This California Triple Crown Logo can be seen on Winner's Jerseys 					and Patches!!
California Triple Crown
This California Triple Crown Logo can be seen on Winner's Jerseys 					and Patches!!




"Do whatever it takes and continue to the end."
Lee Mitchell

Happy New Year ...

Welcome to the California Triple Crown Newsletter of 01/01/14

Contents:

1. SPOTLIGHT ON 521 CALIFORNIA TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS IN 2013

2. 2014 CALIFORNIA TRIPLE CROWN SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

3. 2014 CALIFORNIA TRIPLE CROWN STAGE RACE ANNOUNCED

4. HUGE DELIVERY OF CALIFORNIA TRIPLE CROWN PRODUCTS

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1. SPOTLIGHT ON 521 CALIFORNIA TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS IN 2013

Looking back on the 2013 Double Century Series, I hope you had some moments on your rides where "all the world was right".  Where your fitness made the bike feel like it didn’t have a chain.  We tip our helmets to the 521 Riders completing their California Triple Crown in 2013 as shown at

http://www.caltriplecrown.org/2013/2013FinishersbyName.asp?Action=Name&Action2=All&ClubID=

Click on any name and you'll see that person's California Triple Crown History.  This report is sorted by Last Name then First Name.

For example, click on John M. Clare’s name and his CalTripleCrown History Report appears HERE

John’s Double Century History is exemplary for many reasons.  He was inducted into the California Triple Crown Hall of Fame in September of 2012 after completing more than 50 Double Centuries!  He rode all 23 Double Centuries in 2013 which is an truly amazing accomplishment considering many of these extremely hard events are just one week apart.  Even more impressive is that he has given back to our sport by volunteering at 4 Doubles in 2013 by helping either before or after the event.  Click the "JOHN CLARE'S BIO" link and notice that he is "Having a blast, one Double at a time!!"

Completion of the California Triple Crown series is not easy but we minimize the hassles.  All you have to do (as though this part is supposed to be easy) is register for and complete at least three of the Doubles on the schedule.  Any of the Grand Tour routes and distances count towards the Triple Crown.  We will keep track of those individuals completing the events by working with the ride organizers.

Each year, several people take on the challenge of completing every Double in the CTC series.  However, with the schedule having grown from five events to so many Doubles as we currently have, we recognize that this "grand slam" has become increasingly difficult...perhaps unrealistic.  We encourage riders to attempt as many of these doubles as time, money, and fitness allow, but remind them to be proud of whatever they accomplish, be it three or more doubles.

We have updated the Schedule page at http://www.caltriplecrown.com/schedule.htm to include links to all of the results of the 2013 Double Centuries on the ride organizer’s web sites.

We have updated the "Winners History Table" at http://www.CalTripleCrown.com ... click on Results then scroll down from 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, ... below the 1992 Results where you’ll find the “Winners History Table” which compares 2013 to the prior years.  Here you will find that 2013 was an excellent year for Double Centuries in California, with the 521 California Triple Crown Winners an excellent result especially considering the difficult economic times that we continue to live in.

In the Heartbreak Double, Heartbreak Hill is at Mile 124. There are Mile 124's in each of our lives.

Some come earlier in the race of life. Some come later.

But wherever you find them, you can overcome them.

Completing a Double Century is not about winning the race against 100 or 1500 other cyclists. It's about winning the race with yourself.

To improve. Against your best self.

To do the very best with what you've been given.

From the Deserts, to the Mountains, to the Ocean, the California Triple Crown rides provide a lot of awesome cycling adventures, challenges, beautiful scenery, great memories, and fun for each of us!!

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2. 2014 CALIFORNIA TRIPLE CROWN SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

The 2014 California Triple Crown Schedule has been announced at:

http://www.caltriplecrown.com/schedule.htm

02/15/14 Camino Real Double

03/01/14 Death Valley Spring Double

03/15/14 Joshua Tree Double Century

03/22/14 Solvang Spring Double

04/12/14 Mulholland Double

04/12/14 Hemet D.C.

