Rick@OCRR

My vote would be Eastern Sierra with the start/finish in Bishop you're fairly close to White Mountain if you want to climb that, not far away from Lone Pine (Mt. Whitney area), Death Valley and Mammoth.

Regarding which doubles are fairly close to you, I would say Knoxville, Devil Mountain and Mt. Tam, but you know, there may be more!

Rick / OCRR

Tycho Brahe 

Bishop is quite far since there is that pesky mountain range in the way.

My intent is to explore SoCal more, which is why I was interested in rides in the area. Solvang was not to thrilling. Enjoyed my afternoon there, but I don't see myself staying for days. Would love to explore the desert. The ideal would be a great ride around the same time as a show at Pappy & Harriet's. https://pappyandharriets.com/ Always wanted to go there.

Tycho Brahe 

The schedule on the triple crown page is incredibly useful: https://www.caltriplecrown.com/schedule.htm

I am shooting for the Joshua Tree Double Century. Good ride?

Rick@OCRR

I worked it last year and it was pretty brutal in the 2nd half. It was very hot (high 90's for several hours) and the riders were going into a very strong headwind for the last 60+miles. Even when it got dark, the wind didn't let up.

A lot of riders DNF'd due to the conditions. Not sure how many, you'd have to check with Anny, but regardless, it was tough out there. Kudos to anyone who finished Joshua Tree last year!

Have said that, and experienced that (from a SAG vehicle) I do plan on riding it this year either on the day of the ride or on the workers ride if Anny needs more volunteers.

Rick / OCRR

Tycho Brahe 

In other words, not the best ride for my first Double Century? Thanks for the tips.

Rick@OCRR

That's totally a matter of the weather. But if last year is anything to go on . . . no.

For a first double I usually recommend Hemet, Grand Tour, Solvang Spring and later in the year, Bass Lake.

Rick / OCRR

Lesper4

Early Bird reiteration for the Joshua Tree double century ends tonight.

hamster

OK, I did 36 miles today without any changes to the diet, could've been longer but family called. As of this moment, my total calorie intake for the day is negative 520. Wonder if I can keep it negative for the rest of the day. I'm pretty sure I can do at least 55 in Palm Springs. Full 100 would probably require some effort to build up glycogen stores.

It is something like 6 hours from you. You can stay in Mammoth Lakes, which would make it less than 6. The way things are going with snowfall this year, Tioga Pass may end up opening at an all-time early date, in early April if not late March.

If you don't want Eastern Sierra, I'd probably recommend Grand Tour.

Lesper4

JTDC is on, 197 miles and 7400 ft. No cake walk but much easier with much less elevation.

Lesper4

I just signed up for a double test ride (does not qualify for the triple crown this year), Southern Sierra near Lone Pine put on by the InyoUltra Cyclists. It is a week before Hemet. anyone ever done back to back doubles a week apart, just curious how my body will take it.

Rick@OCRR

Back to back as in Sat./Sun. not since the early 90's when I was training for PBP. Doubles a week apart, yes. I did White Mountain followed by Knoxville one year and Knoxville followed by Tour of Two Forests a different year. Just finish the first one well within your comfort zone and it will act as training for the second one.

That's how it worked for me anyway.

Rick / OCRR

Rick@OCRR

So who will be on El Camino Real Double on Saturday Feb. 15th?

I'll be there, starting at the Early 5:30AM start time.

Rick / OCRR

Lesper4

Not sure if anyone else is interested in this?
https://www.inyoultra.com/southern_inyo_dc.htm

good Luck Rick. I knee / leg / hip just went crazy on my last night during tennis and I can hardly walk. But Palm Springs went incredibly well. hopefully I can heal up to get a few more rides in before JT.

Rick@OCRR

[QUOTE=Lesper4
Good Luck Rick. I knee / leg / hip just went crazy on my last night during tennis and I can hardly walk. But Palm Springs went incredibly well. hopefully I can heal up to get a few more rides in before JT.[/QUOTE]

Okay Lesper4,

I will report back after Camino Real. Hopefully you will be all healed up and I will see you at Joshua Tree. My wounds from the crash/hit the deck last weekend at Palm Springs are healing well (w/Tegaderm) and my chiropractor re-set my back yesterday afternoon. So . . . cleared for take off!

Rick / OCRR

hamster

I'll be volunteering at CP#2 (mile 88). Say hello when you're there. I'm Eugene.

