"See that speck in the distance
They say that's why you're here
The spin, the drive, the grind - All of it
To chase that
But look around … we don't need a finish line
It's not about being done with it
It's about doing it
Why this road? Because it's here
Why this time? Because it's now
Pursue the thrill
Pursue the journey
As though it never ends
Wherever it may take you"
Watch the Smith Optics Video
Dream of your next Double Century Sunrise!!
Happy New Year ...
Welcome to the California Triple Crown Newsletter of January 1, 2016
Contents:
1. SPOTLIGHT ON 498 CALIFORNIA TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS IN 2015
2. 2016 CALIFORNIA TRIPLE CROWN SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
3. 2016 CALIFORNIA TRIPLE CROWN STAGE RACE ANNOUNCED
4. HUGE DELIVERY OF CALIFORNIA TRIPLE CROWN PRODUCTS
5. RED HALL OF FAME JERSEYS DESIGNED AND SHIPPED
6. LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!
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1. SPOTLIGHT ON 498 CALIFORNIA TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS IN 2015
Looking back on the 2015 Double Century Series, I hope you had some moments on
your rides where "all the world was right". Where your fitness made the bike
feel like it didn’t have a chain. We tip our helmets to the 498 Riders
completing their California Triple Crown in 2015 as shown
HERE Click on any name and you'll see that person's California Triple Crown History
in detail. This report is sorted by Last Name then First Name.
For example, click on Xenia Bixler’s name and her CalTripleCrown History
Report appears
HERE
Xenia’s Double Century History is exemplary for many reasons. She was inducted
into the California Triple Crown Hall of Fame at the California Triple Crown
Awards Breakfast last year after completing more than 50 Double Centuries! She
rode 9 Double Centuries in 2015 which is a truly amazing accomplishment.
She was on the podium of the 2012 California Triple Crown Stage Race and placed 3rd in the Women's Division!!
Even more impressive is that she has given back to our
sport by volunteering at 11 Double Centuries!!
All of the statistical data has been entered for 2015. A big thank you to the CTC volunteers who put in a lot of hard work
on this monumental task. Frank Neal, Mike Sturgill, and Tony Musorafite have worked long and hard hours posting the results from each
of the Double Centuries to the California Triple Crown Database at
www.caltriplecrown.org to see the results. Overall it was a great year.
Completion of the California Triple Crown series is not easy but we minimize the
hassles. All you have to do (as though this part is supposed to be easy) is
register for and complete at least three of the Doubles on the schedule. We
will keep track of those individuals completing the events by working with the
ride organizers.
Each year, several people take on the challenge of completing every Double in
the CTC series. However, with the schedule having grown from five events to so
many Doubles as we currently have, we recognize that this "grand slam" has
become increasingly difficult...perhaps unrealistic. We encourage riders to
attempt as many of these doubles as time, money, and fitness allow, but remind
them to be proud of whatever they accomplish, be it three or more doubles.
The California Triple Crown records one ride credit and/or one volunteer credit
to each event based on the results posted by the Ride Organizers.
We have updated the Schedule page at
http://www.caltriplecrown.com/schedule.htm to include links to all of the
results of the 2015 Double Centuries on the ride organizer’s web sites.
We have updated the "Winners History Table" at
http://www.CalTripleCrown.com ...
click on Results then scroll down from 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008,
2007, ... below the 1992 Results where you’ll find the “Winners History Table”
which compares 2015 to the prior years. Here you will find that 2015 was a
good year for Double Centuries in California, with the 498 California
Triple Crown Winners a good result especially considering the difficult
economic times that we continue to live in.
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2. 2016 CALIFORNIA TRIPLE CROWN SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
The 2016 California Triple Crown Schedule has been announced at:
http://www.caltriplecrown.com/schedule.htm
02/20/16 Camino Real Double
03/05/16 Southern Inyo Double Century
03/12/16 Joshua Tree Double Century
03/19/16 Solvang Spring Double
04/09/16 Mulholland Double
04/16/16 Hemet D.C.
