Moonlight Magic Century

[Trekhawk]

Anyone out there done this ride? It starts at Lone Pine and you ride to the border of Death Valley NP and back by moonlight. They have the century and metric century option.

Do you think this would be a little scary on your own? Would it be best to have a riding partner on this one?

It has 2850 of climbing how difficult would that make it?

Thanks

Trekhawk (trying to decide what rides to do next year).

[SadieKate]

http://www.planetultra.com/Moonlight/

Wow, that looks pretty cool. Thom and V did something in Death Valley. I wonder what.

2,850 is pretty flat.

[Trekhawk]

http://www.planetultra.com/Moonlight/
Wow, that looks pretty cool. Thom and V did something in Death Valley. I wonder what.
2,850 is pretty flat.

Maybe we could get a group from TE together for this one. I might be a little scared to ride 100 out in the boonies at night on my own (I know Im a big wimp). :D :D

[Veronica]

We've done the fall centuries. Death Valley is gorgeous.

V.

[Trekhawk]

We've done the fall centuries. Death Valley is gorgeous.

V.

Hmm wonder how it looks by moonlight. :)

[Veronica]

I haven't ridden my bike there at night, but we did a little night time hiking. It's stunning,

V

[Trekhawk]

I haven't ridden my bike there at night, but we did a little night time hiking. It's stunning,
V

Thanks V - I will put this one on my maybe list. :)

[Veronica]

It would be a good family trip - if you're kids are at all into hiking and nature. It's one of those places you should see while you're here. :p My opinion of course.

Lassen is another very cool place. Or maybe I should say hot.

V.

[latelatebloomer]

Years ago, a friend took me camping on the shore of Lake Almanor, near Mt.Lassen, I believe. There were many, many bald eagles, and we watched them fight in the sky over huge fish they pulled out of the lake. Definitely worth a look if you're going that way.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I did a supported tour in Death Valley many years ago. I was there in March, camping and cycling. It was pretty cool to start with, but then we had a few unseasonable warm (or should I say very hot?) days. I'd love to go back there - what a beautiful place!

--- Denise

[wabisabi]

This looks really great, and I'm going to check my schedule (might be graduation weekend at our university). I live fairly close to Lassen and woudl like to ride more there, although the eastern Sierra always feels like "home" to me, and May is a beautiful time to ride.

[Trekhawk]

Well Ladies if any of you decide to do this one let me know and maybe we can hook up. Im still trying to decide if Im brave enough to do this on my own.

Do you think you would need to practice riding at night? It will be a full moon on the ride so not too dark.

If you have done some riding late at night how does your body cope?
Wouldn't want to fall asleep in the middle of the ride and crash. :eek:

Course opens at 4pm and closes at 2am.

[bikerHen]

Hey Trekhawk, I'm trying to convince DH we need to visit his family in So. Cal. this spring so I can do some rides in the area. I'm thinking this maybe one to try for!

One of my goals for next year is to do at least two century rides. This one sound fairly easy with just 2800' of elevation. And riding in the moonlight just sound way cool! And it is a beautiful area. So maybe . . . count me in. :)

PS: I just have to add, after listen to daughter and I talk all summer, DH's comment when I showed him the web site last night was "Yea it looks fun, but what does the ride jersey look like?" Maybe there is hope for him. :rolleyes:

[Bike Goddess]

You won't make to Death Valley itself- mostly what you will do is ride the hills before the big climbs! This is part of the ride that they do FROM Death Valley to Mt Whitney called the Whitney Classic. That ride is 135 miles and 15,000 feet of climbing- a tough one! If you want to look it up-www.summitadventures.com


I think Veronica is talking about the Death Valley century- there is one in March that usually goes to Scotties Castle and one in October that goes through Badwater and south. Those are put on by Adventure Corps (the same people that put on the Furnace Creek 508 race I just crewed for in October).

[Trekhawk]

Hey Trekhawk, I'm trying to convince DH we need to visit his family in So. Cal. this spring so I can do some rides in the area. I'm thinking this maybe one to try for!
One of my goals for next year is to do at least two century rides. This one sound fairly easy with just 2800' of elevation. And riding in the moonlight just sound way cool! And it is a beautiful area. So maybe . . . count me in. :)
PS: I just have to add, after listen to daughter and I talk all summer, DH's comment when I showed him the web site last night was "Yea it looks fun, but what does the ride jersey look like?" Maybe there is hope for him. :rolleyes:

bikerhen - that would be great I was thinking of doing the shorter ride but if I had a riding partner I would do the century. Registration is open from Jan 1 so this gives everyone a bit of time to work out if they can make it or not. My husband works pretty odd hours and is away a lot but I should have a fair idea by Jan if he will be around. The event is on May 13.
:)
LOL about the jersey.

Any other TE riders interested? :)

[Veronica]

Do you think you would need to practice riding at night? It will be a full moon on the ride so not too dark.



Thom and I did a moonlight century on the tandem summer before last. We just took a nap in the afternoon. He did get kind of tired on the drive home though and I ended up driving the last 20 miles or so.

V.

[Trekhawk]

Thom and I did a moonlight century on the tandem summer before last. We just took a nap in the afternoon. He did get kind of tired on the drive home though and I ended up driving the last 20 miles or so.
V.

Thanks for the tip V if I do this Im sure I will have to stay somewhere around the start I would be a basket case after riding that far.

Maybe its time for another moonlight century on your tandem?

Come on , Come on.

