Mt. Tam Century/Double Century or Marin Century/Metric/200k

[maillotpois]

Anyone doing any of these rides this year? So many options, so little time....

I just registered for the double. Who knows - I haven't done a double in 2 years, but I have a friend doing it and it is a good ride.

Anyway, who else will be out there?

[Bike Goddess]

three people from my area are doing the double as well. They are going for the Triple Crown. This will be their 3rd double. (They all finished the DR in fine style-one said training for doubles made the Death Ride easier-mentally for sure!)

[tulip]

Sounds awesome. I've never been to Marin County, but I've seen photos and it's on my List Of Places To Ride My Bike.

[aka_kim]

I'm signed up for the Marin Century (which sounds so pathetic among all this talk of doubles).

[maillotpois]

The Marin Century is plenty hard.

Frankly I don't know that I can finish the double this year, but there are so many places you can cut the ride short, I am not too worried about it. It may just turn out to be a nice ramble.

[maillotpois]

Nancy I saw your guys throughout the day. The completed the double as far as I can tell.

Did anyone else do one of the rides? It was FREEZING yesterday most of the day. So foggy on Tam you couldn't descend normally.

I did 170 miles of the double and given that I haven't ridden in about a month (and that was only part of the Death Ride) I was pretty pleased. I took a 3 1/2 hour break from riding in the middle of the day, skipped one section and so I ended up being out on the course as long as if I had done all 200, so I got a bit of night riding. I was REALLY pleased with how much fun I had riding at night (we had 2 hours of dark in the am and one in the pm). That (apprehension about riding at night) was one key factor in not completing DMD last year. My fitness is pretty low, but I am thinking I might get my base up this fall and winter and do some brevets/doubles next year.

And for that 170 miles, I got to be domestique for a friend who needed that ride for her Triple Crown. So I felt really good about that. :)

[jobob]

Leave it to mp to talk about her fitness being pretty low and only completing 170 miles. :rolleyes:

:D

(love ya sweetie)

[aka_kim]

Yeah, scary to think what being fit means to MP.

Woefully unfit me did the traditional century. I hadn't done a ride over 40 miles since mid-June, so found the ride a bit tough. I also thought it was harder than the Mt. Tam century route, and the backside (or is it frontside?) of the Marshall Wall nearly killed me. The sun didn't come out until about mile 70, but I had my woolies on and stayed warm. It was a fun ride, and the food all along the course was great.

[maillotpois]

I thought the switched around route for both the double and the century was a lot harder than the usual route.

Think about Marshall Wall back side if you were at mile 165 :eek: doing the full double. I prefer dealing with headwinds and rollers (they were trying to lessen wind by changing the route) than late in the day awful climbs.

[aka_kim]

Oh god, mile 165!?! Mile 70 was killer enough. Double century riders really are awesome.

[Veronica]

Did you guys see Lance Oldstrong? He was working a rest stop yesterday on his way to earning the 1,000 mile club jersey.

Veronica

[jobob]

Daniel aka Lance Oldstrong & Curtis were working the rest stop at Pt Reyes, which I'm told was only on the Mt Tam double & century routes, but not the Marin century route.

[Bike Goddess]

Thanks MP! The guys were pretty stoked up about doing this double. But, they all did well on previous rides plus made it through the DR in fine shape. I hope they were nice to you as they whizzed by! :) I suspect the tallest of the group- Joe P was leading the pack. He's 66 now and still racing and riding strong.

Yeah, 170 miles aint no cake walk. And coming up the west side (I assume- that mean climb with the cattle guards) must have be a real fun challenge. :(
Isn't that the Holstein route as well????

Ah for shortcuts. How I love those when I don't feel like doing more. Good thing you know your way around those parts especially since you had to do some "dark" riding. AND you said it was fun. My philosophy too. If it isn't fun why am I riding, right?

Like others said- I hate to think how strong you are even without being on the bike for awhile. Amazing.

Congrats to your friend - I trust she finished the course in time to qualify for TC. The BBC guys you saw were doing their 3rd double for the TC as well.

