| California Triple Crown Doubles Calendar | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Elevation Gain* |
|||
| Butterfield Double | 8,200 | Ride the Butterfield Stage Route along with the best of Orange, Riverside and San Diego Counties. Kick off the New Year!! |
|
| Death Valley Spring Double | 9,000 | Classic southern route past Badwater and over the passes to Shoshone and back. |
|
| Solvang Spring Double | 6,900 | Lush green rolling country roads Good first Double on a beautiful course!! |
|
| Hemet D.C. | 5,800 | Both 100 mile loops are super fast Wine country and Lake Skinner added |
|
| Mulholland Double | 16,470 | Climb the Canyons in the Santa Monica Mountains A dramatic, epic, diverse, and beautiful course!! 2008 California Triple Crown Stage Race Double |
|
| Devil Mountain Double | 18,600 | Extremely tough Northern California Double Climb two highest paved peaks in Bay Area!! |
|
| Central Coast Double | 13,800 | Climb through scenic back roads!! Explore the superb Central Coast 2008 California Triple Crown Stage Race Double |
|
| Davis Double | 8,400 | Beautiful Rivers and Lakes Most popular Double in California |
|
| Heartbreak Double | 15,200 | From Palmdale, ride on roads less traveled Climb Apache Saddle and Heartbreak |
|
| Eastern Sierra Double | 10,000 | Ride road bike heaven! Bishop, Mammoth Lakes, and more with the pristine Sierra Nevada as your inspiration. |
|
| Terrible Two | 16,480 | Extremely tough Northern California Double Steep Climbs and lots of heat!! 2008 California Triple Crown Stage Race Double |
|
| Grand Tour | 5,200 - 8,300 |
200, 300, 400 Mile Options The original Double in the U.S.!! |
|
| Mt. Tam Double | 14,500 | Great climbs & technical descents Redwoods, grasslands & lakes with stunning ocean views |
|
| Knoxville Fall Classic Double | 12,600 | Ride some very special Northern California roads Friendly, social ride with no recorded times |
|
| California Triple Crown Awards Breakfast |
ZERO!! | Stage Race Winners will receive awards See who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame |
|
| Classic Tour of Two Forests Double | 13,300 | Traverses the Angeles and Los Padres National Forest Beautiful climbs up Matilija & Heartbreak |
|
| Bass Lake Powerhouse Double | 11,700 | Enjoy the Western Sierra Scenery including Pine Flat Lake, Bass Lake, and the "Gold Country" |
|
| Solvang Autumn Double | 10,100 | Spectacular route in popular cycling region Significantly more challenging than Solvang Spring Double |
|
| Death Valley Fall Double | 9,100 | Northern route in Mother Nature’s greatest sports arena Visit Scotty’s Castle, Ubehebe Crater, and Hell’s Gate |
|
| Borrego Double Ordeal | 15,100 | Beautiful climbs up Montezuma and Mesa Grande Awesome 4,000 Foot descent down Banner Grade to finish |
Only the Double Centuries in the above table qualify for the California Triple Crown of Double Centuries.
* The Polar Elevation Gain is listed for these Double Centuries because the Elevation Gain measured by the Polar Altimeters seem to be near the median of the readings from all bike computers in the Detailed Analysis of Altimeter Readings study.
California Triple Crown Doubles Ranked by Elevation Gain
Elevation
Gain*
1
18,600
Devil Mountain Double
207
Radically High
2
16,480
Terrible Two
200
Radically High
3
16,470
Mulholland Double
202
Radically High
4
15,200
Heartbreak Double
202
Radically High
5
15,100
Borrego Double Ordeal
198
Extremely High
6
14,500
Mt. Tam Double
197
Extremely High
7
13,800
Central Coast Double
209
Extremely High
8
13,300
Classic Tour of Two Forests Double
194
Extremely High
9
12,600
Knoxville Fall Classic Double
202
High
10
11,700
Bass Lake Powerhouse Double
200
High
11
10,100
Solvang Autumn Double
202
High
12
10,000
Eastern Sierra Double
198
High
13
9,100
Death Valley Fall Double
196
High
14
9,000
Death Valley Spring Double
197
High
15
8,400
Davis Double
203
Medium
16
8,300
Grand Tour - Highland Double
200
Medium
17
8,200
Butterfield Double
197
Medium
18
6,900
Solvang Spring Double
190
Medium
19
5,800
Hemet D.C.
198
Medium
20
5,200
Grand Tour - Lowland Double
200
Medium
Of course, the above rides are not the only excellent one day events in California planned for 2005. The following rides are not in the California Triple Crown of Double Centuries for 2005: You might want to consider bigger challenges such as the Davis 12/24 Hour Challenge and see how far you can ride in 12 Hours or 24 Hours on an excellent course. The Fresno Cycling Club is organizing the Climb to Kaiser which features some of the most incredible mountain climbs anywhere on the planet. Our good friends from the Color Country Cycling Club in Cedar City, Utah are organizing the Desperado Dual, a Double Century with 8,000 Feet of Climbing traveling on some of this country's most scenic back-roads ... this is literally one of the coolest places to ride in summer, so check it out! In addition, Brevets are being organized by the following organizations:
Davis Bike Club
San Francisco Randonneurs
Santa Cruz Randonneurs
Santa Rosa Cycling Club
San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club
San Diego Longriders
Of special note is the Gold Rush Randonee being organized by the Davis Bike Club July 19-23, 2005 ... a fantastic 750 Mile voyage from Davis to Goose Lake, Oregon and back!!
