The Gold Rush Randonnée - a Thumbnail Sketch

June 24-28 is the fourth edition Davis Bike Club's Gold Rush Randonnée. The GRR is the second oldest US 1200k, after Boston-Montreal-Boston, and a few months older than the Colorado Last Chance.  It has the largest ridership of current US 1200k's.

 

The GRR could be called a "classic" 1200k in that it's a quadrennial, out-and-back event with deluxe support and communal sleeping facilities.

 

But it's also a "Western" 1200k - like the Cascade, Colorado High Country, and Last Chance - as it ventures into sparsely settled country and open, exposed landscapes.

 

The GRR has 26,000 ft. of climbing (less than PBP or BMB) ... but 98% of it is in the middle 900km.

 

 

The first and final century have 285 ft. of climbing each, following the Sacramento River valley between Davis and Oroville.  It's a good chance to ride together, if you can find a congenial group.

The course monitoring and staff presence along the route are very good. 

 

As daylight fades, Lee Mitchell's famed Bike Van is stationed to provide water after what tends to be a toasty evening start.

 

Riders climb the scenic Feather River Canyon at night, perhaps accompanied by trains, empty logging trucks, and the moon overhead.

 

Checkpoint facilities are well-staffed and well-provisioned, such as the rustic Tobin Resort in Feather River Canyon.

 

 

There are a number of gradual climbs such as Feather River Canyon, and some stiff ones such as to Antelope Lake, as well the attention-grabbing Janesville Grade (19% max).

 

The GRR tops out at 6,034 ft., above Janesville Grade, succeeded by other climbs such as Antelope Summit, and altitudes in the 4,500 - 5,000 ft. range on the high plateau towards the north end of the route.

 

While temps in the Sacramento Valley can easily reach the 90's, it can get pretty chilly at night at the higher elevations.  That space blanket could come in handy!

 

 

Outposts such as Grasshopper, between Susanville and Aiden, provide much-needed water in this sparsely-settled country.  Here Lois Springsteen and Bill Bryant (RUSA #8 and #7, respectively), welcome a rider.

 

Some characterize the GRR as a good first 1200k, because of the fine organization and supportive staff.  That doesn't make it any less challenging, however, and certainly memorable!

 

 

-jle

Brainard Lake Breeze - The High Country Awaits!

Last Saturday I rode the Brainard Lake Breeze permanent populaire: up Super-James to Brainard Lake and down Lefthand Canyon, thirty miles of coasting.  Here's the report from that great ride ...

 

Spring is (finally?) in the air!  The birds are singing, the trees are bursting with fresh leaves, Lefthand Creek is gushing ...

 

 

... and they've plowed the Brainard Lake Road past the barricade and around the lake.  (Remember all the snow we got down here in April?  They got some up there, too.)

 

It's true the Brainard "extra-credit" roads, up to Long Lake and Mitchell Lake trailheads, are not plowed.  What's the point?  The trails won't be footworthy for some time.

 

But they're certainly ski- and snowshoe worthy, as you see a collection of mountain bikes parked at the verge of snow, where riders have secured them and donned snowfaring equipment. 

 

Whether it's AT skiing down Mt. Toll or snowshoeing the Little Raven Trail, plenty of late-season fun to be had.

 

It will be a while, however, before hiking boots head up the Niwot Cutoff (one of our favorites) ... or we have to heed the mountain lion and bear warnings.

 

It was a brilliant, sunny day.  Time for a bit of attire adjustment for the initial descent, while a sandwich is consumed in this realm of nature.

The Indian Peaks have plenty of snow.  Most of Brainard Lake is still iced over, but a few anglers were already plying their hobby.  Whether biking, fishing, or skiing, all great excuses to  be up here!

 

This is a wonderful time to get into the High Country, with its pristine views, and the profound quietude before the summer crowds arrive.  Think about working a mountain permanent into your late-spring plans!

 

-jle

Cheer and Camaraderie on the Cripple Creek 300k!

The third edition of Vernon Smith's Cripple Creek - Pine Junction 300k may have been the most felicitous yet.  Great temps, fine sunny weather, reasonable traffic, and good companionship made for a great ride!

 

I'll let Vernon take it from here ...

 

The Colorado Springs 300km Brevet goes downhill for 16,800 feet!

 

A Colorado 300km brevet with 16,800 feet of downhill! Sounds easy until you realize it also has 16,800 feet of climbing. That’s why we start this 300km brevet at 4:00 AM. It simply takes a little longer. If you want a fast 300km time then this isn’t the brevet for you. If however you crave lots of climbing and outstanding Colorado scenery, then this is for you.

  

Catherine, Paul and I stuck together for most of the 300km and always left the controls at the same time. We finished together at 8:01 PM for a 16:01 (hrs:min) time after taking a bit longer detour through Garden of the Gods Park at a magical time of the evening.

The weather was just about perfect. Knee warmers, arm warmers and vest to the top of Ute Pass (9,165 feet) worked well for me. Then add gloves for the typically very cold Twin Rocks Road/CR 1 section to Cripple Creek. Then might as well keep them on for the descent from top of the Cripple Creek hill (over 10,000 feet) to Divide. Then you can shed some clothes for the section down to Deckers (5,600 feet) and then the two significant climbs out of Deckers to Pine Junction. More climbs and descents back to Deckers and Woodland Park.

