…..John Muir, “My First Summer in the Sierra,” 1869

[Show as slideshow]

General Information and Ride Rules – Please Read!

Entry Fees:  Until April 27 – $109.  April 28 through May 18 – $119. Thereafter, until midnight Wednesday before the event, you may make an online reservation using the Register Now link and pay $125 at the door. Please read our registration and cancellation policies. Paid entry fee includes post-ride BBQ dinner from Holy Smoke Texas Style BBQ across the street from the host hotel (NOT included with ride vouchers/volunteer credits).

 Early registration is now closed; but there’s still time to sign up! Until midnight on May 29th you may make a reservation by clicking the Register Online button and filling out the form in it’s entirely. You will not be able to pay online; you must bring your confirmation email and your $125 entry fee (which includes late fee) to rider check-in in Bishop (and please bring exact change).  Anyone who makes a late reservation and then no-shows will lose the privilege of signing up late; and will be refused admission to other Planet Ultra events until the no-show entry is paid. When you sign up  late, even though it’s just a “reservation” we do expect you to be there and do plan for that.

Start/Finish Location:  La Quinta Inn, 651 N Main Street in Bishop. Call 760-873-6380. Please make sure you tell them you’re with Planet Ultra to receive our discounted group rate of $105, which includes a continental breakfast. Our overflow hotel, the Townhouse Motel, is right next door. Call 760-872-4541 and say you’re with Planet Ultra to get the special $55 rate.

Check-In:  Friday evening from 6:30pm to 8:30pm pm and Saturday morning from 4:30am to 5:00am, at the La Quinta Inn. Please make a huge effort to check-in on Friday evening, not Saturday morning. If you’re planning on early start time, you must let us know at check-in!

How To Get There: Bishop is on Hwy 395 on the eastern side of the Sierra, 260 miles north of Los Angeles! Click here for a map.

Start Times:  “Mass” start at 5:00am. Since this event has less than 150 riders, there is only one start.

Checkpoint Closing Times Strictly Enforced: All of the checkpoint opening and closing times will be strictly enforced. The checkpoints will not open early, nor will they remain open after the stated closing times. Typically, only checkpoints #2 and #3 present a problem for slower riders, as the ride is front-loaded with climbing. If you miss either CP #2 or CP #3, you will be required to turn around and ride back to Bishop on Highway 395. No exceptions. Please note the CP closing times, which are also listed on the route sheet: CP #2 – Crowley Lake (Mile 48.7): Closes 9:30am; CP #3 – Crestview Rest Area (Mile 71.2): Closes 11:45am

Time Limit:  18 hours. The course closes at 11:00pm. No exceptions. Riders who fail to make the time cut-off will be listed as Unofficial Finishers.

Twilight, Sunrise, and Sunset:  Twilight begins 5:03; Twilight ends 20:41. Sunrise is 5:33; Sunset is 20:11.

Lights and Gear Drop:  You may drop lights/gear at the start for pick-up at the Benton checkpoint (mile 160). Please bring your lights in a bag marked with your name.  You must pick up your stuff at the checkpoint, as it will not be brought back to the finish until the course closes. The charge for mailing stuff back to you is $25.

If there is any chance you’ll be out past sunset, you MUST have both a headlight and a taillight attached to your bicycle, and you MUST wear a reflective ankle band on both legs. Please do not under-estimate the time you’ll need to complete this event. Come prepared with a very good light and batteries, plus at least one non-blinking taillight and lots of reflective gear.

Routing and Navigation:   Planet Ultra route sheets include lots of information to help riders navigate. For example, we tell you if a turn is at a stop sign (SS), traffic light (TL) or T-intersection (T-int). We know that riders prefer course markings; however, many of the towns/cities/counties specifically forbid it. Further, your Planet Ultra staff  travels to the destination the day before the event to make everything happen; so we can’t mark the course in advance. If we have the manpower, we’ll do our best to mark the route (unless it’s forbidden by our permits, otherwise illegal, somewhere that locals would be really upset about it, or the turn is at a place that’s very obvious, like a big green highway sign). Our experience is that riders get lost whether the course is marked or not. Fewer riders get lost when they’re mindful of where they are on the route sheet. Please understand and take responsibility for navigation.

Route Sheets and GPS Files:  Route sheets are available in excel format to registered riders if requested via email between 2 weeks and 5 days before the event. We can’t guarantee that advance route sheets will be 100% accurate. Though not anticipated, last-minute routing changes may be required.

You may also download a map and GPS file from RideWithGPS.com. Please note that advance route sheets and gps files are provided as a courtesy and you use them at your own risk. Planet Ultra doesn’t guarantee accuracy. Please further note the following very important caveats:

1. The ROUTE SHEET is gospel. Whenever the route sheet and the GPS unit disagree, the route sheet is correct.
2. A GPS can (and will) route a rider over a cliff. There’s really no substitute for the human brain, so please use yours.
3. Never depend solely on a GPS. Bring your route sheet, and know how to follow it.
4. GPS batteries on many “bicycle” GPS units may not last for a century. Make sure you’ve arranged for additional power.
5. Click here for the RideWithGPS.com map. You may download a GPS file from this page.

Personal SAG Vehicles:  Not allowed! If you bring one, you’ll be disqualified from the event without a warning. The definition of a personal SAG is any vehicle (motor or otherwise), anywhere on the route, operated by someone other than Planet Ultra staff, that is providing any type of aid, assistance, or motivation, or taking photographs, or simply out cheering. Please understand that our permits simply don’t allow dozens of extra vehicles on the roads or at the checkpoint locations. Imagine the traffic from all those cars! If you’re bringing someone with you who wants to be out on the course, please have them contact us and join our volunteer staff.