04/26/14 Devil Mountain Double

05/10/14 Central Coast Double

05/17/14 Davis Double

05/17/14 Heartbreak Double

05/24/14 Borrego Double Century

05/31/14 Eastern Sierra Double

06/07/14 Classic Tour of Two Forests Double

06/21/14 Terrible Two

06/28/14 Grand Tour

06/28/14 Alta Alpina 8 Pass Challenge

08/02/14 Mt. Tam Double

09/13/14 White Mountain Double

09/27/14 Knoxville Fall Classic Double

09/28/14 California Triple Crown Awards Breakfast

10/11/14 Bass Lake Powerhouse Double

10/18/14 Solvang Autumn Double

10/25/14 Death Valley Fall Double

11/01/14 Oceanside Double Century

12/06/14 Dead of Winter Double

A printer friendly version has been updated at

http://www.caltriplecrown.com/scheduleprint.htm

You can find the latest detailed version of the Ride Calendar by going to www.CalTripleCrown.org and selecting the CTC Ride Calendar which takes you to

http://www.caltriplecrown.org/CTC_Calendar_aspx/Default.aspx

and shows you the detailed version of the calendar complete with Registration Open Date, Early Bird Discount Date, Late Fee Date, Registration Close Date, Volunteer Ride Date and a link to easily Volunteer for each of the Doubles.

As discussed in a previous California Triple Crown e-mail, the Death Valley Spring Double and the Death Valley Fall Double may not be held due to government intervention.  AdventureCORPS still hope to host the Death Valley Fall Double and there's even a small chance that the Death Valley Spring Double will happen.  We are hopeful that with your help, the Death Valley National Park will get a lot of political and media pressure and that they'll accelerate their "safety review."  Therefore, the Death Valley Spring Double and Death Valley Fall Double are on the 2014 California Triple Crown Schedule with a disclaimer on both listings that says "May not be held due to government intervention.  Stay tuned to the AdventureCORPS website for updates."

The Hemet D.C. will be celebrating it's 50th anniversary in 2014 so this will be a special year for that event.

The Central Coast Double will be celebrating it's 20th anniversary in 2014 so this will be a special year for that event.

New in 2014, Anny Beck will be organizing the Oceanside Double Century on 11/01/14 which will be a Fall Version of the Borrego Double Century route but will start and finish in Oceanside instead of Borrego.

We do our best to not have any Double Centuries in the series on the same day.  We are fully aware that date conflicts are not good for either event reducing the number of riders and the number of volunteers available for both events.

The Mulholland Double and the Hemet DC will both be on 4/12/14 but these two Doubles are vastly different in difficulty so we’re hoping this conflict won’t be too detrimental to either event.  The Davis Double and the Heartbreak Double will both be on 5/17/14 but an examination of the two rosters for the past few years showed that there is pretty much no overlap between these two vastly different events..

There was much discussion among the ride organizers of the Grand Tour and the Alta Alpina 8 Pass Challenge about the conflicting date of 6/28/14.  Many options were discussed at great length but it was determined that the date conflict was unavoidable.  These two Doubles are vastly different in difficulty so we’re hoping this conflict won’t be too detrimental to either event.

In 2013, the Bass Lake Powerhouse Double was on the same date as the Solvang Autumn Double.  We have some good news: In 2014, those Doubles will be on different dates.

We will be working with the Ride Organizers to minimize the date conflicts going forward in 2015.

Each of the California Triple Crown Double Centuries is a Major Adventure in itself!!

A BIG Thanks to the Ride Organizers of each of these Double Centuries.  Please thank them for the many hours they work to organize these incredibly complicated events.

Over the years, we have spoken to many cyclists who picked a difficult Double Century as their first.  In many cases, they weren't able to complete it because of mechanical, biomechanical, or mental challenges.  We are convinced that these cyclists could have completed one of the flatter Doubles with a great sense of accomplishment.  They could have found that riding Doubles is challenging but also fun!!

Not a single one of these rides is easy.  Each will provide you with a "Personal Growth Experience".  Don't make the mistake of moving into the tougher Doubles until you're ready - mechanically, biomechanically, and mentally!!  Once you're well prepared, the California Triple Crown Double Century series has plenty of challenges for you.

