A 327 Km bicycle brevet / double century from San Jose to San Luis Obispo
Here is your opportunity to become a part of a group of cyclists that will ride their bikes 327km (a little over 200 miles) in one day. This ride will be relatively easy by double century standards. There is less elevation gain than most double centuries, and we expect to be aided by a tailwind for at least half of the double century.
The course has been designed to follow the Highway 101 corridor, which is relatively flat. It mostly follows quiet, rural roads, however there is a necessary stretch of highway (101) near the end when entering San Luis Obispo over Cuesta Grade. This stretch of highway is legal, as there are no alternative routes for bicycles.
History
I have pedaled this course solo twice. This will be the first time that I have done the ride with others. In the past, the distance has been covered fairly quickly thanks to strong tailwinds from Salinas to Paso Robles, and very short breaks. The first time I did this trip, riding time (moving time) was 11 hours, 6 minutes. Total Time (includes rests) was 12 hours, 30 minutes.
If enough people sign up, we may be able to pitch in for a driver who will meet us at designated checkpoints, carry some gear, and food for us. If only a few people join, we may elect to ride self supported.
Details
Departure Date:
We will leave on our bikes from here on July 12, 2008 at 6:00 AM Wheels Rolling. This is where you can park your car! Parking is safe, and it is $10.00. ***WE HAVE EXTRA FOOD - 2 PEOPLE HAVE DROPPED OUT. YOU CAN STILL JOIN US!***
Schedule:
We expect the journey to take about 13-14 hours. Tom, our driver will support and follow us all the way to San Luis Obispo. There will be dedicated rest stops spaced about 20 miles apart. Tom will be able to carry food for the group (the organizers will buy most of this food ahead of time, but you can bring some of your own to put in the car when we leave from the start). You can also have the driver carry some basic over-night gear. We plan to spend the night in San Luis Obispo, and then return the next day via the support vehicle. We have reserved a one way rental of a mid-sized sedan (We can take 3 people in the support vehicle (and 6 bikes - one of which is a tandem). The rental car can carry 4 to 5 people. If you wish, you can also take the Train or Bus back from SLO.
Fitness Level:
All participants should have some double century experience. You should be able to sit on a bike seat for 13+ hours. We will provide you with a cue sheet and a GPS track (see links above). In general, we do not plan to wait for participants who are not on target to complete the course in 13-14 hours; but you can sag a ride with Tom to the next rest stop if you start to fall behind. We will not be racing. We plan to complete the course without using lights. Your bike should be in good repair, and you should have an emergency contact who can pick you and your bicycle up in case you cannot continue