Route Description:  A mass start through the city streets of Bishop will quickly head out of town. After a fast, flat warm up through the Owens River region, you’ll head north through the cattle ranches of Round Valley. Climbing up from Round Valley to Crowley Lake, the Old Sherwin Grade ascends through pinion pine and juniper woodlands while following Lower Rock Creek to enter Mono County and the heartland of the Eastern Sierra. After cresting Sherwin Grade, a rider friendly 1800′ climb, you are greeted by the startling views of Mt. Ritter and Mt. Banner, and the serrated ridge of the Minarets in the northern distance. North a few miles further awaits Lake Crowley and the grassy bed of Long Valley. Further north en route to Mammoth Lakes, you pass Hilton and McGee Creeks; the mouths of their canyons filled with huge glacial moraines empty into the valley from the Sierra high country.

Leaving Long Valley, you’ll quickly enter the town of Mammoth Lakes, famous for its world class ski resort. You’ll climb gently, but quickly, around the outskirts of town and head out of town and north via the Mammoth Scenic Drive. After a short climb cresting the 8,041′ summit of Deadman Pass, there’s a short downhill followed by a short easy climb to June Lake. Enjoy magnificent views of June Lake, Carson Peak, and the westward panorama reveals different dimensions with every blink of the eye.

Once you’re back on 395, hang on for a fast 15 miles, passing by June, Gull, Silver, and Grant Lakes as you enter “The Land of Mono”. Ringed by eerie tufa towers, volcanic craters, mountain peaks, and high desert silences, the saline waters of Mono Lake represent a million year old body of water. Mono Lake has no outlet; over the thousands of years of its existence, salts and minerals washed into the lake have become concentrated as waters have evaporated. Though Mono Lake has been called a “dead sea”, it actually abounds with life. No fish live in the lake, but populations of brine shrimp and brine flies adapted to the exceptionally high concentration of salts provide a plentiful food supply for more than seventy species of migratory and nesting birds. The “lunch” checkpoint with Subway sandwiches and all our usual wide variety of drinks and muchies await you at the Mono Lake County Park. At this point, you will have ridden 104 miles and ascended 7,200′.

Leaving Mono Lake, you’ll head south on Hwy 395 to Hwy 120 through the Mono Crater area. Take time to look around as you climb between these craters en route to the high plains at Sage Hen Summit, through red lava canyons into Benton, the Chalfant Valley and back to Bishop. This second half of the ride has only 3,000′ of ascent!

This course has 10,200 feet of elevation gain, more than half of which is between mile 30 and mile 70. As doubles go, it’s not that tough and the views and roads are so incredible, you won’t even notice the climbing that it does have!

Volunteers:   We always need volunteers! To provide a little incentive, when you volunteer for a Planet Ultra Double Century event, you receive a free entry into any other Planet Ultra single-day event. It’s a simple formula: “work one, ride one free!” Volunteers for Century events and Gran Fondo events receive a 50% discount voucher. So please contact us to let us know when and where you’d like to help. Please note that the intent of the “work one, ride one free” offer is to encourage riders themselves to give something back to the sport they love. However, we also appreciate when riders bring along family and friends who they’ve recruited to help out, so we’re offering a one-half ride credit to the recruiter if the volunteer doesn’t want the ride credit. Ride credits must be used within a year of the date of volunteering.

*In order to make this Tour happen, we need 10 riders pre-registered 6 weeks in advance. Please don’t wait until the last minute if you want to join us!

Join us for this incredible seven day adventure! We’ll ride 60 to 100 miles per day, from point to point in breathtaking Southern Utah. Starting in St. George, we ride to Carmel Junction (via Zion National Park), Bryce National Park, Escalante, Torrey, Panguitch, Cedar City and back to St. George. Cycling doesn’t get any better than this! Each route is a challenging adventure with awe-inspiring scenery. We’ve got all day – so stop and take some photos! Over 500 miles with about 30,000 feet of climbing! Yes, it sounds hard – but it’s a ton of fun! The goal is NOT to hammer, but to ride socially, taking in the sights and sounds of Color Country!

For a preview of the incredible scenery you’ll enjoy, check out our Utah Tour Blog – with photos from each day!

**************************************************

Entry fee of $1,199 includes: Seven unforgettable days of cycling, eight nights hotel accommodations (double occupancy, breakfast sometimes included), support vehicle providing snacks and lunch along the route, a roomy gear bag (30 lb. limit) to pack all your stuff in and a great goodie bag. Riders preferring a single room may pay an additional $350. Sign up before June 1st and save $50!

Breakfast and dinner are not included. We know some tours include all meals; but we don’t, and here’s why: Our experience is that after a hard-day’s-ride, most folks have a hankering for something specific to eat and would rather not be stuck with the single option given by the Tour. Some folks eat dinner early, some folks eat late. Some folks skip breakfast altogether. Our method lets you decide. Most tours charge at least $1,000 more than we do, with the only difference being the inclusion of meals. We promise you, you will not spend even half that much buying your own breakfast and dinner.

Registration is now open! Gear bag only available to riders who sign up before July 15th.

Click here for the cancellation policy. Planet Ultra reserves the right to cancel the Tour is the rider minimum of 10 is not met by July 15th.

We have several positions available to work half, ride half and pay half. If you’re interested in this option, please contact the embassy for details.

Is this Tour for You?

This Tour is not a training camp — it’s a vacation for cycling enthusiasts. Many of the routes, while not long in mileage, are fairly strenuous, with long climbs routinely crossing passes over 8,000ft. To enjoy this Tour, your training in the previous six months should include at least a couple of centuries (or doubles), and several 200+ mile training weeks. You should be able to complete a moderately difficult century in under 8 hours, including stops.

Many riders will find that a low gear of 39 x 27 is sufficient on most routes; but a 39 x 29 or 32, or better yet, a triple crank, will be much appreciated on some of the climbs. Please note: What you’d use for a single day event is probably not enough for a week long tour. You will fatigue from the accumulated miles. Also, please bring a good, sturdy set of wheels. Light-weight, fancy wheels are really not appropriate for this type of Tour. If you break one, you’ll wind up in the SAG vehicle all week, as we can’t fix ‘em, and bike shops are non-existent in the latter part of this Tour. Please note, we cannot accept riders with recumbents or trikes, as we simply cannot transport them.

