Machka 

OK, here's the "official" 2008 Double Century Thread.

When you finish your Double Centuries, post 'em here! And tell us a bit about the ride ... where it was, if it was solo or with a group, how long it took you, stuff like that.

Just for informational purposes, a "Double Century" is 200 miles completed as "all at once" as possible. Reasonable breaks are allowed, of course, but if you do a century on Saturday, and another century on Sunday, that's called a "Back-To-Back" century, not a "Double Century".

If you want to do one a month, like the Century-A-Month challenge, go for it! If you'd rather do just three in July, that's fine too.

Anyone got one lined up for January 1st?

Tom Stormcrowe

I'm looking to complete a 310 mile ride in less than 24 consecutive hours in June

SandLizrd

I'm used to calling that a "Twin Century."
I don't really mean to be splitting hairs, it all makes sense in the end but I'm glad you pointed it out - try to find some good doubles and see how many twins trip up your search

DanteB

I'm looking at 9 doubles with one of them being a triple. I know I'll get at least 4 doubles and the triple done.

ken cummings

People who want to find double centuries can Check the California Triple Crown series or go to the UMCA web site. You can link to the UMCA through Machka's site.

Rick@OCRR

So far I've ridden 27 CA Triple Crown doubles (since 2003), but for 2008 I'm going to attempt more of the High Difficulty and Extreme High Difficulty doubles.

I'll start with Butterfield / Spring Solvang / Hemet . . . all of which are relatively easy (done 'em all before), or as easy as doubles get. Then Mulholland . . . I have my doubts but I'll give it my best try.

However, if Mulholland goes well, then I'm going to try Devil Mountain and Terrible Two. I have been working on my climbing endurance, and I rode Mt.Tam in 2007 @ 17 hours. Mulholland has 2,000 additional feet of climbing, but 2 more hours before the time limit cut-off.

The key, obviously, is to climb at a steady "good pace," spend minimal time at the checkpoints and stay well hydrated, well nourished and on the route. If (Big IF), I can do all that I should be okay.

I'll report back here (hopefully) as the season progresses.

Rick / OCRR - ADO

DanteB

Rick, the hardest thing about doing Mulholland is not the length of the climbs, but the steepness. The climbs, well most of them, are not long but very steep. They're also one after another.

Hocam

I guess double metric centuries don't count eh?

Rick@OCRR

Thanks for that DanteB,

That's why I'm wavering between my 34 x 27 compact and my 30 x 27 triple. Deb says I should use the triple, and I'm guessing you'd agree .

Rick / OCRR

Machka 

Not here ... but they would count under the Century-A-Month thread ... a double metric is only 125 miles.

DanteB

I would go with the triple. Getting to the coast at Deer Creek is just up and down all the way. Then it’s Potrero and a little later Balcolm Canyon both very steep. On the way back you have Decker which the first few miles are in the 8-10% range.

Brandy

I want a triple for Mulholland Double. I'm askeered!

vicjane

As an Aussie, the metric conversion 300km ride isn't quite 200miles only, its short by 21 km. So my 3 x 300kms don't count.
400km Gippsland Gambol-27th October
Fairly flat ride, hampered by some strong head winds. Starting at Stratford, Victoria we toured arond the Gippsland lakes. Interesting but not beautiful scenery. An ideal first 400. The 300 loop was finished this two 50 km loops back to base in reverse direction. If you plan on coming to Australia, check out the Audax calendar at https://www.audax.org.au/calendar.asp I know that Machka's been there and done the GSR!

znomit

What if I do a century on the last evening of the month(say leaving at 4pm and arriving just before midnight), and then another home starting at midnight? Is that a back to back, or a double, and does it also qualify for the century-a-month.

Whatever it is, it sounds like fun!

Machka 

Here in Canada, some ride organizers make their 300K brevets 323 kms so that they are double centuries as well. If they don't you can always ride around the block several times to make it up.

Lost again

Yep, me too. Are you doing the Grand Tour Triple?

Rick@OCRR

Yes Brandy,

I'm "askeered" too, but in a blindly-hopeful / optomistic way. I figure Mt. Tam was the same way for me in 2007 (mind-set wise), and I did that, so I'll give Mulholland my best shot and see what happens.

I'm pretty sure I can fit the triple crankset to my present bike without having to change the brifters or front derailluer. But . . . I did Mt. Tam with the compact, . . . so I dunno. Will ride Butterfield / Solvang Spring and Hemet with the compact.

