Gallo

The sticker stops are kind of weird my first time experiencing them. They went smooth for me.

First pbj sandwiches I saw were at the top of Decker. I stopped at only three, the first one, Decker and Stunt. Really liked the Coke at Stunt. Snack areas were well staffed and organized. I bring cliff bars and nuun tabs on all centuries. I find to bring what I know works is helpful. I use the rest stops for real food sandwiches, fruit and such. I would agree that they could do better with the food. no selection other than pb and j and not at every stop. No fruit other than bananas but I do not go for the food. The burger at the end was better than expected and a nice touch

The fog made it impossible for my sunglasses for most of the trip for both visibility and vision. For those with prescription glasses it must have been bad.

Overall I felt it was done very well. Good Que sheet, clearly marked roads, great information leading up to event, easy check in, beast of a course, saw the roving sag often.



Three thumbs up from me

Jobiensis

Only got a bit misdirected at Las Virgenes & PCH (not the fault of route sheets, just missed the turn).

Decker was hard, but the climb back to and up Stunt after over 90 miles of riding put me in a very dark place. The Coke at the top was a life saver.

Looked for you Gallo, but didn't catch you anywhere. Met and talked with a lot of people, don't know any names, and probably wouldn't be able to remember them anyway. Managed to squeak in under 9 hours barely (8:57). Most of the checkpoints had endurolytes which helped out a lot.

hamster

I wasn't happy about the food. They had lots of high-fat snacks, but no gel packs, no sandwiches, no dates, etc. (Maybe they had sandwiches but they were all out by the time I got to rest stops?) I squeaked by on rice krispies and I had to go through my emergency supply of gels in the seat bag, and in the end I think I still bonked going up Stunt.

Saw the sag vehicle a few times, but I had a flat 10 miles out of the starting line and I ended up fixing it by myself.

GP

They didn't have Hammer gel in big containers?

hamster

I think they did (at some stops), I'm not familiar with it but I'll have to try it next time.

nesdog

As it happens, I wear prescription glasses...no way to ride without them. It was bad in spots out there...glad I wasn't doing MC!

A few years ago, I was doing the Cruising the Conejo century course which covers Rock Store, Encinal et al and the fog was worse than last weekend. It was a nightmare of wet, very limited visibility and roads. Couldn't see a thing out of my glasses so I was pretty glad to know the area.

jimxyz

I agree - no gels, no sandwiches (they told us they were saving them for the double century riders), some stops were out of bananas and had nothing but halloween candy and Doritos. I don't think anyone goes for the food - but for the entry fee, I'm thinking i shouldn't have to carry all my own stuff. I would have added one or two more water stops (luckily it wasn't hot) and made sure there was some protein alternatives at every stop. Perpetuem is good, but after two bottles...

Gallo

wow I did not know they were saving sandwiches for double riders, that is terrible. I did not stop at Yerba Buena because it looked like there was little out when I got my sticker and Deer Creek looked barren. At 230 when I got to Decker there was plenty of sandwiches, a whole box. I ate a whole banana and two half sandwiches at the stop. I also took another half for the road which I used up Stunt.

If they saved sandwiches for other riders double or otherwise it is a clear indication they got it wrong. I personally misjudged my intake as I felt weak from lack of food twice but had it in my back pocket to come back quickly. Even toward the end of the ride in the flats I felt a bit off but could smell the finish.

Food certainly should be provided at stops so one does not need to bring anything in an ideal world. While bars and powders help they are not a substitute for real food. The cost of PBJ sandwiches is so little there really is no excuse not to have a surplus.

hamster

According to Strava, you were at Decker at 1:00. I was there at 2:00 and I don't remember seeing sandwiches.

Gallo

My bad I do not ride with my watch. My iphone runs strava and stays in my pocket. I was not in a good place when I got to Decker. Somebody told me it was 2:30 and I believed them. Maybe I misunderstood them. Again I think there should have been food at all times. I saw sandwiches and ate them. I am sorry you and others had none.

Rick@OCRR

Okay, now that the Mulholland Challenge is over, who's going to be at Breathless Agony?

I'll be there in OCRR kit, not sure when I'll start though. Should be fun if they can get the tanker spill cleaned up in time (looks like they will be able to).

Hope to see you all out there greeting the Grim Reaper!

I missed the MC since I was riding the Hemet Double that weekend; really looking forward to Breathless. I think this is number six for me.

Rick / OCRR

Lesper4

I am riding it unofficially, I will have my own staff . I will have either my KOM shirt on or a BA shirt.

jimxyz

I am in for all 3 KOM. Based on my finishing time for MC (DFL - almost), and my time for BA last year (DNF...) I plan on hitting the road as early as they will allow. So, I am will probably see 99% of all riders as they pass me, haha. Hoping the have PBJ and/or some protein source so I dont have to bring my own!

Lesper4

Yeah me too, but to avoid the heat. Let me know if you see the bacon in Angelous Oaks, I have heard about it but never seen it.

idoru2005

I'll be at BA. Hoping to start as close to 6AM as possible. I'll be there wearing my OC Rebels jersey!

jimxyz

If I can get to Angeles before the bacon runs out I will consider that to be a huge victory - last year I got there at 10 minutes past the turn around deadline. That was a bummer, but it sure was nice to turn around and coast the entire way home

Gallo

In

a little scared but hopefully prepared

Rick@OCRR

I got there in time for the bacon last time I rode the real event (rode the staff ride last year); ate two pieces of bacon and they powered me up the Onyx climb (well, may have helped).

Bacon is another incentive for an early start time!

History:
2005: 7:13
2006: 8:20
2008: 7:06
2009: 7:01
2011: 7:43
2012: 8:00

Going for BA #7!

Rick / OCRR

Lesper4

Well so much for clean air on the first two passes. Fire burning in banning.

jimxyz

any update on how bad the smoke is?

hamster

No word about the smoke, but the fire is not growing and they are reporting 55% containment. The closest spot is about 3 miles east of Oak Glen. Weather forecast is showing a westerly wind on Saturday morning, it should clear the air a bit if it materializes.

Good thing we're not riding Mulholland though. Deer Creek Road and Yerba Buena Road are both closed due to a different fire in Ventura County.

Gallo

Met Chris today, got me some bacon four pass finisher way in the back

tough tough climb dam damnation alley

it was a good day although a bit painful

Rick@OCRR

Yes, I got to Angelus Oaks in time for bacon! Didn't see Chris though . . .

I started at about 6:00AM so was out there early; finished at Onyx right at 1:00PM so I'm thinking 7:08 for total time to the summit.

A beautiful day overall, and we even had tail-winds on Damnation Alley and the climb up to Onyx.

I washed down the bacon with a Mountain Dew at Angelus Oaks, so maybe that gave me more power to climb Onyx!

Garmin Here:
https://connect.garmin.com/activity/308499273

Rick / OCRR

Gallo

Mulholland Check 10:43:47

Breathless Agony Check (barley three hours from angelus to oynx wow) 8:46

Heartbreak Hundred next stop

Lesper4

Good Luck, when I did that ride it was the hottest of the three. I had a super fast 50 miles but the next 50 did me in.