lovetocycle

In the last two years I have started doing Double Centuries in California. I have completed eight, have two more this year and plan to complete all 18 by 2007. Anyone out there doing the same. I would love to compare notes and find other people's thoughts so the larger cycling community can get a sense of the different DC's available. In Chronologic Order - 2004 - Solvang (Windy), Mulholland - Rained on twice: once was right after Balcomb Canyon with its 22% pitches, Eastern Sierra - Gorgeous, Tour of Two Forests - very balanced ride north of and in the San Fernando Valley, Death Valley - Southern Route - went out too fast - stark - a chore to get to.
2005 - Devil Mountain Double - Wow! Sierra Rd - at mile 155 was a crusher, Davis Double - Flat speed at the beginning and end. Lots of people. Friendly, Terrible Two - Some real steep stuff - great descents if you don't mind scrappy roads on the descents. Great support and really varied terrain. Planning on Mt Tam and Knoxville to round out the year. I am 66 now and will be 69 in December of 2007, the year that I finish. It has helped me get in great shape. Would love to hear from others. I will be posting the info on my website that I will be getting going: lovetocycle.com

The Octopus 

Congrats on your awesome accomplishments, great goal, and continued fitness! There are a few ultra-distance riders on the forum, so we look forward to your insights and ride reports. I have serious envy of you California folks -- there are no organized doubles in the mid-west.... Have to "settle" for randonneuring and 12- and 24-hour events. Welcome!

Lost again

Hey Lovetocycle,
I'm doing the samething here in SoCal.I've done 5 DC's this year and will probabaly get a couple more in.I just started doing them this year. I'm 49 years old. I've done the easier ones so far,if you can call a double easy. I did Solvang in 11.5 hours ,but did Davis in 13.5 which is where I'm usually finishing. I see you are not afraid to tackle the tuffies. Whats your next double?

lovetocycle

Thanks for your reply. Those are pretty good times which I assume are total time.
My time on Solvang in 2004 was about 13.5 hours. Davis was around 11.5 hours on the bike and I stopped a bunch waiting for others. (We averaged 17.2 on the bike.)

I am doing Mt Tam(August) and then Knoxville(September) and that will be it for the year. I held back for fear of bonking on Terrible Two and Devil Mountain. I heard that the late climbs were nasty on both and they were, but I didn't need to hold back as much as I did.

Next year, I will be doing some of the early ones, Butterfield(Feb), Death Valley Spring(Mar), Hemet(Apr), Central Coast(May) and then Bass Lake in October. I hope to do some more 65-69 age category racing next year.

You might be interested in the Senior Games in St George Utah. (seniorgames.net) They are open to anyone who turns 50 or more this year. They are great fun and quite inspiring. I loved them last year.
I can't go this year because of some business commitments.

Let me know if you are planning to do any that I mentioned and we can chat about plans.

Have you done any of the ones I have yet to do?

Keith99

I've been out of cycling and just getting back after a 5 year break. Before I did the Grand Tour twice.

Then I did something called The Land Rush. San Francisco to Los Angeles in two days. 210 miles the first day and 220 the second. Don't know if it still happens but it is an interesting step up from doubles. Going in I had not done even a century between the Grand Tour and the Land Rush, a couple of months. I was told I would be in real trouble the second day, especially just getting started. It wasn't all that bad. Of course I was used to Rugby tournaments where you have to get up the second day with one or more parts of your body not just tired but injured.