Each of the California Triple Crown Double Centuries is a Major Adventure in itself!!
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 successfully complete three of the above Doubles, you are a Triple Crown Winner and have earned the right to have those ride names included on a custom printed Jersey or T-Shirt. You receive a Triple Crown patch and can order a plaque for a nominal amount. Bicycling publications and club newsletter editors receive your name for print. Your name is included on this Web Site!! 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. The California Triple Crown has no organizational, legal, or financial connection with these rides and does not "sanction" them.
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 are listed as an "Unofficial Finisher" on the ride's list because you missed the time limit cutoff, you will not receive California Triple Crown credit for that ride but DON'T GIVE UP: there are plenty of training tips HERE to help increase your speed. There are also a ton of training articles on the Planet Ultra Web Site HERE. You might also want to join the Ultra-Marathon Cycling Association and join the Randonneurs USA to learn a lot more about this sport of long distance cycling. In training, focus on riding a sub-8 Hour Century on one day, recover well at night, then follow it with another sub-8 Hour Century the next day and you'll then be fast enough to beat the time limit on the easier Double Centuries below.
The level of support on these rides has been known to vary immensely. It depends on many factors including the location, the number of volunteers, and the weather which can be freezing cold with snow or a thermal meltdown!! It also depends greatly on the attitude each person brings to the event -- what isn't even noticed by one person can be a huge problem for another person. If you have questions about the level of support, you should check the web site of the ride, read the ride reports, and ask other riders who have ridden the ride in the past. Start with the easier Doubles and progress up to the more difficult rides only when you're ready mechanically, biomechanically, and mentally.
Every ride can be improved upon. If you have a problem with a ride, you should work directly with the ride organizer. It would be beneficial to the organizers if you would include a suggested solution with your problem. Please try to put yourself in the shoes of the ride organizer and understand that organizing these Double Centuries is no easy task. These events are extremely difficult to produce, time consuming, nerve wracking, and exhausting.
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!!
Ride the Butterfield Stage Route along with the best of Orange, Riverside and San Diego Counties. Kick off the New Year!!
As in years past, the ride will be a loop down the coast to Oceanside then proceeding inland along the San Luis Rey River, and returning via Old Highway 395 through Temecula, Murietta, Lake Elsinore, Corona, and Anaheim Hills.
Although we had some concern about this route due to Camp Pendleton being closed to cyclists and thus diverted onto I-5 for a few miles instead, we are happy to report that the route is good and we'll be using it!
From the start in Anaheim Hills, we'll head over to the gradual climb on Santiago Canyon Road over to Live Oak Canyon, which is a climb for about two miles with a short steeper stretch at the summit, followed by a fast downhill into the canyon. The road then follows a few short switchbacks to exit the canyon into the Rancho Santa Margarita area. The route then proceeds down Antonio Parkway for about 10 miles to the Ortega Hwy, where we head westerly into the San Juan Capistrano area. The trip through southern Orange County will occur early in the ride, and the traffic should be minimal. From San Juan Capistrano, the ride proceeds down old Pacific Coast Hwy to San Clemente, then on the bike trail past the San Onofre area, the campground, and then onto the clean and spacious shoulder of I-5 through Camp Pendleton to the north end of Oceanside.
From Oceanside, we take the bike trail on the San Luis Rey River, then exit to continue on North River Rd and Old River Rd to the Bonsall area, where the route follows Camino Del Rey to Old Hwy 395. We then follow Highway 395 to Temecula then to Murietta, Lake Elsinore and Corona on Temescal Cyn Rd. The last leg is from Corona back to Anaheim Hills.
Time Limit: 17 Hours
Difficulty Rating: Medium
Visit www.PlanetUltra.com for all the information.
Classic southern route past Badwater and over the passes to Shoshone and back.
In Spring we use the "traditional course" for this event, a fabulous out-and-back course in the south end of Death Valley with limited traffic and only two stop signs to slow you down.
Death Valley National Park is one of the most beautiful and by far the most unique of any park in the national park system. The actual interior of Death Valley, contrary to popular belief, is not flat but rather a combination of flat and noticeable rollies (nothing over 2% and 150' of gain). However, don't be fooled. Some stretches look downhill, yet your legs quickly tell you it's a mirage. And of course there are the big climbs on the south end of the park, but more on that later. There is a total elevation gain of 8800 feet for the double route.
