Conditioning & Prep for the Death Ride®
Riding 103 miles and climbing 14,000+ feet all in one day is a daunting task! To make this event even more difficult, the course is located in the Sierra Nevada mountains at elevations between 5,500 feet and 8,732 feet.
We urge cyclists to visit Alpine County before the ride to get an idea of what it takes to complete the course. Sign up for the event(s) below to help you train. Ride dates and additional information will be posted as they become available.
Be Prepared for a LONG Ride:
• Include lots of climbing in your training
• Spend a minimum of 8 hours on your bike
• Stay hydrated before and during the ride; bring extra water
• Eat regularly before and during the ride, bring extra energy snacks of your own
Bike Gearing for Climbing:
We recommend a 39 on front and a 28 on back, a triple or a compact. Use your brakes sparingly and evenly on descents, rims can heat up from brake pad friction. Watch for overheating brakes.
Tune Up Your Bike:
Be sure you have good brakes and good tires. You must be able to control your bike and your speed on extremely steep downhills and very sharp corners with possible wet and/or rough pavement.
Training
The new Death Ride® route features over 135 feet of climbing per mile! To train properly, you need to practice your climbing!
In partnership with Alta Alpina Cycling Club (AACC), we offer the Death Ride® Training Series to help you prepare for the big event on July 13th! Whether it’s your first time tackling the Death Ride passes and you want to be ready to complete the whole course, or you’re a veteran looking to ride your best time this year, the Training Series is designed to help you ride at your peak.
Choose from 1 to 4 rides on four dates beginning May 4th, and then every 2 weeks thereafter on May 18th, June 1st, and June 18th.
Each ride is supported by AACC members and tackles different Sierra mountain passes to develop to develop familiarity with the area and skills to be at your best for the Death Ride. Coaching materials are provided regularly to help you make the most of your training.
The Brush with Death ride on June 29 adds a final training opportunity two weeks after the training series and two weeks before the Death Ride.
You can register for the Death Ride, the Training Series, and Brush with Death at: https://deathride.enmotive.com/bundles/register/acaa93e5-3757-429c-834b-8db17b75c112/key:rfpbqzywwathrxch
If you’re already registered for the Death Ride you can add the training series and/or Brush with Death at: https://deathride.enmotive.com/events/register/2024-death-ride-training-series