[maillotpois]

Did you guys see Lance Oldstrong? He was working a rest stop yesterday on his way to earning the 1,000 mile club jersey.

Veronica

I did see him. He recognized me which is good as I wouldn't have recognized him.
(late response as we've been backpacking for the week).

[Veronica]

And how was the backpacking?

[maillotpois]

Great. :D

We did explode one campstove and MSR fuel container, and although it eerily resembled the setting alight of the oil fields in Kuwait, we managed (miraculously) not to burn down the Desolation Wilderness.

20 miles in 3 days. I waited til 1/2 mile from the end to sprain my ankle grotesquely.

[Veronica]

Ouch!

At least it was at the end of the trip. Did the whole family go? I'm picturing Mike and Em carrying you out.

Veronica

[maillotpois]

Yes, and Mike's brother in law and his 14 year old girl and a friend of ours and her dog. It was quite a good group.

After I fell, a very nice man took my pack down to the trailhead for me and I limped down with my trekking poles. I've done that before; I simply have crummy ankles and it's not like cycling does anything to help the lateral stability. This hasn't happened in several years. I think I am going to see my doctor and get a referral to an orthopedist to talk about prevention. I would hate to spend the next backpacking trip terrified that I was going to do that again. As it was, I was hoping the trekking poles would prevent it and I believe they largely did. But perhaps there's a brace or something I could use as well. :rolleyes:

[jobob]

Oh geeze, sorry to hear about the ankle sprain! At least you timed it reasonably well.



I've done that before; I simply have crummy ankles and it's not like cycling does anything to help the lateral stability.

A couple of days ago I was reading up on leg strengthening exercises, and I came across this article which might be helpful for you:

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/balancetraining/a/ankle_balance.htm


A simple, targeted balance training exercise may reduce the risk of ankle injuries in high risk athletes.
[ ... ]
The more recent study found that these ankle injuries can be avoided by performing a simple balance exercise for five minutes several times a week.

HTH, - Jo.

[Veronica]

I was thinking the same sort of thing Jo, but had no study, just my experience. I do a lot of balancing and weigh work on the Bosu ball and have noticed that my ankles seem stronger.

Hope you heal up quickly MP!

Veronica

[maillotpois]

Thanks guys! I will check those exercises out.

After the first vomit inducing 3 minutes, it didn't really hurt. It was just very stiff and swollen all weekend. I am sure that the other (non-loaded) hike we did Saturday didn't help much. :rolleyes: You're right, Jo - good timing.

Once we get all the pics downloaded, I am going to throw some up of Desolation wilderness. It was just stunning. So many lakes and so much granite. (And surprisingly few mosquitoes. :D )

[maillotpois]

Bumping this.... anyone doing any of these this year?

[jobob]

I'll be in Mt. Shasta for the Mt. Shasta Century that weekend.

Not that I'm under any illusions (or delusions) of completing it. :D
I'm going for the lovely woodsy deck of the cottage at the Mt. Shasta Resort, and the beers in the fridge. Priorities, you know.

[aka_kim]

I'll be finishing up a bike tour in Glacier National Park that weekend.

[Veronica]

It's the weekend after Barb's Race. Unless I become a Super Human, I'll be dead still. :p

Maybe we'll look at one of the shorter rides though.

Veronica

[maillotpois]

Well Jo and Kim have good excuses, but V you guys should do a shorter ride as recovery ride!

[maillotpois]

I'll be in Mt. Shasta for the Mt. Shasta Century that weekend.

Not that I'm under any illusions (or delusions) of completing it. :D
I'm going for the lovely woodsy deck of the cottage at the Mt. Shasta Resort, and the beers in the fridge. Priorities, you know.

Sounds lovely!

[Veronica]

Well our other excuse is that Thom's trainer session is on Saturday and he'll miss the one the Saturday of Barb's. We'll discuss it. :D

Veronica

[MojoGrrl]

Boyfriend is doing the Double and suggested I tag along and do the Mt. Tam Century, or the 100k. I think I'll be able to do a full century by then...looking at the course I think the Mt. Tam one is easier than Marin? Anyone have any experience to share? (As someone with little hill experience and still not a lot of strength on them, I'm thinking Mt. Tam is better...?)

