Marin Century/Mt. Tam Double registration open!!

Just got a notice that registration for the Marin Century and Mt. Tam Double is open! August 5, 2006 is the date.

http://www.marincyclists.com/html/Ma...2003-05-06.htm

This year they have a LOT more ride length options: 50k, 100k, 100 miles, 200k and 200 miles.

So who's in? Come on V do the double - it is a GREAT ride. A measley 15,000 of climbing - after DMD and TT that won't seem like much at all!! My MAIN goal for the year isn't the 600k or some other double or death ride or the 508 - my MAIN goal is to do the Mt. Tam Double and feel better than I did last year. :D Kind of a subjective role, but kicking my own butt is what I'm about.

I'm planning to do the 100 miler (maybe the 200K). I did this one last year and it is one of my favs. The double is a challenge and that you EVEN finished is a remarkable feat in itself! After what you just did this past weekend, this ride should be much less stressful!

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Originally Posted by Bike Goddess

I'm planning to do the 100 miler (maybe the 200K). I did this one last year and it is one of my favs. The double is a challenge and that you EVEN finished is a remarkable feat in itself! After what you just did this past weekend, this ride should be much less stressful!

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Thanks! Do the 200k - it includes Coleman Valley Rd. :D Super pretty.

Hmmmm- does that mean we do Coleman Valley Road the OTHER way from the Sta Rosa double metric?? (I'll bet!!! Just my luck- more climbing. Love those hills!)

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Originally Posted by Bike Goddess

Hmmmm- does that mean we do Coleman Valley Road the OTHER way from the Sta Rosa double metric?? (I'll bet!!! Just my luck- more climbing. Love those hills!)

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Um. Yes. But think of the sense of accomplishment! And, again, the views! (Last time I climbed Coleman, probably last November, it was socked in a fog bank and I got no view... :mad: ) And the climbing part is mostly over with in the first bit.

Okay, I admit - Coleman from Hwy. 1 sucks. The first part of Coleman is steep. You have cattle guards going up-hill so you have to get momentum up to propel yourself over so you can coast over the cattle guards. The gradient gets towards 16 - 17%. The steep part is over a mile.

(And SK stop the panic RIGHT NOW because this is the opposite direction from what you'll do at WCC. WCC is much easier.).

Anyway, Nancy, it is tough but you can totally do it and, again, think of the sense of accomplishment. And it really is a beautiful road - one of my top five cycling roads ever. And be glad you're not doing it at mile 130, which is where the double folks will be doing it. After climbing Alpine Dam to the top of Mt. Tam.

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Originally Posted by maillotpois

(And SK stop the panic RIGHT NOW because this is the opposite direction from what you'll do at WCC. WCC is much easier.)

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Who, me? Panic? Nooooo, well, only because I had read this someplace else earlier.:p

I'm thinking about Mt. tam. It will be my fifth one. I'm going to do the Knoxville staff ride. But it's usually after the real ride. I want to work the real ride and I want to have my 5th one done before the awards ceremony or whatever it's called.

V.

You should do it V - it is a beautiful ride and after the rest of your rides it will seem tame. There's just one super long climb at the beginning! :D

Well supported, too. Last year they had great fresh figs and peaches!! And I like the fact it's close to home... :)

Yes, V we want you up on that podium with Artic Bill (the pink bike guy- you might see him whiz by you tomorrow)! Anyone who does 1000 miles in 5 rides is a winner in my book (anyone who does 600 miles in 3 rides is too!!!!!)

Go girl, we'll be around to cheer you on (at the end?????)

Okay - so the Wine Country got rave reviews - so who's doing Marin?? The 200k route goes up Coleman Valley Road, so you get the same incredible views!

(I've actually decided I prefer going West to East on Coleman because I'm not wild about descending steep, crummy, cattle-guardy pavement. It's like Ink Grade - I'd rather go up it!) Holstein last year also went up Coleman (W - E) on the 100 mile route, but at mile 30, which was very civilized!

Any of the many Marin Century route options (50k, 100k, 100 miles, 200k and 200 miles) will be fantastic. Register now!!


http://www.marincyclists.com/html/Ma...2003-05-06.htm

I'm registered: 200K :eek: :D

That's great!! You'll have plenty of time to get ready for that - it is a great course.

Now if we could only convince SK another 200 k would be fun.

From the website:

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All routes have an option to bail out so riders can shorten their ride back to the finish. We say this so you know there is a parachute. However, we encourage you to ride the furthest distance you feel you can in order to give you a sense of achievement.

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OK, that's all I need to hear :D

The Bobs are signed up for the 100 mile.

