TrojanHorse

Good question... that one residential street was pretty steep (and very short) but my memory of the CB hill (the first one) is that it was steeper and longer. I had taller gearing at the time too but was in better shape for TdC.

Who the heck knows.

The second hill was very GMR like... much longer than the first hill, eminently doable and pleasant surroundings.

TrojanHorse

You guys sure you don't want to do the hilly route? It keeps you off the free way for one way. For whatever reason the northbound freeway didn't bother me at all last year (and it'll be damn early when we're on it)

It looks like they cut a big chunk off right before lunch too, which was really nothing special anyway. Lunch is at the same park but last year we went past it quite a ways and then came back. This year - straight to the sammiches.

The route is only 96 miles for some reason. I rode 101 last year, including some backtracking to not-find my ejecto-bottle. 5400 feet is definitely over stating it too. Figure 4200.

PhotoJoe 

I don't see the "hilly route" map on the website and am not sure what "Casitas Pass" is. If it's the hill from Ventura up to Ojai, I've done that a million times and it's no big deal. Ugly on the Ventura side, but nice further up. The trail follows the old train route, so it's a more consistent climb than the road.

Edit: I just Google'd it and see it's past Casitas. Never seen it, so can't speak to it. I'm up for whatever. Just remember, the more hills, the slower I am....exponentially!

volosong

"Casitas Pass" is the road between Ojai and Carpinteria that passes Lake Casitas. CA State Highway 150. It's like a mini-GMR.

PhotoJoe 

Any insights as to the ride? How tough?

EDIT: From the website:

Due to Construction by Caltrans in the La Conchita Area, car and bike lanes have been narrowed: routes have been changed to lower the number of riders passing this area in the morning.

I'm not sure how much climbing I want to do to avoid 2.5 miles of PCH. Open to what others want to do, but I'm a wimp at heart!

Then again, I do like a challenge!

volosong

My mistake. It's called "Casitas Pass", not "San Marcos Pass" as I mentioned in an earlier post. Like I said, it's a mini-GMR. Not really that tough at all. About the same gradient, and a whole lot shorter than GMR, (to the shack).

Just checked my Strava Ride from last year. They rate the climb as a Cat 3, 1.8 miles long, 530 feet elev diff, and 5.7% average grade. Most of the climb after the first half mile is between 6% and 7-something %. That's not too difficult. However, my placing is 1248 out of 1431, (typical for a climb by me.) The pros did the climb in just under seven minutes, (it is frequently on the Tour de California route.)

Strava link to Casitas Pass Mountain segment.

Beachgrad05

I'll do whatever you guys are doing. And I promise to,try and not be an anchor

TrojanHorse

Says the only one of us who has been riding a lot!

I'm looking forward to it and no, I don't really want to do the longer ride either. The metric is what I OUGHT to do but that looks a little dull so no dice. Is anybody doing the metric? Buehler?

tunavic

Having ridden the least of any of us I should ride the metric.........but what's the worst that can happen. I'll go slow but I'll finish it.

PhotoJoe 

You're in for the full century, my friend. No getting out of this one!!!!

tunavic

I don't want out, I'm riding the century, even if I finish on Sunday

tunavic

So I won't be able to say I completed a century??? Well that does it, I'll ride the metric

herbm

Depends who is defining the century....I have seen as little 94 miles count...I usually figure 97....If they took the loop out before lunch that's fine....kind of boring and lot so traffic on the freeway overpass'.....

The climb in Summerland is up to Ortega Ridge - Longer than Tour de Cure and a little less grade(I think it was 10% 12 near the top), but not that bad....

The route to Lake Casitas turns left on Casitas Pass rd - there is a fairly good climb(10%) there, then the actual climb around the lake 6-7%. There are actually 2 summits, one overlooking the lake, then you drop down for a nice downhill and another maybe 1 mile climb at 8%, then another nice downhill. Usually when we ride this we turn up Gobernador Cyn for another 1 mile climb.

Since my friend Nancy has decide to join me ( shes about 98lbs) and I think I will probably be chasing her all day (except on any downhill!)I am definitely sticking to the standard.
My buddy is doing the staff ride next week, so I will get some insight into what he sees up there!

h

Pamestique 

Just something to consider - although if one is hoping to do a full Century, this is not a option...

1) The Casitas Pass climb is a long grind but its doable. The scenary on top is rewarding so if you are thinking about it - do it... that said...