Rider Check-In

We’ll meet in St. George on Saturday evening at the Marriott. Check in will be from 8pm to 9pm. We’ll have a short meeting at 9pm just to go over details and answer any questions. Breakfast starts at 7am. Plan to be ready to ride by 8:30am. Generally speaking, rides start between 8am and 9am, depending on the length and difficulty of the route. On Day Three to Escalante, we’ll start at noon to allow riders to enjoy the bonus miles to Rainbow Point in Bryce Canyon.

Starting Hotel

Fairfield Inn by Marriott, located at 1660 South Convention Center Drive in St. George, off the Bluff Street exit. The Saturday nights both before and after the Tour are included, so no need to make a reservation. If you’re flying to St. George, we have a brand new airport, or Las Vegas International Airport is just 90 minutes south. Shuttle service is available from Las Vegas to St. George with the St. George Shuttle for about $35 one-way or $60 round trip.

Our Vision For The Tour

Our hopes for this Tour is to maintain a club-like, social atmosphere, where we make new friends, ride together, enjoy the scenery and create great memories from an awesome vacation.

Itinerary:

Day One – St. George to Mt. Carmel Junction, via Zion National Park:

About 80 miles with over 5300′ of elevation gain.
In Zion, we’ll take a break and dip our toes into the Virgin River. Anyone wishing to do bonus miles can ride from Mt. Carmel Junction to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes. The extra bit is about 28 miles.

Day Two – Mt. Carmel Junction to Bryce National Park:

About 60 miles with over 3700′ of gain.
In the afternoon we’ll hop on a shuttle bus and go into the park for a hike. There are a ton of hiking options – long or short, easy or hard. All are gorgeous.

Day Three – Bryce National Park to Escalante:

Before we leave for Escalante, we’ll ride into Bryce and climb to Rainbow Point at 9100′. This is 38 miles with about 2,900′ of climbing. Those wanting to sleep in can have a leisurely breakfast before the group gets back together and heads out to Escalante. The ride to Escalante is short – so we’ll leave Bryce just before noon. It’s about 48 miles with 1,800′ of gain.

Day Four – Escalante to Torrey:

About 66 miles with over 6,100′ of gain.
Everyone is encouraged to ride the bonus miles on the incredible Capital Reef Scenic Drive. The extra bit is about 36 miles with 2,500′ of gain.

Day Five – Torrey to Panguitch:

About 106 miles with about 3,400′ of gain. As far as centuries go, it’s fairly flat – with most of the climbing in the first 27 miles. But it can be super windy, so riding with at least one other person is recommended.

Day Six – Panguitch to Cedar City, via Brian Head and Cedar Breaks National Monument:

About 57 miles with about 5,300′ of gain.
We’ll reach our highest point on this ride, at 10,500′. Be prepared to be a bit short of breath on this ride! And not just from the awesome scenery!

Day Seven – Cedar City to St. George:

About 83 miles with just over 2,500′ of gain.
Alas, the last day… Take your time and savor the final hours of riding. The bike path is a roller-coaster! Over too quickly!!!

[Show as slideshow]

12►

Click here to see a ton of photos from the 2008 Tour.

Rider Feedback about the Tour of Southern Utah:

“I enjoyed every mile on the road and every new scene that developed around each corner and appeared at the top of each climb. You guys did a fantastic job in developing a wonderful route and supporting such a mixed bag of riders… You provided an opportunity to all of us to do what we love to do (cycle) in one of the most unique places on the planet. Thanks again for a most amazing week!” – Bob Paxson, Sacramento, California

“Just a note to say thank you for taking me along on a wonderful adventure. I enjoyed every minute of it. Hope to try it again in the future.”
-Terri Boykins, Los Angeles, California

“Thank you so much for putting on a great tour! Amazing riding & and company to match! I’m still on a high from the tour.”
-Janak Parekh, San Francisco, California

“Thanks for a wonderful vacation! We enjoyed every bloody inch of the Southern Utah chip seal. If I had to sum up your Tour in one word: AWESOME!!!
We’d been to all the those scenic Utah spots several times, but the bike gave us a whole new perspective on and appreciation for that stunning landscape.” -Guntram Jordan, Mammoth Lakes, California

“The Utah trip was BITCHIN’. We enjoyed every minute. The route was unbelievable–how do you find these roads? –and the scenery simply defies description. We had so many special experiences–like cresting the 9000 foot summit on the road to Torrey and meeting another tandem team struggling up the other side–on their 75th day of a cross country tour. Or getting to Cedar Breaks after being rained on, snowed on, hailed on and blown around and going to the vista point to look over the side –WOW.

Your description of the ride accurately warned us of the challenge the course presented. I can assure you that for a tandem team of our (my) size and experience it was hard work every day. What we appreciated most was that neither the course nor the group offered to cut us any slack. It was always just assumed that we were equal to it and we took the opportunity to rise to the occasion. We are proud of our accomplishment and are grateful to have been a part of the ride.

Here is what we liked: everything.
Here is what we want you to change: nothing.” -Peter Giannini, Anchorage, Alaska

“Thank you for staging The Tour of Southern Utah. You really know how to run an excellent cycling event! Wayne and I enjoyed every day of cycling- not only because the route had little traffic, but also because we saw a landscape we had not previously experienced. The cheery support you, Brian, Emmy and Mike provided was over the top and most appreciated. The accommodations you chose were great, as were ALL the food choices both on the road and at dinner. I have nothing but good things to tell cyclists at home about Planet Ultra events, and hope others here plan to attend in the future. I definitely will.” -Melanie Ashby, Miami, Florida

The most epic and challenging ultracycling race, the Hoodoo 500 route passes through or around three National Parks, three National Monuments and several Utah State Parks. The scenery varies from majestic cliffs and striking red rock hoodoos to aspen and pine forests and high mountain meadows. All the best of Utah’s Color Country!