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Originally Posted by maillotpois

Now if we could only convince SK another 200 k would be fun.

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La-la-la! Not listening!

Talked to a guy last night who (before he moved here) had been vacationing in Santa Rosa but brought his bike from Florida. You know where this is going, right? The kid at the bike shop told him and his wife about a beautiful loop going up the west side of Coleman, forgetting that Floridians think 39x21 is the smallest gear anyone needs. He said he'd get one pedal turned over, do a trackstand, turn the other pedal, trackstand, repeat.

they don't look that different

So SK, if you do the 200K, and LeeBob and I do the 100 mile, odds are we'd finish at about the same time.
no you'd all probably finish way sooner but that's beside the point

Then we could do a road trip to Santa Rosa for a lovely eye-talian dinner at LoCoco's.

Now how's that for motivating ??

- jo "just doing my part for the team, ma'am" bob

You know Eye-talian dinners are just as yummy after a 100m.

I have to get our summer schedule figured out. As usual, Bubba and calendar cannot be used in the same sentence without either a very expressive eye-roll or crying. We're supposed to go to Bend over Mem Day but may delay it and he wants to go to Florida for some flats fishing and we want to go to Idaho for more fishing and . . . and . . . and :( :confused: :rolleyes:

Here's my two cents- Considering the condition of Coleman Valley Rd, I'm not too thrilled about going up either. AND there are some STEEP stretches.

For sure, I'll do the 100. There are a few nasty hills on that one too, but NOTHING like Coleman Valley Road!!

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

As usual, Bubba and calendar cannot be used in the same sentence without either a very expressive eye-roll or crying.

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"Lots of enjoy, lots of cry."

Okay, now that Veronica has committed (should be committed?) to the double - let's bump this thread!! C'mon - who else is doing it. There's just a smorgasbord of ride options available to you.

I can see the pointed looks aimed my way. Give up now. Bubba and calendar have still not converged and I'd rather do the Holstein.

Coleman is kind of tempting from the west . . . for the same reason people climb Mt Everest, because it's there. I liked the climb from the east. The descent wasn't easy but since I rode conservatively it was fine.:p

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Originally Posted by maillotpois

Okay, now that Veronica has committed (should be committed?) to the double - let's bump this thread!! C'mon - who else is doing it. There's just a smorgasbord of ride options available to you.

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Riding a bike and dragging a trailer 600 miles around Nova Scotia better get me in shape for this.

The coach might need to yell at me every day on the phone about doing back work though. ;)


V.

Hey... aren't we riding Coleman today?

V.

V- IF you did ride Coleman today how was it? This might get me interested in the double metric!:D :D :D

If there is any way you can do ANY of the distances listed - come do this ride! Even the shortest ride has some gorgeous scenery. Come do it on your own even. :p

We have some stunning country out here. I think once I got back from Nova Scotia, Thom and I will be spending A LOT of time in Marin.

Coleman Road is tough. I would guess it's about the same distance as riding to the Junction on Diablo. But Diablo is an easier climb. It's not as hard as Patterson Pass or Sierra Road. I would guess it's about as steep as Patterson Pass, maybe a tad steeper, but Patterson has that NASTY headwind.

My problem with it, is - it keeps going. You get to what you think could be the top, have a nice little downhill and the road tilts up again! It does that at least twice! I like my ups to be up and my downs to be down - this mixing thing confuses me. :D

I, of course find most hills to be doable - when you have a 24 X 27, you can spin up most anything, albeit slowly. ;) The other ladies I was riding with today are all members of the good calf club! I know this because I spent the day behind them. Maybe I'd have better calves if I used bigger rings....

NAH!

V.

Thanks V for the Coleman Rd update. Coming from you, I know it is real! Good comparisons too. I had an inkling it would be hard going up the west side as coming down was no picnic. How were the cattleguards and what condition is the road in this days?

I looked at the route on their website. Is White Hill included in this ride? I forget what road that's on.

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Originally Posted by dachshund

I looked at the route on their website. Is White Hill included in this ride? I forget what road that's on.

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White's Hill is on Sir Francis Drake just west of Fairfax. It is part of the double century course, but I don't think it is part of the other routes.

Not part of the century- at least not last year!

So I am now officially volunteering for the Mt. Tam Double. (Bittersweet yay). Anyone else interested in volunteering - or are folks generally planning to do one of the rides. If you want to volunteer, PM me and maybe we can get the same assignment. My brevet friend Kevin is in charge of the volunteers.

We can cheer for V if she decides for sure to do the double!

Just signed up for the double metric. Ye gads, what am I thinking here?????:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: