I'm hoping that this is the year I actually pull off a century. I know, doesn't sound like much. So far my longest is 50. Any fun centuries at the end of summer in Utah that I should consider?
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Originally posted by RC Vikings View PostWe are still planning on coming over. Can you make sure we have good weather for it.
At the early morning start it will be cool and overcast, thanks to the coastal fog that looms over the Northern California coast a good part of the year each morning. When I say cool, I mean upper 40s to low 50s. Nothing that a light vest and some arm warmers can't fix. Fun section, as the mass start of close to 500 riders usually holds together and zooms through the farmlands at close to 30 mph.
As you pedal along, the temps will stay about the same until you hit the Avenue of the Giants redwood grove. Here, you are far enough inland that the fog and cloud cover will break. The temps will warm up to the low to mid 50s, but thanks to the shade from the massive trees will be very comfortable.
Once you leave the Redwoods and head back toward the coast, you will break out of the trees as you head up the first big climb of the day, called Wildcat summit. Here it will be sunny and warmer, likely in the low 60s, but will feel much warmer since you've been in the cooler temps for a couple of hours already. Descending the backside of wildcat is still comfortable, so the wind from the fast descent isn't too chilly.
Once you hit the bottom of the descent, you've got almost 10 miles along the river heading to the lunch stop. Again, probably low 60s and very comfortable here. Rarely do you see any fog or cloud cover through here.
After lunch, you have 5-10 miles as you head toward the coastal road. Same, comfortable temps through here. In fact, there is often not much wind for several miles here, so I have been really warm a couple of years through here.
Once you approach the coast at about mile 70 or 75, the wind really starts to kick up. The road right along the coast usually gets blasted by a headwind coming from the northwest. This is a cool wind, but you are working so hard to fight the wind for 5-6 miles that its not a big deal. Rarely ever see any clouds or fog along this stretch - a rarity for the area. One of the 6 years I've done the TUC we got a tailwind. Incredible, flying along the ocean at 30 mph with doing hardly any work at all.
The climb up The Wall is steep, steep, steep. If the north wind continues through here, it can make for a really tough climb. But its fairly short, so its over before too much suffering. Then comes a rapid descent which can be a little chilly. Then the final climb up the Endless Hills. This is a grinder. 10-11 miles of climbing. There are no trees here, so that means nothing to stop the wind from blasting you in the face as you are slogging up the mountain. Not typically very cloudy through here.
Once you summit the endless hills, you almost always hit a cloud bank, so the final descent back into Ferndale if often quite cold. Its fairly short, so its not a huge problem, but I usually have had to don the arm warmers and vest for the last 10 miles. A couple of times we've had a very light rain through here as well.
So unless something really unusual happens, no need to expect much if any rain. Typically very pleasant, if a little on the cool side, which shouldn't be too bad for a tough Idaho boy like yourself.
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Originally posted by bluegoose View PostI can tell you exactly how the weather is going to be, as it has been nearly the exact same each time that I've done it.
So unless something really unusual happens, no need to expect much if any rain. Typically very pleasant, if a little on the cool side, which shouldn't be too bad for a tough Idaho boy like yourself.
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That's a great write-up, BG. RCV, why not take the month of May off and join us here in NorCal for a series of weekend rides? You can join the missus and me (and three other buds) for the Wine Country 200K on May 4, do the TUC with bg the following weekend, and then join us the following Friday when we'll ride the last half of the Amgen Stage 7, and spectate the following day.
If you're feeling particularly masochistic, come to our place tomorrow or Friday where you can stay and ride the Devil Mountain Double on Saturday. It's about 206 miles with well over 20,000 of climbing. What a horrible ride.
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Originally posted by PaloAltoCougar View PostThat's a great write-up, BG. RCV, why not take the month of May off and join us here in NorCal for a series of weekend rides? You can join the missus and me (and three other buds) for the Wine Country 200K on May 4, do the TUC with bg the following weekend, and then join us the following Friday when we'll ride the last half of the Amgen Stage 7, and spectate the following day.
If you're feeling particularly masochistic, come to our place tomorrow or Friday where you can stay and ride the Devil Mountain Double on Saturday. It's about 206 miles with well over 20,000 of climbing. What a horrible ride.
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Originally posted by RC Vikings View PostThanks for the invite. I may just show up at your door one weekend. Are you riding the Devil Double, that sounds terrible.
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A Big Ride Fail for me today. Things started well, despite having to get up at 4 to drive to Santa Rosa. We met up with some younger friends (they're the ones that did most of the Giro a year or two back) and headed west, over the Coastal Range. It was surprisingly pleasant and fog-free at 7 a.m., witness this view after we hit the first rest stop and after 2,000+ feet of climbing.
After a steep but exhilarating drop to the coast, we zipped north on Highway 1, stopping once or twice to admire the excellent scenery, framed nicely by our female counterparts.
We turned right and were moving quickly along the Russian River, but by mile 60, and after 4500 feet of climbing, I knew something was wrong. I felt lousy with no energy whatsoever. The temps which were approaching 90 didn't help either. I guess I bonked, as I hadn't eaten much pre-ride and didn't feel like eating much at the rest stops. So I told my three companions to finish the ride without me. I took a bailout route and finished with only 90 miles limping along at 13 or so mph, and felt like a total loser. But I decided 90 miles with that much climbing for a sexagenarian who hadn't trained enough may have been stupid, but it wasn't a failure.
It's funny how hard Mrs. PAC and the other couple tried to make me feel better, but they finished the ride (200 km) and I didn't. Perhaps my wife's encouragement was inspired in part by having ridden past a guy my age, lying at the side of road being attended to by paramedics (with oxygen, defib paddles, etc.). I guess it really was best for me to bail and ride another day. I feel fine now, albeit tired, and the first 60 miles or so were really great.
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Originally posted by RC Vikings View PostOuch. What a brutal but beautiful ride.
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