So I really had no desire to repeat the Stagecoach this year. It was way too far to drive for what I categorize as an average event. So I had to find something else to help get my winter weary legs in order.  The ever reliable Western States Ride Calendar proved to hold the answer. There was a new century this year being held in Santa Clarita which was less than an hour’s drive north from my doorstep.  It was their first year, obviously motivated by the recent visit from the Tour of California. First year events are always risky though; especially their routes. They are unproven and untested so you’re a guinea pig for the organizers.  However, the web site described the course in pretty good detail and it would cover some nice roads and had a few decent climbs. It was worth the risk so I registered.

I awoke fairly early the morning of the ride, grabbed a quick breakfast, loaded up the car and was on my way by 5:30. The freeways were empty so I made great time. In Sylmar I stopped to take a leak. The temperature was good, skies were clear, but there was a steady wind driving hard from the North. The Santa Clarita area is infamous for its strong winds. They blow across the desert through Palmdale and then roar up the passes at gale force speeds.  It looked as though today would be no exception.

Another 20 minutes and I was parked at the Metro Station where the ride would start and end.  Vendors were setting up their bike demo and product tents in the parking lot. A good number of riders were already suited up and milling about waiting for the 7:00 am start. I strolled over to the registration tent and waited while late registers scrambled to fill out their waivers. I didn’t mind the delay since I was committed to making the best of the day and not pushing myself to hard this early in the season.

I picked up my goody bag which was pretty sparse, basically just flyers and advertising, a T-shirt, route sheet and wrist band. I quickly surveyed the route sheet and did not like what I saw. It contained an entire page of directions.  I’m all for interesting courses, but having to constantly refer to the route sheet to stay on track is a hassle and dangerous for that matter. Hopefully the course would be well marked minimizing my need to refer t it.

Back at my car I dressed light supplementing my standard kit with only arm warmers and a base layer. The day was forecast to be hot with temperatures well into the 80’s.  A few cold miles would be a small price to pay for greater comfort later in the day.

I was on my bike a little after seven and followed a group across Soledad Blvd to the bike path.  We paralleled Soledad for about 5 miles heading essentially due east.  I was pleased to see that the course was in fact very well marked with multiple yellow arrows at every point requiring a direction change.

On queue the wind picked up as we moved along the path. It was apparent that it would be persistent throughout the day. Along the way I encountered several clubs out in force, Newhall and Santa Clarita primarily. I even got a “nice bike” comment, that’s a first.

We finally exited the bike path directly onto Soledad Canyon Road to continue our trek eastward, officially following the path of Stage 7 of the ToC.  I migrated in and out of small groups, but no one was really spinning at my pace so I would eventually move off the front.

Steady climbing continued as we migrated along Soledad, paralleling the 14 Freeway, crossing under and over it several times. Finally, around mile 10, we headed out into the nearby hills for a little peace and quiet. We were shadowed by at least two SAG pick-ups. They’d shoot ahead every now and then just to check on everyone. Nice to see the organizers were able to provide this kind support.

Once again I wandered in and out of groups never finding any riders that were really matching my pace.  At mile 15, the Rio Store, I pulled over briefly to top off my water bottles. I’d been drinking religiously and had already finished off a 20 oz. bottle.  I was back on the road in under a minute to continue the gradual climb.

As we crested a mild rise and we were suddenly slammed with a serious headwind.  At times it must have been 20 to 30 mph with some pretty hefty gusts.  I was thankful to be battling it early in the ride.

At mile 20 we headed into Acton along Crown Valley Road, took a right on Soledad and then a left on Santiago for a short climb to the first official rest stop a Bicycle John’s. I pulled in to the parking lot and headed for the porta-potty and then over to the food tables. The pickings were pretty thin. Some bananas, cookies, hammer shots, Fig Newtons, but that was about it. I’d brought my own shots and Power Bars so I supplemented my intake from my own stash.

Back on the road, I retraced my path down Santiago and Soledad, making a left on Aliso Canyon Road and heading up into the hills.  I was back on the Stage 7 ToC route and had the road pretty much to myself.  It consisted of seven miles of rollers, gradually climbing from 2,800 to 4,200 feet. I passed the fading remains of several chalk messages scrawled on the road, most notably to Levi.

The last ½ mile to Angeles Crest threw in some pretty steep grades.  My Garmin registered 15% in places. I had an 11-25 on the back and I felt it. I passed a few riders along the way, but got overtaken by two just as I reached the top.

I made the left onto Angeles Crest and was treated to a brief descent to help work the lactic acid out of my legs.  At this point I started matching speed with the two riders that had passed me and leapfrogged back and forth with them for a few as we rode down to Mount Emma Road.

We made the right turn onto Mount Emma and were treated to another 450 feet of climbing. About this time my rear derailleur really started acting up.  It wasn’t quite aligned and was chattering on the larger cogs. I later found out that the rear adjustment screw had come completely loose and wasn’t keeping consistent tension. It was more of an annoyance at this point so I decided to just live with it.