04/30/16 Devil Mountain Double
05/14/16 Central Coast Double
05/21/16 Davis Double
05/21/16 Heartbreak Double
06/04/16 Eastern Sierra Double
06/18/16 Terrible Two
06/25/16 Grand Tour
06/25/16 Alta Alpina 8 Pass Challenge
07/16/16 Borrego Double Century
08/06/16 Mt. Tam Double
09/10/16 White Mountain Double
09/24/16 Knoxville Fall Classic Double
09/25/16 California Triple Crown Awards Breakfast
10/08/16 Bass Lake Powerhouse Double
10/15/16 Solvang Autumn Double
10/22/16 Oceanside Double Century
12/03/16 Dead of Winter Double
A printer friendly version has been updated at
http://www.caltriplecrown.com/scheduleprint.htm
You can find the latest detailed version of the Ride Calendar by going to
www.CalTripleCrown.org and
selecting the CTC Ride Calendar which takes you to
http://www.caltriplecrown.org/CTC_Calendar_aspx/Default.aspx
and shows you the detailed version of the calendar complete with Registration
Open Date, Early Bird Discount Date, Late Fee Date, Registration Close Date,
Volunteer Ride Date, and a link to easily Volunteer for each of the Doubles.
The Tour of Two Forests Double Century has been placed on hiatus from the California Triple Crown because of
small numbers of riders which then only allows for brevet style support which is inconsistent with the California Triple Crown
standards and history. The Tour of Two Forests course is a great route with storied history but was basically replaced by the Heartbreak Double route in 1994.
The Heartbreak Double has nearly 100 miles of the same route so we encourage riders to support the Heartbreak Double instead.
In the future, other Double Centuries in the series with small numbers of riders will be placed on hiatus. Riding Double Centuries with
very few other riders is no fun for the riders. These Double Centuries are very difficult to support because of a few riders who are very fast and a few riders who are
very slow ... and both groups need to be well supported.
We do our best to not have any Double Centuries in the series on the same day.
We are fully aware that date conflicts are not good for either event reducing
the number of riders and the number of volunteers available for both events.
The Davis Double and the Heartbreak Double Century will both be on 5/21/16 but it was determined that the date
conflict was unavoidable. These two Doubles are very different in terms of difficulty.
The Grand Tour and the Alta Alpina 8 Pass Challenge will both be on 6/25/16 but it was determined that the date conflict
was unavoidable. These two Doubles are very different in terms of difficulty. If a rider wishes to ride both events, they can ride the Grand Tour on the event date and ride the 8 Pass Challenge Staff Ride in the middle of July. Riders will need to bring a family member or friend to volunteer for the day of the Staff Ride and purchase a club membership for $25 so they're covered by the club insurance. To register for the staff ride, please first register for the Grand Tour and then send an email to challenge@altaalpina.org to reserve a spot in the Alta Alpina staff ride
Each of the California Triple Crown Double Centuries is a Major Adventure in
itself!!
A BIG Thanks to the Ride Organizers of each of these Double Centuries. Please
thank them for the many hours they work to organize these incredibly complicated
events.
Test rides were recently ridden for the Best of the Bay Double and the Carmel Valley Double. These
two Double Centuries may be added to the 2016 California Triple Crown Schedule ... we haven't had
a chance to analyze the results of these test rides yet. If they are added, they will held be in the second
half of 2016. We'll keep you posted on these two new events.
Over the years, we have spoken to many cyclists who picked a difficult Double
Century as their first. In many cases, they weren't able to complete it because
of mechanical, biomechanical, or mental challenges. We are convinced that these
cyclists could have completed one of the flatter Doubles with a great sense of
accomplishment. They could have found that riding Doubles is challenging but
also fun!!
Not a single one of these rides is easy. Each will provide you with a "Personal
Growth Experience". Don't make the mistake of moving into the tougher Doubles
until you're ready - mechanically, biomechanically, and mentally!! Once you're
well prepared, the California Triple Crown Double Century series has plenty of
challenges for you.
When you have successfully complete three of the above Doubles, you are a Triple
Crown Winner. You have earned the right to buy lots of cool products as shown
at
http://www.caltriplecrown.com/products.htm
Bicycling publications and club newsletter editors receive your name for print.
Your name is included on the California Triple Crown web sites at
http://www.CalTripleCrown.com
and
http://www.CalTripleCrown.org
You become part of a group of select Bicyclists and have the tremendous
satisfaction of completing one of the most difficult Bicycling events anywhere!!
