Triple Bypass compared to Markleeville Death Ride

Anyone ridden both and would like to offer a comparison?

wrote:
Anyone ridden both and would like to offer a comparison?

I've ridden the Triple and heard a little about the Markleeville Death Ride.

The Triple is 115-120 miles (117 by my computer) of mostly well paved,
modern 2 lane roads, bike paths and a short stretch of Interstate
Highway (I-70 approaching Loveland Pass / Loveland ski area). Squaw Pass
is 9807ft/2989m above sea level, Loveland Pass is 11,990 ft/3654m above
sea level, and Vail Pass is 10,666 ft/ 3251m above sea level, so
altitude related issues (acclimatization, sunburn, extremes of weather)
are going to be more of a factor on the Triple than on the Markleeville
ride.

The roads used by the Triple are not especially steep as mountain roads
go (8% max). I believe the roads used by the Markleeville ride are steeper.

The Triple is a point to point ride, you have to either arrange for
friends/family to transport you back to the start area, or use the
charter bus that Team Evergreen provides (plan on around $100 for the
bus). I think Markleeville is a loop.

The Triple is superbly organized and catered, parking at the start &
finish and transport back to the start are really well done, aid
stations are lavishly stocked, and the post ride dinner is excellent.

HTH, feel free to ask for more info.
mark

I forgot to say I just rode the Triple Bypass on Saturday so I am
pretty familiar with it. If anyone has ridden both the Markleeville
Death Ride and Triple Bypass I would like to hear a comparison of the
two rides.

mark wrote:
wrote:
Anyone ridden both and would like to offer a comparison?

I've ridden the Triple and heard a little about the Markleeville Death Ride.

The Triple is 115-120 miles (117 by my computer) of mostly well paved,
modern 2 lane roads, bike paths and a short stretch of Interstate
Highway (I-70 approaching Loveland Pass / Loveland ski area). Squaw Pass
is 9807ft/2989m above sea level, Loveland Pass is 11,990 ft/3654m above
sea level, and Vail Pass is 10,666 ft/ 3251m above sea level, so
altitude related issues (acclimatization, sunburn, extremes of weather)
are going to be more of a factor on the Triple than on the Markleeville
ride.

Weather was pretty bad last Saturday. But with proper clothing, easily
managed. Lots of people seemed to not have proper clothing. Seemed
odd to me since about 80% of the people are from Colorado. Apparently
Colorado bicyclists don't ride in the mountains. Or expect sunshine
and 80 degrees when they do.


The roads used by the Triple are not especially steep as mountain roads
go (8% max). I believe the roads used by the Markleeville ride are steeper.

Triple Bypass was not a difficult ride for someone in condition.


The Triple is a point to point ride, you have to either arrange for
friends/family to transport you back to the start area, or use the
charter bus that Team Evergreen provides (plan on around $100 for the
bus). I think Markleeville is a loop.

$70 for the bus to take you and your bike back to Bergen Park
elementary school. Left at 8:30 PM on 7/8/06.


The Triple is superbly organized and catered, parking at the start &
finish and transport back to the start are really well done, aid
stations are lavishly stocked, and the post ride dinner is excellent.

Parking at the beginning was on a muddy, grassy field behind the
school. Entrance to it was via a muddy, gravel lane over a curb. Food
was very good but not what I prefer on 120 mile rides. From Idaho
Springs to Georgetown you pass several convenience stores but this is
between 30 and 45 miles so you don't need alternative places to stop.
At the 82 mile mark the bike path is close to Frisco so you could go
off course an find a convenience store probably. Not sure how far off
course. At mile 90 you pass by a restaurant in Copper Mountain ski
resort. At Mile 110 you pass a Conoco convenience store. I prefer the
opportunity for alternative foods on long rides.


HTH, feel free to ask for more info.
mark

wrote:
I forgot to say I just rode the Triple Bypass on Saturday so I am
pretty familiar with it. If anyone has ridden both the Markleeville
Death Ride and Triple Bypass I would like to hear a comparison of the
two rides.

mark wrote:
wrote:
Anyone ridden both and would like to offer a comparison?

I have ridden the Death Ride a couple of times (including a six pass
version), but I have not ridden the Triple Bypass, although I have
ridden in the area and over a number of Colorado passes -- mostly while
riding across the United States.

