White Mountain Double Century

[RudAwkning]

Anyone plan on rolling this one?

White Mountain

Looks like 2 person "teams" are elligible for a drawing into a free registration for Race Across The West. I hope i don't win.

[znfdl]

If I fly out to Ca. will you pick me up from the airport and drive me back :)

[RudAwkning]

If I fly out to Ca. will you pick me up from the airport and drive me back :)

Only if you're serious :D

[znfdl]

I am pretty serious, I can get a ticket from Dulles to SFO for $237. I think my wife might let me do the ride.....

[RudAwkning]

This is a Jim Cook event so you know it's gonna be awesome. My buddy Melville and I will drive up on Thursday. We can take 2 separate cars if we have to. We can probably squeeze one more body into the room if necessary. There will be 4 of us (Me, Melville, his friend Theresa and possibly you). Do you need to borrow a bike, or do you have a travel case? I only ride bikes for 5'6" people.

Also, would you fly into SFO or Oakland? If you have a choice, I live in Oakland :D

[znfdl]

This is a Jim Cook event so you know it's gonna be awesome. My buddy Melville and I will drive up on Thursday. We can take 2 separate cars if we have to. We can probably squeeze one more body into the room if necessary. There will be 4 of us (Me, Melville, his friend Theresa and possibly you). Do you need to borrow a bike, or do you have a travel case? I only ride bikes for 5'6" people.

Also, would you fly into SFO or Oakland? If you have a choice, I live in Oakland :D

If you think that have room and we can work out the other details, my wife said yes........ I have an S&S coupled Spectrum, so a bike is not a worry...... PS we are about the same height.

[RudAwkning]

Talked with my boy Mikey. He said "the more the merrier". I'll PM you.

[znfdl]

Cool beans...... Repeat, I must not embarass my self......

I cleared out my inbox....

[anomaly]

I was thinking about it but the parents just decided to come visit that weekend. I will all riders luck on the ride.

[Vlad Luskin]

Talk me into it, please, as I've wanted to climb White Mountain for a while. My father in law is in bad shape and I can't make any plans. If I ride it'll be a last minute thing, though if I do it we'll have two (more?) Spectrums on the same ride -- a sight not often seen on the West Coast. Hell, maybe I'll just register and see how things go. If I can't make it, I suppose I'll either eat the reg. fee or transfer it.

Jason, you're riding your fixie, I assume?

[RudAwkning]

Talk me into it, please, as I've wanted to climb White Mountain for a while. My father in law is in bad shape and I can't make any plans. If I ride it'll be a last minute thing, though if I do it we'll have two (more?) Spectrums on the same ride -- a sight not often seen on the West Coast. Hell, maybe I'll just register and see how things go. If I can't make it, I suppose I'll either eat the reg. fee or transfer it.

Jason, you're riding your fixie, I assume?

We'd love to have you join us Vlad. Jeff and I missed you on Tam. A good day on the mountain. Jim Cook is good people. If you explain to him the situation, he may even let you transfer it to next year.

I'll be on the fixie. 2 person "team" with my friend Mike Melville which means that we can't draft off of anybody but each other and we both have to finish together. This will definitely be my hardest test to date.

My friends tell me the big climb is 21 miles long, average grade 6% with the last 3 miles averaging 15%. I hope traffic ain't too bad because I'll most likely be traversing into the other lane!

[znfdl]

Vlad: We can be team Spectrum. I will be riding real slow as I am not in double century shape yet and only have about 2,500 miles under y legs since June 1st. Sounds like a good ride for a 27 in the rear.

[Vlad Luskin]

Stu, we can be MOTeam Spectrum! I'm going with a 29, just because it's on my wheel now and I'm keeping it there.

Jason, how're you gonna descend that thing on a fixie? Hope you have a flip-flop with a 12 or so.

[RudAwkning]

Stu, we can be MOTeam Spectrum! I'm going with a 29, just because it's on my wheel now and I'm keeping it there.

Jason, how're you gonna descend that thing on a fixie? Hope you have a flip-flop with a 12 or so.

He's working out flight arrangements and I'll be chauffeur for the weekend.

My friend Mike and I still have to work out gear inching. Probably run something similar to what I ran on Death Ride. Maybe even a tad lower. That's a loooooooooong climb and I'm no lightweight.

[Vlad Luskin]

Bishop, CA weather today and tomorrow:
Low: 50F
High: 98F

Can't imagine it being much different in early September.

[Peter B]

The climb up to Schulman Grove is what Jason describes. A looong gradual ramp up hwy 168 that tops out after a short, narrow steep canyon, then turns left onto White Mountain Road and starts the steeper climbing. Some false descents and more sustained steep climbing. Remember to look west at the Valley below. Helps take your mind off the suffering.

Steve and I may attack this one on the tandem also. Would be interesting to get the pick for two entries into Race Across The West.

[Vlad Luskin]

From The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike) in California:

White Mountain:
Total Elevation - 6,204'
Average Grade - 5.9% (11% steepest grade)
Length - 20.1 miles
Rating - 4.31 (hors)

"...The first section is fairly shallow. Soon the frade increases and along a steep ramp the road passes through a unique one-lane section with blind corners. The grade then flattens out and you turn left on White Mountain Road at mile 12.7. After another somewhat shallow section the grade slowly increases and the road begins to roll up and down as you ascend. The last few miles are steep and at high elevation which may test some riders but the finishing stretch along a ridgeline offers great views of Owens Valley and the Sierras beyond. The hill crests at over 10,000' just before the pavement ends."

The mid-climb descents significantly reduce the average grade. The uphill portions are steeper than 5.9%. Not sure what to think of the disparity between the 11% and 15+% reported measurements of the steepest sections. I know that the author of the climbing guide doesn't consider very short steep sections when listing the steepest sections, so if a hairpin measures 20% that's not long enough for him to include it. Though 3 miles at 15% ought to be long enough. Too long in my book.

[Peter B]

you can do it vlad; i have, three times. no big deal. just commit. we'll pull you thru if need be.

[RudAwkning]

Vlad,

This one'll be a cakewalk for you. Once the big climb is out the way you can breathe easy. And the last 40 miles of the ride are downhill with a tailwind from Benton to Bishop! (same route as Easter Sierra).

[Vlad Luskin]

Alas, I am out, but if you guys are getting together for dinner before setting off Bishop-ward, let me know. I'd love to join.