RR: Death Valley

[S54MCoupe]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Mile 1-23: Furnace Creek to Stovepipe Wells[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]This was nice and easy... there were a few groups going faster than I wanted to, so I cruised solo. The sandunes were really stunning to see, especialy since the shadows from the rising sun really showed off their shape.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Mile 23 - 68; Stovepipe Wells - Scotty's Castle [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]There was a little bit of a headwind and a slight uphill for quite a ways here, but it wasn't any problem. There was also a cool canyon road/climb on the way to Scotty's castle... it was a nice break from the wide open straightaways.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Mile 68 - 94; Scotty's Castle to Highway 95 (Nevada) [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]This was the hardest part of the ride, only because of the 30 miles of flat, straight highway on the way to the 95. It was like the never ending road, it never got shorter or longer, and there were no real visibly points of reference. [/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Mile 94 - 130: Nevada - Ubehebe Crater. [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]After turning around, you head back past Scotty's Castle, descend the fun canyon road, and head down to Ubehebe crater. This computer is a POS, but I bought it on the cheap just to have a computer for the ride. There was a little descent on the way to the crater, which was the second to last of the climbs when you headed back. [/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Mile 130 - 197; Ubehebe Crater to Furnace Creek[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]You can see the climb out of the crater in the distance. There was also a pretty steep 6 mile climb (at night) to Hells Gate at mile 167. That was probably one of the harder parts of the ride. I guess it was something like a 5% grade. Usualy it wouldnt be too bad, but my legs were definatly feeling the burn. [/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]All in all, it was a really fun ride, and all of the support/volunteers were great... no complaints on my end at all. My total time was 13 hours 33 minutes. I wish I knew my ride time, but it was probably in the mid 12 hour range. I stopped for a bunch of pictures and took my time in general... no need to treat a fun ride on a weekend vacation like a race (in my opinion) My computer somehow reset at mile 130, so I have no actual data, which pissed me off. [/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]So thats it, I really recommend this ride to anyone who can take a weekend off. It really is worth it, and Death Valley is breathtaking on a monumental scale. [/SIZE][/FONT]

[allison]

How busy are the roads? There's not much for a shoulder there Just curious.. looks like it'd be a cool winter ride (I'm sure it's blazin out there in the summer - how was it for your ride?). I get a bit nervous when there is no shoulder/bike lane!

[Vickie]

This ride looks incredible...and the scenery....WOW. That castle is Unbelievable!!! Thanks for sharing your weekend ride with us.
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[S54MCoupe]

Originally Posted by allison

How busy are the roads? There's not much for a shoulder there Just curious.. looks like it'd be a cool winter ride (I'm sure it's blazin out there in the summer - how was it for your ride?). I get a bit nervous when there is no shoulder/bike lane!

There is almost no traffic, and EVERY (I really do mean every) motorist was incredibly considerate. All of them treated cyclists like they were passing a car... they would move all the way into the opposing lane and give you more than a generous ammount of room. It was awesome.

Honestly, as long as you don't go in the summer, I would say that Death Valley would be the ultimate training grounds. No cars, no stop signs, endless flat roads and EPIC climbs. It really is perfect.

[allison]

Originally Posted by S54MCoupe

There is almost no traffic, and EVERY (I really do mean every) motorist was incredibly considerate. All of them treated cyclists like they were passing a car... they would move all the way into the opposing lane and give you more than a generous ammount of room. It was awesome.

Honestly, as long as you don't go in the summer, I would say that Death Valley would be the ultimate training grounds. No cars, no stop signs, endless flat roads and EPIC climbs. It really is perfect.

Awesome! Thanks for expanding on that. Sounds really cool

[MTBMaven]

Thanks dude. Glad the ride went well. Great photos and write up.

[Pain Freak]

Excellent report,thanks. Was this an organized ride? I'll be signing up for both the DV century and the DV Double in 08.

It looks like we got in for the Furnace Creek 508 as a two man team.

[Schecky]

Great RR and awesome pics! Such depth in them.
I love that area of the 395.
Desert, mountains, clean air. From Death Valley to Whitney there is a lot to experience.

[S54MCoupe]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

Excellent report,thanks. Was this an organized ride? I'll be signing up for both the DV century and the DV Double in 08.

It looks like we got in for the Furnace Creek 508 as a two man team.

Yep, organized ride put on by Adventure Corps., the same people who put on the 508.

You'll be driving through some of the mountain passes that are part of the 508. It's pretty sobering, seeing some of the epic climbs that happen a few hundred miles into the ride.