Northern California - Devil Mountain Double Recon Routes advice needed

We are planning for another triple next year and are thinking about riding different doubles. The Devil Mountain Double is a consideration. Ride with GPS has two recon routes posted. They are:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/242552
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/309553
If I connect the two together, it looks close to the full route.

We want to ride both of these recon routes just to get a good feel for the ride. Since we have never cycled in this area, do any of you have advice where we can get food and water, particularly on the Mt. Hamilton route? Looks like there is not much available on Miners Road and San Antonio Road. Don't know about Marsh Creek and Morgan Territory Roads on the Diablo loop either. Thanks in advance

The Junction Cafe (end of Mines Rd) provides food and water, and is the actual lunch stop for DMD. You can also get water and drinks at the Lick Observatory, just make sure that you get there when it's open. There is also water at Grant Park, but it's hard to find IIRC. The recon route goes up Calaveras instead of Sierra and then descend Felter. I suggest you take Sierra instead. First, you will see how it feels after Mines and Hamilton, but also the right turn into Calaveras is tricky and easy to miss, as you will be descending Felter and it could be dark.

On your first 1/2 DMD route you can get food/water/etc. in Clayton after Diablo and in Livermore after Morgan Territory. There are water and bathrooms in a park at the top of Morgan Territory. This loop is very easy to resupply on. The route will take you right past stores and restaurants in Clayton and Livermore.

The Mines Rd. / Hamilton Route is trickier. You pretty much get the Junction Cafe at Mile 30 and the Lick Observatory at the top of Hamilton. You have to check the hours on both when you plan your ride.
Junction Cafe sells hot food and also has candy bars etc. with a cooler case of water, gatorade etc.
Lick Observatory has vending machines that sell Cliff Bars, candy, drinks etc. You can get change in the gift shop.
There is also a 7-11 right before the climb up Sierra Rd at around Mile 72.

Go for it! (on these loops at least)
They are a great way to gauge if you want to take a shot at the big one.
I rode these roads a bunch over the last couple years.
I used them last spring as home field advantage to train on for my successful 2011 DMD effort.

Good luck!

We are planning for another triple next year...

As in, triple century? Yikes. I can't imagine tacking on another 100 to the DMD route. Keep us posted on your plans!

Not a triple century. We are thinking about going for the CA Triple Crown Stage Race. You have to complete three of the most difficult doubles in the California Triple Crown: Devil Mountain, Terrible Two, and the Mt. Tam Double. Have never cycled in the areas where these events are held, so the more information we can get, the better.

Next year, it will probably be a different set of 3, though DMD could still be on it. I rode those 3 doubles for the first time this year, it was extra fun as I had not ridden any of the courses before, except for Mt Hamilton.

The first one is one that a few of us did last year, except starting at Sycamore Valley park-and-ride to get rid of a few "junk miles"

We filled up at
Diablo Summit
Morgan Territory Summit
Starbucks a few miles after Patterson descent, before getting to Collier

Good ride for sure.

Here's the Strava plot

http://app.strava.com/rides/405970

Not a triple century. We are thinking about going for the CA Triple Crown Stage Race. You have to complete three of the most difficult doubles in the California Triple Crown: Devil Mountain, Terrible Two, and the Mt. Tam Double. Have never cycled in the areas where these events are held, so the more information we can get, the better.

Ah, I see. Those may not be the stages for next year's stage race. The triplecrown website says they mix them up for variety. Maybe alternating norcal and socal.

Wonder if they will throw in the White Mountain Double. The first climb is 20 miles and 6000' of climbing. After that, you only have 160 to go :rolleyes:

If the pattern continues 2012 might well be a Mulholland, Central Coast and Terrible Two year just like 2008 and 2004. There again it might not :)

2011 DMD, TT, MT
2010 Mul, DMD, TT
2009 DMD, CC, MT
2008 Mul, CC, TT
2007 Mul, DMD, TT
2006 DMD, CC, TT
2005 Mul, DMD, CC
2004 Mul, CC, TT