Terrible Two
Sebastopol, CA
Official Website : http://srcc.memberlodge.com/TT
Date : June 19, 2010
Race Type : Road Cycling
Race Distance : 200 Miles
Race Description: The Terrible Two was started in 1976 by three Sonoma County riders, Clifford Scott, Rod Mowbray, and Gordon Burns-more-or-less members of the Santa Rosa Cycling Club. They were bored with the other double centuries and figured that a 200-mile course in and around Sonoma County would include some very challenging hills and spectacular scenery. After a trial run in June of 1976, they brought in the club to sponsor the event for the public and the first official TT was held later that summer on August 14. The date was eventually moved to a Saturday near Summer Solstice for maximum daylight. Expecting only the most serious riders, the first few TTs only provided lunch, no rest stops, and minimal sags. The original Spartan approach has evolved to a level equal to a typical club-sponsored century. We now actually try to help riders finish, rather than just throwing out the challenge. There are now six full rest stops (including lunch), sag wagons, radio links, and extra water stops. Because the course is so difficult and remote, we log every rider through every rest stop, radio the information back to the finish, and track each individual's progress on a master chart. The event is timed.
1 Reviews for Terrible Two
This race is brutal, it was seriously the hardest event I've ever completed. The race is more than deserving of its hardest double century in the county title. It pains me to even write this review.
Though I'm not rushing back to this race it is a definite feather in my hat. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for the next challenge, though I have to caution make sure you're fit before taking this one on. Don't let it be your first 200 miler. You'll want to have several 100+ miles bike rides and perhaps an Ironman or equivalent before attempting.
The race starts off pretty mellow, after the 1st rest stop you'll tackle the first real climb. Long, steep and exposed to the heat. The first 100 miles to lunch, besides the 105 degree temp, isn't too bad. Once you wolf down a warm turkey sandwich and load upw ith ice and water you're in for the toughest 100 miles of your life. The climbs just go on and on and the heat is unnatural it's so hot. The second half is far more remote and a good portion of the field has dropped out so you get some time to yourself which makes staying motivated tough at times.
Couple tips for this race would be, keep moving the first half, don't push it hard, but limit your breaks, get through the hot exposed sections early. Bring a head lamp as you may be finishing in the dark. Figure out the right balance of fluids to keep yourself hydradated as best possible, you're going to become dehydrated but try to fight it off for as long as possible. Bring a hankercheif or rag, use it to roll ice in and put around your neck during the really hot parts, probably saved me from heat exhaustion.