SOLVANG AUTUMN DOUBLE CENTURY & 200K
 
OCTOBER 16, 2021
BUELLTON, CALIFORNIA

Just as beautiful, but significantly more challenging than the Spring event!
A spectacular double century in Southern California’s most popular cycling region!
193 miles with about 11,800′ of climbing!
DOUBLE METRIC CENTURY OPTION
124 miles with about 6900′ climbing!
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We also offer 100-mile or 100K options! Click here to learn about it!

General Information and Ride Rules – Please Read!

Click here for 2019 chip timed results.

Click here for results from prior years.

2021 Entry Fees*:
Double Century: 
Until August 21: $135.  
August 22-October 2: $145.
Late entry: October 2-12 at noon: $160 cash only at the door with online reservation.
Very last minute entry: October 12 at noon- October 15 at 5pm: $200

Double Metric: 
Until August 21: $115.  
August 22-October 12 at noon: $125.
Late entry: October 12 at noon- October 15 at 5pm: $140 cash only at the door with online reservation.

Entry includes Solvang finish souvenir (a new surprise) for everyone who signs up at least four weeks before the ride; fully stocked aid stations along the route; roving SAG support; and per-rider donation to Challenged Athletes Foundation.  We’re no longer able to provide a post-event meal for our Solvang events as none of the restaurants close to our start/finish is interested, and a catered meal at the host hotel will be close to $50 per person.

Before registering, please read our registration and cancellation policies.

* If you’re able to recruit an event volunteer, please email us before signing up and we’ll give you a coupon code to use during registration for an instant 50% off. For helping, the volunteer receives a credit for 50% off a future Planet Ultra single-day event. If the volunteer is a non-rider then YOU may use that credit. So you get two nice deals: An instant discount for promising to bring a volunteer, and 50% discount on your next event.

Use the SignUp bottom to register online and pay by credit card (which includes a small service fee). Click here to view the registered rider list. To pay by Venmo or Zelle, download and email this form. Your email form and payment must be received no later than October 2nd. Please read our new cancellation policy before registering.

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 $199 per night, which expires September 15. Call 888-236-2427 and ask for the Planet Ultra Group Block Room Rate or click here to book online.  PLEASE book your room in our block. Our future relationship with our host hotels depend on our booking the rooms they set aside for us.
Our overflow hotel is Pea Soup Anderson’s Inn in Buellton, (805) 688-3216 with a Planet Ultra group rate of $119.10.  

We realize hotels in this area are very expensive; so try AirBnB as well.

Rider Check-In:
Friday from 7-9pm or Saturday from 4:30-6:30am in the Marriott. Please do your best to check in Friday evening, especially if you want to start early.

Parking:
If you’re staying somewhere 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.

How To Get There: 
Use Hwy 101 to get to Buellton from either north or south. Click here for a map.

Start Times:
Chip Timed Riders: “Mass” start at 7am for all riders who plan to finish in under 14 hours and all Double Metric riders.
Riders who need more than 14 hours may start at either 5am (if you need 15-17 hours) or 6am (if you need 14-16 hours).
No in between starts please. 

If you start at either pre-dawn hour, please note that checkpoint opening and closing times are based on the 7am start and are calculated using an average speed range of 12 to 20 mph. 

Riders needing more than 17 hours may opt for the Tourist division during registration and start as early as 4am. Please familiarize yourself with the Tourist rules. If Tourist riders finish after the course closes, they must sign in; and may be asked to provide proof of course completion.

Time Limits and Cut-Offs:
The course has rolling closures from aid station to aid station.
Aid station closing times are listed on the route sheet. Once an aid station closes, so does support end along the course prior to that aid station.
Total time allowed to complete the course with an official time: 17 hours based on the 5am start. Finish line closes at 10pm.

Strict cut-off at the Marriott at mile 102 based on start times:  1:00pm for 5am or earlier starts, 1:30pm for 6am starts and 2:00pm for 7am starts. Rider numbers will be pulled past these cut-off times. NO EXCEPTIONS.

