Tierra Bella
 

Anyone planning on doing the Tierra Bella this year? I am considering it. I have never done a century before, so this one looks like it may be my first.

http://www.actc.org/tb/

Anyone done it in the past? Stories?

Sailguy,

I did this one last year. Very nice! Probably the flattest century you'll find in the Bay Area. There are only three big hills on the route. The first is up Roop Rd to Gilroy Hot Springs Road. Second, up Metcalf Road. Third, Bailey Avenue.

Bailey really isn't much of a hill but last year it was unseasonably hot the day of the ride. It got up to at least 95 deg and maybe even up to 97 deg., as I recall. Bailey comes at around mile 70. I was doing pretty good up to that point. Then I passed a rider sitting on the side of the road who had cramps and my own legs decided to start cramping themselves! Metcalf Rd was a real b*tch! It came around mile 60. No shade, 12% grade for about a mile and a half. The good thing is that there are rest stops right after each of these climbs.

They get quite a few entries and I think that they usually put a limit on the number of riders. I will probably do the Tierra Bella ride again this year.

Sailguy,
My wife and I have done the Tierra Bella three out of the last four years (Hi SteveE! You probably zoomed past us on Metcalf!). The 100-mile route has about 5100 feet of climb (3500 feet if you take the bailout route [84 miles total] and skip Metcalf), so that does put it as one of the less hilly century rides in the Bay Area, with the I Care Classic probably being the flattest at 3300 feet. For comparison:

• Giro di San Mateo 9000 ft
• Primavera 7300 ft
• Sequoia 9000 ft
• Strawberry Fields Forever 6700 ft
• Tour de Garlique 5700

The Tierra Bella is a well supported ride that goes over a variety of terrain. Especially pretty are Gilroy Hot Springs Rd & Canada Rd in the first part of the ride, and McKean Rd and Uvas Rd towards the end. Happily, the route is set up so you have a tail wind after mile 70. As you know, April weather here is alway quixotic, so bring a variety of clothing. In 1999 it was 38F at the beginning of the ride. As Steve points out, 2002 was warm.

We're planning on doing it this year as well. I have attached a photo of us nearing the top of Metcalf. Note that the bluish band at the top is not the sky, but the haze-faded valley floor, which may give you a sense of why Metcalf is nicknamed "The Mauler."

Nice, it sounds like fun! I'm going to have to go down there and to the metcalf loop a couple times between now and then. I definately could use some climbing practice, and knowing what to expect, especially with the hardest climb coming at mile 60.

The most I have ridden thus far was 60 miles at once. I felt pretty good at the end of that. I figure with my 30 mile RT commute and some good quality weekend rides I should be good-to-go for this one.

Sailguy,

You live in Mtn. View, right? Have you thought of joining Western Wheelers ? They have a series of rides known as the Long Distance Training Support Group (LDTSG). These rides can help you increase your mileage and climbing ability. The first one is tomorrow. There are several different ride classifications depending on your ability/confidence.

BTW, you don't have to be a member to go on these rides although you might want to join after you've gone on a couple of 'em.

I hadn't seen their site. I'll definately give them a call. 31 miles is about what I was going to ride tomorrow anyways. Thanks for the heads up!

UncaStuart -- I am very impressed that you did Metcalf on a tandem! I think that my wife and I would fall over because we were going soooo slow. If I zoomed past you, then I must have been heading down hill! We'll have to get together at the start of this ride. 'Cause I LOVE drafting tandems. :D

Just reread the ride schedule.. I noticed the C level this time ;) That is a bit more my speed. 12mph felt slow. Not to mention a bit more hill and distance. The long term plan looks pretty good. Thanks SteveE!

My brother and I rode the Tierra Bella last year for the first time. It was our first and if that is a flat century than I do not what to try anything harder. We walked up Metcalf and by the time we got to Bailey I bonked. We bailed on Bailey and headed straight back to Gilroy. That was the longest 18 miles in my life. Our shorten ride was about 95 miles total. This year I plan on riding and skipping Metcalf. At 47 and 15lbs overweight, Metcalf is too tough. I guess I should set that as a goal and train for it.
We'll see.
Steve<><

I'm giving it a go even though I am out of shape. I can do climbs slow slow slow, but if I work towards it now, I hope I will do fine. Another thing working against me is my bike is an old racer, and doesn't have the best climbing gearset.