dalameda

The Canyon Classic is coming up on June 14th Canyon Classic Century - June 14, 2014 Celebrating 25 years | Canyon Classic Century Riding Event Central California This will be the 3rd year I've done this ride. I think it is the closest thing we have to the Hotter 'n Hell Hundred. This ride doesn't get the love it should because well, it starts out in Patterson, and who wants to go to Patterson and ride. But it does go through some pretty amazing scenery such as up Del Puerto Canyon (cccorlew posted some pics a while back) and the Mount Hamilton climb goes through San Antonio Valley. Two years ago I did the metric version in winds that gusted up to 40. The hardest part of the whole ride was the last five miles on the flats heading back north into town. Last year I did (well I tried at least) to do the Hamilton climb, when the ride happened to be held on the hottest day of the year. My garmin temperature was showing 108 the last few hours. I made it to within about 2-3 miles of the top before turning around, knowing that if I kept going I would need to sag back. Good thing I did too because all the sag vehicles I saw coming down were loaded with riders suffering heat exhaustion. So since I came so close last time I just have to go back again to finish up!

hueyhoolihan

you make it sound soooo enjoyable, i don't know how i can pass it up!

but i think i might already have plans for that day... yes, here it is, i have it penciled into my day planner, "go to Safeway, buy big watermelon, go home and sit on couch, eating watermelon while watching old reruns of the Milan San Remo races ". yeah, i thought so, busy. what a shame...

dalameda

LOL Oh, and of course I forgot to mention you have to pay for this!

DiabloScott

I've done it.

It didn't suck.

cccorlew

Tricia and I have done the non-Hamilton 100 miler a couple of times, and their metric once.
The metric was no fun, too many squares through farmland.
The century is fun. I enjoyed the Del Puerto climb, and mines road. The descent back into the valley, usually with a huge tail wind, is wonderful.

2011 blog post
Curtis Corlew in Bicycle Land: Canyon Classic Century 2011 and Ride For Matt fundraiser
2009 blog post
Curtis Corlew in Bicycle Land: Canyon Classic Century 2009

bikingshearer 

Another option is the DIY more-or-less metric out-and-back to the Junction. You get all the scenery of Del Puerto Canyon without doing a full 100mi. it also tends to be much less windy than the official 100k route. The climb back out of the Junction is not a big deal - it is much easier than the climb out of Del Puerto to the drop to the Junction. As I recall. it is a little short of 100k, but you can ride towards Mt. Hamilton a little way (easy and pretty riding) to fill it out.