The Legacy Century: Ride the Ranch 2012: 09-01-2012

[MarkAJ]

IN!
100 miler.

[herbm]

Originally Posted by MarkAJ

IN!
100 miler.

Which one? There are 3 century routes!

[MarkAJ]

Originally Posted by herbm

Which one? There are 3 century routes!

The hardest one because it does more of the ranch. Did you really need to ask?

[herbm]

Originally Posted by MarkAJ

The hardest one because it does more of the ranch. Did you really need to ask?

No....but figured others might want to know....

Looks like its going to be a tad warm there...

[mtrider05]

Interesting route, I don't like how organized rides forgo riding Pine Canyon both directions, it's the best road in the area.

[MarkAJ]

Originally Posted by herbm

No....but figured others might want to know....

Looks like its going to be a tad warm there...

Jon and Nancy are riding and I plan to ride with them so what ever century they pick will work for me.

[MarkAJ]

This ride has a big WOW factor on all your senses during the first 25 miles. This not to say the rest of the route is not good, it is. These 25 miles made up of 10 mile out-n-back are all within the Tejon Ranch made up of undulating short climbs of 11%-14% grades with many 16% pops. All closed to traffic. It is here you might see elk, wild pig, cattle, rabbits or squirrels. Vista views and huge oaks trees abound. The area, other than the road, is untouched. (I did see one place where some excavation was on going, but I could not tell what it was about.) The road is in good condition with little debris. You do not want to miss this section regardless of your abilities. (50 degrees at the start warranted arm warmers, but that lasted for only 7 miles.)

All the roads we rode are in good condition and other than highway 138 coming back traffic was null. SAG was good too. All the rest stops had plenty of goodies and cold water everywhere as well as a electrolyte water mix. At two different times while I was alone in the mountains a SAG vehicle came along side me and asked if I wanted any cold water, nice!

The weather had a positive and negative effect today. It never got too hot probably due to the elevations and winds. But we did have 15-20mph head winds for the last 40 miles with gusts. This really torn me up as it did everyone else. There were a few times when my speed dropped below 7mph. I stopped in Gorman at Carl’s for a cold coke with only 10 or so miles to go. I needed something and a break.

The lunch at the end was still open at 4 p.m. when I left serving up BBQ chicken and tri-tip, salad and beans; soft drinks or cold water. They had plenty and it was good. One woman at the lunch was giving out popsicles too. All the volunteers were great and helpful.

There is one complaint I have. The route slips print was so small you cannot read it. They made the route slip one-sided and in order to accomplish this the font size was tiny. I am going to tell them about this. Speaking of the route; somewhere I missed a turn or road because I only came in with 93.3 miles and that was with me doing some bonus miles to get that. I have no idea what happened. Well maybe I do. Being I could not read the route slip I had to rely on the street markers, they used signs, and I must have missed one.

There was a goodie-bag which I give a big up on. It had snacks, a handle bar clip for your route slip, a Legacy patch and other stuff.

I would tell everyone to do this ride at least once. It is the only way you will ever get into the bowls of the Tejon Ranch and see this landscape (IMO) like California was probably 50 years ago.

93.3 miles; 6,634 feet