I found that climbing in Colorado was relatively easy with long grades
with pitches below 8%. You already know this. The elevations and
scenery were spectacular, but the climbs were not. Markleeville has
pitches over 20% on parts of Ebbets and on Pacific Grade (if they are
still running on that part of the "course"). The more mild climbs are
in the 8% range, and the back side of Monitor is 12 miles (IIRC) of
real climbing with only a short flat between the false summit and the
top. It is far more "craggy" than the Rockies with lots of granite and
the usual Sierra scrub and some beautiful blue lakes -- and probably
hotter than the Rockies. Dramatic in a different way than the Rockies.
The Death Ride has been around for a long time and is exceptionally
well run. The whole town turns out to support the ride -- people run
next to you over the summit of Monitor Pass to hand up bottles. There
is a cheering crowd -- very festive. Lots of great food and free
Cytomax, which had my stomach in a knot after a while (along with the
icecream bars, mmmmm, icecream bars).

Downsides are cattle grates and heat and that annoying climb up to Hope
Valley after lunch to start the climb up Carson Pass. The descent,
though, is awesome. I got up to almost 62mph on Carson and was always
above 50mph on Monitor, which has a very nice road surface, but, again,
cattle grates (just stay loose through the shoulders). Ebbets twist so
much that it is hard to get going too fast. The last time I did it was
many years ago, the "Death Ride the 13th" which was six passes and
about 150 miles and 19K of climbing. The hard part for me was not all
the climbing but rather adjusting to the altitude and the heat. I had
been riding in Yosemite the week before, so I was better off than if I
had come from sea level. -- Jay Beattie.

"Jay Beattie" wrote in message
ups.com...

wrote:
I forgot to say I just rode the Triple Bypass on Saturday so I am
pretty familiar with it. If anyone has ridden both the Markleeville
Death Ride and Triple Bypass I would like to hear a comparison of the
two rides.

mark wrote:
wrote:
Anyone ridden both and would like to offer a comparison?

I have ridden the Death Ride a couple of times (including a six pass
version), but I have not ridden the Triple Bypass, although I have
ridden in the area and over a number of Colorado passes -- mostly while
riding across the United States.

I found that climbing in Colorado was relatively easy with long grades
with pitches below 8%. You already know this. The elevations and
scenery were spectacular, but the climbs were not. Markleeville has
pitches over 20% on parts of Ebbets and on Pacific Grade (if they are
still running on that part of the "course"). The more mild climbs are
in the 8% range, and the back side of Monitor is 12 miles (IIRC) of
real climbing with only a short flat between the false summit and the
top. It is far more "craggy" than the Rockies with lots of granite and
the usual Sierra scrub and some beautiful blue lakes -- and probably
hotter than the Rockies. Dramatic in a different way than the Rockies.
The Death Ride has been around for a long time and is exceptionally
well run. The whole town turns out to support the ride -- people run
next to you over the summit of Monitor Pass to hand up bottles. There
is a cheering crowd -- very festive. Lots of great food and free
Cytomax, which had my stomach in a knot after a while (along with the
icecream bars, mmmmm, icecream bars).

Downsides are cattle grates and heat and that annoying climb up to Hope
Valley after lunch to start the climb up Carson Pass. The descent,
though, is awesome. I got up to almost 62mph on Carson and was always
above 50mph on Monitor, which has a very nice road surface, but, again,
cattle grates (just stay loose through the shoulders). Ebbets twist so
much that it is hard to get going too fast. The last time I did it was
many years ago, the "Death Ride the 13th" which was six passes and
about 150 miles and 19K of climbing. The hard part for me was not all
the climbing but rather adjusting to the altitude and the heat. I had
been riding in Yosemite the week before, so I was better off than if I
had come from sea level. -- Jay Beattie.