Solo, tandem, 2-person, 2-tandem, 4-person, 4 tandem relay team divisions. Super racer-friendly rules including unlimited relay team rider exchanges. YOU make your race strategy!

Get all the details on the HOODOO 500 WEBSITE!  Registration for the 2013 race is now open.

Looking for a few less miles and not so much climbing??? Join us for the inaugural HOODOO 300! Same first and last miles, same weekend as the HOODOO 500.

[Show as slideshow]

Starting in Santa Clarita, riders traverse parts of Los Angeles, Ventura and Kern Counties, passing through Ojai, then up Pine Mountain to Lebec and back to the finish.

This event is hosted brevet-style, with a very low entry fee of $45 just to cover insurance, any necessary permits, and the single leap-frog support vehicle which will carry snacks and water and drop bags along the route. Riders may bring several lunch-size bags with their special-needs foods, which will be delivered up the course to at least three locations.

**Given the difficulty of the route, only experienced double century riders will be permitted to ride (meaning, you should have successfully completed in under 15 hours at least 3 doubles in the past year). All riders must be willing and able to ride the entire distance with minimal support, or bring private SAG (this is the only Planet Ultra event where private SAG is not only allowed, but encouraged). If a rider falls too far off the back, they may not receive support other than their drop bags. There are no SAG drivers. If a rider quits, they must find their own way back.

Perry Smith descends off Pine Mountain towards Lockwood Valley in 2006

Please send us your “resume,” including the 3 doubles you completed under 15 hours in the past 12 months (names and finish times, please); and we will send you the registration link.

Start/Finish Hotel

Hampton Inn, 25259 The Old Road, Santa Clarita, California 91381. (661) 253-2400. The hotel has a heated swimming pool and hot tub, fitness center, and 24-hour coffee and tea service in the lobby. We don’t have any arrangement with the hotel; but it’s a nice place. Great restaurants nearby, including Chili’s, Claim Jumper, Macaroni Grill, Olive Garden, Woodranch Steak House, and more!

Check-In

Saturday morning from 4;45am to 5:15am in the lobby of the Hampton Inn. Please bring your lunch-bag size drop bags with your name and address on each bag. We will not take bags that don’t have your address on it. We do this to make sure you pick up the back at the designated drop location and not leave it on the ground as illegal litter.

Start Time

5:15am or after if you’re really fast!

Come Prepared

Please be in shape for this event. Riders will be expected to be primarily self-supporting/self-sufficient. There will be minimal support and no roving SAG.

Time Limit

Since this is leap-frog support, it’s not possible to provide support if the spread is too great. This is why we ask that only riders who think they’ll complete the course in 15 hours or less sign up. If you’re too far back, plan on riding with little or no support. This is NOT a standard double century – and there is NO SAG. If you quit, as stated above, you must find your own way back.

Twilight, Sunrise, and Sunset

Twilight begins 5:12; Twilight ends 20:35. Sunrise is 5:42; Sunset is 20:05.

Lights

If you start in the dark, or plan on being out after sunset, plan on carrying your lights all day.  If there is any chance that you’ll be out past sunset, you MUST have both a headlight and a taillight attached to your bicycle, and you MUST wear a reflective ankle band on both legs. Please do not under estimate the time you will need to complete this event. Come prepared with a very good light and backup bulbs and batteries, plus at least one non-blinking taillight and lots of reflective gear.

Bring a Camelbak!

Tour of Two Forests is held on very remote roads and has the potential for major extremes in weather conditions, not to mention the very challenging route. Since on-route support will be minimal, we absolutely, positively, strongly and most assuredly encourage everyone to bring, wear, and use a Camelbak with at least 50 oz of water, plus two full-size water bottles.

Ride Description

Classic Doubles are more than challenging alone. They are “tours” in the true sense, an opportunity for discovery and adventure in an area not often ridden.

The Tour of Two Forests has been such a classic since its first edition in 1980. It starts and ends in Santa Clarita and traverses parts of L.A., Ventura, and Kern Counties, plus the name-giving Angeles National Forest and Los Padres National Forest. It begins with an easy cruise through Piru and down South Mountain to Santa Paula and then the easy climb up into Ventura County’s sleepy hideaway of Ojai. Next you’ll ascend 30 mile Pine Mountain and enter the heart of the ride: rugged and beautiful mountain country where a lone cyclist feels very small. Next comes Lockwood Valley (home of the “Heartbreak Hill”) to Gorman and then a rolling finish through Pine Canyon, Three Points, Elizabeth Lake, Leona Valley, and down, down, down Bouquet Canyon to the finish back in Santa Clarita.

This is a big ride in more ways than one: 198 miles with about 13,220 feet of elevation gain.

It’s one of the most scenic courses in Southern California and is almost free of traffic lights. The logistics are easy since it starts just 30 miles north of Los Angeles.

This is a great event with a whole lot of history in the California cycling scene. We really encourage you to ride this classic event!

Route Sheets and GPS Files

Route sheets and GPS files are available to registered riders if requested via email between two weeks and five days before the event. We cannot guarantee that advance route sheets will be 100% accurate.Though not anticipated, last-minute routing changes may be required.

Please note that advance route sheets and gps files are provided as a courtesy and you use them at your own risk. Planet Ultra does not guarantee accuracy. Please further note the following very important caveats:

1. The ROUTE SHEET is gospel. Whenever the route sheet and the rider’s GPS unit disagree, the route sheet is correct.
2. A GPS can (and will) route a rider over a cliff. They’re good at that. There’s really no substitute for the human brain. Riders should use theirs.
3. One should never depend solely on a GPS unit for navigation. Riders should have a route sheet with them, and know how to follow it.
4. After CP5, the riders will go under 101 and ride on a small vineyard road. That road is NOT on the Garmin maps. Riders using a Garmin should take note here. Their GPS will likely be squawking at them to get onto the 101. Follow the track and reread #2 above.
5. GPS batteries on most “bicycle” GPS units will not last for a full double century. Riders should understand that and make arrangements to supplement the GPS power, learn to read a route sheet, or have the phone number of the local cab company with them.
6. Click here for the RideWithGPS.com map. You may download a GPS file from this page.

