Henry Coe MTB Challenge

[TSLUDER]

September 19, 2009, Start time 9am
Beg/Sport/Expert 15-24 miles depending on class
more info www.svbikeandrunclub.com

Meet at Hunting Hollow Parking lot, Gilroy, CA
Pre rides scheduled for August 30, Sept 12 &13 @ 9am

[ICE4Me]

Hi Travis,
Do you know the route yet?

Ben

[chucko58]

Route and other info posted here.

Let's see, what am I doing that weekend?

[TSLUDER]

Ben, Here are both courses, Hope to see you there. Tell all your friends! Sign up soon we are only limited to 150 riders. Thanks Travis

Beginner Course
Start Coit Road
Right Wasno Rd
Right Tule Pond Trail
Left Grizzly Gulch Road
Becomes Wagon Road
Right Wilson Camp/Bowl Trail
Left on Lyman Wilson Ridge Trail
Right Hunting Hollow Road
Finish

Sport/Expert Course About 24 miles
Climbing 5000+-
Start Coit Road
Left Cross Canyon Trail
Right Willow Ridge Road
Becomes Crest Trail
Right Kelly Lake Trail
Left Coit Road
Left Wasno Road
Right Tule Pond Trail
Left Grizzly Gulch Road
Right Serpentine Trail
Left Steer Ridge
To Wilson Camp
Right Bowl Trail
Left Lyman Wilson Ridge Trail
Right Hunting Hollow Road
Finish

[Captain_Hero]

Wow. I'm going to hike up Lyman Wilson ridge trail on race day with my lawn chair and watch the crash fest in that washed out gully. Oh yes there will be blood!
Someone needs to setup a camera there.


Bill

[ziscwg]

I havent raced Coe since them old Teddy (mascot) races back in the 90's. I think it said something like "Coe is a Teddy kicker" on the shirt.

Come to think of it, I DNF that race. Maybe this isnt such a good idea for me.

[TSLUDER]

I pre rode the courses on Sat and Sun with a group of riders each day and the course was great! Everyone had a great time and we had no gully issues!


Travis

[plymmer]

...you climb up Serpentine Trail and don't go down Middle Steer Ridge Trail. That's mystifying. Wouldn't you want to take one of the most awesome downhill single track trails in Henry Coe Park? Strange.

Have fun. Should be a good one.

It seems a bit light for me.

Roy.

[CHUM]

Originally Posted by plymmer

......It seems a bit light for me....

it's all about the pace.....won't feel light if you're bookin' it.....

[poff]

Sounds indeed lite for Roy, after all he is used to average 450watts of power corrected for heat!

[TSLUDER]

Roy, yeah we know you do those crazy long loops that are not for everyone!
The sport/expert course goes up serpentine after a long trying course, I want everyone to enjoy the race not have to be rescued!i I guarantee you at race pace you will still enjoy this course.Give racing a try the pace isn't the same as trail riding.

See you out there, right? Travis Sluder,course director.

[WhiteLightning]

OMG this sounds like fun. Other than a helmet, what are the safety requirements/ recommendations?

[TSLUDER]

A helmet is a must! I am pre riding the course on Sept 12 & 13 if your interested. Check out the website for details www.svbikeandrunclub.com Other than that sign up and if you don't have a USA cycling card you can purchase a 1 day license for $5 for the event.
It's may be one of last events at Coe if they do close!
Hope to see you at the pre ride! Travis

[ziscwg]

It doesnt go down Spike jones and Tims Trail , my fav DH at Coe. They are not the hardest, but I like them the most..........

[Biking Brazilian]

50/50 fireroad/singletrack split (13.2 FR/13.1 ST). An optimistic calculation, since I counted the trudge up Serpentine as singletrack.

[ziscwg]

The bottom of cross canyon should be fun for Coe n00bs, as I remember, the trail vanishes a few times.

[Diesel~]

Originally Posted by ziscwg

The bottom of cross canyon should be fun for Coe n00bs, as I remember, the trail vanishes a few times.

It's pretty distinct right now, due to the fact that it's getting late in the season, and the track is getting beaten down in the dead grass. I rode KCC + Cross canyon S-->N (opposite to the race direction) last weekend, and there was only one spot where the trail braids in the rocky creek bed and becomes indistinct for 20 feet or so. Either of the two lines gets you back to the same spot.

You're right though, it will be one of the most fun sections of the course for those who have not ridden it.

-D

[WhiteLightning]

Looking forward to tomorrow. Anyone else going for the beginner class tour of the course?