Death Valley is about contrasts: Contrasts in elevation, temperature and colors. In the wintertime it is possible for temperatures to drop below freezing. The summer daytime temperature can rise above 130 degrees. (But never in March or October!) The color contrasts are what really make Death Valley unique. The colors are at their best early in the morning and again before sunset. Death Valley is one of the most mineral-rich places on earth. With every blink of the eye, the colors in the Valley change. This is because with every blink the sun's angle changes causing colors to change their shade, new colors to come alive, and others to fade away.
Double Century riders will leave Furnace Creek at sunrise and quickly make the first of only three turns towards Badwater, 17 miles down the road. At this point, both the mountains and the salt encrusted lakebed start getting closer to the road and makes for interesting viewing. Stop sucking that wheel in front of you and look around. Over your left shoulder are towering peaks with names like Coffin Peak (5503'), and Funeral Peak (6384'), while to your right you will pass the Devils Golf Course and Badwater (-278'). Badwater is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. Directly across the Valley from Badwater is Telescope Peak (11,049') and behind Telescope Peak is Mt. Whitney (14,494). Mt. Whitney is the highest point in the 48 contiguous states. Double riders will climb Jubilee Pass (1293 feet), then Salsberry Pass (3315 feet), and then descend to the right turn to Shoshone. Here, double riders turn around and retrace their path over the two passes to Furnace Creek, for a total of 150 miles. Next, they continue north up the Valley to the final turnaround in Stove Pipe Wells. Finally, double riders ride back to the Start/Finish in Furnace Creek.
Time Limit: 17 Hours
Century Option is available.
Death Valley Spring Double Web Site
Elevation Chart for the Death Valley Double - Small Version by Mike Sturgill and his Ciclosport CM414 Alti-M1998 Death Valley Double by Team Bikeaholics
1997 Death Valley Double Recap by Chuck Bramwell
1997 Death Valley Double by Team Bikeaholics
Difficulty Rating: High
Visit www.AdventureCorps.com for all the information.
The best (and only) 200 mile route in Southern California's most scenic and most popular cycling region!
The event starts and finishs in its namesake, Solvang, a fun, quaint, Danish village with excellent hotels, awesome restaurants, window shopping, real shopping, horse-drawn carriages, parks, people in costume, wine-tasting, vineyards, and lots of neats things for the whole family to see and do. Bring your family and make a weekend of it. We promise they'll all have a great time while you ride your bike! (Or make a week of it by coming for our Solvang Spring Training held just prior to this event.)
Starting with a wave start from the Royal Copenhagen, you'll do a short warm-up in the eastern Santa Ynez Valley, then heads up world famous Foxen Canyon. You'll then essentially bypass Santa Maria by jogging around that town on dead quiet Bull Canyon to Hwy 166. Next you'll more or less parallel the 101 as you head north. After some really neat back roads, the route skirts the edge of San Luis Obispo, then goes all the way into super scenic Morro Bay, right to the waterfront and a dramatic view of "the rock." Next you'll roll through some of the prettiest state park miles anywhere, then head south on PCH along the coast through Pismo Beach, and such. After Guadalupe, you'll stay southbound on this desolate and beautiful stretch of Hwy 1, bypassing the whole Lompoc area, and then continuing onto Hwy 135 to the neat little western antique haven of Los Alamos, site of the final checkpoint. From Los Alamos, riders encounter what is essentially the only real climb of the entire day, up and over Drum Canyon, a quiet, twisty, 800 foot, 3.4 mile ascent. It's got a gnarly, technical downhill, so close attention to the matter at hand is imperative. On the other side, we hop onto Hwy 246 back to Solvang, with a big shoulder all the way to town!
The route is 193 miles. And truly, these are the best miles available in an already spectacular riding region. This route is among the fastest, most scenic, and most popular in the entire California Triple Crown series! Total elevation gain: about 7,500'. Fun, fast, and easy!
Towns/regions visited: Solvang, Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Foxen Canyon, Sisquoc, Santa Maria, Nipomo, Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Shell Beach, Guadalupe, Los Alamos, Buellton, and back to Solvang.
Time Limit: 17 Hours
2008 Solvang Spring Double Results
2007 Solvang Spring Double Results
2007 Solvang Spring Double Photos by Lane Parker
2007 Solvang Spring Double Photos by Eric Smith
2006 Solvang Spring Double Results
2006 Solvang Spring Double Photos by Eric Smith
2005 Solvang Spring Double Results
2005 Solvang Spring Double Photos by Lynn Katano and Eric Smith
2004 Solvang Spring Double Results
2004 Solvang Spring Double Photos by Lynn Katano and Eric Smith
2003 Solvang Spring Double Results
2002 Solvang Spring Double Results
2002 Solvang Spring Double Ride Report by Adam PaulDifficulty Rating: Medium
Visit www.PlanetUltra.com for all the information.
Jim Watrous has designed an all new course for the 1998 Hemet D.C. consisting of two 100 mile loops. Both 100 mile loops are fast and good beginning type loops for first timers. The first loop includes Lake Perris, Lake Mathews, Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lakes. The second loop includes the wine country of Temecula and Lake Skinner. Either loop can be done as a single century.
Time Limit: The double century has a eighteen-hour time limit. The double century riders can start between 4:00 AM and 6:00 AM. The double century closes at 10:00 PM. No double century rider is allowed to attempt or start the second loop after 2:30 PM.
