HBCruiser1

Good morning SoCal riders, I'm looking to do this ride this year, a must do on my Bucket List and need to register.

Not sure which distance of the top 3 to choose so looking for insight on what the routes look like. I do long rides all the time so if I'm paying I want a challenge.

I ride a SS steel cruiser with 44/17 gearing, I've ridden quite a few centuries + on it and like the challenge of hills, but the reality is I have limitations obviously.

I assume the standard Century at 4000ft is completely doable and is commensurate with what is normal for a relatively flat century, not really a challenge but OK just to do this event.

The Hilly Century at 6000ft would be a step above what I normally do in elevation but I've done upwards of 150 miles.

The Double Metric at 7000ft is another step up and the mileage is closing in on my current capabilities not riding as much this year as last.

Question: How are the climbs on the top 2? I'm mainly curious if there's any NO GO hills on the top 2 that I should rule them out. I'd like the challenge but not looking for a BUST! If I have to walk a short bit that'd be OK but wouldn't want to walk several or for extended segments. This will also help me figure out where I should step up my training for it.

SoCal climbs I've been able to do on the cruiser are Carbon Canyon, Turnbull Canyon, Santiago Canyon, Newport Coast (either side), Torrey Pines as well as around the base of PV from Redondo to San Pedro as well as over PV via PV Dr. East. I have not tried nor think I could climb GMR on it though I have on another bike several times. Way back in the mid 80's I did Ride Around The Bear so in general I do like hills and doing them on the cruiser just makes them that much more interesting.

I could install an 18T on the back but it gets a little spinny above 19mph so overall I seem to like the 44/17.

Thanks for your time and input!

Lesper4

Looking at the double metric: Casitas pass does not have anything steep. Mountain is a little steep to get up to but it is very short lived. Lost of steady climbs and rollers. The route is a little different then I have seen in the past.

TrojanHorse

HB - if you can do turnbull canyon, you can do anything the regular century throws at you.

There are really two "main" sections of climbing. The first one is fairly steep but also blessedly short. The other is long but never gets terribly steep. That's a tall gear for a hill but again, if you can make it up Turnbull, there's nothing on this route that will stop you.

The hilly century adds some early hills but otherwise follows the same general course and again, nothing is terribly steep. I did the hilly century 2 years ago to get off the free way but thank goodness, the bike path is complete and that is no longer necessary. I'm planning on doing the double this year.

If your bike has a flip flop, you could easily flip the wheel before the first hill and flip it back at the end of the second hill - all the climbing is pretty condensed on the century.

HBCruiser1

Thanks guys, Turnbull was admittedly tough, a quick 30 second stop once or twice to catch my breath if I wasn't in top form that week. Sounds like it's doable and a good challenge. I'll probably sign up for the hilly and if I don't feel it the day of do the regular, I doubt they care one way or another. It's good the climbing is on the front end with a tail wind home!

I do not have a flip flop but that is an interesting concept.

I'll need to step it up on the hills to get ready for sure. It'll be fun getting ready for this. This ride should prepare me well for the all nighter audax 200km I plan to ride in September. Starts at 7pm and ends at 7am!

Another interesting thing about climbing hills on this bike is my arms often tire out before my legs working those cruiser bars back and forth! I should start doing some push-ups as well!

jimincalif

I signed up for the double tonight, before the price went up.

Lesper4

damn thanks for the warning!

roadfix

I did the ride back in 2006 on my fixed gear, don't remember which course, but it was at least 100 miles. I made it, but that steep climb towards the end of the ride was a killer.

TrojanHorse

Steep climb towards the end? The only thing resembling steep is the "climb" up the parking lot to the last rest stop for popsicles.

Before about 2 years ago, the only long options they had were double metric and regular century - the hilly century was an attempt to get off the 101 while they constructed the bike path.

jimincalif

Sorry, figured you were looking at the website already.

HBCruiser1

Thanks again, looking at the map on their site for the "Hilly", it appears I should try to prepare the most for the first 50 miles whereas there's 3 segments, 1) first 20 is 2000ft, then 2) a flat-ish 20 miles and 1000 ft and finally another 10 with around 1300ft.

Any thoughts or experiences with local rides similar to that overall profile?

Also, the RWGPS link doesn't show SAG stops, anyone know roughly what the mileage intervals are for the stops?

Thanks!

