jmX

Been waiting months for this, and the day is finally here.

Hells gate and the Spring century/ultra/double are open for registration.
https://www.adventurecorps.com/deathvalley/index.html


Hopefully I've not bit off more than I can chew.

idoru2005

I plan to volunteer at the Hell's Gate Hundred and ride the Mt. Laguna Classic. Ultimately, I'd like to do the DV Double Century next fall.

thenomad

How's the March Death Valley 100 typically feel? Windy? Steep? Really Hot yet?
Good for a first century or only for the experienced?

It's on my birthday so I'm thinking of doing it.

jmX

Ive never done them, but from the description I'd say the Hells Gate march ride is going to be quite a workout. 8500' of climbing isn't as bad as some, but its not easy. The Feb one looks to be super easy, so that'd be a good first.

When I have been to death valley for other reasons in march, the temperatures are mild. It was maybe 80 degrees when I was there last year to explore the park.

idoru2005

Spring DV Century looks like a good beginner's century. We drove the Southern Route leaving Death Valley a couple weeks ago. Jubilee Pass didn't look all that difficult.

I'd love to ride Hell's Gate Hundred. From what I understand from reading several blog accounts, is that the Hell's Gate Climb is appropriately named.

Here' are some of those blog reports:
https://www.frontageroads.com/2010/04...-hundred-pt-2/
https://www.frontageroads.com/2010/04...hundred-stuff/
https://rideandruckus.com/2010/04/05/...d-ride-report/

My goal event for spring is the Mt. Laguna Classic. I rode it last April as my first century attempt but could only complete the 75 mile option. So i'm planning to go back and finish what I couldn't achieve the first time around.

idoru2005

Sounds like a good idea. I rode the 2010 Fall DV century for my birthday. First century for my wife and I. We completed it in just over 10 hours (8.5 hours riding time).

jmX

Wow I hadn't seen those. They are claiming they barely even made the cutoff times. Sounds like I'm going to have to do a lot more climbing miles between now and then.

thenomad

I did the 80 for Haiti last year with about 4 weeks or so to train from a weekend rider in winter condition.
I know I can do 100 now in better shape and would have ample time to build my base miles up. The climbing certainly makes it a different animal. Would need to hit GMR a bunch of times and get good at hydration and electrolyte maintenance.
Hmm. Seems like a great challenge. I'd need to see what cassette options I can fit on the rear, 30t as a bail out gear?

maddmike

I rode this ride in 2005 I think and for some reason they did the north route - up to Scotty's castle and back. When we got to Scotty's castle it started raining with wind gusts up to 30~40mph. We started riding back in the rain, then it starts hailing. Thankfully it didn't take to long for the storm to blow past us but it made for quite the experience. Guess the lesson to learn is be prepared for anything.

thenomad

I'm waffling on this but it being one the day of my 35th birthday and me being in better shape now than I have been in the past is making me think I'm going to pull the trigger. It will give me a good goal to further refine my fitness goals and I think I can make good headway with training now that I'm commuting by bike every day as well.
Worst thing that can happen is i get turned back at a time check and i make it a 60 miler. I think I'll be able to crank it out though.
How the heck do you take all the stuff that is required to "be prepared"? Rear rack? Big stuffed pockets?

jmX

Everything you need, aside from a spare tire, would fit in a standard seatbag. The spare tire could slip into a jersey pocket, strap to the frame, or you could just not bring one.

My medium sized topeak seatbag weighs right around a pound when stuffed with tire boots, spare tube, multitool with chain breaker, 6" air pump, tube patches, tire levers, repair chain links, tiny thing of sunblock, some advil, and an emergency gu packet. Probably all good stuff to bring on every ride anyway, nothing really special for the century ride.

thenomad

I was also reading about the weather change issues, but I suppose a light vest and armwarmers/legwarmers would be as much as is needed if it happens to get cold and windy.
I think I'll give it a shot.

idoru2005

hey thenomad, did you get registered for the Spring DV Century? I just got the newsletter from Adventurecorps - DV Fall registration is now closed. I hope you got in!

I've already submitted my volunteer application for HGH. Looking forward to it!

jmX

He was signing up for the march one. I haven't got any notification of the HGH being sold out yet.

thenomad

I'll be signing up/paying tonight most likely. Talked it all over with the wife and it looks good to go. We've got a 6 month old so training time is going to be at a premium but I plan on creating a nice long term build up starting 'after' Thanksgiving.

idoru2005

Awesome. Good luck getting your training kick started. Hopefully we'll have a mild winter this year so you don't have too many unintended rest days. I already started my training for Mt.Laguna with a ride up to Crystal Lake on Sunday. After the Fall DV Century, I actually feel like I've lost some fitness. I feel pretty heavy going up the climbs even though I've lost about 2 pounds in the last two weeks. Need to start doing hill repeats again.

thenomad

Mt Laguna looks like a killer ride. Have fun with that one!
My goal is to lose another 10 lb (slowly) and I'm already down about 15lb from last year's 80 For Haiti ride (80 miles 6000ft).
I'm searching for a nice compact 50/34 crank as well. Did the 80 with an old school 52/42 and now I'm on a 53/39 but I need more gear without going to a triple.

Registered and paid. Bring on the pain.

DScott

I did the death valley spring century two years ago. Beautiful place, interesting route, but brutal headwinds for at least 2/3rds of the ride.

If they'd have left that last part out, it would have been an excellent ride.

thenomad

Hope there is a strong tailwind for the uphill parts

Darn, those Hincapie event jerseys and stuff are waaaay too expensive for me.

jmX

[QUOTE=We've got a 6 month old so training time is going to be at a premium[/QUOTE]

6 mo old here too. It's tough to get rides in sometimes.

So which ride did you sign up for? I'll be doing the 150mi feb one and the bells gate in march.

idoru2005

idoru2005

I've got 2.5 year old. So I know what it's like to juggle training with doing family stuff.

calamarichris

Nuts--too late for the Feb Century, but I'm reg'd & paid for HGH & Laguna.
I've never done one of these Adventurecorp rides, but was sold as soon as I saw the guy's blog account of the pre-century yoga session.

I'm tempted to shoot for a time, since they claim there are only 3 stop signs, but is the HGH more of a scenic/idyllic joyride?

thenomad

Hells Gate hundred is what I signed up for. Not a century rider so you vets and ultra-distance riders will probably say it is a nice little century, no prob. For me it'll be a good challenge.
100 miles, 8,600 feet elevation with the majority of it being a steady steep climb of 16 miles or so at the 40 mile mark. Some steeper sections at mile 10 or something. Doesn't look at daunting as Mount Laguna's 11,000 ft total.

I can't afford the reg fees for a ride a month, I'll have to pirate some local rides and do them self supported or something. I started Cyclocross this season because it lets me train and compete for high intensity 45 minute sessions instead of chugging away for 6-7 hours on the weekends.

I think I'll try camping the night before.

DScott

I almost forgot: if you can, try and drive the route to Death Valley recommended here: https://www.adventurecorps.com/deathv...eathValley.pdf

It's an amazing journey through some rugged, but entirely passable terrain. It might take a little longer, but you access parts of California you'll never see on the beaten path. It was like going back in time...