Jim Watrous's Hemet Double Web Site2004 Hemet Double Photos by Lynn Katano and Eric Smith
2003 Hemet Double ResultsDifficulty Rating:
Medium
For more information, send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope to:
Jim Watrous
P.O. Box 56797
Riverside, CA 92517
(909) 686-7539
An epic double with over 15,900 Feet of Climbing from Malibu to Ojai and back via world famous Mulholland Highway and more.
Be ready for a course that is as scenic as it is challenging. This course can best be described as dramatic, epic, diverse, and beautiful. Spend the day riding through 200 miles of Southern California's roads less traveled. Ride up, over, and along mountain peaks and ridges, and through a multitude of canyons and countrysides. Basically, this route is for the rider who loves to climb and to see a lot of diverse terrain in the process.
The ride starts in Calabasas and heads to the coast on Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon. Then you'll head south on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). After the first major climb up Topanga Canyon and Old Topanga Canyon, you'll spend the morning ascending and descending the Santa Monica Mountains on Mulholland Hwy, Little Sycamore, and Cotharin, before hitting Ventura County and the beach at Deer Creek. After an easy, flat cruise to the base of Potrero, you'll start climbing again, up and over to Westlake, and through the Conejo Valley out to Simi Valley. Then you'll head up and over Grimes Canyon, enjoy the orange groves out in Fillmore, and then head back via the short, but very steep, Balcom Canyon. Then, you have a very rewarding descent, and a flat shot back to PCH via Las Posas (but beware of headwinds!). Then, ride south on PCH, where finally you turn up again, to ride the majestic Mulholland Hwy all the way to Cold Canyon Rd. Then you'll make your final climbs of the day - up Piuma and Schueren to the top of Stunt Road. After the four mile descent down Stunt it's pretty much an easy cruise back to Calabasas via Mulholland and Las Virgenes.
Time Limit: 19 Hours
Difficulty Rating: Radically High
Visit www.PlanetUltra.com for all the information.
This ride was first ridden by a handful of riders in July
of 1996. On this ride, you'll have the opportunity of climbing
Mt. Diablo and Mt. Hamilton in the San Ramon area. Certainly "not for the faint of heart", this ride
is a major challenge for sure!!
Mt. Diablo was listed by BICYCLING magazine as one of the ten toughest climbs in America. Mt. Diablo rises 3,200 feet in 10.5 miles to a height of 3,849 feet. Mt. Hamilton will have you climb 2,100 feet in just 7 miles to the 4,100 foot peak.
Sierra Road will be your biggest test: not only is it incredibly steep, climbing 1,800 Feet in 3.2 Miles, but it comes after 150 miles!!
Most of this ride is very rural, very scenic, and very low on traffic. The terrain is unspoiled and rugged. If you like to climb and are ready for a real challenge, this ride's for you!!
Time Limit: There are two primary cutoffs. #1: You must leave the Mines Road Rest Stop by 1:00pm. Anyone later than this will have the option of either being Sagged forward on the course, or back to the start. #2: All riders must depart the lunch stop (Mile 115) by 4:30pm or they will be sagged to the top of Mt. Hamilton. We will allow you to continue on the course at that point. If either cutoff is missed, you will receive a DNF for the ride, but you will have the opportunity to enjoy riding most of this absolutely wonderful course. Our primary concern is rider safety. These cutoffs are in place to prevent riders from having to descend Mt. Hamilton in the dark.
Difficulty Rating: Radically High
This ride is produced by The Quackcyclists - Ride Director: Scott Halversen
For more information, see
www.Quackcyclists.com
The Central Coast Double was first ridden by a handful of riders in 1995.
This difficult but very scenic ride starts and finishes in Paso Robles. It travels in a large 200 mile loop through Cambria, up Highway 1 on the Coast, and back inland through Fort Hunter Liggett. One of the many highlights is a beautiful climb up from Highway 1 on the Coast into the Santa Lucia mountains where the panoramic view of the Coastline is out of this world!!
Time
Limit: This ride has a mass
start at 5:35 A.M. The course will officially close at midnight
and therefore, a cutoff time will be imposed at Rest Stop #5 in
Bradley which is at the 179 mile point, 30 miles from the finish.
All riders will be required to have left this rest stop by 9:45
P.M. or they will be sagged in at that time.
In the future, if the Central Coast Double is in the California Triple Crown Stage Race, the Lunch Times WILL NOT BE SUBTRACTED for this event. Brian Stark, the ride organizer of the Central Coast Double, has decided to stop the clock for the Lunch for his event in the future. However, the California Triple Crown will add the Lunch Times back into the results for the Stage Race. This will then make the clock for the Central Coast Double run from Start to Finish so that all of the Stage Race events will be handled consistently.
Difficulty Rating: Extremely High
For more information,
send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope to:
Brian Stark
4148 Las Tablas Willow Crk Rd.
Paso Robles, CA 93446
(805) 239-4397
The Davis Double is the most popular Double in California and takes you through beautiful country by Lakes, Rivers, and lots of Wild Flowers. The terrain is fairly flat with only three moderate hills. This Double was started way back in 1969 and sets the standard for enthusiastic support!!