[The Law]

I'm in for the pre-ride on Sunday. I think. How fast you guys going to go?

[ziscwg]

me and 2 others are riding the sport/expert course tomorrow, Sat 9-12 at 9 am HH

[ratpick]

Mudworm and I pre-rode this last weekend. As we were riding, some of the mystifying route decisions started to make sense. eg the climb up Coit Rd gives the chance to split folks up before the fun Cross Canyon descent.

The whole trail was easy to find (the lower Cross Canyon traverse was unmistakable and yes, fun). The only confusion was the descent on Kelly Lake Trail (coming down from the Crest Trail) - at one point the trail curls around to the right but there's a distinct, unmarked, trail going straight. Someone needs to throw a branch across that.

My first time climbing up Kelly Lake Trail - that should be fun in race mode. In terms of enjoyment, descending Middle Steer Ridge would beat Steer Ridge + Lyman Wilson any day for fun, but there are many more passing opportunities on the latter.

[WhiteLightning]

Great ride today. My first time at Henry Coe.

Ben, THANKS for hanging back with me and keeping me from getting lost. Next week will be fun if I can figure out why my knee gave out going up Steer Ridge Road.

[WhiteLightning]

Travis,

Good meeting you today. Could you clarify one thing on the Beginner Course?

The route you note below is different from the highlighted map. After Wagon Road, the map shows the Beginner Course climbing up Steer Ridge Rd, then down the Lyman Wilson Ridge Trail.

But on the notes below, after Wagon Road, the next trail is the Wilson Camp/Bowl Trail.

Can you clarify which one it is? THANKS!

-Rich

Originally Posted by TSLUDER

Ben, Here are both courses, Hope to see you there. Tell all your friends! Sign up soon we are only limited to 150 riders. Thanks Travis

Beginner Course
Start Coit Road
Right Wasno Rd
Right Tule Pond Trail
Left Grizzly Gulch Road
Becomes Wagon Road
Right Wilson Camp/Bowl Trail
Left on Lyman Wilson Ridge Trail
Right Hunting Hollow Road
Finish

[ICE4Me]

Hi Rich,
It was a good ride for sure. I hope your knee is good for next week.

It should be a fun race next week.

Travis,
What time did you guys get back to the parking lot?


Ben

[The Law]

I'm out for tomorrow. Dan has my camelpack.

[Sorcerer]

Heads up Coe riders,

Volunteer patrols are re-forming for Coe. Foot, horse, and bike. I am forming the bike patrol now. Please message me, email me, contact me, if you would like more details.

This is a great opportunity to help the park, park visitors, and help yourself keep cycling in Coe a part of your routine.

2nd Saturday Coe trailwork is suspended until December 12. If the park stays open. FYI

coe_liaison@romp.org

-Paul

[mudworm]

As of now, there are only 36 riders signed up. What's up with that? Let me guess... either there are those who think the ride is way too short or too "flat" by Coe standard ( ), or there are those who think they might die on the course just because it's Coe ( )! Where do you belong?

[plymmer]

I do encourage people to do this challenge. Its very cool of Travis to put this race on. It takes a lot of work and it would be good to get people out there. Thanks Travis.

As for me, I don't really like group competition. I'd rather challenge myself by going farther, steeper and longer. I'll probably be doing just that on the 19th.

There's a lot of people that have ridden Coe on this list. And, there's a lot of people that like to do this sort of thing. It would be nice to get the numbers up there to encourage it on a regular basis. What say ye?

Roy.

[mudworm]

I say, DO IT!

Originally Posted by plymmer

As for me, I don't really like group competition

I hear ya and I feel the same way. Plus, a 24 mile course does not play in my favor. But I signed myself and Erik up, and persuaded a friend to sign up, just because it's Coe. It's s.p.e.c.i.a.l.

What say ye, Coe lovers?

[WhiteLightning]

I'd like to sign up. Can one sign up as a pseudoname? Michael Schumacher (a former F1 World Champion) used to sign up for motorcycle races as his brother, Ralph Schumacher (who happened to be an active F1 driver at the time). I may do the same to protect the guilty!

-Michael Schumacher

[ziscwg]

36 riders???? maybe I have a chance to get 3rd!!!!!!

I wont tell anyone that there were only 3 in my category, that is TMI

It is a tough course, but it has decent recovery spots. With the hopeful removal of the Serpintine climb from the sport cat, it's even a tad easier. But it's Coe, nothing is easy. The downhill single track is great. I had never rode down Lyam Wilson before, only up. It was great.

