thenomad

I'm going to ride march 26th in the Hells Gate Hundred and will be "car camping".
Anyone else already get reservations at Furnace Creek campground and want to split cost?
Furnace Creek campground reservations are full as are the hotels.
I'll probably go to Sunset RV campground but it may be full and loud. It says furnace creek can have two cars per site so maybe I can share entry fee?

Long shot, anyone want to carpool? Gas is expensive!

idoru2005

I'm going with two other people, as volunteers. We're staying at the ranch.

calamarichris

I'm in the same boat. It's my first time, and will probably end up getting a hotel room in Pahrump.

jmX

Did you guys just procrastinate on the rooms or what? They held back the reserved rooms for a looooong time and sent out several emails about them before they finally released them to the general public.

Anyway, I'll be there, but in a room.

thenomad

I wasn't planning on getting a hotel room. Forgot to see if the campsites were reservation only and come to find out that only furnace creek is reservable and its full. There are other sites but they are further away. I'll be getting there afternoon Friday so was hoping to share a spot closer to the start.

jmX

March is the wildflower month in Death Valley, which is the main reason its all booked up. Pretty sure all the other months are much less crowded.

I think I'd be up for a July Hells Gate....120 degrees? Bring it on!

calamarichris

Just for that, you're not invited on the Sub-Five-Hour Express.

jmX

If anybody does this thing in <6 hours I'm gonna be super impressed, much less sub 5 hour. I'll be shooting for 8:30'ish.

Have you set a goal for this one?

calamarichris

I usually make a goal of sub five on all my centuries. (Just finished 5:00:29 on a fairly windy Solvang last weekend, and finished Tour de Poway in 4:57 last year.) But I've never done this one before--maybe 5:30 if the wind doesn't blow too hard?

[Edit: just found results from last year. Perhaps 7 hours is more realistic. Either way, it will be decent training for l'Etape in May.]

jmX

Whoa, yeah, just found the results too. Forgot just how long this one is supposed to take. If George V takes 6:55, then I think I'll be lucky to be under 9.

Either way, good luck!

calamarichris

Do you suppose a 39-25 is low enough for this sucker? In looking at the photos, there are a lot of larger cassettes and compact cranksets doing this ride.
Might a 39-28 be better?

What's the steepest point?

jmX

The steepest point is right near the start, "Artists drive", and its short'ish.

Read through george's report from last year:
https://epictrain.blogspot.com/2010/0...de-report.html

He did it with "Chainrings 53/39 and 11-23 Cassette", but also says "Bring some low gears for Artist Drive! "

thenomad

Good writeup but reading a blog from a rider like that makes it sound like and "easy" one. I expect to be in the pain cave. I am thinking of actually taking my touring rig as it has a triple. Never rode with a triple much.
I am turning 53/39 with 12-28 on my road bike. I've no idea if I'll be maxed out with that and have no bail out gear left. I guess the 50-34 on my workbench may need to be installed. I don't think going with a different bike is a good idea so close to the event.

idoru2005

To everyone going out to HGH, try to make it to Furnace Creek Ranch for the 5PM yoga class. I'll be teaching it, assuming I'm there on time!

jabantik00

i'm not registered, but i'd be interested in carpooling and/or sharing camping. my car kinda sux (no radio, heat, ac, etc.) but gets decent mileage, and i have a parks/interagency pass (can put in your car if you wanna drive.) i don't know what the camping situation is like, and whether reservations are needed or not, but i do remember that it is somewhat expensive for 1 person (was at texas campground last fall.) i'm ok with camping sauvage or someplace somewhat far away such as ballarat ghost town if campgrounds are full.

i live in oceanside. looking to share ride/camping. pm me.

is it really $100 to register for this ride? holy cow...

thenomad

Yes, I think registration is closed now anyhow. I have a family member driving with me, I'll leave at 1AM or so and get there in time to check in and start riding. After the event I'll just hop in and fall asleep on the way home.

Bringing my roadie with 53/39 and 12-28, just take it easy up artists pallet to avoid burning too many matches. I have a habit of trying to ride other people's pace instead of my own.

Looking forward to spending my birthday in the saddle though, good luck to all! Looks like the weather is cooperating.

idoru2005

Make sure and say hi to me (Darren). I'll be working the water stop in Rhyolite.

calamarichris

I'll keep an eye out for you Darren. I'll be rockin' the La Vie Claire Jersey, clown shoes, and probably showing my badger teeth...
(But I've just gotten over a chest-cold and haven't been able to ride at all, so I probably won't be rolling very fast.)

jmX

Darren, if I remember I'll say howdy as well, assuming I make the time cutoff at daylight pass.

idoru2005

My wife Yoana will be at the Daylight Pass station. So there are two pretty ladies at that stop to motivate you to get there on time for the cutoff!

thenomad

I'll be in red Craft bibs and maybe a plain white and black jersey (since nothing else matches those bibs!). White steel bike, my brain may not have enough blood or electrolytes to function properly so I may not be chatty.

thenomad

Good luck all! Let's have some fun.

thenomad

Good to meet all you guys. You're some strong riders.

thenomad

Maybe she's the one that took this pic of me then? Very kind and helpful!

calamarichris

What a great, great ride and experience!
I think I might have said, "Grazzi Bella" (which is Italian for "Thanks, good-lookin'") to your wife then, Idoru. No impropriety intended, but she is indeed a beauty!

Before doing this ride, it was a mystery to me why people were so eager to volunteer these AventureCorps deals, but after yesterday, I would really like to volunteer for Mount Laguna (if I hadn't already registered for it.)

Thanks for the excellent yoga session Idoru, and please tell your wife I said thank you for the precious, precious water. I was a freezing cold without my arm & leg warmers (plus jacket), but that was a great, great ride.
Between the excellent food and pretty girls at the water-stations, I spent FIFTY FIVE minutes of non-riding time! (But still managed to finish in 6:02 riding and just under 7 hours total elapsed. ) Going to be better prepared next year (if I can resist volunteering) and will crush 6:30 total elapsed. It should be much easier with arm & leg warmers, starting on time, and with a decent breakfast (instead of repulsive hashbrowns from the McDonalds in &$^% Pahrump; I was burping up potato-like product, grease, and teen-despair during the Artist's Road climb.

And delighted to meet you too, Nomad & Jmx. Thanks for putting up with my endorphin-fueled babbling after the ride. (Poor Jabantik had to endure it all the way home.)

Ride safely!