Wine Country Century 5/6/2006

[Veronica]

I'll do the 200 K most likely.

V.

[maillotpois]

We did the double metric last year and are doing it again this year. It is a beautiful double metric. Most of the climbing is in the first half - you do the easier side of Coleman Valley Road, which is absolutely gorgeous. The SRCC website is wrong on the elevation for the double metric, though. It was 7300 on my HAC4 which is pretty darned accurate. (It measured Death Ride at 13,000, which I think is more accurate than what they say on the website.) So there's a lot of climbing, but it is over with fairly soon.

I think the metric and century options cut out a lot of the climbing. I know they don't do Coleman. Which is a shame.

SK, I think you should try the double metric. It is just so pretty. (The rest of it is nice, too.) I know it's been tough to get on the bike as much as any of us would like in this weather. But if you pace yourself well, you should be fine.

[SadieKate]

I can't believe I'm still considering this but I really want to do a double metric this year. I have to get in metrics both of the next two weekends to hit this target and the weather and other things are not being considerate.

Don't you love it in this age of technology when they can't get the climbing right? Does the Dble Metric cross paths with the 100 somewhere (or have a figure-8 loop) so I could shorten the ride if I'm not up to it? It's a big help to have the climbing at the beginning.

Thanks, Sarah.

Sarah

[maillotpois]

You ought to just give it (the double metric) a shot.

We (DH and friends) rode the DM and DH's sister Kelly rode the regular century (I think. She may have done the single metric, but I don't think so). We started with her, and then split off in Occidental where we (DM only - not century or metric) we over Coleman Valley Rd. to the coast, up through Monte Rio. At that point, we joined up with Kelly again (century course, and were with her up through Dry Creek). I can't remember where she went at the lunch stop at Lake Sonoma, because neither DH nor I rode with her through the last part of the ride. She may have had a shorter route that didn't take her to the lake.

I think you could shorten it even after doing the whole Coleman loop. It is worth doing the Coleman loop because there's no prettier road anywhere (except descending Old Howell Mtn. Rd. in Napa).

So sign up for the DM and see how your day goes.

[SadieKate]

Thanks, knowing that there is a point I can change my mind helps.

I have to get some hills in!!! By this time last year, the girls had talked me into riding Diablo and Placerville stuff several times.

I know, I know. Hills on mtbikes don't phase me. On the road is another story. Now, I'm just working on re-writing the story so they match.

[Veronica]

You can ride with me any weekend SK.

V.

[wabisabi]

Looking at this website brought back a memory of what probably was this ride from probably the late 80s--could that be? I recall going with a friend who was a serious rider, and I had my--this is the truth--my old very non fancy "girl's" bike. I was of course younger then, so I managed the first 40 miles (up to lunch) with just sheer strength from winter tele skiing and hiking in the Sierra. I recall that it was really beautiful, especially early the morning, going past the wineries and all of the flowers.