By Karen Kefauver - Sentinel correspondent
Posted: 06/11/2010 01:30:31 AM PDT
Link to Sentinel article
Santa Cruz County is a cyclist's paradise. For road
bikers, beautiful roads wind through farmland and pass scenic coastal
stretches. For mountain bikers, singletrack trails and fire roads carve
through redwood forests and provide panoramic bay views.
Despite the natural beauty here, local cyclists are
still hungry to explore new terrain, whether they are tackling a race,
are on vacation or on an extended bike tour. Now's the time to explore
your summer cycling options.
Regardless of its intimidating name, The Death Ride:
Tour of the California Alps is a top attraction for many Santa Cruz
cyclists. Celebrating its 30th anniversary on July 10, the 129-mile road
bike ride tests the limits of riders' legs and lungs with 15,000 feet
of climbing through five mountain passes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
This super-challenging course includes climbs up both
sides of Monitor Pass [8,314 feet], both sides of Ebbetts Pass [8,730],
and a final climb up the east side of Carson Pass [8,573]. Cyclists
will finish at Turtle Rock Park, located two miles north of
Markleeville.
Riders who plan to attempt all five passes during the
grueling one-day ride can start pedaling at 5:30 a.m. and all cyclists
must be off the course by 8 p.m.
Santa Cruz resident and competitive endurance athlete
Mary Straley feels fortunate to have secured a spot in next month's
Death Ride. Considered one of the premiere events in the West, it sells
out quickly.
"The Death Ride was absolutely amazing and the
hardest ride I've ever done," said Straley of her Death Ride debut in
2009. "I was definitely ready, but it's tough to be in the saddle 10½
hours.
"My only doubt was pedaling from Woodfords to
Picketts. It was about 90 miles into the ride and I was mentally
exhausted. The winds were picking up and it was beginning to rain.
Knowing I only had 15 miles or so to the top of Carson Pass kept me
going. I was able to remain focused."
For Straley, who went on the Death Ride with Ray
King, also of Santa Cruz, a highlight was "riding into the top of Carson
with the biggest smile on my face. I had done it! The rest would be a
fast downhill descent. I clocked myself going 43 mph!"
Best of all, she said, was that she was riding to
raise money for Turning Wheels for Kids, a charity dedicated to
providing a new bike to underprivileged children who want to ride.
While Straley returns for her second shot at the
Death Ride, Steve Hess of Santa Cruz has ridden it eight times,
completing all five passes each year. He will return in July for his
ninth attempt at finishing the grueling test of mental and physical
fitness.
Last week, Wade Hall, owner of Spokesman Bicycles in downtown Santa Cruz, was hoping someone might sell him a spot in the ride.
"I go every year and usually ride three or four
passes, depending on my motivation," said Hall. "It's some of the best
riding in the state and there are no cars for nine hours."
Visitors to the area can attend the Death Ride Expo that takes place on Friday and Saturday, July 9-10. For details, visit www.deathride.com.
Closer to home, riders who want to test their
hill-climbing endurance on their road bikes can sign up for the 12th
annual Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge [SCMC] on July 31.
A fundraising event for the Santa Cruz County Cycling
Club's bike education programs, the SCMC offers two challenging routes.
Both start and end at Scotts Valley High. The 100-mile course [the
century] features more than 11,000 feet of elevation gain and the
65-mile route includes 6,500 feet of elevation gain.
The Century Challenge starts with the famous,
twisting uphill climb on Mt. Charlie Road and then really gets the heart
rate elevated going up China Grade and Jamison Creek. The course then
descends to the coast on Bonny Doon Road, going around the Swanton Loop
to Greyhound Rock for a stop.
A section from the Tour of California route is
included when riders head back up Bonny Doon Road. The ride continues
down Empire Grade, along West Cliff Drive, and through Santa Cruz to
finish in Scotts Valley.
The Metric Century Challenge will cover some of the
same roads as the full century and will still be demanding for even the
most experienced riders. The route includes sharp switchbacks on steep
descents that will require alert technical riding. Registration is open
for the SCMC at www.santacruzcycling.org.
For those who don't want to push the limits of their
fitness, stop in a local bike shop, pick up a bike map, or contact the
Santa Cruz County Cycling Club, the Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz or The
Bike Dojo to learn about a ride that suits your skill level and
preferences for road biking or mountain biking.
Karen Kefauver, www.karenkefauver.com, is a freelance sports and
travel journalist. She blogs weekly about bicycling for the Sentinel at www.santacruzlive.com/blogs/outside.