 

As Vernon says, the chilly temps are front-loaded on this route, continuing through Cripple Creek, as you keep climbing higher and higher to escape any balmy air. 

 

But as things finally warm up, the climbing continues.  Here are Vernon and Paul on that second leg - out to Pine Junction, with Pikes Peak looming as it does for so much of this route.

 

Catherine and Vernon seem happy with the West Creek and Deckers climbs to look forward to ...

 

Vernon closes with these thoughts ...

 

We left Woodland Park (8,200 feet) around 6:30 PM so I put jacket, vest, gloves and skull cap on to stay warm until the lowlands of Colorado Springs (6,400 feet).

 

I know more riders could complete the brevet if they were willing to drive from Denver and spend a longer than usual time in the saddle for a 300km brevet. But on a day like we had, it is well worth it.

 

I pre-rode Vernon's CC 300k last spring and heartily agree!  There is some work involved, but it is an enthralling ride.  Something for your list next season?

 

-jle

 

What a Ride! The Jamestown-Raymond 400k/600k!

Remember how May started off?

 

Yes, a winter wonderland, carrying over April's pattern!

 

 

By the time of the mid-month "early bird" 400k/600k, the snow had given way to lush green. 

 

This course makes it easy to stay together for the first 100k to the Greenbriar, and after that, if you work at it.

 

Here are John Flanigan, Greg Courtney, and Todd LeBlanc in their 1200k jerseys.  Greg has completed the Last Chance as well, but didn't get the word that LC was today's theme.  (Nor did I, donning a Colorado High Country 1200 vest instead.)

 

Plenty of entertainment to note at the Jamestown Mercantile.

 

 

Less snow near Raymond than a week ago on the 300k, but still a few snow mounds left!

(Green De Rosa provides scale.)

 

And what better bonus  than to meet a pair of randonneurs at the Raymond Store on their own randonnée. 

 

Steve Le Goff and Michelle Grainger provided bright vests and bright smiles in the middle of Michelle's "Everybody Loves Raymond" 100km Permanent Populaire.

 

Spring runoff is just starting, just as the first leaves peek out on the trees.

 

This "early bird" date was added mainly for folks wanting to train or qualify for earlier-season 1200k's (Shenandoah, Gold Rush Randonnée, Colorado High Country ...), but it has become popular also for randonneurs wanting to get a jump on training, and those who might prefer crisp temps to toastier ones.

 

The approach to Louisville at the end of the first loop and (here) the second showcased a cloud- and snow-bedecked Front Range.

 

Thanks everyone who rode, and now you're set up nicely for the June events!

 

-jle

Is May Here Yet?

Glen Haven Gallivant 201km Permanent

Counter-Clockwise

Another Monday in April, another barrage of snow!  This is now the snowiest April on record.  Here on Tuesday, a wintry but scintillating scene, and only down to 20º, not like the record 10º low the week before.  A fine breakfast ride!

 

By the weekend, conditions were propitious for some training and a foray into nature.  The climb up the Glen Haven Road is just fine, bordered by snowfields.

 

Green De Rosa enjoys a pause in a snowy spot just short of Glen Haven.  I had a sandwich.

 

 

The Glen Haven General Store is of course not open yet, but the proprietor's big red pickup was out front, as he dusted off the cobwebs and assured the ovens were well oiled for their famous cinnamon rolls.

The view into Rocky Mountain National Park from atop the Devil's Gulch switchbacks:

 

Twin Sisters clothed in snow ...

I often take a shot of Long's and Meeker - usually with a view of the Keyhole.  Here they are, shrouded in cloud:

 

One plus, though, is that the Peak-to-Peak Highway is pretty quiet!

 

Descending St. Vrain Canyon, though, the gushing runoff reminds us that spring is near!

 

-jle

Sun and Snow at the Stove Prairie 200k!

It's the story of our April this year.  Tuesday and it's still a winter wonderland in eastern Boulder County from the latest weekly snow dump.

 

 

Narry a trace left by Saturday's Stove Prairie start.  A good turnout with 34 eager riders!

 

This is in fact the mildest Stove Prairie start in years!

 

Horsetooth Reservoir was simply shimmering, and made more interesting, too, with gusty winds that had come up. 

 

Jeremy Schlacter, newly relocated from Fort Worth, land of the Lone Star Randonneurs, makes a strong climb up one of the stiff Horsetooth grades on his first rando foray in Colorado.

 

Jeremy's great rando bike on display during the stop at Vern's!

 

Poudre Canyon scenic as always, with the added bonus of the snowfields, unfortunately more visible because of last summer's High Park fire.

 

A nice, shallow climb as always!

Green has not yet come to Stove Prairie, but only hints of snow.

Plenty piled up at the Stove Prairie junction, though!

 

From there, riders sailed back down hill on a brisk tailwind to Masonville, and on to the finish.

 

Brian Rapp and Todd LeBlanc

Brian with Laurie and Mark Stanton. 

 

Mark completed all three April 200k's.  For Laurie it was her first 200k event ever, after pre-riding this course last weekend.

 

Jeremy Schlacter and Bob Dean

 

Henry Snavely ... leaving the frame as he's biking back to Louisville.

 

Hope everyone had a great time on this brilliant day!

 

 

- jle