I have done the Triple many times and Markleeville once and have described
the death ride as a Triple Bypass on steroids but it really has alot to do
with how you handle the altitude in Colorado vs. the steeper grades in
Markleeville. I live in Colorado and ride portions of the triple course
regularly. So when we ventured out to Markleeville a few years back it was a
nice change.
The scenery is so different, the mountains and the vegetation are completely
different in California, which we really enjoyed. The previous poster was
correct in that the Death Ride has steeper grades than the Triple, but my
wife and I didn't suffer as much as we expected possibly due to living
around 6500'. I didn't know you could pave roads that steep until I visited
Markleeville. I really enjoyed the partially closed course for Markleeville.
It was hotter in California than what we are used to mountain riding in
Colorado. The Triple this year was miserable due to rain all day(very
unusual). Usually you get rain later in the afternoon coming into Vail. I
think they are both great rides due to organization, difficulty and views,
but I would choose Markleeville if I had to. I think if you are prepared for
one, you will do fine at the other.
It is more difficult to bail early at the Triple. You would need personal
support. Markleeville does give you the option to bail numerous times. Also
as previously stated, for the Triple you would need a shuttle back to the
start or do what we have done, drive to Vail a couple of days ahead of time
to drop a car and ride home to Evergreen(about 100 miles the short route
avoiding Squaw Pass). If this sounds stupid, there is a person who regularly
rides from Vail to Evergreen starting in the wee hours and does the triple
on the way back (Dawes Wilson).
The Triple does have a section where you ride on the shoulder to I-70 which
is unnerving at best. There are two sections where you are on narrow bike
paths which is also not as nice as having a full size road. The more
challenging of these is the descent into Vail on a bike path where you would
like to let it all hang out, but you have to be careful, especially since it
is late in the day, and sometimes get caught in an afternoon shower at 9 -
10,000'.
I don't think you get the town support feel in the Triple as you do in
Markleeville. The Death Ride really supports local organizations. The Triple
donated tens of thousands of $$(I believe 90K last year) to local charities
but not to one town like Markleeville does.
Andy

"Jay Beattie" wrote:

Markleeville has
pitches over 20% on parts of Ebbets and on Pacific Grade (if they are
still running on that part of the "course").

Ebbetts itself isn't all that steep, the stuff over 20% is on
Pacific Grade (east side).

Death Ride route doesn't go as far as Pacific Grade. It climbs
Ebbetts, descends to Hermit Valley, then turns around before
reaching the base of Pacific Grade.

It's too bad, Pacific Grade is the prettiest section of that road.
Death Riders miss out on Mosquito and Alpine Lakes. If I were
running the Death Ride, I'd take out the Carson climb and instead go
all the way to Bear Valley. With both sides of Monitor, that would
make six passes. That's the route we're doing this Saturday, on Kiss
of Death: Markleville to Bear Valley and back, with a side trip up
Monitor. That's my favorite day, with all the beautiful vistas,
rocks, snow, trees, lakes, canyons.

I've taken Carson Pass off the route sheet this time, opting instead
to go to deserted Blue Lakes Road on Monday morning, when the
traffic through Hope Valley is pretty light.

I agree with your assessment of Colorado climbs. They're long but
not terribly steep. For both long and steep, I've found nothing in
the Lower 48 that compares with the Eastern Sierra. But I'll keep
looking.
--
terry morse - Undiscovered Country Tours - http://udctours.com/

Terry Morse wrote:
"Jay Beattie" wrote:

Markleeville has
pitches over 20% on parts of Ebbets and on Pacific Grade (if they are
still running on that part of the "course").

Ebbetts itself isn't all that steep, the stuff over 20% is on
Pacific Grade (east side).

Death Ride route doesn't go as far as Pacific Grade. It climbs
Ebbetts, descends to Hermit Valley, then turns around before
reaching the base of Pacific Grade.

It looks like they have changed the course a bit since the last time I
did it. No Luther Pass and no Pacific Grade, which was counted as part
of the back side of Ebbets on the 1994 six pass Death Ride the
Thirteenth. You went past Hermit Valley and about half way up Pacific
Grade and then turned around. There is one pitch from the east where
you hit a hairpin and basically look straight in to the grade like you
are climbing a ladder. I think I went that far, but I could be
remembering doing the climb on some other ride. I used to live in the
Bay Area, too, and would ride around in the Sierra on short tours.
There is no place like the Sierra -- you can do a giant loop through
Yosemite and all these Markleeville passes and then go to Tahoe and
drink and gamble. What a life! -- Jay Beattie.

"Terry Morse" wrote in message
...
"Jay Beattie" wrote:

Markleeville has
pitches over 20% on parts of Ebbets and on Pacific Grade (if they
are
still running on that part of the "course").

Ebbetts itself isn't all that steep, the stuff over 20% is on
Pacific Grade (east side).

Death Ride route doesn't go as far as Pacific Grade. It climbs
Ebbetts, descends to Hermit Valley, then turns around before
reaching the base of Pacific Grade.

It's too bad, Pacific Grade is the prettiest section of that road.
Death Riders miss out on Mosquito and Alpine Lakes. If I were
running the Death Ride, I'd take out the Carson climb and instead go
all the way to Bear Valley. With both sides of Monitor, that would
make six passes. That's the route we're doing this Saturday, on Kiss
of Death: Markleville to Bear Valley and back, with a side trip up
Monitor. That's my favorite day, with all the beautiful vistas,
rocks, snow, trees, lakes, canyons.