Davis Double Web Site has tons of information on this ride with many nice features including a cool map of Davis.Difficulty Rating: Medium
For more information,
send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope to:
Davis Bike Club
336 Del Oro
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 756-3540
Start in Palmdale and then ride 200 miles of the roads less traveled
in places you’ve never heard of, like Apache Saddle and Ventucopa.
This spectacular course showcases some of the most quiet, beautiful, dramatic, and unknown regions of California. There is essentially no traffic and the route explores an area that most of the participants will never otherwise visit. There is less than one "junk mile" on the entire course. Veteran riders can attest to all of this, while rookies will take away that sentiment after completing this challenging and rewarding cycling adventure.
The early morning air in the high desert can be cold, but as you leave Palmdale and enter the Angeles National Forest, you'll warm up quickly. The first section of the course to Three Points has more ups than downs. En route you will pass the towns of Lake Hughes and Elizabeth Lake while most are still sleeping.
Leaving checkpoint one at mile 30 in Three Points, you'll climb some more while cutting over to Highway 138. The wind here generally blows from the west, and it is not uncommon to have a headwind on the way to Gorman and Lebec. Checkpoint two at mile 50 in Lebec is at the Best Rest Inn, where Heartbreak Hundred riders began their event this same morning between 830 and 900am.
Next, a short quick climb to Tejon Pass gives way to a short descent into Frazier Park. The next 30 miles are mostly uphill, though there are a few nice descents along the way. As you climb toward the summit of Mt. Pinos, take time to look around; the scenery here is truly beautiful, as the high desert gives way to alpine forests and gently sloping mountain meadows. Look to your left at Lake of the Woods and see the road you will be descending later in the afternoon, then look ahead at the road that will take you higher into the mountains.
Deep in the mountains you will reach the private community of Pine Mountain Club. For the residents, it's home, but for you it's a flat spot in the road before the climbs to checkpoint three at Apache Saddle at mile 71. As you refill and refuel, contemplate the fact that you have already accumulated about half of the 15,500' of climbing that you'll achieve this day.
After reaching Apache Saddle, prepare yourself for one of the most rewarding stretches of road in all of Southern California. You will primarily descend for 20 miles along the ridgeline that divides the Lockwood Valley on your left from the huge Central Valley on your right. Look around for wildlife as you ride through the Los Padres National Forest and the Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge.
The downhill continues at Highway 166. A left here and another onto Highway 33, and then you will be a few miles from checkpoint four at "The Place" at mile 104 in "downtown" Ventucopa. The Place is a great for lunch and ice cream (just walk in and get an ice cream; Planet Ultra's buying!), plus they have real flush toilets inside.
Leaving The Place in Ventucopa, you will follow the beautiful Cuyama Valley and Cuyama River to a left turn at Lockwood Valley Road. Heartbreak rookies who have done our Tour of Two Forests in the past will be on friendly and familiar terrain from here onwards. Rookie or note, you are in for a treat. As you enter Lockwood Valley you will encounter a gradual climb that just keeps getting steeper. As you reach the infamous Heartbreak Hill in the hot afternoon sun you will learn whey "Heartbreak Hill" got that name. There are no toilet facilities at checkpoint five at Heartbreak, however there are lots of big bushes that the native Brown Bears have fertilized for centuries. You will pick up any lights or gear that you sent there in a drop bag this morning.
Leaving Heartbreak Hill, you will descend and climb your way to Frazier Park and checkpoint six at the Best Rest Inn in Lebec. Heartbreak 100 riders will call it a day here, but not the double riders. Leaving Lebec and Gorman, there is a short climb to the overview of Quail Lake and the California Aqueduct. As you descend to Quail Lake you should be greeted by a "world class" tailwind that has been known to blow riders all the way to the turn onto Ridge Route and then across on Pine Canyon to checkpoint seven at the Three Points Road House. (This new, hillier return route is new for 2003. Although it adds about 1,000' feet of climbing to this route, compared to the previous route, it's a much quieter and very fun, rollercoaster road.) At Three Points Road House, check out the his and hers outhouses. These relics are from a century that is long gone, but still work well.
Leaving the Three Points checkpoint, there are two noticeable climbs as you otherwise descend towards the finish line in Palmdale. Upon your safe and timely arrival, you will be greeted by a Planet Ultra Ambassador. You will not soon forget this epic and challenging, but equally rewarding, ride!
Time Limit: 19 Hours
Century Option is available
1997 Heartbreak Double by Team Bikeaholics
1996 Heartbreak Double by Muffy Ritz and Steve Born
Difficulty Rating: Radically High
Visit www.PlanetUltra.com for all the information.
Forget skiing: This is road bike heaven! Bishop, Mammoth Lakes, Mono Lake, and more with the pristine Sierra Nevada as your backdrop and inspiration.