Originally Posted by mudworm

As of now, there are only 36 riders signed up. What's up with that? Let me guess... either there are those who think the ride is way too short or too "flat" by Coe standard ( ), or there are those who think they might die on the course just because it's Coe ( )! Where do you belong?

[iRoNeTiK]

Won't be able to make this one this time. Doing Lake Sonoma #3 which I signed up for months ago

I see that you have a #2 Henry Coe 11/7, I should be able to make that one and I'm still planning on doing the Hollister on on 10/17

[Skyline35]

I went and watched some of the race on Saturday. Pulling into the parking lot, it was cool to see the Hunting Hollow full of mtn bikers:



Looks like they had 45 racers, sunny with only mid-80º temps, and a well-marked course (though there was a little indecision regarding finalizing the exact route). The winning Expert finished in just over 2 hours - unbelievable!!!

I took a few pictures at the top of the Tule Pond Trail. Here is El Hombre:





And Special O:





El Hombre was first in Sport and both placed first in their age groups. Full results are up on the event site.

El Hombre's race report

My trail ride at Coe

///Charlie

[TahoeBC]

Right on El Hombre, nice report! gonna be intimidated to ride with ya next time

[Plim]

Good work, El Hombre!

[Fillet-brazed]

That was a great race. It's nice to do a "mountain bike race" in the mountains without doing multiple 3 mile laps like a hamster on mellow groomed trails. Fun course and very well done. Surprised there were only 50-60 or so entered.

Can anyone tell me the numbers on the serpentine climb? That one hurt.

[ElHombre]

Thanks guys.

Something must have gone wrong with the homebrew I drank the night before... seems it turned out performance enhancing.
And TahoeBC, yes you better do blood doping or so the next time we ride .

[knobs]

Here's why I can't race. I always go that way.


(Taken just after sunset near Coit and Wasno Road.)

[bailout]

Good job guys! There was no doubt that either Special O and El Hombre could throw down. Looks like the weather cooperated a bit too. I was gonna head down to spectate but was already locked into a different group/club ride.

[JMac47]

Originally Posted by knobs

Here's why I can't race. I always go that way.


(Taken just after sunset near Coit and Wasno Road.)

[ratpick]

Originally Posted by Fillet-brazed

Can anyone tell me the numbers on the serpentine climb? That one hurt.

I measured Serpentine as:
- average grade 15.2% (max 30%)
- 586' climbed
- 0.82 mi long
- took me 12:53 minutes

I found Kelly Lake just as difficult:
- average grade 11.4% (max about 33%)
- 536' climbed
- 0.87 mi long
- took me 13:30 minutes

There are 2 really steep hills on Kelly Lake (>32%). If you take out the couple of small descents, the average is more like 17.7%.

[mudworm]

Geek!

Just to clarify, the Kelly Lake stats here only apply to the part that goes UP from the lake to Wasno Road. The race came down the section from Crest Trail to the lake, but did not go up this section of the trail.

[poff]

Originally Posted by ratpick

I measured Serpentine as:
- average grade 15.2% (max 30%)
- 586' climbed
- 0.82 mi long
- took me 12:53 minutes

I found Kelly Lake just as difficult:
- average grade 11.4% (max about 33%)
- 536' climbed
- 0.87 mi long
- took me 13:30 minutes

There are 2 really steep hills on Kelly Lake (>32%). If you take out the couple of small descents, the average is more like 17.7%.

Horrible, isn't it?

[ratpick]

Originally Posted by mudworm

Geek!

I resemble that remark

[ratpick]

Originally Posted by poff

Horrible, isn't it?

After climbing Kelly Lake (I surprised myself and cleaned it) I wondered what cruelty would be needed to put that climb in a race where you don't get any chance to stop and tell lies at the lake, gobble some Cliff Shots, before starting the climb.

Once I'd completed it, I thought that it would definitely give the strong climbers an edge in the race. I'm not even sure passing would be so tough - I was braking on the downhill parts to slow down just to get my breath back for the next part of the climb (ie good passing opp for the plymmers of this world).

After Kelly Lake, I found Serpentine relatively easy (easy being "I'm not about to die" in a Coe context).

Both great climbs, though.. not that I'll be rushing back to them

[special O]

Good race, rode a bit too fast through the creekbed at the bottom of Tule Pond though... Really wished serpentine was in sport as well...

[TSLUDER]

Glad you liked the race. We have another great race at Hollister on October 17. We are also working on a race/ fundraiser at Henry Coe, Morgan Hill side for Nov. 7 Sports/Experts will be doing the same loop. Hope to see you at both races. Let everyone know. Thanks, Travis