How long will it take to race the Stage Coach?

[pokey]

I started riding the route last Thursday and finished up yesterday afternoon.  It took me 4 days, 6 hours and 15 minutes.  I was riding it touring pace but got up early and road till at least 8pm each night to give you an idea.  Since I wasn't "racing" I brought a stove and probably too much clothes that I didn't have to wear.  The weather was perfect...not too hot or cold. 

The first half of the race is hard so don't be discourged at your pace.  For me there was lots of hike-a-bike up and down some stuff.  Riding lots of singletrack and on sand for countless miles is slow.  Once you get to San Diego the riding terrain gets easier and you can put in  bigger mileage.  The second half of the race is more like Tour Divide style riding.

The only section I ran out of water on was from Borrego Springs to the Stagecoach RV Park.  Otherwise it is pretty easy to get water along the route.  I did not have to filter water at all.  For those curious when I left Borrego Springs I carried a 4 litter bladder and 25 ounce water bottle.  Since the race is not until the end of April I'm assuming it might be a lot hotter so more water may be needed to be safe.

Overall Stagecoach is an awesome route with lots of cool singletrack throughout that will keep you entertained.  I kept my GPS on the entire time because the cues weren't always matching the GPS track.  It is very easy to miss turns and there are lots of them.

I have a bunch of photos posted on facebook for those interested.

[thelocust]

Awesome, now there is some good Beta! Do you have a link to your facebook posts?

[pokey]

Hopefully this links to my facebook album.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3684398832093.167400.1338791574&type=3

[mtnbik]

Hi Pokey, thanks for the information.  A couple questions for you, what was the coldest temps you encountered at night?  Did you camp all 3 or 4 nights or were you able to stay in hotels?  Where did you camp/hotel on your 3 or 4 nights?   

Thanks for the information, I am unable to get onto your link above, not sure if anyone else can.

[groundedkiwi]

Pokey, your page is not working for me either...

[pokey]

I camped 3 nights and one night was in a hotel in San Diego.  The first night I slept in a sandy area off of the Fish Creek Wash.  It was not cold at night or in the morning.  It probably only got down to 50 degrees.  The second night I slept off of the Indian Creek Singletrack which is around mile 146.   It was windy and much higher in elevation so a bit colder but still not too cold.  The low might have been 35 degrees.  3rd night was in a hotel since there wasn't any good places to camp and I didn't feel like riding any more.  I think I stopped around mile 232 and stayed at the La Quinta Inn.  The last night I slept a few miles before the Indian Flat campground, mile 325.  Again it didn't get cold and the low might have been 45 degrees.  

Not sure why the link doesn't work.  Try this link:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3684398832093.167400.1338791574&type=1&l=05d170ebd9

caroline

[brendanc]

We've had more rain in the last couple days. Snow last night in the mountains. Icy morning here in Idyllwild today, snow in the higher neighborhoods of town. I'd imagine the mountains around Julian are getting the same.

[kdinger]

Sorry - I hope you can still get out there. I'll be in the area next week, but participating in the Julian Death March instead.

Rob,

Assuming my son gets out of the hospital today as scheduled, I plan to also do the JDM.  If you don't mind, I'd love to talk about your Stagecoach preriding; either before or after (or I suppose during, if our paths cross) the JDM.  I'll be on a brown/mocha Gary Fisher Rig.

-Keith

[trebor]

no problem. I'll be riding the XL green Fargo and wearing the pink breast cancer jersey.

[trebor]

looking at the weather forcast for JDM... i'll have a jacket on, keith so you won't see the jersey.... looking pretty chilly for the start!!

[kdinger]

Rob,

Yes, I figured that.  Hopefully it'll warm up later. 

I'm a little worried about getting up to Julian in the morning - I may wish we hadn't sold our Subaru.

-Keith

[Roland Sturm]

I actually find it a bit chillier than Caroline (just being in Julian this week). This is how it looks this morning, enough snow that you have no traction.  The turnoff into Noble Canyon from Sunrise Highway is another 800 feet or so higher and noticeably colder and snowier.

[thelocust]

I think I've got me setup dialed in, did a 40 mile mtb ride yesterday with all the gear and it feels great, I wasnt happy with my framebag (the PR seatbag my be the best thing in existence though)  so I ripped it apart and re-did it today adding some features and slimming it down. I may add or leave out 1 or two pieces of clothing depending on how the weather looks closer to day of but I think I've got myself covered for temps down to low 20's and up to 100+ the entire setup including 120oz of water weighs 34lb 1oz

[mtnbik]

Locust, how in the heck did you get your bike, gear and 120 oz. water down to 34 lbs, especially having clothing, etc down to 20 degrees.   Would you be willing to share your list of what you are bringing with you? 

I just put my bike together and everything on my bike and with with only 64 oz of water is 50 lbs and I thought that was good.  Thanks.

[groundedkiwi]

Locust, Do you have any camping/bivy gear with you?   Or are you thinking of hoteling it?
Thanks!

[thelocust]

Locust, how in the heck did you get your bike, gear and 120 oz. water down to 34 lbs, especially having clothing, etc down to 20 degrees.   Would you be willing to share your list of what you are bringing with you?  

I just put my bike together and everything on my bike and with with only 64 oz of water is 50 lbs and I thought that was good.  Thanks.

well the bike I started with is 20lbs 4oz so ive got some room to add weight right there, as for clothes ive got an extra kit + LS jersey + insulated leg, arm and knee warmers, neoprene shoe covers if i decide they are going to be needed, puffy jacket, rain/wind shell,  spare tubes, nipples , spokes , chain, pump, etc. then spot tracker, water in a 100oz bladder, 20oz bottle in jersey pocket, gps plus food bars and whatnot. there is some other stuff but thats the basics. I am a serious weightweenie about all my gear, every gram counts.

Locust, Do you have any camping/bivy gear with you?   Or are you thinking of hoteling it?
Thanks!

no bivy gear outside of a puffy jacket, even if something prevents me from riding i will be ok out for at least a night in sub freezing temps, but if all goes well yeah im gonna nap in a park or hotel it.

[mtnbik]

Caroline, in looking at the maps am I correct in that after you leave mile 166 at Alpine you really can't get any food or water until you start around mile 190 around the sweetwater trails.  It looks like from about mile 190 to about mile 245 you are going through the San Diego area with lots of water/food options, is that correct?  And then the next mileage to get food/water would be about mile 270 at the 24 hour gas station and then at mile 289 which is Ramona you can get food/water there.  Then nothing until about mile 346 back at the Sunshine Market, is all that pretty close to being correct?  Were the places you camped easy to find a "soft" spot, just wondering as I am trying to figure out which sleeping pad to take and how comfy it should be.   Thanks for the input.

[rocky rode]

My wife and just got home from our trip touring the route.  We took 10 days to do it, quite casual.  We finished the day before Caroline started her ride.  I want to send out a huge thanks to Brendan and crew for developing this great route, it had to be a huge effort to put all of this together.  You'll know what I mean after you ride it.  Keep an eye on your GPS constantly.

Photos here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/111911279427601394343/Stagecoach?authkey=Gv1sRgCJap4ZWy-YXRqgE

Gary Blakley
Del Norte, CO   

[TrueNorth]

Gary,

Fantastic pictures! The Stagecoach looks to be an amazing ride.  Thx.

[groundedkiwi]

Phenomenal photos Gary, thanks for taking the time to set that album up. 
Looks like you had a Saguaro on the rear and I couldn't quite make out what you had on the front.  How did they do for this trip?
Thanks!