Triple Bypass

[IFjane]

Hi all - I also posted this in the Rocky Mtn. thread but thought maybe more people would see it here. I have been challenged to ride the Triple Bypass this summer & would like to hear from anyone out there who has ridden it in the past. If I am going to complete 120 miles with 10,300 ft. of climbing in one day I sure would like to know what to expect. I ride in the Rockies every summer so I know what to expect regarding altitude & weather, it's just the sheer distance and difficulty that I need some insight into. According to the 2005 stats on the Team Evergreen website, only 15% of the riders were female. That's not many but I'm hoping some of you are here and can lend me some advice/information.

Thank you!! -jane

[Veronica]

I haven't done Triple Bypass but it sounds very similar to the Death Ride or the first half of the Devil Mountain Double.

Hill training is your friend.

V.

[IFjane]

Veronica - thanks for the input. Where I live the only riding there is is hill riding. The difference being we have more oxygen down here! And our hills tend to be shorter in length but steeper, so training involves finding some long, sustained climbs. There are some but the traffic is really bad on those roads because they tend to be the only ones over the mountains.

[mtkitchn]

Hi IFJane,
I've signed up for the Triple Bypass, but have never done it before. I also look forward to any female perspective on the ride.
Sue

[IFjane]

Sue - hope we can hook up while I'm out there! -jane

[Geonz]

Looked simply too pricey for me. The challenge looked sweet! I have never ever ridden in altitude though, either, so I wouldn't want to have my first efforts be quite that epic.

[mtkitchn]

We should definitely get together! This will be the longest ride with the most climbing I have ever done, but I'm hoping to get a few centuries between now and then as well as finding some "mountains" to climb.
Sue

[IFjane]

Sue - me too! I have done a century out there (Colorado/Eagle River Ride), but with relatively little climbing in comparison. I think the most I have done out there in one day (climbing, not mileage) was 6500+/- ft. on the Leadville Loop starting & ending at Copper. I only plan one organized century before I go out but will put in lots of miles on my own.

Keep the information coming, please!

[maillotpois]

I've done the Death Ride several times - this is similar from what I understand, talking to friends who have done it, but slightly higher elevation.

I'd highly recommend trying to get up to the area of the ride about a month before the event to see how the elevation affects you and perhaps ride and get familiar with some part of the course. You won't "acclimate" during this time, but you will get a good idea of how altitude affects you and what you can expect during the ride.

I find that often people have a hard time eating in higher altitude. The stomach can be a bit "off". It can be a lot drier, so you need to keep on top of hydration. Often, sports drinks don't go down as well for me so I use endurolyte capsules and pure water instead. Real food often works better than "sports foods".

For the group I coach for the Death Ride, we spend a weekend at the location climbing passes about a month before the event. It makes a huge difference in peoples' confidence as they start the event and helps them really understand what to expect from their bodies and from the course.

[Veronica]

I knew MP would have some good advice for you. :) I've only mountain biked at altitude.

Regarding the hills - do hill repeats on your short, steeper ones on your week day rides.

Also I found the Spinervals hill DVDs put me in really good shape for my first double last year. Not nearly that much climbing, but they certainly made me stronger.

V.

[IFjane]

Thank you Sarah. I go out every summer for 2 weeks & will do the same this summer. The ride will be at the end of my stay. I do not have a problem riding at altitude as long as I keep my heart rate at 150 or below. Once it gets above that for long, I crack. And I have already ridden most of the course. The climb over Juniper Pass is the only one I have not done. I'm hoping to be able to pre-ride that portion before the actual ride.

Thanks so much for your input!

[IFjane]

Veronica - good advice about hill repeats. That beats getting run over by a truck trying to climb the mountain! :D

[maillotpois]

If you'll be spending the 2 weeks before the event up there you should be fairly well acclimated by the time of the ride. Most times people can only go up to the event locale a day or so before, which does not give you any time to acclimate. and in fact may put you in worse shape than if you went up and did the ride immediately upon arrival. So you'll be ahead of the game!

[spokewench]

We should definitely get together! This will be the longest ride with the most climbing I have ever done, but I'm hoping to get a few centuries between now and then as well as finding some "mountains" to climb.
Sue

MtKitchn - You should come up here to Flag when the weather warms a bit and start riding altitude and hills. I rode a lot of hills to get ready for last year's Bicycle Tour of Colorado. You are only a couple of hours away The good ones to do around here are Wupatki, Snowbowl, and the out and back climb south out of Williams on the Perkinsville road and then of course the back up the hill to Williams. These are all tough and at altitude. I'm lucky I live up here, but I know you live in the Valley so come up and ride. If I'm available when you come, I'll go with you.

spoke

[mtkitchn]

Hi Spoke,
Part of my training plan was to ride a lot in Flagstaff once it got warm here in the valley. I haven't done any riding up there and would love to be shown around! Thanks! I'll PM you in the spring....my schedule can be pretty flexible so hopefully we can work out some rides!
Sue

[spokewench]

Sounds good - I'd be happy to show you all the hills - Don't worry, I'm NOT a hillclimber so I'm not fast just steady

spoke

[IFjane]

mt and anyone else who might be contemplating the Triple,

The following is advice from my son who lives out there and has ridden it several times:

"1) Climb some long hills. I mean it. Like find something that climbs 3K' in a stretch and do it, go over to the other side, and ride back.
2) Make sure you can ride in a straight line for 120 miles. This is really important - an accidental swerve coming down juniper pass (or any other one, but juniper is always the most crowded) will most certainly be disasterous & could lead to another participant's death. You have no idea how fast people will be whipping past you going downhill (myself included), and a fair many of them don't handle their bikes all that well.
3) Learn to eat, blow your nose, drink, put on arm warmers, etc. while you're riding. This might sound stupid, but it's much more efficient to keep rolling through those things, keep your # of stops to a minimum, and make the stops you do take count. It's a long ride."

And his description of the route itself (I have ridden the route from Loveland Pass to Avon so I didn't ask him anything about that. This is about the section from the start to Loveland):

"Juniper Pass - not the hardest necessarily, it's just very sudden. You get on your bike in the parking lot of this elementary school and start climbing. For a very long time. But you get to the top and absolutely blast down to Idaho Springs (meeting the Mt. Evans road at echo lake). The key is not blasting out of the start, but just taking it at your own pace and having a good ride. The climb up from Idaho Springs to the top of Loveland pass is what I consider the hardest, simply because of its sheer length. Once you actually get to Loveland, there is an aid station at the ski resort, so you stop & eat some fig newtons, orange slices, etc. The actual climb up the pass does seem easier, because it's more of a traditional climb and your mind is prepared for it. The trip from Idaho Springs up to the ski resort can be tough only because it's just a long pull, not above treeline, no switchbacks, etc., so it doesn't feel as much like the climb you're expecting."

:eek: :eek: :eek: :D

[pkq]

I've found that doing lots of rides in PA, where one can easily do a century with 10,000' of climbing is great preparatory work for CO. It's tough in either state and you'll be tired.

Good luck!

[IFjane]

Thanks, pkg. Have you ridden the triple?