A spectacular 200 mile route in Southern California’s most scenic and most popular cycling region!

New for 2013: Century option! Click here to learn about it!

General Information and Ride Rules – Please Read!

Click here to see 2012 Results. Please note that overall ranking is based on “gun” time – meaning either your 6am start or 6:45am start time. Age group rankings are based on “chip” time – meaning when your number was entered into the timing software.

Click here for results from prior years.

Click here for the Carpool and Room Share blog

Entry Fees

Until August 31: $109.  September 1-28: $119. Thereafter, until midnight Thursday before the event, you may make an online reservation using the Register Now link and pay $130 at the door. Please read our registration and cancellation policies.  Entry fee includes post-ride dinner at the Starting Gate Restaurant in the Marriott. You may choose between four menu items: Mediterranean Chicken & Linguine; Vegetarian Pasta; Burger & Fries; or Soft Tacos with your choice of chicken or beef. All dinners served with iced tea or coffee.
 While all participants must sign up online, if you prefer to pay by check or have a ride voucher, use the Race Category/Distance pulldown menu and select either. Please send a copy of your email confirmation with your payment, or write the event name on your check or voucher. The post-ride meal is not included with Ride Voucher entries. If  you’d like to purchase the meal, please send $15 with your confirmation email and voucher. Unpaid earlybird entries will be deleted from the system one week after the Earlybird period ends. All other unpaid registrations will be deleted one week before the event.

Start/Finish Host Hotel

Our host hotel is the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott  located at 555 McMurray Road in Buellton, 800-638-8882. The Marriott has a Planet Ultra rate of $169 per night. The discounted rate expires September 16th.  Our overflow hotel is the Days Inn in Buellton, (805) 688-8448. Our rate there is $110.  If you prefer to be in Solvang, please stay at the Royal Copenhagen Inn, 1579 Mission Dr.; 805-688-5561. It’s right in the middle of town – and a good bargain.

Check-In

All riders must check in Friday evening from 7pm to 9pm or Saturday morning between 5:30am and 6:30am in the Marriott. Please do your best to check in Friday evening, not Saturday morning, especially if you want an early start time.

Start Time

“Mass” start at 7am. Riders who need more than 14 hours may start at 6:00am*. If you start early, please note that checkpoint opening and closing times are based on the “mass start” time and are calculated using an average speed range of 11 to 20 mph. *If you start at 6am and finish the ride in under 12 hours – you will be listed as DQ in the results. We’re serious folks – the early start time is for riders who really need it.

Time Limit

Regardless of start time, the course closes at 11:30pm. The 17.5 hour time limit will be strictly enforced. No exceptions. Riders who fail to make the time cut-off will be listed as Unofficial Finishers.

Twilight

Twilight begins at 6:46; Twilight ends at 18:44. Sunrise is at 7:11; Sunset is at 18:19

Lights and Clothing Drop

If you leave your lights at the start, your bag will be waiting for you at the second-to-last checkpoint, in Guadalupe. We do, however, encourage you to carry your lights yourself. That way if you need them, you’re guaranteed to have them.  If there is any chance that you’ll be out past sunset, you MUST have both a headlight and a taillight attached to your bicycle, and you MUST wear a reflective ankle band on both legs.

Routing and Navigation

Planet Ultra route sheets include lots of information to help riders navigate. For example, we tell you if a turn is at a stop sign (SS), traffic light (TL) or T-intersection (T-int). We know that riders prefer course markings; however, many of the towns/cities/counties specifically forbid it. Further, your Planet Ultra staff  travels to the destination the day before the event to make everything happen; so we can’t mark the course in advance. If we have the manpower, we’ll do our best to mark the route (unless it’s forbidden by our permits, otherwise illegal, somewhere that locals would be really upset about it, or the turn is at a place that’s very obvious, like a big green highway sign). Our experience is that riders get lost whether the course is marked or not. Fewer riders get lost when they’re mindful of where they are on the route sheet. Please understand and take responsibility for navigation.

Route Sheets and GPS Files:  Route sheets are available in excel format to registered riders if requested via email between two weeks and five days before the event. We cannot guarantee that advance route sheets will be 100% accurate. Though not anticipated, last-minute routing changes may be required.

You may also download a map and GPS file from RideWithGPS.com. Please note that advance route sheets and gps files are provided as a courtesy and you use them at your own risk. Planet Ultra does not guarantee accuracy. Please further note the following very important caveats:

1. The ROUTE SHEET is gospel. Whenever the route sheet and the GPS unit disagree, the route sheet is correct.
2. A GPS can (and will) route a rider over a cliff. There’s really no substitute for the human brain, so please use yours.
3. Never depend solely on a GPS. Bring your route sheet, and know how to follow it.
4. GPS batteries on many “bicycle” GPS units may not last for a century. Make sure you’ve arranged for additional power.
5. (Coming soon!) Click here to view the Solvang Fall Double map. You can also download a GPS file from this page.

Personal SAG Vehicles

Not allowed! If you bring one, you’ll be disqualified from the event without a warning. The definition of a personal SAG is any vehicle (motor or otherwise), anywhere on the route, operated by someone other than Planet Ultra staff, that is providing any type of aid, assistance, or motivation, or taking photographs, or simply out cheering. Please understand that our permits simply don’t allow dozens of extra vehicles on the roads or at the checkpoint locations. Imagine the traffic from all those cars! If you’re bringing someone with you who wants to be out on the course, please have them contact us and join our volunteer staff.

