jmX

Signup opens in about a week, and usually sells out quickly. Hard to beat riding around in the desert at night.

I'm thinking of doing the spring double again out in death valley. Anybody else volunteering or riding this time around? Calamari Chris? Idoru?

idoru2005

Yes, I'll be signing up. Not sure which events though. Still haven't decided.....

idoru2005

Possibly Spring Ultra and Mt. Laguna for sure. Maybe volunteer for Montezulomar, then use ride credit to do the Fall Double.

Genaro

Is there a website with details to this/these rides ?

idoru2005

https://www.adventurecorps.com/

Genaro

Wow, that's a small group. Only 300 riders. If I sign up, I may do the 150

Lesper4

Jmx, Isn't that the ride you did last year in swim goggles because of the sand and wind? I was going to do Solvang as my first double, what do you think about this instead?

jmX

2011 Spring Double: 30-40mph headwind nearly the whole route as a cold front blew through near the half way turnaround. Most of the field got SAG'd in...I cut my ride down to a century.
2011 Hells Gate: Perfect cycling conditions
2012 Spring Double: Perfect cycling conditions
2012 Hells Gate: Sand storm and winds from hell. I think 97% of the field DNF'd. I wore swim goggles and rode through the sand.

So, the moral of the story is that the weather is highly unpredictable. It will either be the best conditions you've ever ridden in, or the worst. Either way it's awesome - I highly recommend it. The double route seemed pretty easy, support is good, and you have a good chance of being out on a road with nobody within a half mile of you in any direction (if that's what you want).

Biker395 

If the weather doesn't cooperate, any double can be a sufferfest.

The Death Valley Double is harder than it looks on paper. Maybe it's the super low humidity. Maybe it's the wind (done it twice, and both times, had headwinds both directions). Maybe it's the scale of the place (sometimes seems like you're on an asphalt conveyor belt ... pedaling, but getting nowhere). Or maybe it's because most folks don't get to the lunch stop at Badwater until long after lunchtime.

Funny you'd mention that Spring 2011 double. Check out that weather front.

https://www.adventurecorps.com/deathv.../P2262286.html

Glad I missed that one!

hamster

I have just completed Death Valley Fall Ultra (144 miles, 3rd slowest finisher, 12:29) and I must say that, as much as I like the way AdventureCORPS runs things, given the choice of Solvang Double vs. Death Valley Spring Double, I'd choose Solvang.

There's basically nothing there on the spring route. At least the fall route gets you to Scottys Castle and the crater. The spring route goes nowhere. Its main advantages are that it looks fairly easy (assuming that the weather cooperates) because the last 100 miles are mild rollers not exceeding 2% grade, and you have a fallback option of riding a shorter "ultra" distance (149 miles) without conceding failure.

Garfield Cat

to really appreciate Death Valley, you have to go there with more than just for a ride. But if you do, make sure you bring along a GPS device with an SOS feature in the event you go on an unsupported ride.

calamarichris

I probably won't be able to make it, but here are some pics from Death Valley to help you sell it. It really is a spectactularly beautiful place and a great ride.

Biker395 

Ah, Townes Pass.

There's also the lovely burgh of Trona on the drive up. That's always interesting.

anotherbrian

I'll be signing up for the double (I'm a NorCal'r though). I just rode the fall double and the weather was absolutely perfect.

I haven't ridden Solvang, but compared to the other doubles I rode this year (Davis, Alta Alpina, Mt Tam, and Knoxville), Death Valley felt easy (and power data says it was easier than Davis) and I was suffering from a bad cold the week of and during the ride. It was to be my 5th double for the year so I decided to ride it sick and hope for the best.

I've heard the spring DV route is faster than the fall route, and the elevation profile looks like that'd be so, so I was going to try to ride it fast. A guy from the local club rode it last spring, and said he'd do it again, so I'm also hoping to have someone to ride with for at least part of the ride instead of one long solo.

Death Valley scenery may be an acquired taste. We enjoy going down in the winter when the weather is cold up here and mild down there. At about the 150mi point it was getting pretty boring though.

Garfield Cat

Its only boring if you are driving through. Take a bike ride through Artists Drive. Stop and just touch the sides of the rock formations. The different hues.

Lesper4

I think it is beautiful out there but the weather scares me for my first double.