Rick / OCRR

Brandy

Hi Rick,

I'll have to live vicariously through you and your triple. It's going to be compact for me for Mulholland. I will do most of my training on a standard double this year, so hopefully I'll be strong enough! I've been hitting Vista Ridge and Ridge Park, just for the mental preparedness before the steep climbs on Mulholland. George keeps telling me not to worry about it though, that it's going to be hard no matter what I do!

ncherry

Best I'll be able to do is probably the easiest double century (The CJBC Longest Day - it's all down hill). Total climb: 3360ft, total descent: 3885ft, that's according to Bikely.com. I'm not so sure about the climb but that descent is a real thrill if you can time the light in Flanders and avoid the storm drain grates. You get to experience a little bit of everything. Climbs, descents, traffic (there's no avoiding it in NJ), Pine Barrens, weather starting at 40F and hitting 90F+ (I think this year will be another hot one).

To all you folks who will be doing more and/or greater distances; you 'e nuts! - wish I could join you. :-)

Rick@OCRR

First Double of 2008, here's my Butterfield Report. This is from our club website, so all ref. to "Rebels" are our club members, many of whom ride doubles.

The Season is Upon Us
The start of the 2080 Double Century Season was upon us, officially, at 5:30 AM on Saturday Morning February 16th . At that cold, foreboding and otherwise “0-Dark-Thirty” hour, Rebels Jackie Burneson, Roseanne Giorgio, Tom Parkes and Your Faithful Scribe departed the La Quinta Hotel on Sand Canyon near the 5 Freeway, in the People’s Republic of Irvine. There was a later start at 6:45 AM (for faster riders!), at which time Rebels Chuck Chen, David Slaton, Andrew May, occasional Rebel Dr. Jerry Brown and David Wu departed. This would be Andrew’s first-ever double century! It should be noted that David Wu was riding a bike with “all the gears” as opposed to the fixie (one gear ratio only) which he rode on the Grand Tour Highland Double in 2007.

Before the Start
Pre-Double, in fact the evening before, Jackie and I met Brandy DeLuca and George Vargas (from bikeforums.net) at dinner (Knolwoods), plus we saw The Very Famous Ron Smith Jr. (also bikeforums.net) at registration. At the Hotel check-in we met Paul from Ventura, who would be trying his first double ever, and Xenia from Grover Beach who was riding her first Butterfield ever. Double riders are a friendly lot, and we tend to meet lots of new folks, even when standing in line to register at the hotel.


Early Rebel Starters
When Jackie, Roseanne, Tom and I began the double, at 5:30 AM, the temperature was in the low 40's, but once we started climbing (especially San Joaquin Hills) we warmed up a bit. By that climb, however, I had dropped Jackie and her friend (and Action Figure) Roseanne, plus Tom and totally coincidentally hooked up in a four-rider pack with Xenia and Paul (see Hotel, night before, above) and Wes, celebrating his 64th birthday on the Butterfield double (this would be his 10th double).


Rebel Friendly Route
The route followed a lot of Rebel-normal roads, so it was University to Jamboree to San Joaquin Hills, then down Newport Coast (very chilly descent, yes) left on PCH and left again to climb Laguna Canyon. Slight headwind there (which is unusual), then right on El Toro, right again on Aliso Creek (another warming climb), and several turns later, Crown Valley to a left (south) on PCH.


Missed Green Lantern!
Xenia, Paul, Wes and I stayed together until Dana Point, where we missed a turn onto Green Lantern and accidentally by-passed the first (Mini) checkpoint (mile 39). After a short consult with the route-sheet, we backtracked our way back to it, adding about 3 "bonus" miles. Once there, Jon (WhiteCarabonDude from bikeforums.net) greeted us, along with his attractive female companion. Maybe his wife, maybe girlfriend, maybe just another checkpoint worker…I never thought to ask! Xenia, Paul and Wes were impressed that I knew the roads so well, but hey, I ride around this area a lot, so I'd better know them. Still, we missed Green Lantern in Dana Point, so my knowledge does need some detail work! Also, at this Mini-Checkpoint (water and energy bars only) I introduced them to Tom Parkes, and they were dutifully impressed that this would be Tom’s 105th official CA Triple Crown Double Century!