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

Lights and Gear Drop:
If you leave your lights at the start, your bag will be waiting for you at Guadalupe. If there’s 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. If you start in the dark, plan on carrying your lights all day. We do encourage you to carry your lights yourself. That way if you need them, you’re guaranteed to have them.

Personal Bag Drop:
Because we know some folks have special dietary needs (or are very particular about what they want), you may bring three lunch-sized brown paper bag (like the ones you took to school in 2nd grade) filled with your special foods. Drop the bags off at the start, and we will deliver them to three designated locations on the route. These bags will be discarded when the checkpoints close.So please make sure you pick up your bag, or don’t care that you won’t get it back.

Route Description:
Double Century: The route is basically two centuries starting/ending in Buellton. On the first half, riders will do a quick, easy warm-up loop on the back roads of Solvang, Ballard, Santa Ynez and Foxen Canyon before heading out to enjoy the rolling hills of Santa Rosa Road. Rolling through Lompoc, you’ll hit the first sustained climb of the day, up Harris Grade, followed by a super fast and fun descent to Highway 1. Then you’ll head south to Los Alamos and up and over Drum Canyon then back to Buellton.

The second half has a bit more climbing, starting with Drum Canyon in reverse! And YES! The road is better on the Los Alamos side; so perhaps a less bumpy descent; and again, in full daylight! Up and over, you’ll drop down to Los Alamos (again) for your “lunch” stop. Then it’s time for some more roads-less-traveled; north on the 101 just a few miles and up Palmer Road, with a steep pitch right at the top before you plunge back down into Sisquoc. From here you’ll do an awesome out-and-back on Tepusquet Road, which has superb pavement and super fun, twisty descending. You’ll return to Buellton via Foxen Canyon, Zaca Station and Ballard Canyon which all climb and roll back to Buellton.

193 (or so) miles with about 11,800′ of climbing. This route is significantly more challenging than the Spring route – but the change has also made the route more unique, with new roads and new challenges. The route stays closer to Solvang/Buellton, allowing for shorter options if needed/desired. Riders should expect to require a bit more time on the bike between checkpoints. As such, if a rider is concerned about riding 30+ challenging miles between water/food stops, then a camelbak or other hydration system is recommended.

Double Metric: Follows the double century route to Los Alamos and then diverts onto a loop of Palmer Road to Cat Canyon back to Los Alamos and returns via Drum Canyon. An outstanding, super fun route with great scenery! 124 miles with about 6900′ climbing. 

Routing and Navigation:
Planet Ultra route sheets include lots of information to help riders navigate the course. 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 event destination the day before 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 course (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).
This is the type of route where a GPS with turn-by-turn capabilities will come in handy. 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 maps and GPS files 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. Click here to view the 1st half of the ride; click here for the 2nd half. Full route of Solvang Fall Double with map and links to GPS files to download. Click here for the Double Metric Route.

Support Provided:
Checkpoints / Aid Stations are typically 25-35 miles apart depending on terrain. Riders can expect to find bananas, PB&J sandwiches, granola/fruit/energy bars, and many other wholesome edibles. Subway sandwiches (or similar) will be served in Los Alamos.

Post-Ride Meal:
Your entry includes dinner at Mother Hubbard’s Restaurant, about 1/2 mile from the Marriott. You must provide your meal ticket to the server. 

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 don’t allow dozens of extra vehicles on the roads or at the checkpoints. 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.

Volunteers / Sunday Staff Ride:
We always need volunteers! Click here for info about available positions.

Volunteers at Solvang may also choose to ride the route, unsupported, on Friday or Sunday (or other date arranged with Planet Ultra) to receive Triple Crown and Grand Slam credit. In the past we offered a supported staff ride, but we’ve had no interest in the past few years – and now only offer the unsupported option.