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

[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. 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. 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!