A mass start through the city streets of Bishop will quickly head out of town. After a fast, flat warm up through the flatlands of the Owens River region, you will head north through the cattle ranches of Round Valley. Climbing up from Round Valley to Crowley Lake, the Old Sherwin Grade ascends through pinion pine and juniper woodlands while following Lower Rock Creek to enter Mono County and the heartland of the Eastern Sierra. Road cuts expose the peculiar rosy rock strata known to geologists as Bishop Tuff, evidence of volcanic activity in this region. After cresting Sherwin Grade, a rider friendly 1800' climb, you are greeted by the startling views of Mt. Ritter and Mt. Banner, and the serrated ridge of the Minarets in the northern distance. North a few miles further awaits Lake Crowley and the grassy bed of Long Valley. Further north en route to Mammoth Lakes, you pass Hilton and McGee Creeks; the mouths of their canyons filled with huge glacial moraines empty into the valley from the Sierra high country.
Leaving Long Valley, you will quickly enter the town of Mammoth Lakes, famous for its world class ski resort. You will climb gently, but quickly, around the outskirts of town and head out of town and north via the Mammoth Scenic Route. After a short climb cresting the 8,041' summit of Deadman Pass, there is a short downhill followed by a short easy climb to June Lake. First time visitors should stop at the vista point at "Oh! Ridge" on the summit of the climb from June Lake Junction. The magnificent view of June Lake, Carson Peak, and the westward panorama reveals different dimensions with every blink of the eye.
Leaving "Oh! Ridge," hang on for a fast 15 miles, passing by June, Gull, Silver, and Grant Lakes as you enter "The Land of Mono". Ringed by eerie tufa towers, volcanic craters, mountain peaks, and high desert silences, the saline waters of Mono Lake represent a million year old body of water. Mono Lake has no outlet; over the thousands of years of its existence, salts and minerals washed into the lake have become concentrated as waters have evaporated. Though Mono Lake has been called a "dead sea", it actually abounds with life. No fish live in the lake, but populations of brine shrimp and brine flies adapted to the exceptionally high concentration of salts provide a plentiful food supply for more than seventy species of migratory and nesting birds. The "lunch" checkpoint with Subway sandwiches and all our usual wide variety of drinks and muchies await you at the Mono Lake County Park. At this point, you will have ridden 104 miles and ascended 7,200'.
Leaving Mono Lake, you will travel south on Hwy 395 to Hwy 120 through the Mono Crater area. Take time to look around as you climb between these craters en route to the "E Ticket" ride from the high plains at Sage Hen Summit, through red lava canyons into Benton, the Chalfant Valley and back to Bishop. This second half of the double loop has only 3,000' of ascent!
This course has exactly 10,200 feet of elevation gain, more than half of which is between mile 30 and mile 70. As doubles go, it's not that tough and the views and roads are so incredible, you won't event notice the climbing that it does have!
Geologists say the tilted fault-block range of the Sierra Nevada formed ten to twenty million years ago when an enormous piece of the earth's crust rose thousands of feet along a series of faults and tilted westward to create a mountain range with broad, gentle western escarpment. More than 400 miles long and 60 to 80 miles wide, the Sierra cover a region larger than the combined areas of the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps; the Sierra Nevada stretches further than any continuous mountain range in the continental United States.
This is one of the most beautiful and most popular of all the Triple Crown rides!!
Time Limit: 18 Hours
Difficulty Rating: High
Visit www.PlanetUltra.com for all the information.
The Terrible Two was started in 1976 by the Santa Rosa Cycling Club as they realized that a 200 mile course in and around Sonoma County would include some very challenging hills as well as some spectacular scenery.
Although the route
has varied in small ways over the years, its defining features
have always been its four big climbs (and the steep, twisting
descents that follow): Trinity Grade, the Geysers, Skaggs
Springs, and Fort Ross. Numerous smaller but pesky hills add to
the overall challenge. Trinity, the Geysers, and Fort Ross are
all double-summit climbs, while Skaggs Springs is a long series
of climbs and descents, including a tough new climb introduced
with the 1995 route change. The steepest gradients on the course
don't exceed 15%, but many climbs stay in the 8-12% range for
long distances.
Except for the transit of Santa Rosa at the start, the entire course is rural
and very scenic: vineyards,
orchards, pastures, oak-studded meadows, shady forests of
redwood, bay, and ma-drone, the spectacular coastline, wild
rivers, lakes, and streams, and always the sweeping panoramas
from the summits of all those climbs. It's enough to make you
forget how hard it is!
Are you ready for 200 miles in one day with 16,000 feet of steep climbing? Are you ready for temperatures over 100 degrees? Are you ready to add your name to the list of hard core heroes who wear their hard-earned "I DID IT!" t-shirts with such demented pride? Are you ready for the ride that many consider the toughest Double in the United States? If so, the Santa Rosa Cycling Club invites you to test yourself on The Terrible Two.
Time Limit: This ride has a mass start at 5:30 A.M. and it officially ends at 10:00 pm (to qualify for an I DID IT! t-shirt), but riders may continue until 11:00 pm to earn California Triple Crown credit. Anyone still on the course after 11:00 pm will not be listed as an official finisher. After ten, support on the road and at the finish will be minimal.