[maillotpois]

Mt Tam century is defnitely harder than marin century.

[MojoGrrl]

Thanks for the warning ;) I'm a little wary of either route, because I do not have a lot of experience with big hills or technical descents.

[aquamoose32]

YUP! Doing the Tam century with my townies bike team we invited. We are just a bunch of Oaklanders friends who like to ride. I am doing Ragbrai the week before so I think I'll be able to tackle the Tam Century. I cant wait!

[aquamoose32]

YUP! Doing the Tam century with my townies bike team we invited. We are just a bunch of Oaklanders friends who like to ride. I am doing Ragbrai the week before so I think I'll be able to tackle the Tam Century. I cant wait!

Invented no invited I mean.

[maillotpois]

Thanks for the warning ;) I'm a little wary of either route, because I do not have a lot of experience with big hills or technical descents.

Well don't be worried about it, but look at the route and understand what you're undertaking. It is a beautiful course, but there's probably 9000 feet of climbing in Tam century and 1000 - 2000 feet less in the regular century route. The Tam century climbs to the top of Mt Tam, which is about 2500 feet. I don't know that I would call the descent technical, but it should be taken with care.

If you could come out here and climb Tam at some point before the ride, I think that would be great training and help your confidence. I'd be happy to suggest a training loop to get you ready! :)

The rest of both courses have lots of rollery terrain.

[maillotpois]

I am leading a group doing a Tam double training ride that could easily be shortened to a Tam century training ride on 7/24 at 7:30 am (rolling time) from College of Marin in Kentfield. Unsupported. PM me if interested.

[MojoGrrl]

Anyone doing the century want to meet up at the start at, say 7:30? PM me if interested...or see me there. I'll be wearing a blue and yellow retro image jersey, silver colored LeMond bike. I'm heavily tattooed too but will be wearing arm warmers in the a.m...

[maillotpois]

Mojo - I want to hear how it went! I am sure you had a great ride. Sure was cool/cold, wasn't it?

We finished the Tam Double before 9 pm. I was really pleased, given that I had only 2 real rides in July. :eek: I had a rough first 130 miles, but rode smart and we really picked up the pace at the end. Finishing strong was one of my real goals, and I really did.

[MojoGrrl]

Mojo - I want to hear how it went! I am sure you had a great ride. Sure was cool/cold, wasn't it?

We finished the Tam Double before 9 pm. I was really pleased, given that I had only 2 real rides in July. :eek: I had a rough first 130 miles, but rode smart and we really picked up the pace at the end. Finishing strong was one of my real goals, and I really did.

I was great! I completed it in about 9 hours (including all my stops). Boyfriend did Mt. Tam Double and took a wrong turn (which is not uncommon for him) and got in around 7:00 tonight (left at about 5 am). That's great that you had a strong ride, especially with only 2 rides last month!! I think I was really prepared because my 3 big training rides last month were sufferfests - 70+ miles at high altitudes on much worse hills than the Marin Century.

There was a serious accident at the start of my ride which was pretty traumatizing for me - I was the first one on the scene along with a couple other riders, one of whom was luckily an ER doc - and that almost ruined my ride, because I don't deal well with blood and serious injuries and stuff, and had PTSD flashbacks from my ex-husband's motorcycle accident. But I managed to shake it off and focus on my ride. Did all the hills with NO stopping, Marshall Wall was not even that bad, and then somehow found the energy to sprint the last 3 miles, about 25 mph into town....it was awesome!

[maillotpois]

Glad you had such a great ride - and your boyfriend os a rock star!

[MojoGrrl]

Glad you had such a great ride - and your boyfriend os a rock star!

Did I tell you we're doing Waves to Wine too? On the tandem!

[maillotpois]

Excellent!

My daughter (15) and husband were going to do waves to wine on the tandem for the second year; however, she has gotten her own bike and now may ride that. In which case we would do the shorter routes. Which is fine. It's not like I need the miles :rolleyes:, but I will miss doing the while ride. perhaps we could meet up at the finish area Saturday night.