Checkpoint #1 at mile 57
All was good as the day warmed up, through Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, and San Clemente and onto the bike trail. The first real checkpoint was at San Onofre (which would be the light pick-up later that day) ably staffed by ex-Rebels Elise and Paul Haussler, and True-Rebel John Long…and someone else I didn't know. Here it was warm enough that I took off my glove liners, balaclava and jacket, but it was still cool enough (mid 50's?) that I kept the knee warmers and arm warmers on. Saw David Slaton, Tom Parkes and Dr. Jerry at this checkpoint as well, Dr. Jerry telling me he’d already had one flat tire! Also saw MaddMike and Brandy from bikeforums.net, though I didn’t recognize Brandy in her cycling gear. Everyone was still fairly jolly at this point, with the day warming nicely and not too many miles (57) on their legs.


What Happened to Wes?
Leaving Checkpoint #1 we couldn't locate Wes, so Xenia, Paul and I took off for Checkpoint #4, which was also the lunch stop. We followed the “usual route” taking the optional path through Camp Pendleton, then through Oceanside to the 7.4 miles of bike path. Paul and I were trading off pulls here, into a slight headwind, keeping the pace right around 15-16 mph, which seemed to be the “comfort zone” for Xenia. Exiting the bike path, we were quickly routed onto Old River Road, a charming route, really, with the countryside quite green from the recent rains . From there the route took us to Hwy 76 (thankfully for a very short ½ mile!), before dropping us onto another lovely road, i.e. Camino Del Rey, for an easy 5 miles into the lunch stop (and Checkpoint #2) at mile 88.


Conversations at Lunch
Here Phil (bikeforums.net) was manning the "funnel food" i.e. Sustained Energy, Hammer Gel, Endurolites, etc. plus I also saw Rebels Chuck Chen, Andrew May, plus David Wu, Frank (Garfield) Neal (OCW), and had great conversations with few others…but have no idea who they were, really. One guy had a lovely Rivendell bike, so we discussed the Rivendell bike philosophy as demonstrated by Grant Petersen, etc. Paul and I discussed the differences between SRAM and FSA crank-set spindles, and other “bike guy” subjects which (fortunately for you!) I will not detail at this time. Lunch itself was the (usual for Planet Ultra) Subway Sandwich, but these seemed tastier than usual for some reason (Jackie says “better buns!”).


This Year’s Fashion
That done, it was (pretty immediately!) climb, climb, climb up around, but not actually into Fallbrook. I did see a “Welcome to Fallbrook” sign, but we stayed away from downtown Fallbrook, certainly. Xenia was a bit slower on the difficult climbs, so Paul and I stayed behind and let her set the pace. It was either that or ride ahead and wait, and we thought following was the better choice. A few thousand feet up and down, then a long descent on Mission, back to North River Road, the Oceanside bike path, and Mini-checkpoint #2, with Jon (again) and his lovely female companion. This was at mile 121 for those of you keeping track. I saw Chuck (CA Triple Crown Guy) Bramwell here too, modeling the (new!) CA Triple Crown red arm warmers. I told him he looked quite fashionable. He laughed and said, “You have to keep on top of these things!” as he (no doubt) noted I was wearing “last year’s fashion” yellow CA Triple Crown arm warmers.

click to enlarge
Back Via the 5 Freeway
I took off from this Mini-checkpoint leaving my Camelback laying on the water coolers, but fortunately discovered my loss when I was but a few hundred feet down the road. Xenia and Paul were kind, and waited while I retrieved the Camelback. Then it was back to Oceanside and eventually on the 5 Freeway shoulder (remember we had taken the Camp Pendleton option traveling south), to Checkpoint #3 (same as #1) at mile 136. Here we fitted our lights; I had Elise fill my Camelback with Sustained Energy and Expresso Hammer Gel, and before long we were off . . . headed for the final checkpoint in Trabuco Canyon. I also re-fitted my balaclava, glove liners and jacket, since the air temp had started to fall off a bit by this point, most likely low 60’s°.


Attack!
All was good through San Juan Capistrano, up through San Juan Creek, La Novia, Ortega Highway (slight stop for Xenia and Paul to lube their Speedplay cleats which were not releasing easily), then my “Attack” on Antonio Parkway; essentially a ten mile climb with two little "resting area" descents. Not an attack in the classical racing sense, but I kind of let it loose, after pacing myself to Paul and Xenia’s speed all day. Pretty much hammered to the top, passed a bunch of riders,…then waited at the top for just over ten minutes for Paul and Xenia to catch up. Xenia particularly expressed that she was glad to have me along, not just because I knew where all the turns were, but for my pre-profiling the climbs for her. Darkness had fallen somewhere in the early miles of Antonio, so lights were on, flashers were on, and hopefully no absent minded driver would miss seeing us!