Santa Rosa Cycling Club's awesome Terrible Two Web SiteDifficulty Rating: Radically High
For more information,
send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope to:
Bill Oetinger
Santa Rosa Cycling Club
7315 Fircrest Ave.
Sebastopol, CA 95472
(707) 823-9807
In 1959, Eisenhower was President, 10-speed bicycles were virtually unknown, Greg LeMond wasn't even born yet, and the Los Angeles Wheelmen began holding an annual Double Century -- the "Grand Tour". This is the original Double in the U.S. and also includes 300 and 400 mile options -- all of which count towards the California Triple Crown.
The Traditional Double offers a bit of everything you think of when you think of California: the ocean, valleys, mountains, movie star homes, orange groves, ranches, vegetable fields and oil fields. Looping through rural Ventura County, the route contains some hills but is still one of the easiest Double Centuries we know of. There is only one very difficult hill and the club places a rest stop at the top to help you out. The scenery, the low traffic and the generally favorable winds will help you forget the hills and make this a very enjoyable Double.
Los Angeles Wheelmen's Grand Tour Web SiteDifficulty Rating: Medium
For more information,
send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope to:
GRAND TOUR
264 S. La Cienga Blvd. #1073
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
This difficult double is destined to become a Northern California Classic!! Climb beautiful canyons and challenging ridges up Mt Tam (birthplace of mountain biking) with stunning views of the Pacific Coast, the San Francisco Bay and all the mountains in between.
This ride has lots of fast technical riding and descents to challenge the most experienced riders yet offers bailout options for those that want to give it a try but are not quite sure. Most of the climbing is over by mile 130 leaving lots of room for fast pacelines coming back to the Finish!
The course was first ridden by a small group of riders on October 4, 2003 and was given outstanding reviews.
It starts up Lucas Valley and a quick descent into West Marin. The route winds south and east with a couple small climbs and descents until you reach the town of Fairfax and the famous Bolinas Fairfax Rd. The road winds up the north side of Mt. Tam. The road is narrow and windy but relatively untraveled to Pine Mountain and your 1st Rest Stop.
The descent goes down to some lakes in a very fast series of technical turns and rollers for 4 miles to Alpine Dam. You ride across the dam and climb into Mt Tamalapis State Park then will turn left off onto Ridgecrest and climb some more. If the Bolinas Fairfax Road is beautiful (and it is), West Ridgecrest is stunning. West Ridgecrest climbs into East Ridgecrest and climbs the remaining 3 miles to the top of the mountain. The descent has almost 300 feet of climbing in it before turning further south to Pantoll and the Panoramic Hwy. You reach Hwy 1 and drop down to the coast at Muir Beach. Hwy 1 has some significant climbing at the edge of the Pacific Ocean as you begin to head north to the 2nd Rest Stop.
Our course turns off Hwy 1 at Pt Reyes Station and travels to Nicasio Reservoir over a summit to the 3rd rest stop at the Lincoln School at mile 83. The ride continues out Hicks Valley Rd., Walker Ranch and the "Marshall Wall". The descent down to Hwy. 1 is fast and steep. The route rolls north and turns inland to Tomales. Here, the course turns west from Hwy. 1 and you ride Middle Road north to Valley Ford and the halfway point for the day, the Valley Ford rest Stop (4th rest stop). You roll out west towards Bodega and climb up Bay Hill Road (more stunning ocean views!). There is a quick descent to Hwy 1 before turning onto Coleman Valley Road.
Coleman Valley Road is a long and steep climb with false summits and huge views. The steepest part of the Mt. Tam Double is on this section of Coleman Valley Road and is estimated to be an average gradient of 11.3% for 1.3 miles. Ride organizer Colin Lynch recommends that riders have at least a 39 x 26-28 for this climb. Triple chainrings are a great invention and may be helpful especially if the event day happens to be hot.
The final descent on Joy Road is long and takes you back to the 5th rest stop at Valley Ford rest Stop.
The course back rides a flat stretch of the Valley Ford - Petaluma Road for a few miles before turning south on Chilleno Valley Road into the outskirts of Petaluma to the 6th rest stop at Walnut Park in Petaluma. You climb up "Red Hill" followed by another slight climb and then a very fast descent to Nicasio Reservoir and Nicasio Valley Road. This relatively flat stretch will lead you a couple more miles to your 7th and final rest stop in the town of Nicasio. The course finishes by reversing Lucas Valley Road (it is an easier climb this direction). It is almost all downhill from there until you arrive back at the Start.
Time Limit: This ride has a mass start at 5:00 A.M. and the course officially closes 17 hours later at 10:00 P.M. Riders will not be allowed to start the Bay Hill Rd. / Coleman Valley Loop (30 mile loop) if you do not leave to begin the loop from the Valley Ford Rest Stop by 2:30 PM. Failure to make this cutoff will result in a DNF for the Mt. Tam Double Century and for California Triple Crown credit. You will need lights to start and possibly need lights to finish this ride.