When you have successfully complete three of the above Doubles, you are a Triple Crown Winner.  You have earned the right to have those ride names included on a custom printed Jersey or T-Shirt as well as buy lots of cool products as shown at

http://www.caltriplecrown.com/products.htm

Bicycling publications and club newsletter editors receive your name for print.  Your name is included on the California Triple Crown web sites at

http://www.CalTripleCrown.com

and

http://www.CalTripleCrown.org

You become part of a group of select Bicyclists and have the tremendous satisfaction of completing one of the most difficult Bicycling events anywhere!!

The California Triple Crown is a small, completely volunteer organization established to publish the schedule and the results of these rides.

In order to receive California Triple Crown Credit for completing one of these Double Centuries, you must be on the Official Finisher's list for the 200 Miles as published by the Ride Organizer.

If you want these rides to continue, please bring your friends and families along and ask the ride organizer how they can help make the ride a success!!

If you want these rides to improve, volunteer and do your part to make them better!!

Those who say it can't be done are usually interrupted by others doing it!!

Accept The Challenge: Be A California Triple Crown Winner!!

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Be a California Triple Crown Stage Race Winner in 2014!!

3. 2014 CALIFORNIA TRIPLE CROWN STAGE RACE ANNOUNCED

The California Triple Crown Stage Race rotates through some of the most difficult of the California Triple Crown Double Centuries.  This rotation provides variety in the Stage Race from year to year.  Just as the Tour de France does not go over the same tough passes every year, neither does the California Triple Crown Stage Race go over the same tough passes each year.

The 2014 California Triple Crown Stage Race will consist of the following very challenging Stages:

Stage 1: Central Coast Double on 5/10/14 with 14,000 Feet of Climbing

Stage 2: Heartbreak Double on 5/17/14 with 15,300 Feet of Climbing

Stage 3: Mt. Tam Double on 8/02/14 with 14,500 Feet of Climbing

This will be the first time that this combination of these three Double Centuries are included in the California Triple Crown Stage Race in one year.  Six different options were seriously considered for the Stage Race this year before this combination was decided on.

One of the additional challenges of this lineup of Double Centuries is that there is only a week between the Central Coast Double and the Heartbreak Double.   Everyone tackling this Stage Race will be challenged to recover in one week between those first two stages.  Don't think that it's impossible to recover adequately: just look at all of the riders who rode many back to back Doubles in 2013 on the Winners Sorted by Number of Doubles report HERE

Another challenge of this lineup is that there are 11 weeks between the Heartbreak Double and the Mt. Tam Double.  So everyone in the Stage Race will be challenged to keep their fitness up over the summer which is always a good thing!!

The Central Coast Double will be celebrating it's 20th anniversary in 2014 so this will be a special year for that event.

The Heartbreak Double was in the Stage Race in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2003 ... so it's been 10 years since it was included!!  This Double has a rich history and is plenty hard with steep climbs that keep coming after mile 150. It has one of the best downhills in all of California off of Apache Saddle!!

We are aware that this group of Doubles in the Stage Race doesn't strictly follow the Northern California focus one year followed by a Southern California focus the next year.  The reality is that there are more riders who compete in the Stage Race from Northern California than Southern California each year.  The Central Coast Double and the Mt. Tam Double are easy for the Northern California riders to drive to.  The Heartbreak Double is within reach for the Northern California riders making it easier for them to get to than other Southern California Doubles.  This combination focuses on the Southern California Doubles for Stage 1 and 2 then adds a Northern California Double for Stage 3.

The total Feet of Climbing for the 3 Doubles in the 2014 California Triple Crown Stage Race will be the most ever at 43,800!!

You don't have to do anything special to sign up for the Stage Race: In 2014, all you have to do is to sign up for and ride your heart out on the 3 Doubles in the Stage Race!!  Of course, that's much easier said than done!!  Also, if you ride any Stage on a tandem, you must ride all three Stages on a tandem with the same partner.

The 2013 Stage Race page can be seen at

http://www.caltriplecrown.org/2013/2013FinishersbyName.asp?Action=StageRace&Action2=Time&ClubID=

and we tip our helmets to each of the 51 finishers who tackled this HUGE challenge.