Support Provided

There are five checkpoints along the course: Sisquoc (mile 41.2), Hwy 166 (about mile 70), San Luis Obispo (mile 105), Guadalupe (mile 145) and Lompoc (mile 175). At these checkpoints, riders can expect to find bananas, PB&J sandwiches, granola/fruit/energy bars, Hammer Gel, Sustained Energy and/or Perpetuem, Heed, Endurolytes, plus other wholesome edibles. Subway sandwiches will be served at the “lunch” checkpoint in San Luis Obispo.

Route Description

NOTE: Route sheets will be available as an excel file to registered riders if so requested via email between two weeks and five days before the event. However, we cannot guarantee that the route sheet will be 100% accurate. Though not anticipated, last-minute routing changes may be required.

Riders will do a quick, easy warm-up on the back roads of Solvang, Ballard and Santa Ynez before joining the traditional route on Foxen Canyon. After the first checkpoint in Sisquoc (mile 32.1), the scenery changes!

The first big climb of the day is Tepusquet Road. This is a meandering 9 miles of climbing – with a few steep pitches in the 8-10% range. The five mile descent is a blast! Enjoy the ride! At the bottom riders hang a left on Highway 166, where they’ll roll along to the second checkpoint and fine refreshments. The route continues down 166, then hangs a right on Thompson Road, heading towards San Luis Obispo via Nipomo and Arroyo Grande. This part of the route will be familiar to veterans of the Spring event. After the third checkpoint (“lunch”) at our usual park in San Luis, riders will continue straight onto Tank Farm Road, and then work their way south via the quiet and beautiful Prefumo Canyon Road. This is the second big climb of the day – and it’s a quad buster! Bring some gears – as you’ll need them for the occasional 12-16% grades. Less than a mile down from the summit, there’s an unpaved section of road that’s totally ride-able, with an abundance of caution (meaning “slowly”). About a mile later after the pavement resumes, comes a very rewarding descent. Then the route once again meets up with the original route at San Luis Bay Road, winds back down Avila Beach Road, ultimately continuing south through Pismo Beach, Shell Beach and on to the fourth checkpoint at Guadalupe.

The route then diverts off Hwy 1 on Black Road which becomes the awesome Lompoc-Casmalia Road. Then comes the third big climb of the day, up Hwy 1 and the challenging Vandenberg Grade. After a nice descent to the edge of Lompoc, riders come to the last checkpoint at River Park Campground. From there they’ll make their way back via the beautiful, rolling Santa Rosa Road (usually with a super strong tail wind), and Hwy 246 back to Buellton.

191 miles with about 10,300′ of climbing. This route is significantly more challenging than the Spring route – with substantially more climbing and many steep pitches. Riders should expect to require a bit more time on the bike between checkpoints. As such, if a rider is concerned about riding 40+ challenging miles between water/food stops, then a camelbak or other hydration system is recommended.

Parking

If you’re staying at a hotel in Buellton other than the Marriott, please leave your car and ride to the start. If you’re driving to Buellton Saturday morning, please be respectful about where you park. Allow enough time to find proper parking; and please don’t park in the Marriott lot.

Directions

Use Hwy 101 to get to Buellton from either north or south. Click here for a map.

Volunteers

We always need volunteers! To provide a little incentive, when you volunteer for a Planet Ultra Double Century event, you receive a free entry into any other Planet Ultra single-day event. It’s a simple formula: “work one, ride one free!” Volunteers for Century events and Gran Fondo events receive a 50% discount voucher. So please contact us to let us know when and where you’d like to help. Please note that the intent of the “work one, ride one free” offer is to encourage riders themselves to give something back to the sport they love. However, we also appreciate when riders bring along family and friends who they’ve recruited to help out, so we’re offering a one-half ride credit to the recruiter if the volunteer doesn’t want the ride credit. Ride credits must be used within a year of the date of volunteering.

SPECIAL REGISTRATION POLICY: Because this is a charity benefit ride for CAF, cancellation vouchers from other events and/or volunteer ride credits may not be used; and there will be no cancellation vouchers provided if you sign up but can’t make it. All no-show registration fees will be donated to CAF.

Entry Fees

Early Entry Fee of $90 includes: Chip timing, special finisher award, delicious post-ride lunch (including sandwich wrap, chips and fruit*), four fully stocked checkpoints along the course for the full century and three for the metric century, and plenty of roving SAG. A portion of every basic entry fee goes directly to the Challenged Athletes Foundation. (*In the past we offered a mexican-style buffet lunch. Unfortunately, the cost for a private banquet room and staff has become prohibitively expensive. Since the purpose of this event is to raise money for CAF, we’re scaling down the lunch so we can up the donations. We hope you agree with this decision.)

General Information and Ride Rules – Please Read!

Solvang’s Finest Century (and Finest Metric Century) is dedicated to raising money for the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
The challenge of riding a century, or participating in any endurance sport, is a lot of fun; but people with disabilities sometimes don’t have access to the special equipment and training it takes for them to pursue this type of lifestyle. Through the Challenged Athletes Foundation, you can provide funding for hand cycles, sports chairs, training and competition needs that will allow athletes with disabilities the freedom to enjoy a fit lifestyle. Since 1994, CAF has raised over $30 million and provided funds to over 5,000 athletes across the United States and around the world.

There are three easy things that you can do to help: First, simply register for this event! A portion of your entry fee goes directly to the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Second, send in a tax-deductible donation with your entry. Third, purchase a jersey at the event; proceeds will be donated to CAF. Finally, if you want to do more (and we hope you do), we’ll help get you started with your own fundraising! We’ll show you how to get dialed into the Challenged Athletes Foundation Race For A Reason program and set up a fundraising web page to track your progress. The Challenged Athletes Foundation will provide you with postcards, newsletters, videos – all the tools you need to make your fundraising a success. You’ll also receive some great incentive prizes from CAF when you reach your fundraising goal. Just think, you can challenge yourself on this beautiful Solvang ride and also help someone else overcome their challenge as well. It’s a win win situation!!!