Marin Cyclists Web SiteDifficulty Rating: Extremely High
Century and Double Metric Century Options are available
Visit www.MarinCyclists.com for all the information which will be coming soon.
Back to Top of PageThis historic Double Century traverses the Angeles National Forest and Los Padres National Forest from Santa Clarita to Ojai, then up Pine Mountain to Lebec and back.
Classic Doubles are more than challenging alone. They are "tours" in the true sense, an opportunity for discovery and adventure in an area not often ridden.
The Tour of Two Forests has been such a classic since its first edition in 1980. It starts and ends in Santa Clarita and traverses parts of L.A., Ventura, and Kern Counties, plus the name-giving Angeles National Forest and Los Padres National Forest. It begins with an easy cruise through Piru and down South Mountain to Santa Paula and then the easy climb up into Ventura County’s sleepy hideaway of Ojai. Next you’ll ascend 30 mile Pine Mountain and enter the heart of the ride: rugged and beautiful mountain country where a lone cyclist feels very small. Next comes Lockwood Valley (home of the "Heartbreak Hill") to Gorman and then a rolling finish through Pine Canyon, Three Points, Elizabeth Lake, Leona Valley, and down, down, down Bouquet Canyon to the finish back in Santa Clarita.
It's one of the most scenic courses in Southern California and is almost free of traffic lights. The logistics are really easy since it starts just 20 miles north of Los Angeles.
The Tour of Two Forests was first run in 1980. In 1984, the legendary tandem team of Pete Penseyres and Rob Templin set a course record of 10:35!! In 1985, Rob Templin came back on his single bike and set a solo course record of 10:21!!
In 2004, the course was modified to start and finish in Santa Clarita instead of Lancaster which reduces the mileage from 218 Miles down to 193 Miles.
This is a great event with a whole lot of history in the California cycling scene. We really encourage you to ride this classic event!
Time Limit: 18 Hours
Difficulty Rating: Extremely High
Visit www.PlanetUltra.com for all the information.
Difficulty Rating: High
This ride is produced by The Quackcyclists - Ride Director: Jesse Smith
For more information, see
www.Quackcyclists.com
Difficulty Rating: Extremely Easy and Fun!!
The current estimate is for ZERO feet of climbing. That's right ... it's pancake flat at the park!! :-)
Enjoy the Western Sierra Scenery including Pine Flat Lake, Bass Lake, and the "Gold Country"
The first 15 miles will follow the old route out of Clovis, but at Belmont and Oliver the route turns south through orchards and grape vineyards to the small community of Orange Cove. Here will be the first rest stop at a distance of 36.7 flat miles. Within a few miles after leaving Orange Cove you will encounter the first climbs of the day on Sand Creek Rd, Ennis Rd. and Ruth Hill. At 52.2 miles on Hwy 180 you will experience a scenic free wheel ride back down to the valley floor and rest stop #2 at Winton County Park along the Kings River. From here the course is generally climbing in elevation for the next 55 miles.
After leaving Winton Park you will again be on the old course. The next 14 miles will be ascending rollers on Trimmer Spring Rd, around Pine Flat Lake. You will have two moderately difficult climbs: Maxson Rd, a 1.5 mile Climb, and Borrough Valley, before rest stop # 3 at Sierra Elementary School. Here will be the lunch stop at 103.5 miles. Exit the rest stop left on to Lodge Rd.
At Jose Basin Rd. and Italian Bar Rd. begins the plunge down into the San Joaquin River gorge with a panoramic view of Redinger Lake and the canyon below. Extreme caution is urged on this winding steep technical down hill section. Caution! Recent rains my have washed sand and gravel onto some sections of the road. After crossing the wooden bridge at the bottom of Italian Bar Rd. you come to rest stop #4 at 126.2 miles. Italian Bar now becomes Rd. 225 after crossing the bridge.
The next two-mile section is old and rough, but still rideable. At the end of this two-mile section a right turn begins a 3 1/2-mile climb out of Redinger Lake to Mammoth Pool Rd. A right turn on Rd. 274 takes you to Bass Lake and rest stop # 5 at the Pines Resort on the corner of Rd.434 and Rd.432.
The next 22 miles will be a relatively comfortable ride around Bass Lake. After leaving the Bass Lake area the course is generally down hill until you reach Powerhouse rest stop # 6 on Kerchoff Reservoir. This is mile 165.5 at a scenic spot over looking the reservoir before crossing Kerchoff Bridge.
Upon leaving the rest stop and crossing the bridge you begin the last major climb of the day, locally known as the Powerhouse grade. This is a climb of about six miles of 4% to 8% grades with a lot of switchbacks to ease the discomfort on tired the legs. At the faux cattle crossing you are a few feet from the top. At this point the course is predominately a downhill roll back to Clovis and the finish.
Note at the intersection of Auberry and Morgan Canyon (SR 168) in the community of Prather, Auberry Rd. veers to the right. If you continue down hill to the left on Hwy 168 you will be off course and have a long climb to get back on course. The last rest stop of the day is Millerton Store at 183 miles.