I lost the two riders on the final climb and I reached the top solo. Then came a great 10 mile descent along the southern outskirts of Palmdale. The car-less roads inconjunction with a great view into the valley made this portion of the ride very enjoyable. The favorable winds helped too!

We skirted the edge of town briefly, crossing Hwy 14 and then wound our way onto Sierra Highway. There was a pretty sketchy part where the shoulder went essentially to zero. They’d placed a watch for cyclists placard to at least warn drivers of our presence, but I was relieved to get this section behind me.

It was then a nice winding four mile descent back to Bicycle John’s. The two riders I’d been shadowing zipped past the rest stop, but I was out of liquids and had to stop. The selection was even sparser now, but I downed a cookie or two along with another shot, topped off my bottles and headed out.

I exited the parking lot and made the right back onto Sierra Highway for 10 miles of mild rollers. A sweeping right took me onto a brief detour along Mint Canyon that merged back with Sierra after about 1.5 miles. This was the highlight of the ride for me. A fast and fun descent on a great section of road with little car traffic. I had so much fun I blazed past the intersection with Sand Canyon and kept following the green arrows all the way back to the bike path. I really should have clipped the route sheet to my handle bars.

I continued to follow what I thought was the course and headed about 100 feet down the bike path, but it just didn’t feel right.  As I negotiated a U-Turn several other riders came by and I asked if they were on the 100 mile ride. They stopped and indicated they weren’t.  After some discussion we determined I’d missed a right turn about four miles back up the road.  Everybody took a moment to get reoriented and then directed me to follow the bike path up to Soledad and make a right onto Sand Canyon at the 76 station. I basically had to retrace my wheel tracks from the morning!

Ok, so I’d made a slight 3 mile detour and lost about 10 minutes in the process, but I followed their directions precisely and slogged my way back to rejoin the official course at Sand Canyon Road.  As promised, a right turn at the 76 station got me back on track. It was then back across the 14 Freeway and up into the hills to the 3^rd rest stop at a fire station.

As I worked my way up the road, six or seven Highway Patrol cars sped past, sires wailing and lights ablaze. I stopped at a guard shack for a gated community to find out what was up. The guard told me a motorcycle rider had gone off the road somewhere along Palcerita Canyon, but the road was still opened. I thanked her and then headed up the road another ¼ mile to the fire station.

When I arrived I was greeted by 4 friendly SAG folks. They filled me in on the accident (rider was ok) and told me that the first group of riders had gone through about 20 minutes earlier without stopping. That explained the generous spread! I stocked up on cookies and a banana, topped off my bottles and received a zip tie to attach the route sheet to my shifter cable. I was not going to get lost again.

It was less than a mile to the right turn onto Placertia Canyon Road and a few hundred yards to the scene of the accident.  I had no desire to gawk and moved around the patrol cars and fire trucks in short order.

The next five miles consisted of a short climb and then a lumpy descent down to Sierra Highway.  As with most of the course, I didn’t encounter any other riders during my journey.

Placertia deposited me back on Sierra. By this time it was pretty hot, well over 80 degrees.  I crossed San Fernando Road and then headed up a pretty significant climb back to the 14 Freeway. I still felt fine with just a little twinge of cramping. I had now returned to suburbia and the scenery and traffic were commensurate, nothing to write home about.

Sierra T-boned with The Old Road right under the massive construction going on at the 14/5 interchange. It sucked. The roar of traffic overhead surrounded by the debris of a major construction project made this last portion of the course something I really wanted to get behind me. It was pretty tough too.  The grades hovered around 6 to 8 percent and tickled 14% a time or too.

After paralleling I-5 for a few miles the route headed back into the outskirts of Santa Clarita, meandering along some of its major thoroughfares, generally descending. At two miles to go it was back onto the bike path and I basically pounded all the way to the Metro Station, minding the twists and turns as well as the oncoming bike traffic.

I cross Soledad at the intersection and rolled into the parking lot and back to my car. The vendors were packing up and the crowd was pretty thin. I didn’t feel like staying for lunch so I loaded up my bike and de-kitted in short order. It was then a quick drive back home to a warm shower and a well deserved lunch.

For their first year, Santa Clarita Velo did an excellent job orchestrating this ride.  Aliso Canyon Road and the descent down Sierra were the highlights. The last 14 miles were the low lights. I hope they reroute this bit around I-5 next year.  Also, over the latter portion of the course, say 80% of it, I never saw a SAG vehicle.  My almost complete solo ride may have had something to do with it, that is, the groups were elsewhere on the course and that’s where the SAG concentrated its presence.  In general I enjoyed the ride and felt it was just the right century to get my season started. Chapeau Santa Clarita Velo!