Fundraising Incentive Prizes:

When you join the Race For a Reason program, the more you raise, the more incentive prize choices you’ll have. The 2012 Race For A Reason fundraising incentive prize was awesome – and we’ll post 2013 info when avaiable! For example, raise just $350 and win a pair of Oakley sunglasses. The more you raise, the more choices you have: Garmin training devices or GPS, Apple iPod Touch, Apple iPad, Trek Bike, Pro 3D CompuTrainer, and more! In addition, the highest fundraiser who raises more than $7,500 will also win a 2013 pass to all Planet Ultra single day events. Click here to learn about, and register for the Challenged Athlete’s Foundation Race for A Reason Program.

Jerseys will be available in limited amounts at the event for $70. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of jerseys will be donated to Challenged Athletes Foundation.

Interested in sponsoring this event? Click here to contact us!

Start/Finish Host Hotel

Our host hotel is the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott located at 555 McMurray Road in Buellton, 800-638-8882. The Marriott has a Planet Ultra rate of $169 per night. Rate expires September 16th so please don’t delay in making your reservation.  Our overflow hotel is be the Days Inn in Buellton, (805) 688-8448. Our special rate there is $110.  If you prefer to be in Solvang, please stay at the Royal Copenhagen Inn, 1579 Mission Dr.; 805-688-5561. It’s right in the middle of town – and a good bargain.

Check-In

All riders must check in Friday evening from 7pm to 9pm or Saturday morning between 6:00am and 8:00am in the designated meeting room (which for 2012 was the Grandstand Ballroom) at the Marriott.

Chip Timed Event!

New for 2012 and beyond, Solvang’s Finest Century will be timed. At packet pickup you’ll receive a number plate with a timing chip on the back. Please hang the number from your handlebars, facing forward. You must pass through the timing chute both when you start and when you finish in order to get a time. The chute will be at the back of the hotel.

Solvang Open Start System

The ride starts and finishes in the parking lot at the rear of the hotel. We’ll have an open starting window from 7:00am to 8am for Century riders. If you plan on finishing the century in under 6 hours, please start closer to 8am. The start time for the metric century is 8:30am. If you start early, or start from a location other than the back of the Marriott, you will not be listed in the results. Please no early starts, or you’ll get to the checkpoints before they’re open. We’ll have a staging area in the parking lot where riders will gather to be sent off. Come with your friends that you want to ride with, and hit the road together. We greatly appreciate your cooperation in making this run smoothly.

Time Limit

Regardless of start time, the course closes at 4:30pm. No exceptions. If you’re not sure if you can complete a moderately difficult century in under ten hours, we recommend the metric century option. The metric covers much of the same route as the century (minus the first 35 miles) – and is a nice challenge with lots of climbing. Please note: Riders must reach Checkpoint 2 at mile 57.9 by 12:30pm. All riders who miss this cut-off are required to take an alternate, shorter route back to the finish.

Twilight

Twilight begins at 6:05; Twilight ends at 17:24. Sunrise is at 6:32; Sunset is at 16:58.

Support Provided

We will have checkpoints along the way to provide you with a wide variety of food choices including bananas, PB&J sandwiches, Clif bars, granola/fruit/energy bars, Hammer Gel, Sustained Energy and/or Perpetuem, Heed, and Endurolytes, plus other snacks and goodies. Lunch will be served at the finish line in Buellton from approximately 1:30pm to 5pm.

Routing and Navigation

Planet Ultra route sheets include lots of useful information to help riders navigate the course. For example, we’ll let you know if a turn is at a stop sign (SS), traffic light (TL) or T-intersection (T-int). We know that riders like to have the course marked. However, many of the towns/cities/counties specifically request that no markings are placed in the road. Our permits are contingent on NOT doing this. Most importantly, the Solvang area is host to many, many events, and there are road markings all over the place – most of which will NOT be for our ride. If you don’t pay attention to your route sheet, you’re likely to follow some random arrow which puts you off course. So please, ALWAYS HAVE YOUR ROUTE SHEET WITH YOU and be aware of where you are on the route. Our experience is that riders get lost whether the course is marked or not; but fewer riders get lost when they’re mindful of where they are on the route sheet. Please understand and take responsibility for navigation.

Personal SAG Vehicles

Not allowed! If you bring one, you’ll be disqualified from the event without a warning. The definition of a personal SAG is any vehicle (motor or otherwise), anywhere on the route, operated by someone other than Planet Ultra staff, that is providing any type of aid, assistance, or motivation, or taking photographs, or simply out cheering. Please understand that our permits simply don’t allow dozens of extra vehicles on the roads or at the checkpoint locations. Imagine the traffic from all those cars! If you’re bringing someone with you who wants to be out on the course, please have them contact us and join our volunteer staff.

Route Description

NOTE: Route sheets will be available as an excel file to registered riders if so requested via email between two weeks and four days before the event. However, we cannot guarantee that the route sheet will be 100% accurate. Though not anticipated, last-minute routing changes may be required.

The event starts and finishes just down the road from its namesake, Solvang, a quaint, Danish village with excellent restaurants, window shopping, real shopping, horse-drawn carriages, parks, people in costume, wine-tasting, vineyards, and lots of fun things for the whole family to see and do. Bring your family and make a weekend of it. We promise they’ll all have a great time while you ride your bike!

