Shasta Summit Century?

[Starfish]

Could anyone tell me about the Shasta Summit Century? I've checked out the website, and am considering the ride (100 mile), but I'm not at all sure I can pull off 10,000 feet in 100 miles. I know there is a metric option with 4000' (which I think I could do tomorrow, so I'm somewhere between that level and the century level), but I'm not sure I want to travel that far for a metric.

I've read about their cloverleaf pattern that makes you "never more than a downhill away from the start." I sure would love to hear more from anyone who has done this ride (climb characteristics, experiences of what training helped you most, whatever!).

Thanks all!

[Veronica]

I've never done it, it is one of the rides I want to do someday. 10,000 feet in 100 miles is a LOT of climbing. It's not until August, so you have a couple of months to really train for it, if you want to set it as a goal. Besides riding hills, make sure you work your lower back. A sore lower back can end your ride.

I trained to do a double with lots of climbing. You can see my traing plan in the Training & Nutrition Section. It's titled Devil Mountain Dummy. I know it sounds blasphemous with summer here, but I am a big advocate of riding in the trainer for serious training. For me, it's just more focused training, a couple times a week.

When life calms down a bit, I'll be putting more time in on the trainer to get ready for my next assault on a hilly double - Mount Tam.

V.

[maillotpois]

It seems there's also a 135, 16,500 option. I'll bet any of these routes are beautiful. I will ask around and see if any of my friends have done it.

[wabisabi]

I have looked at this (well, at least the metric) a couple of times, and it is closer for us; we're doing the Lake Almador ride at the end of June, which is not nearly as hilly, as maybe see how it goes. Living on the coast I've become so unconditioned for much elevation. It would be a gorgeous ride!

[SadieKate]

we're doing the Lake Almador ride at the end of June

Don't forget to salute the "Major Deer Crossing" signs by Lake Almanor.

Better yet, get a picture for us.

[Starfish]

Thanks, everyone. Supposedly this ride has been set up in such a way that you can bail out at a lot of points and just descend back to the start if you find you really can't keep climbing, so it sounds appealing.