I've taken Carson Pass off the route sheet this time, opting instead
to go to deserted Blue Lakes Road on Monday morning, when the
traffic through Hope Valley is pretty light.

I agree with your assessment of Colorado climbs. They're long but
not terribly steep. For both long and steep, I've found nothing in
the Lower 48 that compares with the Eastern Sierra. But I'll keep
looking.
--
terry morse - Undiscovered Country Tours - http://udctours.com/

How about these:

Wolf Creek Pass on US 160 east of Pagosa Springs, 10,850 feet at a 6.5%
grade. It's still on my to-do list.

Independence Pass, Leadville-Twin Lakes to Aspen, 12,095 feet, 32 miles.

Chas.

* * Chas wrote:
"Terry Morse" wrote in message
...
"Jay Beattie" wrote:

Markleeville has
pitches over 20% on parts of Ebbets and on Pacific Grade (if they
are
still running on that part of the "course").

Ebbetts itself isn't all that steep, the stuff over 20% is on
Pacific Grade (east side).

Death Ride route doesn't go as far as Pacific Grade. It climbs
Ebbetts, descends to Hermit Valley, then turns around before
reaching the base of Pacific Grade.

It's too bad, Pacific Grade is the prettiest section of that road.
Death Riders miss out on Mosquito and Alpine Lakes. If I were
running the Death Ride, I'd take out the Carson climb and instead go
all the way to Bear Valley. With both sides of Monitor, that would
make six passes. That's the route we're doing this Saturday, on Kiss
of Death: Markleville to Bear Valley and back, with a side trip up
Monitor. That's my favorite day, with all the beautiful vistas,
rocks, snow, trees, lakes, canyons.

I've taken Carson Pass off the route sheet this time, opting instead
to go to deserted Blue Lakes Road on Monday morning, when the
traffic through Hope Valley is pretty light.

I agree with your assessment of Colorado climbs. They're long but
not terribly steep. For both long and steep, I've found nothing in
the Lower 48 that compares with the Eastern Sierra. But I'll keep
looking.
--
terry morse - Undiscovered Country Tours - http://udctours.com/

How about these:

Wolf Creek Pass on US 160 east of Pagosa Springs, 10,850 feet at a 6.5%
grade. It's still on my to-do list.

Its a fine ride. I rode up it from Pagosa Springs back in 1997 on a
loaded touring bike. The ride from Pagosa to the official start is
about 10 miles or so. All at an uphill grade. Probably climbed 1000
or more feet in that distance. But the Wolf Creek pass is not steep in
any section. Its about 10 miles long. Fairly constant climb. Takes
time and effort to get up it. I liked the climb due to the song by
C.W. McCall.

If you are going to be in that SW part of Colorado for bicycling, there
are some challenging climbs. Mainly due to the length and mileage as
opposed to steepness. And scenic climbs. Gunnison to Hotchkiss
through the Black Canyon park is very scenic and minimal traffic. No
services for a long, long stretch so be prepared. Grand Mesa near
Delta and Montrose. Ouray to Silverton over Red Mountain Pass is very
scenic. Gunnison to Creede through Lake City is very long, 110 miles,
and lots of up. The climb from Lake City over Slumgullion Pass is
fairly steep. This could be a two day ride, Gunnison-Lake City, Lake
City-Creede or a bit further. To the west of Durango and Ouray is the
Telluride area.



Independence Pass, Leadville-Twin Lakes to Aspen, 12,095 feet, 32 miles.

Chas.

wrote:

If you are going to be in that SW part of Colorado for bicycling, there
are some challenging climbs. Mainly due to the length and mileage as
opposed to steepness. And scenic climbs. Gunnison to Hotchkiss
through the Black Canyon park is very scenic and minimal traffic. No
services for a long, long stretch so be prepared. Grand Mesa near
Delta and Montrose. Ouray to Silverton over Red Mountain Pass is very
scenic. Gunnison to Creede through Lake City is very long, 110 miles,
and lots of up. The climb from Lake City over Slumgullion Pass is
fairly steep. This could be a two day ride, Gunnison-Lake City, Lake
City-Creede or a bit further. To the west of Durango and Ouray is the
Telluride area.

I think the toughest climb in Colorado for road bikes is Guanella Pass
from the east, out of Georgetown. The three-tiered Golden Gate
Canyon is also quite difficult, imo.

Bob Cook Mountain is pretty serious too of course, although not
steep. Next weekend.

Robert