2) In order to avoid 101 altogether (which I dislike in either direction), do what I have done the last couple of years... go and check in at the school, pick up your packet, and then drive out to the Bates Sag Stop, park, and start from there. The ride then becomes a longer metric vs. a Century. Another plus to this option, when you return to Bates, you can put your bike away and then go get your popiscle, find a nice place to sit and just hang out awhile (the sun usually is now out and the breeze has picked up - perfect beach weather)... Having done this now, not certain if I can ever do the full century again.

My perfect option would be to start at the school, do the Casitas Pass climb and then somehow finish at Bates and be done. Alot good climbing and distance is still long but that last little bit on the 101 eliminated. Plus I can hang and eat my popsicle without hurry...

TrojanHorse

Pam, I'm concerned that you're planning your whole ride around a popsicle. Be careful, volosong will think you're out to get him!

That's actually a pretty cool workaround for the highway.

I've heard 90+ miles count as a century but obviously if you're doing your first one you won't feel "complete" until your garmin hits 3 digits. I'm not worried about it.

Mr. Beanz

A long grind? I guess it depend on what kind of a climber you are. Most of the C&A's have done at least the shack on GMR which is 8 miles at a similar grade to Casitas but much longer. Btu still the shack is not considered a long grind, maybe the village.

If you look at the distance on these Casitas segments, they are all short 1 milers on an average. The 4 miler is 4% ? Some have to go down in distance to 1/2 a mile to get a good grade rating. I'd bet most of the C&A would hardly consider a one mile hill a long grind. You almost make that mile sound scary!

Like I said, most have done GMR so I'm pretty sure this little hill will not be a challenge. I've done the double metric and even that one is not a tough ride if you actually do some sort of real climbing like GMR.


Casitas by gulpxtreme, on Flickr

PhotoJoe 

Hmmm.......

How long of a ride would this make?

Edit: The RideWithGPS map shows 7967' of climbing. Uh.....NO.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/293694...JQPxBdTGblpeKD

Pamestique 

But at least you avoid the 101!!! There's something to that!

I just got back from lunch with a friend - he did a professional cycling vacation that followed Le Tour - they did all the same climbs. What he said was true..." well, gosh we had all day... it's not like we were racing or anything". Attitude should just be - its a lovely day, will have light for a long time, just enjoy the the scenery and the event and later brag about how much climbing you did.

Hill climbing is all relative... I have friends who think freeway overpasses are hills and are to be avoided at all costs and I have friends who climb Alp de Huez, Col du Madeleine, the Calibieri etc. I never make light of the freeway overpass if that is someone's Alp de Huez... Casitas is a grind but doable especially if someone has done other similar climbs. A 5 - 6% grade is not something to taken lightly and people who tackle them all the time should be commended for their endurance and fortitude. Not everyone has the strength and ability.

I'm hoping someday just to do this with friends on my own... we just need to figure out the sag from Bates back to the start...

volosong

I'm out this year. The fitness just isn't there this summer. I almost fell over last night at my tennis lesson. A stupid one-hour tennis lesson! Had to stop several times because I was getting really dizzy and faint. Not sure what's going on, but my conditioning can't handle Cool Breeze this time. Instead, for my birthday ride, I'll ride SART from San Bernardino to the beach and back, probably on Friday the 16th, as there will be a lot less traffic then. It's a few more miles, (136 or so), but a lot flatter, and more places to stop if that is required. Your popsicles are safe. As a diabetic, I shouldn't be having them anyway.

jsigone

looks pretty front loaded, you can almost coast to the finish line

PhotoJoe 

OK, so what's everyone else thinking on this?

Beachgrad05

I struggled BIG TIME today on the Ride 2 Recovery metric which we extended by riding to start from Lisa's shop in Costa Mesa. I rode 71.80 miles with 3300 feet of what should have been relatively simple climbing yet my legs felt like my muscles were made of lead. Makes me worry about doing the CB century if my legs are going to refuse to climb

TrojanHorse

Cool breeze is a breeze, don't sweat it. I recommend staying hydrated though. Ahem. 4200 feet of climbing is what my garmin reported last year. One short climb and then the longer one, the rest is either flat or pretty much false-flat.

I'm still inclined to to the "easy" century the way the route is planned, so 94 miles or so. If you guys want to do the longer one fine! I'll see you at the lunch stop.

PhotoJoe 

I had an "emergency sales call" in Santa Barbara today. Drove through the area and looked at the road. I'm not worried.

PhotoJoe 

UNLESS I MISSED SOMETHING, I think this is about the worst section. Again, I'm not worried.



And I'll be wearing my C/A jersey. Posted it in the SoCal forum and hoping some new faces slow down to say hi as they pass me.