Tour De Los Padres 2016

[Roons]

Anyone in Los Angeles know of a retired or non-working individual who would be willing to lift me to the Frazier Mountain region (~85 miles)? Happy to pay for gas/time as agreed.
Collection from LAX on Friday 26th February @14h00?

[greggd]

Erin,

Looks like a great route. I'm up for the 25th. When do you think you'll have the start date locked? I realize rain could change everything… I spent last weekend in PMC in a cabin. Lots of snow and cold temps. Should be a very different ride this year. No heat stroke, and plenty of water.

[ec_duz_it]

Gregg, yes it is going to be vastly different this year. There is likely going to be some snow riding/ hiking. The start date has been set for March 25 since last Autumn or so.  I believe that is more or less spring break for a lot of the universities and colleges, etc. around here. That is also Easter weekend.  If a big winter storm is hitting that weekend (which is probably about a 50-50 chance), the start date will be postponed until April 1st. The death mud sections of the Carrizo Plain need at least 2-3 days of no precipitation to be rideable.  

Stagecoach 400 start date has changed from early February to March 11.  10 or 11 days of recovery time is not much recovery time if you are planning on doing both. I guess the question is how many people out there plan to do both?  

[Roons]

Hi Erin

You mentioned possible muddy section around Carrizo - what are the rough mile markers that this might potentially be?
Just trying to get as much info on the route for planning purposes.

Thanks
Dave

[ec_duz_it]

Mud is likely if it rains during or right before starting. In 2014, two guys that ITT'd left on a day that it was snowing and raining.  They were slowed down big time on day 1 due to snow, and on day 2 due to mud.  But 1 week later after good weather, conditions for the group was just fine.  4 days or more of no precipitation before starting is ideal.  

Looking at this years route, the sections have the highest potential for mud that I know of are around miles 60, 64, 100 (near Soda Lake), and miles 110-125 or so.  I have heard miles around 185-190 can get pretty muddy too.  The only section I have personally experienced in the mud is the Carrizo Plain.  Touch base here a few days before you embark.  

[peteshoe]

If this gets bumped to April 1st, I am in.  I can't make the other dates. Let's see what Mother Nature brings us!

[Roons]

Oh dear - these conditions are not stacking up for me

I wonder if I should start looking at alternative rides to do?

[ec_duz_it]

Dave, not to fear.  We have a mini heat wave coming that will melt a lot of this soon.  Highs in the high 70's by Tuesday. 

But if we get another big storm towards the end of the month, you might want to consider doing the "tour" route instead.

On another subject, if anyone that lives local wants to get out and get some training, I am going to be riding this loop next Saturday near Ojai.  Long term weather report looks great. Feel free to join.  It can be done as a one day ride or a 1.5 day bikepack.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/7056603

[TCBTCB]

Greetings All and Erin,

I'm marking the 2016 TDLP on my official to do list and looking forward to seeing more of the SB backcountry this March. I live in town and am down for some local bikepacking tours/ training. Erin, can't join you next weekend but should be around after that. I ran into Mike A. last weekend at big caliente and he turned me on to this route. Thanks for laying it out.

-TCB

[ec_duz_it]

   Mike has an infectiously good attitude, and he is a very strong rider. Hopefully he comes back for a 3rd time this year.

[peteshoe]

Gregg, yes it is going to be vastly different this year. There is likely going to be some snow riding/ hiking. The start date has been set for March 25 since last Autumn or so.  I believe that is more or less spring break for a lot of the universities and colleges, etc. around here. That is also Easter weekend.  If a big winter storm is hitting that weekend (which is probably about a 50-50 chance), the start date will be postponed until April 1st. The death mud sections of the Carrizo Plain need at least 2-3 days of no precipitation to be rideable. 

Stagecoach 400 start date has changed from early February to March 11.  10 or 11 days of recovery time is not much recovery time if you are planning on doing both. I guess the question is how many people out there plan to do both? 

Erin,
So did you get any push back from guys who want to do both? Is March 25th the official day?
Thanks!
Pete

[ec_duz_it]

The March 25 date still stands with the caveat that it could be changed to April 1st if a strong winter storm rolls through. Lets let mother nature decide. The weather has been very unpredictable this winter. It is going to be 85 to 90 degrees today over most of So Cal.

[ec_duz_it]

Good ride this weekend with Micheal. The 85 degree temps are still holding.  It got pretty hot this weekend.  Here is the "snow" at 6,500 feet, which we melted and used as a water source.  The backcountry is looking pretty clear and dry.

[Rachel]

Anyone in Los Angeles know of a retired or non-working individual who would be willing to lift me to the Frazier Mountain region (~85 miles)? Happy to pay for gas/time as agreed.
Collection from LAX on Friday 26th February @14h00?

[Rachel]

I vote we move the TDLP date to the April 1st weekend. Anyone else in?

[ec_duz_it]

Hi Rachel, you had a solid ride last year. Glad to hear you want to come back this year. With your preference for the April 1st start date, it seems like there might be a majority that prefer an April 1st start date. 

So here is what I will do. Everyone please voice their opinion on their preference for the start date (March 25 or April 1st) on this thread by NEXT TUESDAY MARCH 1ST. I will tally up the votes and lock in the final date by March 2nd. 

I don't want to piss off anyone who was planning on the March 25th date, so it is only fair to give a week for everyone to voice their opinion. 

Also on another note--- after talking with a few riders that have done the route the last two years, I have decided to eliminate the majority of the Santa Barbara front country trails from the "proper" route. I don't necessarily agree with the criticism that section has received over the last 2 years, but I try to look at the route as objectively as possible and listen to everyone's opinion. Sometimes less is more. Here is the final 2016 "proper" route:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12237792   I would expect about a 75% finish rate with this revised route, rather than the 50% finish rate we have seen the last two years. 

[hikeabike]

Is it fair to vote if I'm not sure if I am going to do it at all? Currently have very low mileage in my legs and butt! However if it moves to the first I am 100% out due to previous commitment. The removal of the front country has definitely increased the chance of me doing it this year. Lack of preparation be damned.

Heather

[mr_pepper]

hi all, i'm all in for the tour route this year.  i have no real preference for either date--whichever one works for the masses!

next year, if improve my biking and keep my fitness up i'll definitely try the proper route...

[hikeabike]

Ignore my two cents Erin, I can not make either weekend. Maybe an ITT sometime this spring.

[adegoede]

I am all in whichever weekend scheduled but will vote for April Fools Day start. Looking at the proper route again even though last year after the ride I thought of taking it easy this year. At this rate the proper route may be the same as tour route in a couple of years... All is good and appreciate all the thought and work Erin and others put into these rides. Anyone know if Roons is riding this weekend?