Century Route

We’ve put together a wonderful and unique century route, unlike any other organized ride in the area. Riders will experience the very best of the Santa Ynez valley and then head out to points beyond. This figure eight style course starts with a tour of Solvang, Los Olivos, Ballard and Santa Ynez, and then heads up the well-known Foxen Canyon. The route then loops back around towards Solvang via Zaca Station, Hwy 154 and beautiful Ballard Canyon. Then riders head South towards Buellton and veer off on the famous Avenue of the Flags which becomes Santa Rosa Road. Taking the back roads of Lompoc, riders will head up and over Harris Grade and drop back down to Hwy 135 towards the great little western antique haven of Los Alamos. From Los Alamos, riders encounter the last big climb of the day, up and over Drum Canyon, a quiet, twisty, 800 foot, 3.4 mile ascent. Drum Canyon has a steep, technical downhill, so please pay close attention to your speed. Once you reach the bottom, you’ll hop onto Hwy 246 back to Buellton, with a big shoulder all the way to town! 100 miles with 4,900 feet of climbing. Four SAG stops along the course.

Metric century ride: Riders will cover the last 60 miles of the fantastic century route. Leaving Buellton, riders veer off on the famous Avenue of the Flags which becomes Santa Rosa Road, and the first climbs of the day. After a blast down Hwy 1, riders take the back roads of Lompoc, heading up and over Harris Grade and dropping back down to Hwy 135 towards the great little western antique haven of Los Alamos. From Los Alamos, riders encounter the last big climb of the day, up and over Drum Canyon, a quiet, twisty, 800 foot, 3.4 mile ascent. Drum Canyon has a steep, technical downhill, so please pay close attention to your speed. Once you reach the bottom, you’ll hop onto Hwy 246 back to Buellton, with a big shoulder all the way to town! 62 miles with 3,100 feet of climbing. Three SAG stops along the course.

Towns/regions visited: Solvang, Ballard, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, Foxen Canyon, Buellton, Lompoc, Los Alamos, and back to Buellton.

Parking

If you’re staying at a hotel in Buellton or Solvang, other than the Marriott, please leave your car and ride over. If you’re driving to Buellton Saturday morning, please be respectful about where you park. Allow more than enough time to find proper parking. Please don’t park at the Marriott, or any other hotel, unless you are staying there.

Directions

Use Hwy 101 to get to Buellton from either north or south. Click here for a map.

Click here for the Carpool and Room Share blog

Volunteers

We always need volunteers! To provide a little incentive, when you volunteer for a Planet Ultra Century event, you receive a voucher for 50% discount on any future Planet Ultra single-day event .  So please contact us to let us know when and where you’d like to help. We also appreciate when riders recruit family and friends to help. So if you recruit someone that wouldn’t use the voucher, you’re welcome to use it yourself. Ride credits must be used within a year of the date of volunteering.

This is the PERFECT time of year to ride in the area. Afternoon temperatures in the mid-70s and lows in the high 50s (which even if it sounds cold doesn’t feel cold in the morning, as it’s so arid here).

The Gran Fondo is a hugely popular and celebrated tradition in the Italian cycling world. Meaning “the big ride” or “the big endurance,” a Gran Fondo is a long distance, timed cycling event (NOT A RACE) that welcomes competitive, amateur and recreational cyclists of all abilities.

The Tri States Gran Fondo is fully supported with at least four feed zones (we call them checkpoints) along the route, roving SAG, and lunch after the ride. All riders will have a timing chip, and results will be posted at the finish line and also on the website.

We know that most folks participate in distance events simply for the pure enjoyment of riding through beautiful scenery with their friends. We also know that some cyclists have a competitive spirit and it’s important for them to have an accurate time to compare to others. So we offer the best of both worlds.

Third stage of the Planet Ultra Triple Crown of Gran Fondos!

The Planet Ultra TRIPLE CROWN OF GRAN FONDOS consists of the Gran Fondo Las Vegas, the Zion Gran Fondo and Tri States Gran Fondo.

For 2013, if you complete both Las Vegas and Zion you’ll receive a discount code for 30% off your Tri States entry.

Complete Tri States and you’ll be automatically entered into a drawing to win free entries to all 3 events the following year.

You’ll also receive a special award for completing all three of these incredibly beautiful and challenging events.

Join the fun! Ride all 3!

Event details are available on the Tri States Gran Fondo Website!

While all participants must sign up online, if you have a volunteer to ride credit, use the Race Category/Distance pulldown menu and select that. Please send a copy of your email confirmation with your voucher.

“The Valley of Fire Marathon in Southeastern Nevada may be the most beautiful marathon in America – perhaps in the world…
This race certainly goes on your short list of most-unforgettable marathons.”
  -Marathon & Beyond Magazine, July-August 2011

Just some of the highlights:

• Breathtaking scenery
• Complete road closure for the first half of the marathon, the half marathon, 10K and 5K
• Electronic chip timing
• Unique overall and age group awards
• Well-placed and well-stocked aid stations

Get all the details on the Valley of Fire Half Marathon Website!
Or simply REGISTER NOW!

Race with Planet Ultra in Death Valley National Park – a land of extremes.

Death Valley is the hottest – with a record high of 134 degrees, the highest ever recorded under natural conditions on the North American continent.

Death Valley is the driest – with humidity levels below 1% in the heat of the summer.

Death Valley is the lowest – at minus 282 feet below sea level, Badwater is the lowest point in North America.

Death Valley is the biggest – the largest National Park in the United States.

Just some of the highlights:

• Half Marathon, 10K and 5K options on an out-and-back course
• Unique and beautiful stark desert scenery
• Electronic chip timing
• Unique overall and age group awards
• Well-placed and well-stocked aid stations

Details, event information and registration available on our running events website.

Utah, Nevada and Arizona!

You’ll enjoy the sunrise and the incredible scenery in the high desert as you run mostly downhill to Mesquite, Nevada, a city both beautiful and unique. The Half Marathon and 5K races run in two states – Arizona and Nevada.

Just some of the highlights:

• Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K options on a one-way course with busing to the start lines
• Beautiful high desert scenery
• Electronic chip timing
• Unique overall and age group awards
• Well-placed and well-stocked aid stations

Event information and registration link available on our running events website.