The California Triple Crown is a small, completely volunteer organization
established to publish the schedule and the results of these rides.
In order to receive California Triple Crown Credit for completing one of these
Double Centuries, you must be on the Official Finisher's list for the 200 Miles
as published by the Ride Organizer. Please be sure that the exact spelling of
your First and Last Name is the same when you register for the California
Triple Crown and when you register for each of the Double Centuries because we
post the results of the Double Centuries to the California Triple Crown records
based on your First and Last Name. The California Triple Crown records one
ride credit and/or one volunteer credit to each event based on the results
posted by the Ride Organizers.
If you want these rides to continue, please bring your friends and families
along and ask the ride organizer how they can help make the ride a success!!
If you want these rides to improve, volunteer and do your part to make them
better!!
Those who say it can't be done are usually interrupted by others doing it!!
Accept The Challenge: Be A California Triple Crown Winner!!
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Be a California Triple Crown Stage Race Winner in 2016!!
3. 2016 CALIFORNIA TRIPLE CROWN STAGE RACE ANNOUNCED
The California Triple Crown Stage Race was started in 1996 to add a competition
to the top end of the California Triple Crown Double Century series. This
is how the Stage Race works: Riders have to complete three of the most difficult
Doubles in the California Triple Crown Double Century series. The Total
Elapsed Time from each of these grueling Doubles is then added together and the
rider with the fastest overall time for all Three Doubles wins the Stage Race.
If you ride any Stage on a tandem, you must ride all three Stages on a tandem
with the same partner.
You can see the results of the 2015 California Triple Crown Stage Race at
http://www.caltriplecrown.org/2015/2015FinishersbyName.asp?Action=StageRace&Action2=Time&ClubID=
and we tip our helmets to each of the 85 finishers who tackled the HUGE
challenge of completing the Devil Mountain Double, the Terrible Two, and the
Mt. Tam Double.
A few photos from the Devil Mountain Double and the Terrible Two by Chuck Bramwell are shown on that page with links to more.
A few photos from the Mt. Tam Double by Tim Morken are shown on that page with links to more there.
Check out the 4 great videos by Stan Tsang which are included there.
Can you imagine riding these three most difficult rides on a tandem with the
same person??? Well, we can’t either!!
After completing all three stages of the 2015 California Triple Crown Stage Race, the following riders were on the podiums:
In the Tandem Division, Paul McKenzie and Sarah Schroer came in 1st Place followed by Roehl Caragao and Christy Smith in 2nd Place.
In the Women's Division, Rebecca Eckland came in 1st Place followed by
Kirsten McDaniel in 2nd Place and Judy Brusslan in 3rd Place.
In the Men's Division, Aaron Wise came in 1st Place followed by Mike Castaldo in 2nd Place just
11 minutes back and Gary Swanson in 3rd Place.
To complete the California Triple Crown Stage Race is a HUGE Accomplishment in cycling!!
275 Riders started the First Stage on the Devil Mountain Double
205 Riders finished the First Stage on the Devil Mountain Double
Of those, only 97 went on and finished the Second Stage on the Terrible Two
Of those, only 84 went on and completed the Third Stage on the Mt. Tam Double to become a 2015 California Triple Crown Stage Race Winner!!
The California Triple Crown Stage Race rotates through some of the most
difficult of the California Triple Crown Double Centuries. This rotation
provides variety in the Stage Race from year to year. Just as the Tour de
France does not go over the same tough passes every year, neither does the
California Triple Crown Stage Race go over the same tough passes each year.
From 1996 to 2008, the Doubles in the Stage Race were rotated 3 at a time
between Heartbreak, Devil Mountain, Central Coast, Mulholland, and the Terrible
Two. In 2009, we added the Mt. Tam Double to the rotation, in 2012, we
added the Borrego Double Century to the rotation, and in 2013, we added the Alta
Alpina 8 Pass Challenge to the rotation.
The 2016 California Triple Crown Stage Race will consist of the following very
challenging Stages:
Stage 1: Devil Mountain Double on 4/30/16 with 18,600 Feet of Climbing.
