Yikes!

[maillotpois]

Just received my email confirmation that I am officially registered for Devil Mtn. Double. I had almost hoped they would lose it in the mail...

[Veronica]

You'll be fine.

V.

[maillotpois]

So will you! But, um, it is a bit scary.

On the other hand, I am so fired UP for Solvang, Davis, Eastern Sierra and K-ville! And Mt. Tam for that matter. I want to take vengeance on the Mt. Tam Double. Last year while I finished MTD (and before dark at that) I felt like crud the whole time and had DH making the most wonderfully supportive comments like "You're going too slow. We'll never make it!" I am so looking forward to having a BETTER ride. So I guess I just need to channel that vengeful attitude towards DMD, huh?

How's your training going?

[cindysue]

you are both an inspiration! I'd love to hear how both of you are doing with your training schedules, and of course your ride reports!!!

Solvang is less than 4 weeks away . I'll be at Cinderella that day, but look forward to hearing about it...........

As for me, my world will open up this summer (after graduating late May) and I am really looking forward to getting back in the groove with more time in the saddle! although I'm not sure that a double is part of the plan unless it is late in the season.... We'll see!

[maillotpois]

cindysue -

There's now a Solvang FALL double, as well as Death Valley fall double. Those would be great late season rides if you were interested...

[Veronica]

Now that I've ridden all the major bits of DMD separately, I'm feeling more confident about the ride. Patterson Pass and Sierra Rd. will be the hard parts I think.

And I need to stick with riding to my HR and not get sucked in to going too hard.

I've got a club ride going up Mines Rd. 3/18 if you'd like to join us.

V.

PS That's an invitation to all.

[maillotpois]

Veronica I would love to join you 3/18 but that is going to be the weekend I need to do DD's birthday party and DH has a TNT ride, so I can't commit to anything just now. (Her b-day is 3/20 and I will be in Solvang the following weekend, so we will do her party the week before.)

Right now, it looks like my "long" DMD ride will need to be April 2. Want to join me and do some of the DMD course? I have never done Morgan territory or Sierra. Have done Hamilton and Diablo plenty. I would like to combine Hamilton and Sierra - what kind of loop could we do with that? Is it possible to combine Morgan and Sierra? I just don't know the area well enough. I need to sit down with the course map (which I haven't asked for yet) and a Krebs map and just figure it out.

What do you think about 4/2?

[Veronica]

I'll have to run it by Thom. My sister is coming to visit the following weekend and our house and yard need some attention that they haven't been getting. That was our plan for that weekend. But, he's easily persuaded.

One of our thoughts was just riding the course from MT or Hamilton through to the end. And then he would pick me up.


V.

[maillotpois]

Okay - let me know. I got the route map and poked around on Klimb a bit. The way I figure it, the Hamilton-Sierra loop is 100 miles, which isn't really enough for a double long training ride. If I start in Clayton to add Morgan Territory, it goes up to about 150, which is probably too long.

How important do you think it is to have ridden Morgan territory before DMD? I have never done it and don't really have a clue.

An option would be to ride the Hamilton-Sierra loop and then drive to Clayton or something and do an out and back on Morgan. Lots of driving, though!

[Veronica]

Difficulty wise - MT is very similar to climbing Diablo to the ranger station at the Junction of the two roads. MT's pavement is awful on the climb. I've had a lot of people say they don't like the descent. I think it's cool. It's kind of curvy, but the sight lines are pretty good. AND the pavement is great.

Another option is to skip the Altamont/Patterson section.

V.

[SadieKate]

I have only ridden MT once when Kim and V forced me to ride in brutally hot weather. V's comparison to Diablo is very apt. The descent is fabulous because of all she says and you can go the same speed as cars, which always make me feel better because I can hang out in the lane.

SK

PS - It wasn't Kim and V's fault that that day was the first hot weather of the season. I always have one bad day when the warm weather comes. It can be a bit airless on the way up MT, but it is shady.

[maillotpois]

My FC 508 partner had the following to say about Morgan:
"Morgan Territory is in terrible shape but not a hard climb -- in fact, it is probably the easiest all day and shaded. I wouldn't even give it a second thought. "

So between her and you two, I am feeling happier about skipping it altogether. It's always good to leave something a mystery for actual event day!

Probably on 4/2 I will do a Hamilton/Sierra loop - may try to add something else in to get the mileage up to 125 - maybe Patterson or something. I hope one of you can join me!!

[Veronica]

The Coach thinks a ride on 4/2 is a marvelous idea. He's been a bit concerned about my plans to just do Hamilton/Sierra by myself. I suppose Hamiliton is a bit remote. So, we just need to decide on a route.

V.

[maillotpois]

Sounds good. Let's talk more at Solvang. MY FC 508 partner (who's now wavering on many things, including DMD and 508... but that's another story!) may also join us for the 4/2 ride. I agree - I would NOT want to ride Mines Rd. by myself.