Cathe and Wick at Checkpoint #4
From Antonio, there was a right onto Santa Margarita, then a quick left onto Plano Trabuco. That done, there was the twisting downhill switchback descent in Trabuco Canyon and the joy of finally rolling into the final checkpoint, Checkpoint #4, at mile 168. By this time it was getting cold again (about 7:30 PM), 57°F at the school near the top of Antonio and probably high 40's on Trabuco. Rebels Cathe and Wick Waltmire (Cathe checking riders in, Wick cooking), plus Lee (scvroadie on bikeforums.net) were holding down Checkpoint #4, with warm Cups-O-Soup very much welcome (salty but good)! Plus, I spoke with Dante for a few minutes (he loves his fleece leg warmers!), David Slaton, Cathe and Wick and (countless) others, and I was (secretly) really wanting to hug the propane heater!


Can You Say “Brutal”?
We stayed there probably too long (half an hour?) and when we, i.e. Xenia and I went to leave we couldn't find Paul. We looked around several minutes, but we didn't even see his bike, so we figured he'd taken off without us. Not like him…but whatever. He sure didn't seem to be there! The next challenge was the Trabuco Canyon / Live Oak climb, one of those nasty ones that gets really steep near the summit. I told Xenia we'd take it at her pace, so I stayed behind her, yet after the appropriate struggle (we agreed the word “brutal” described the climb)…we did in fact ride over the summit. Xenia said, "At least the climb warmed us up!" which indeed it had, just in time for the frigid plunge down to Santiago Canyon. We then faced another (warming) climb up a mile and a half from Cooks Corner. 12 miles later (mostly descending with three short climbs) it was left on Jamboree, again mostly downhill (one climb) to Portola. Another rider joined us along here, and accompanied us to the finish. Nice guy, but no idea who he was.


The End of the Road
Portola has slight up and down inclines, not really hills or climbs certainly, then 3 miles later a right turn on Sand Canyon and we were on the last bit home (well, to the hotel). Much rejoicing, all in the spirit of "My that was fun; glad it's over!" The total ride distance was supposed to be 193.9 but with our backtrack at the first Mini-checkpoint, plus taking Camp Pendleton on the southbound leg, we ended up with 199.8 miles. Deb Bowling (one of the owners of Planet Ultra) signed us in. Xenia's husband was there to meet her (fresh from a Dart Tournament on the Queen Mary), plus I saw Dante, spoke with David Wu (about his friend who had attempted the double on a fixie, but had experienced knee problems). I saw Rebel and SAG worker Kriss Okubo in the lobby shortly thereafter, and she said Jackie and Roseanne were at Jamboree and Portola, so about half an hour away.


Paul Re-appears!
Shortly, and along in here somewhere, Paul finally pulled in, looking a bit ragged (he'd had stomach problems) but he was happy to finish. Kriss gave him a big hug for finishing his first double! This really surprised him, but when I told him that Kriss was my wife’s best friend, he was okay with it. Then it was off to our hotel room for the hottest shower ever (I really needed restore some body temp!) Looking like the proverbial cooked lobster (probably) I dressed and went down to the hotel lobby to await the arrival of my lovely wife and her Action Figure companion (that would be Roseanne). Talked with Deb and Brian Bowling for awhile (congrats to Deb on her quote published in Bicycling! magazine) plus talked with Lee, Paul and Elise and anyone else who popped through the door.


Jackie and Roseanne
Eventually, and at long last, Jackie and Roseanne arrived, mostly frozen but still able to function, so that was good! Back in the room, Jackie told me that she wanted to eat at Denny's but by the time she was out of the shower I was mostly asleep. So she went to Denny's alone (what a mean and selfish husband I am!) while I slept. She said the guy at Denny’s told her she looked tired! Fortunately there were some other late-finishing double riders there too, and they’d already told him the full story of the ride.


Thank You and Thank You!
Thanks to Deb and Brian for another great Double, thanks to Xenia and Paul for the company, and hopefully we'll see you all again at the Solvang Double. Thanks to the bikeforum.net checkpoint workers, (Phil, Lee, Jon) plus the Rebel checkpoint workers (Kriss Okubo, Cathe and Wick Waltmire, Paul and Elise Haussler (well, they used to be Rebels!) and John Long, OCW worker Frank Neal, ADO worker Ron Hansen and in fact, thanks all the checkpoint and SAG workers!