The Devil Mountain Double will continue to be an extremely tough and full day of
cycling climbing two of the highest paved peaks in the Bay Area. Don’t
forget Sierra Road, a beast of climb that you will tackle at mile 155 which
shoots up a brutal 1,800 Feet in just 3.2 Miles!!
Stage 2: Central Coast Double on 5/14/16 with 14,000 Feet of Climbing.
Stage Race Riders must complete the Highland option of this Double Century.
This difficult but very scenic ride starts and finishes in Paso Robles. It travels in a large 200 mile loop through Cambria, up Highway 1 on the Coast, and back inland through Fort Hunter Liggett. One of the many highlights is a beautiful climb up from Highway 1 on the Coast into the Santa Lucia mountains where the panoramic view of the Coastline is out of this world!! This year the Central Coast Double is not on Mother's Day weekend.
Stage 3: White Mountain Double on 9/10/16 with 12,520 Feet of Climbing.
Before you tackle the third stage of the 2016 California Triple Crown Stage Race, there is a pasta dinner the night before which offers a great time to get together with your friends and carbo load. On Saturday 9/10/16, you’ll elevate yourself from 4,000 Feet to the highest peak in the California Triple Crown at 10,100 Feet in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine National Forest!! This 6,000 Foot Climb is the longest continuous climb in the California Triple Crown series and will certainly separate all of the Stage Race participants with it's pesky 16% grades and 32% less oxygen present in the air. Stage Race Riders must complete the Highland option of this Double Century. This high altitude double has great climbs & technical descents as wells as spectacular mountain and valley views. WMD is really in the wild west with the grazing cattle and wild horses on the open range. All of the course is at 4,000 ft. of altitude and above. The White Mountain Double has the ability to deliver extreme cold, dryness, exposure, heat, and wind all in the same day. So come prepared for all kinds of weather and be ready to ride in a great area.
This extremely difficult combination of Double Centuries in the Stage Race
hasn’t ever been used before.
The spacing between Devil Mountain Double and the Central Coast Double will be 2 Weeks giving
the riders just enough time to recover and take their fitness to the next level.
The spacing between the Central Coast Double and the White Mountain Double will be 17 weeks.
So everyone in the Stage Race will be challenged to keep their fitness up over the summer which is always a good thing!!
We believe this will make for a very unusual and difficult Stage Race in 2016.
You don't have to do anything special to sign up for the Stage Race: In 2016,
all you have to do is to sign up for and ride your heart out on the 3 Doubles in
the Stage Race!! Of course, that's much easier said than done!!
Also, if you ride any Stage on a tandem, you must ride all three Stages on a
tandem with the same partner.
The California Triple Crown issues this challenge: Be among the select few who
are able to finish the Stage Race!! Everyone who completes the 2016 Stage
Race will be commended and will be able to wear the coveted California Triple
Crown Stage Race Jersey shown above. Just to complete these three
Extremely Difficult Rides is a MAJOR accomplishment!!
California Triple Crown Stage Race Plaques will be presented to the top 3 Men,
top 3 Women, and top 3 Tandems at the California Triple Crown Awards Breakfast
on 9/25/16, the day following the Knoxville Fall Classic Double in Vacaville,
CA.
The California Triple Crown lays down this challenge: Be among the select few
who are able to finish the Stage Race!!
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4. HUGE DELIVERY OF CALIFORNIA TRIPLE CROWN PRODUCTS
In early December, we received a HUGE delivery of California Triple Crown
products from Voler. The breakdown of this order can be seen at the top of
http://www.caltriplecrown.com/products.htm
including 133 Blue Jerseys and Vests, 10 Blue Long Sleeve Jerseys and
Windbreakers, 25 Blue Arm Warmers, 148 Yellow Jerseys and Vests, 29 Red Stage Race Jerseys, 83 Gold Thousand Mile Club Jerseys,
13 Green Hall of Fame Jerseys and Vests, and 65 Red Hall of Fame Jerseys and Vests!!
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5. RED HALL OF FAME JERSEYS DESIGNED AND SHIPPED
You’ll be seeing many California Triple Crown Hall of Famers wearing these
awesome new jerseys on the Double Centuries this year.