In the Women’s Division, Kirsten McDaniel, 45 years old, from Campbell who rides with the Almaden Cycle Touring Club came in Third place.

Becky Berka, 50 years old, from Dublin, came in Second Place. Becky was Second Place in the Women’s Division last year.

Sarah Schroer, 41 years old, from Santa Rosa, came in First Place and rides with the Santa Rosa Cycling Club.

In the Men’s Division, Carl Sanders, 45 years old, from Lagunitas riding with the Santa Rosa Cycling club came in Third place.  He trailed the First place rider by just 51 minutes after these 3 brutally hard rides.  Carl actually came in ahead of the Second Place rider on Devil Mountain and the Terrible Two but lost time on the Alta Alpina Challenge.

There was an amazing battle between the 1st and 2nd Place finishers with just 32 minutes separating them after 600 miles and over 55,000 Feet of Climbing.  Max Mehech, 52 years old, from Santa Clara came in Second Place.

Robert Choi who is 52 years old from Santa Rosa riding with the Santa Rosa Cycling Club came in 1st Place in the 2013 California Triple Crown Stage Race.  Overall, he was ahead of Max by 32 minutes.  Robert is Mr. California Triple Crown Stage Race completing the challenge in:
2002 in 3rd Place
2003 in 2nd Place
2004 in 1st Place
2005 in 3rd Place
2006 in 1st Place
2008 in 1st Place
2010 in 2nd Place
2012 in 2nd Place
and 2013 in 1st Place!!

No one else comes close to those amazing accomplishments on these most difficult Double Centuries in the California Triple Crown series!!

The California Triple Crown issues this challenge: Be among the select few who are able to finish the Stage Race!!  Everyone who completes the 2014 Stage Race will be commended -- just to complete these three Extremely Difficult Rides is a MAJOR accomplishment!!

California Triple Crown Stage Race Plaques will be presented to the top 3 Men, top 3 Women, and top 3 Tandems at the California Triple Crown Awards Breakfast on 9/28/14, the day following the Knoxville Fall Classic Double in Vacaville, CA.

The California Triple Crown lays down this challenge: Be among the select few who are able to finish the Stage Race!!

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4. HUGE DELIVERY OF CALIFORNIA TRIPLE CROWN PRODUCTS

In early December, we received a HUGE delivery of California Triple Crown products from Voler.  The breakdown of this order can be seen at the top of

http://www.caltriplecrown.com/products.htm

including 164 Blue Short Sleeve Jerseys, 2 Blue Sleeveless Jerseys, 25 Blue Vests, 8 Blue Long Sleeve Jerseys, 50 Blue Arm Warmers, 136 Yellow Short Sleeve Jerseys, 7 Yellow Vests, 28 Yellow Long Sleeve Jerseys, 25 Yellow Windbreakers, and 132 Gold Thousand Mile Club Jerseys!!





We still have a good inventory of Red Stage Race Jerseys in stock.

A BIG thanks goes to the great team at Charlie Irwin’s Company, AFM Engineering, for shipping so many orders out before Christmas.  Frank and I gave them a hand and we shipped lots of orders before Christmas.

We’ve got lots of items in stock.  Chuck has been living in his Long Sleeve California Triple Crown Jerseys, Vests, and Arm Warmers the past couple of months.  You can see what’s in stock at

http://www.caltriplecrown.org/ProductsList.asp

The California Triple Crown store is open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Just go to www.CalTripleCrown.com then Products, decide what you want to order and click “Order It Now!!”

Let’s make 2014 a truly great year of cycling!!

Ride Safe, Live Strong, and Happy New Year to all,



Chuck Bramwell
California Triple Crown
Guy


Frank Neal
California Triple Crown
Data Guy


Charlie Irwin
California Triple Crown
Software Guy


Roland Hoffman
California Triple Crown
History Guy

Lynn Katano
California Triple Crown
Social Director


Mike Sturgill
California Triple Crown
Assistant Data Guy

We are proud to say that the California Triple Crown
is a completely volunteer organization.

CalTripleCrown.com for Information

CalTripleCrown.org for Rider Stats

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