Trekhawk trying to rope in other nutty night riders. :D

[Veronica]

Actually, I was looking at the date and thinking about it. I have to talk to "the man" though :p before I can commit.

V.

[SadieKate]

Ever since Princess Zippy and her consort told us about their DV experience, it's been in the back of my mind, but the timing on this one is bad. We're off to the Canyonlands for a week in April and then Oregon for a week in May. The spring or fall DV Centuries are better timing. I'd prefer to go in the spring, but I really want to do the northern route which is the fall ride. Both of these rides are actually in the Valley.

Plus, if the weather is nice I want to do Tour of the Unknown Valley out of Maxwell which is the same day (and no overnight needed). I keep trying for this one but the gods have conspired against me. After the Siskiyou, I'm extra committed to seeing those hills west of the Sacramento Valley.

[Trekhawk]

Ever since Princess Zippy and her consort told us about their DV experience, it's been in the back of my mind, but the timing on this one is bad. We're off to the Canyonlands for a week in April and then Oregon for a week in May. The spring or fall DV Centuries are better timing. I'd prefer to go in the spring, but I really want to do the northern route which is the fall ride. Both of these rides are actually in the Valley.

Plus, if the weather is nice I want to do Tour of the Unknown Valley out of Maxwell which is the same day (and no overnight needed). I keep trying for this one but the gods have conspired against me. After the Siskiyou, I'm extra committed to seeing those hills west of the Sacramento Valley.

Wow you are a busy girl. The tour of the unknown valley sounds interesting do you have a link for that one?

[SadieKate]

Chico Velo puts on a terrific series of centuries rides, all close to you. The winter rides usually have same day registration so you can look at the weather. The Rice Valley Tandem rally goes around the Sutter Buttes when the cranes are there and lots of singles riders are out sucking wheel. So, don't feel shy. As close as you are to Chico, I highly recommend one of the Wildflower routes in April, though this year there was rain in the mountains and last year was a record high.

The 2006 info isn't up yet, but you can still download the maps.

http://www.chicovelo.org/centurydates05.html

PS - the week in the Canyonlands was by royal command as issued by Princess Zippy. :)

[Trekhawk]

Chico Velo puts on a terrific series of centuries rides, all close to you. The winter rides usually have same day registration so you can look at the weather. The Rice Valley Tandem rally goes around the Sutter Buttes when the cranes are there and lots of singles riders are out sucking wheel. So, don't feel shy. As close as you are to Chico, I highly recommend one of the Wildflower routes in April, though this year there was rain in the mountains and last year was a record high.
The 2006 info isn't up yet, but you can still download the maps.
http://www.chicovelo.org/centurydates05.html
PS - the week in the Canyonlands was by royal command as issued by Princess Zippy. :)

Thanks SadieKate - the closer the rides are the better. With the tribe coming along less logistical support would be required :D

LOL - A royal summons is never to be ignored Ive heard a stay in the tower is ghastly and occasionally heads do roll.

[wabisabi]

Chico is great, and their version of the Unknown Coast (2 days with supported catered food and camping) looks better than ours (1 day, almost entirely hammerhead men). I may defect.

[Veronica]

Ever since Princess Zippy and her consort told us about their DV experience, it's been in the back of my mind, but the timing on this one is bad. We're off to the Canyonlands for a week in April and then Oregon for a week in May. The spring or fall DV Centuries are better timing. I'd prefer to go in the spring, but I really want to do the northern route which is the fall ride. Both of these rides are actually in the Valley.



Chris Kostman (head honcho of Planet Ultra) was on the Riv weekend and I swear he said they were switching the order for the centuries. Now I could have misunderstood... as I was working very hard to stay with his group. I eventually got dropped when I dropped my chain. :( But i kept them in sight. :)

Anyway... I think the northern portion is doable on your own. There is food at Scottie's Castle. So maybe we should just plan our own TE DV trip.

V.

[Veronica]

PS - the week in the Canyonlands was by royal command as issued by Princess Zippy. :)

Yes and you were so hard to convince. I think I said, "So do you want to do a Maze tour?" :p

I gotta get me a tiara.


V.

[go get em]

I would love to do this ride. If my knee is better by then I will definitely go.

[Trekhawk]

I would love to do this ride. If my knee is better by then I will definitely go.

Cool we might get a TE team together yet.

[SadieKate]

I swear he said they were switching the order for the centuries.
Anyway... I think the northern portion is doable on your own. There is food at Scottie's Castle. So maybe we should just plan our own TE DV trip.
According to the website, the northern route is in the fall. Isn't that what you did? For some reason it seems that it would be the more interesting of the two but I really only base that on the rolling elevation profile. What is winter like there? I assume it can get pretty cold at night.

http://www.adventurecorps.com/dvspring/index.html
http://www.planetultra.com/

[Veronica]

That is a switch then. We did the southern route in the fall both times. It's pretty, but the road is horrible.

No idea about winter - we've only been there in October. I'm running off to check the NPS site. Average low is 39, average high 65 in December.

V.

[aka_kim]

When I did the fall DV ride several years ago it took the southern route too - and like PZip said, the pavement is bad.

Here's a link to a picture (http://www.my508.com/images/dvc2005/pages/20-Mile38.htm) showing the 12 mile 6-8% grade climb to Scotty's Castle... so I guess the ride is not flat.

[SadieKate]

There are route profiles on the adventurecorps site. I wonder what the pavement is like on the northern route and could we do this on our own. Maybe we should have the toolbox photo model contact her buddy. :D