I am extremely pleased with how it came out and I hope you are too!! Thank you to Jim Poppy for his great
graphic design work. We agonized over the exact shade of Red that we thought
would look best and narrowed it down to this shade.
Let us all remember Lee Mitchell as we wear this jersey with pride. You’ll find:
On the left sleeve, “LEE MITCHELL” so we’ll always remember him!!
On the inside of the collar, “Do whatever it takes and continue to the end. –
Lee Mitchell”
On the inside of the left back pocket, “You Betcha!! – Lee Mitchell”
Lee was the ultimate example to all of us who ride Double Centuries in
California of how to give back. We will always remember him and these aspects of
this most prized Jersey will help.
Hall of Fame members will continue to be able to order Green and/or Red Hall of Fame Jerseys and Vests.
We won't be stocking many of these jerseys but you can place an order for one at any time and we'll
order it for you from Voler in September for a delivery in December.
When you get a chance, please e-mail me a photo of you wearing your new Hall of
Fame Jersey. Maybe at the summit of a mountain on a Double Century or good
training ride. Maybe with some other Hall of Famers. I’ll then add those photos
to an on-line photo album to share on
www.CalTripleCrown.com and on the California Triple Crown Facebook Group.
You can see what’s currently in stock at
http://www.caltriplecrown.org/ProductsList.asp
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6. LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!
We encourage you to make 2016 even a bigger year than 2015!!
If you've never ridden a Double Century before, make it a goal to make it happen in 2016. There are lots of California Triple Crown Winners that will be riding with you ... ask them for advice and they'll be glad to give you a hand.
If you've ridden a Double Century but never completed 3 in One Year, make it happen in 2016!! Once you complete one Double Century, #2 will be easier and #3 will be easier yet!! Come to the California Triple Crown Awards Breakfast where we'll recognize you with Two California Triple Crown Water Bottles!!
If you've completed a California Triple Crown with 3 Double Centuries in One Year, take it up a notch and tackle the more difficult Double Centuries!!
Or make it a goal to earn the coveted California Triple Crown Gold Thousand Mile Club Jersey by riding 5 Double Centuries or 1,000 Miles in Double Centuries and Volunteering at a Double Century. This is a special class of riders which you need to be in!!
Or make it a goal of completing the California Triple Crown Stage Race by riding 3 of the most difficult Double Centuries on the planet in one year!! This is an elite group of amazing athletes which you can be in!!
There are still quite a few riders that have not created an account on the CTC
website. Once you create an account you can add up to three clubs, three
pictures, a bio, etc. To add a profile, simply go to
www.CalTripleCrown.com … Update
Your Info. Another benefit to creating an account is that you can purchase
some of the awesome merchandise from the CTC store. Having complete profiles
for everyone that participates in the CTC events also gives the organizers more
accurate statistical data.
In order to receive California Triple Crown Credit for completing one of these
Double Centuries, you must be on the Official Finisher's list for the 200 Miles
as published by the Ride Organizer. Please be sure that the exact spelling of
your First and Last Name is the same when you register for the California
Triple Crown and when you register for each of the Double Centuries because we
post the results of the Double Centuries to the California Triple Crown records
based on your First and Last Name. The California Triple Crown records one
ride credit and/or one volunteer credit to each event based on the results
posted by the Ride Organizers.
Together we can keep the CTC strong for years to come.
The first double of the season is coming soon. The Camino Real Double is February 20th. Next up is the Southern Inyo on March 5th. Next up is the Joshua Tree Double Century on March 12th. Let’s get this party started!
In the Devil Mountain Double, Sierra Road looks insurmountable at Mile 155. There are Sierra Roads in each of our lives.
Some come earlier in the race of life. Some come later.
But wherever you find them, you can overcome them.
Completing a Double Century is not about winning the race against 100 or 1500
other cyclists. It's about winning the race with yourself.
To improve. Against your best self.
To do the very best with what you've been given.
From the Deserts, to the Mountains, to the Ocean, the California Triple Crown
rides provide a lot of awesome cycling adventures, challenges, beautiful
scenery, great memories, and fun for each of us!!
Let’s make 2016 a truly great year of cycling!!
Ride Safe, Live Strong, and Happy New Year to all,
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