DanteB

I rode the Butterfield Double starting in Irvine, CA on Feb.16. I started with the mass start at 6:15 and it was a fast start since it was downhill out of the hotel. It was cold at first but soon we hit the hills on the way to the beach and I warmed up. Great rollers, why is it there is always a traffic light, red no less, at the bottom of every downhill? We finally made the mini stop and I met Jon (WhiteCarbonDude). I let the group I was riding with go, they were riding a little faster than I like to.

I got to check point #1 and saw John Long and others. I dumped some clothes, it was warming up. CP #1 and CP#3 were the same so I could pick up my clothes on the way back. I made it to Oceanside and headed out the bike path towards Bonsall. About 2 miles out the path I encountered a swarm of bees. They were everywhere, the air was black with them and I was in the middle of them, being hit by hundreds of them. As I emerged out the other side I looked down to see about 50 of them on me. Some of them were stunned and upside down trying to sting anything they could. I was brushing them as genially as I could to keep from getting stung, all the while I was riding along. I didn’t get stung, I don’t know how. The adrenaline was running pretty high during the whole event and it took a few minute to calm down. Then it was finally on to CP#2 and lunch.

It lunch I saw Phil (Extort) with his big smile and Frank Neil. Lunch was the usual Subway sandwiches, I had one and it tasted good. As soon as I left lunch there was a climb, I think it was about 6 miles and 20+%. Looking back at my download it was only 4.5 miles with an average of 4% with some pitches of 8%. (Note to self, only eat half the sandwich, take the rest for later and don’t stay to long)

The ride to CP#3 was uneventful, saw Jon again at the mini stop. I put my arm and leg warmers back on and grabbed my lights at CP#3 and head towards the last climbs of the day. First, Antonio Parkway the climb that never quits. Then CP#4 and Lee (scvroadie), a cup of noodles, the most comfortable concrete and rock wall I’ve ever sat on and a few minutes off the bike. Then it was the dreaded Trabuco/Live Oak climb, over the climb and heading home. Oh, there were a few more small climbs and some false flats. Finally the most beautiful sign I saw all day, Sand Canyon. A quick 2.5 miles downhill and I was finished. I showed 194.9 miles and 9,000’ of climbing on my Polar CS600. My ride time was 12:47 and overall 14:57. I had terrible turn-a-round times at the CP's, too much visiting with friends.

CdCf

I plan to do one, or more likely a 300 km, this year. My longest ride so far has only been a double metric.

I'll do it heading south into the wind (99 days out of a hundred, the wind blows from the SW quadrant) through a fairly flat area for about 150-155 km (to a city, Halmstad), and then return the same way, hopefully with a comfortable tailwind to help me along.

If I manage to keep myself hydrated as well as "carbohydrated", I expect it will take around 12-13 hours total time. Or around 10.5-11 hours rolling time. I'll probably use my clip-on aerobar, as that's a lot more comfortable for my back and hands, and helps a lot to combat the headwind.

If it all goes well, I'll at least repeat it once, and perhaps even do one at around 380 km (same route initially, but a bit farther south) if I'm really bold!

I may also do a 300 km brevet, but that will be a good deal slower.

Hocam

Wow, I would love to do that ride! Do you have any more info on it? I checked the CJBC site but didn't find anything.

ncherry

I think you didn't look hard enough but that's not a problem check this out (see below) and read the extra links also. Much of the work is Sandy's (he's the ride chair this year), some are my pages on my web site and another is a report from a friend who returned to England name Pierc. Here's the link: CJBC's Longest Day 2008. I'm also in the process of posting some of the older routes. I've got the 2001 route posted, I should have the 2002 and 2003 routes posted later tonight. The links will be available later tonight (I hope). I also have a specific thread (this one) for discussions and questions about the Longest Day ride.

I hope that helps. :-)

PS I'm not only a member of CJBC I'm a ride leader with training rides for the Longest Day (out of Central Jersey). ;-)

Hocam

Cool, I think I was checking the schedule of rides and just doing a 'search this page' for 'double' and didn't come up with anything. Unfortunately, June 14th is the day I graduate from Drexel so it'll have to be 2009. Thanks for the info though.

Maybe I can motivate some friends to do it with me over the summer, looks like a great route.