Hermes

Velodiva and I rode the Marin Metric Century on Saturday on our tandem and it was a perfect day. This was our first ride in Marin since we moved to the Bay area last year. We should ride there more, but it is about 45 minutes from our house over the Goldengate Bridge. However, it has great cycling and the views along the coast and back country are fabulous. We hooked up with Red Rider and cgallagh and some other people and started out together. They were riding the 100 mile and the routes diverge at approximately 22 miles. The 100K route headed toward Petaluma and the 100 mile to the coast. The 100K route featured 6 climbs of which 3 really counted plus a lot of false flats. At the split where the 100K and 100 mile split, we ascended our second climb which was supposed to be the toughest of the day. It was ~400 feet with an average grade of 9% with a maximum of 18.1%. The weather was cool in the morning and heated up fast. It was approximately 85 degrees when we arrived in Petaluma. The support at the rest stops was outstanding and the best we have experienced for an organized ride. We had 3 rest stops that featured brie cheese and crackers, focaccia with different toppings and assorted breads, boiled red potatoes with salt, energy bars, variety of fresh fruit, cookies, diet drinks, Gatorade and water plus red cross stations equipped with personnel, sunscreen and first aid and bike mechanics. There was a climb out of Petaluma and then a descent down one of the roughest roads we have ever encountered. Well, we picked our way along this bouncy thing. I guess it was the best way to head back and make a loop versus going back the way we came but…I hate rough roads with ruts and pot holes that are steep. Once that was over, we returned to good roads with the last difficult climb. However, now it was hot and hills in the heat just seem longer. After the climb, we had a great descent and smooth fast run to the final rest stop – and food to the max. The last climb is really a series of false flats with a bump at the end. However, we were ascending through Lucas Valley, a beautiful redwood forest, that was cool and it was nice to cruise along and enjoy the magnificence of those trees. After reaching the top, we had a final descent via a series of sweeping turns and switchbacks. We made our way down and returned to the start. We had a fabulous lunch of grilled chicken, pizza, lasagna, salad, fruit and ice cream. I find it hard to believe that anyone was in calorie deficit on this ride. At the finishing area, there were numerous vendor booths and a DJ. Since this event featured a double century, they served food until 10 PM.

Stats:
62 miles
Ave speed 15.6 mph
Max speed 37.7 mph
Elevation Gained (Corrected from MotionBased data set) 5,511 feet
Riding Time 3:48
Weather; Beautiful

Velodiva and I at the top of the 9% climb. This is a typical Marin view of back country.


Cyclist descending.


Here is the path down which gives an idea of the terrain in Marin.


Here is a profile of the terrain – very hilly.


Here is a Google Earth map with the Garmin route plotted.

SaiKaiTai

Nice. Very nice. And well done!

Crossed the GG bridge, eh? You must be relatively nearby then. That's gotta put you in SF or on the Peninsula. Have I seen you on the road?

LynnH

Great pictures! and nice job on the ride.

The Weak Link

Seriously cool. I used to live on the Presidio back when it existed. I wish I had biked there. I was there during the heyday of Gary Fisher and the other Fathers of MTB'ing, but was too busy scarfing down sourdough bread there to notice.

geofitz13

Cool pix, great ride. Bet that tandem flys down the hills.

Hermes

Do not know...We live in San Mateo Park between San Mateo and Burlingame. We ride Canada, Portola Valley, Skyline and out to Los Altos. We will be riding our singles on Canada Tuesday and Thursday this week after work. We plan to do more riding in Marin.

Hermes

It does but...We are very conservative on the descents. I have to know the road very well and have clear visibility before we go fast. I am usually reducing speed. That is one of the reasons we have the 10 inch disc brake on the rear wheel. On the descent after the 9% climb (second peak on the graph), I used the disc the entire descent and controlled the speed below 30 mph. We could have easily exceeded 50 mph.

stapfam

Chicken!!!!

Have to admit that I sit on the back of the Tandem but ours is offroad so I am too busy trying to hold on at speed to worry about what we are doing. In fact- we do not worry about speed at all downhill due to Hope Mono M4 front and rear with 8" discs front and rear. They definitely work. We only have discs so we brake in Spurts and only when required. Speed in between braking points is as fast as we can get it- but My pilot had me worried a few years ago. End of a long ride and the finish was at the bottom of a mile long 10% slope. AND we were chasing the only other tandem on the ride. halfway down and there is a sharp 90Deg left turn and we were hammering it up to this corner and just about caught the other T on the corner. Pilot put on the brakes and they Squealed-LOUDLY- so he took stopped braking. That is the only time we have ever overtaken a Tandem on tight single track and I was looking the wrong way as I was looking for the soft landing.

We rarely take this one for road rides as the front suspension and weight of the thing do not make for a fast average- but when it gets lumpy or Muddy- this thing works.

Just wish I could set it up for some Road centuries sometime. May come about in a couple of years when I get too old to take all the knocks of offroad.

Terrierman

You make me wish I were there. Nice ride in some way nice country.

Rick@OCRR

I rode the Marin Mt.Tam double century option on the same day, and I totally agree about the great area, roads, support, SAG drivers watching over us . . . totally excellent.

We started at 5:00 AM (Mass Start), and I finished 17 hours and 8 minutes later, 10:08 PM. I was the youngest in our little group at 57 (Tom Parkes and Dr. Jerry are 60+), but I was able to stay with the older riders okay (it was Tom's 100th double finish)!

It was a tough ride with 14,500 ft. of climbing, with the climbs up Mt.Tam and Coleman Road being the most difficult (at least for me). All good though, and all fun!

Rick / OCRR

Hermes

Congrats Rick...that is a long way and a lot of climbing. I think that rivals the Death Ride in difficulty. We want to do Mt Tam and more cycling in Marin.

Rick@OCRR

Thanks Hermes,

But for me, the Mt.Tam Double was more difficult than the Death Ride, simply because there were more total miles. The Death Ride took me 11 Hours 45 Min. Well . . . that and the fact that (because there were more miles) I was on the bike seven hours longer .

However, as I tell my none-double-riding friends (the double riders already know), That's What Makes Doubles Into Adventures! If it was easy, if I knew I wasn't getting in over my head . . . it just wouldn't be as much fun .

So yes, you should really join us on the double next year!

Rick / OCRR