Edit: I did ARTIC through Santiago Canyon a few weeks ago, looking at that profile it looks overall similar (not sure about individual climbs but overall it's 20 miles and 2000ft of climbing). Have to do that one again perhaps this weekend but figure out what other 2 segments to add onto it. Maybe Segment 3 could be Newport Coast then ride home or back to the ARTIC.

TrojanHorse

Rest stops are at about 24 miles (rincon park), 40 miles, 60 miles (lunch in Goleta), 80 miles (same physical location as the 40 mile stop) and once again at Rincon park for popsicles at 91 miles.

It looks like they made a few changes to the route from the one I rode 4 years ago so I might be off a little bit but for SURE the Rincon stop and the Stow Grove park stops will be the same. The montecito one might change around a little.

HBCruiser1

Thanks TJ, looking at the map it appears there's merging in those spots so that makes sense. Be some nice stops to take a quick break, keep hydrated and especially keep taking in some calories.

Another question I thought of, near the coast will be cool, what's it going to be like temps-wise climbing to the lake and the hills that parallel SB? Is it close enough that it's generally cool or does it warm up?

TrojanHorse

Here's my ride from 2 years ago - very similar route but not identical. The first set of climbs were very comfortably cool (around the lake) and the second "big" climb was warm but not super hot by any means.

https://www.strava.com/activities/181256344/analysis

Keep in mind temps tend to climb when the garmin is in direct sunlight, but I think it feels pretty representative - you can see a little spike right at the 40 mile mark when we stopped for snacks. The hottest it really got was 80s (in the sun) on the way back along the coast, which was very tolerable.

roadfix

Checking out some of the posts I made back in 2007 for this ride that steep climb I was referring to came around the 90 mile mark in the double century route.

TrojanHorse

Well, there's nothing there now between Rincon beach park and the end but coastal roads, no hills. And that's about 16 miles. I assume the route changed.

HBCruiser1

Thanks TJ, great info and thanks for your time. Somewhere I misread the standard century is 4000ft, it appears it's 5000ft so if I decide to ramp it down a notch it'll still be interesting but I think I'd really like to go to the lake. I'll see how my training goes.

roadfix

The climb immediately following the rest stop at the lake is awesome. ...and the long descent....
I've done this climb up Lake Casitas numerous times during our Van Nuys to Santa Barbara Amtrak Station group rides we used to do.

tortron

I got caught up in the cool breeze 2 years ago on my touring bike. It looked like a fun ride

HBCruiser1

roadfix: Indeed I'm thinking the lake will be worth it if I can pull it off.
tortron: man, than thing looks heavy!


Did just 65 miles and 3500ft yesterday, feeling OK today but struggled yesterday. I don't think I ate enough calories for the work I was putting out. One PB sandwich at mile 24 and one PB sandwich at mile 47, was struggling heading back up the SART. Felt weak and it's only just over half of what I'll need to do next month! 6 hours overall with one hour stoppage overall. I hope they serve dinner late, I might be the last one in! LOL

But I like the course, I'll need to expand on it, but overall I think it's a solid start. ARTIC-Santiago Canyon-Shady Canyon-Newport Coast-Backbay-and back to the SART near Costa Mesa and back up the SART.

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/9893218#

HBCruiser1

Well, got in 514 miles for the month of July, this ride really has me motivated to get out there and put in the miles, was slacking a bit this year so it's been really fun. I'm nervous about the ride but fired up at the same time.

Tomorrow looks like another- 78 miles and 4200 ft of climbing, I'm hoping with my overall mileage and mostly focusing on the first 50-70 miles or so, the last part will fall into place (since it's mostly flat and hopefully a tailwind, please give us a tailwind!).

Thanks for all the input, it helped a lot.

TrojanHorse

514, nice. My July sucked, I'm trying to cram some fitness in now.

I'm still second guessing my thought to do the double metric... I just don't know why I want to sit on a bike seat for that long. Eh.

HBCruiser1

LOL! Ride a cruiser, it's much more comfortable, except for those hills!

jimincalif

So I don't get bragging rights?

TrojanHorse

How long are you planning on sitting on that bike anyway?

Nah, I got a hotel room up there - hafta justify the expense you know. You'll still beat me so you can always brag about that. Unless something... untoward... were to happen to your shifters at a rest stop.

TJClay

I'm leaning towards going, probably do the easier of the two centuries