Hwy 120
Wildrose Summit, on Benton Crossing Rd.

In addition, there is a 4th climb to Waterman Summit before heading back down around Crowley Lake to the finish. Scattered all around are rollers, and there are some short but pretty stop one's on Hwy 120 after the lunch stop at Adobe Flats. With friendly wind conditions, there are at least 3 descents where 50+mph is quite easily achieved - especially the long descent from the top of Sagehen to the lunch stop. Coming off Waterman to the finish is a milk-run on paper, but more often than not you end up going into the teeth of a tremendous headwind coming off the Sierra east slope. It can be miserable

I don't know about "average" grades. Going from memory, Deadman's Summit climb is about 1-2 miles of climbing, Sagehen is somewhere between 5-6 miles I think, and Wildrose is somewhere around 6 miles maybe.

I'll have to go consult my historical ride data to give you more. accurate information.

Typically, I like to augment the ride a little bit with a detour through the June Lakes Loop. It is wonderfully scenic, almost all downhill, and a lot of fun for very little extra exertion. Also - sometimes we stash a car in Bishop, and instead of climbing up Wildrose we go over the Benton Hot springs climb and shoot down Hwy 6 all the way to Bishop. That makes the ride closer to 120 miles, but Hwy 6 is mostly a shallow decline with a tailwind....... except for last year.

There are two kinds of people in the world, those with empty guns, and those who dig. BBM digs the Eastern Sierra.

+1 on his recommendation to add the June Lake Loop to the ride.
The ES is a stunning place to ride a bike.

Where do you live in the foothills? I have a lot of climbs that I can share with you. I'm sure Sagebum does too. Basically, you want climbs that are long and fairly steep (5-8%) You can always do Iowa Hill - 13% average for 1.75 miles. If you have time and want a hard series of climbs, here is my recommendation. You can do all, or a subset of them.
http://www.bikecal.com/bill/columns-detail.asp?bRecNo=13
You will be way over prepared if you can do even a few of these. The Bisstlecone climb to Schulman Grove is the first of three climbs on the White Mountain Double. 20 miles and 6100' of climb, starting at 4000'. After you have completed it, you only have another 160 miles to go.:)

Okay, very helpful... the last question for you and BBM... you say long and steep... what is your definition of "long" in that context? VaultGuru, I'm in Twain Harte an hour or so below Sonora Pass.... will definately make a trip or two over the hill to do a few of these rides, the 'easier' ones. What would either of you say is the steepest prolonged grade? We've got a few rides locally here that are 7 miles+ at varying grades... some 3-5%, others 4-8%... then a few 1-2 milers at 8-10%. Just need to get out and ride, but wanted to make sure I'm riding the right stuff 8-) Thank you!

You're going to have a pair of ~6 mile climbs at altitude in the Sierra ride. Just get used to climbing for extended periods of time, and you'll be fine. Make sure you stay hydrated on Game Day. You give up a lot of fluids on this ride, as the air is typically very dry.

"We've got a few rides locally here that are 7 miles+ at varying grades... some 3-5%, others 4-8%..."

That'll do.

are you riding it this year? its sorta your fault that I even know about this ride! :p If you are I can say hello as you fly by :thumb:

are you riding it this year? its sorta your fault that I even know about this ride! :p If you are I can say hello as you fly by :thumb:

Now.... THAT'S funny. My average moving speed last year was 14.1mph, and I skipped Wildrose.

Now.... THAT'S funny. My average moving speed last year was 14.1mph, and I skipped Wildrose.

you'll still fly by... I've been doing virtually nothing for years for various reasons... for whatever reason, I decided this ride was the one main ride I should do this year... couldn't pick an easy one... I know I have my work cut out for me.

Putting this ride on my considering list. Lots to do up there though, I wanted to MTB and Kayak as well - might have to make an extended stay.

Okay, very helpful... the last question for you and BBM... you say long and steep... what is your definition of "long" in that context? VaultGuru, I'm in Twain Harte an hour or so below Sonora Pass.... will definately make a trip or two over the hill to do a few of these rides, the 'easier' ones. What would either of you say is the steepest prolonged grade? We've got a few rides locally here that are 7 miles+ at varying grades... some 3-5%, others 4-8%... then a few 1-2 milers at 8-10%. Just need to get out and ride, but wanted to make sure I'm riding the right stuff 8-) Thank you!

FWIW, I would ride maybe 20-30 miles, then do two repeats on your 7mi/4-8% hills, then throw in the 1-2mi/7-8% stinger at the end. Do this a couple of times prior to the SC. You will be very prepared to ride this century.