Rick@OCRR

What is the location of CP2 hamster?

Is that San Onofre? Not sure what mile that is. Might be the lunch stop in Bonsall? Not sure since it's been several years since I've ridden it. Will ask for you at that checkpoint since I don't think we've ever met.

I will be wearing my Planet Ultra Grand Slam jersey (blue/purple/white) and riding my KHS Team (black/white/red).

Rick / OCRR

hamster

Yes, it's the lunch stop. I think it's technically Escondido, not Bonsall (though it's in the middle of nowhere so it's not really either) - right after you cross I-15.

Rick@OCRR

Okay, thanks, I know where that is anyway! My guess is you'll be wearing a Planet Ultra T-shirt . . . but I could be wrong. Gotta love those Subway sandwiches on Planet Ultra rides! Plus, as I recall, there is some serious climbing right after lunch. Should be fun!

Rick / OCRR

hamster

The only way I'd be in a Planet Ultra t-shirt is if they give me one, and they didn't last time I volunteered with them. I'm thinking Tour de Palm Springs t-shirt, but that may be a faux pas.

There isn't a lot of climbing after lunch, there's only one hill between lunch and Fallbrook and it's at most 600'. There is more climbing to be had in the area, but Camino Real plays it easy.

Rick@OCRR

I have a Planet Ultra T-Shirt Debbie gave me when I worked Eastern Sierra one year. Or maybe it was Fall Solvang. Anyway, I got a bright orange Planet Ultra T-Shirt. Maybe she's not giving those out anymore?

Yes, I know there's more climbing to be had in the Fallbrook area but I remember a long climb right after lunch and another on Reeche Road. But nothing really brutal, you're right.

Rick / OCRR

Rick@OCRR

I had a tough but reasonably good Camino Real Double. Full report is over is 50+ (since I'm an old guy) and here's the link:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...le-5-in-action

Good seeing hamster at the lunch stop too!

Rick / OCRR

hamster

BTW, the cutting sandwiches thing was Frank's idea. Most people only eat half of a sandwich. We had one for every rider, and by the end of lunch there were still tons left. I shamelessly took a plastic bag with 8 sandwiches home and there was a lot more left in the boxes. By my calculations, there are about 350 calories in a whole sandwich.

It was a pretty busy checkpoint, I think we were one volunteer short, they don't get enough volunteers. I didn't even have much time to chat with others at the stop. Fast course, relatively early into the ride, so the participants were still bunched up, and the van with supplies got delayed and only got to us after the first riders. When I wasn't cutting sandwiches or bananas, I was restocking supplies, answering questions, and I even helped to fix one flat tire.

P.S. Back on the subject of triple crown. I've decided to sit out Solvang, it does not fit into my plans and there is a local ride on the same day that I did the previous 2 years, I'll do that instead. Still planning for Mulholland. Would like to do Eastern Sierra, but it is May 31, and I absolutely have to be in San Diego at 6 AM on June 1. Last year I only got back to the hotel in Bishop at around 10 PM, I was up close to 18 hours continuously (ride time 16:40) and I had absolutely no strength to drive anywhere. If I manage to radically slim down (and I mean radically), and I play my cards right and if it looks like I have a shot at completing Eastern Sierra under 13 hours, then I'll sign up. Right now I am about 8 lbs below my last year's ESD weight. With a little more perseverance I should be able to do another 8-10 before or while ramping up mileage for Mulholland.

Lesper4

surprisingly in the last three weeks I did a 80 mile ride 100 mile ride and 70 mile ride and my weight has dropped 5 lbs. Keep it up and I will be back to my weight of last year and I am already ahead of my distance and elevation from last year at this point.

At ESD I had a sandwich at the lunch stop and thought that was enough but I could eat more. At Benson they had the left over sandwiches and I gladly had another one. Didn't know they figured a 12" per person.

St Pattys Day punishment? I was hoping to Ride that but I was also thinking about volunteers at Solvang with my wife. And suggestions as to a good ride to volunteer at?

Rick@OCRR

Eastern Sierra is a good one; I've volunteered there at Crowley Lake Checkpoint before.

My wife likes to volunteer at Grand Tour and she usually works lunch on that one.

Rick / OCRR

Lesper4

OK, I am definitely going to ride ESD again so I can't volunteer there.