They're baaaaack!!! The Boulder Fearsome Five!
In 2012, the Rocky Mountain Cycling Club (RMCC) introduced the
Boulder Fearsome Five, the nation's
toughest century ride!!! Featuring 15,000+ feet of climbing in 100 miles (>140 feet/mile), the Boulder Fearsome Five is truly the nation's most vertically-challenged cycling century! And with several climbs reaching over 8,000 feet in elevation, the rarified Colorado air definitely adds to the challenge!
The climbs featured in this event are truly Boulder County's most "devilish" climbs...Flagstaff Mountain Road, Magnolia Road, Sugarloaf Road, Sunshine Canyon/Fourmile Canyon loop, and the SuperJames. In fact, there's probably not many places in the world where you can find as many challenging road cycling climbs within such close proximity to each other as in Boulder!
Here's what new for 2013 (updated 5/4/13):
1) For 2013, we're going to ride the course from north to south, starting with the climb up the SuperJames and ending with Flagstaff Mountain. What are the reasons for this change? Well, the main reason is that we felt badly that a number of riders couldn't complete the SuperJames climb before a freak snow storm blew in last year. Riding the route in the opposite direction will enable all riders to experience this amazing Boulder climb! Plus, we've added a few "twists" along the way that are sure to have most riders grinning from ear-to-ear (tears allowed)! For a sneak peak of this year's route, click here: 2013 Boulder Fearsome Five. The official cue sheet and map should be posted on the RMCC main page in the next couple of days.
2) The route is now 100 miles...103 miles to be exact. After all, if it's a century ride. It needs to be 100 miles (not 98 miles like last year's course), right??
3) Start times: Rider check-in: 6:15 am, Pre-ride briefing: 6:45 am, Start: 7:00 am. Closing time at Eben G. Fine Park: 6:00 pm.
4) Registration: REMEMBER--RMCC MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS RIDE. IF YOU'RE NOT CURRENTLY A MEMBER, PLEASE PRINT BRING YOUR COMPLETED RMCC MEMBERSHIP FORM AND $25 TO THE START OF THE RIDE ON 5/5/13. As of 5/4/13, we have 30 pre-registered riders, so I'm expecting a good turn-out. If you want to ride, please sign up in advance. This is not required, but it helps us plan how much water to purchase in advance and how many cue sheets/passports to print out...
5) Weather update: Okay...in spite of our recent spring warm-up, Old Man Winter has decided to make an unwelcomed return! But please do not fret! I do expect that the gravel sections will be safe to ride by Sunday, May 5th! They will not be perfect by any means (i.e., expect your bike to get a bit dirty), but I do expect they will be manageable. So plan on riding the route in its entirety on Sunday! I will pre-ride the route on Saturday to verify that the road conditions are safe...
6) Support: I've gotten lots of questions about checkpoints and water support. We will be (preliminarily) providing water support at the following locations along the course: 1) Mile 20: Top of SuperJames, 2) Mile 35: Wild Horse Circle, 3) Mile 50: Top of Sunshine Canyon (before descending to Gold Hill), 4) Mile 59.7 and 75.1: Base of Sugarloaf Road. Any extra supplies that you may require can be stored in the support vehicles. Riders can refill their bottles at their cars at Eben G. Fine Park before riding Flagstaff Mountain.
7) Results: Riders will be given credit for each of the climbs he/she completes in 11 hours. Please be sure to check in before attempting Flagstaff Mtn! If you're not back by 6:00 pm, please be advised that the RMCC support vehicles will likely no longer be at the park when you return. You will still get credit for the other climbs, but not Flagstaff.
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| Holy crap!!! What are we getting ourselves into??? |
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| The elevation profile for the 2013 Boulder Fearsome Five. Do you feel nauseated?? |
Event Background Information and Rules:
1) Date: Sunday, May 5, 2013. Check-in time at 6:15 a.m. Departure at 7:00 a.m.
2) Start/End location:
Eben G. Fine Park, west Arapahoe Street, Boulder, Colorado.
Note: If possible, try to park in the neighborhoods to the east and south of the park to preserve parking for park patrons.
3) RMCC membership is
required to participate in this event. If you're not a member and you want to participate, please sign up:
RMCC Membership! There is no additional registration fee...just bring a smile, a good attitude, and your best climbing legs!!! Your results will not be posted until your RMCC membership has been verified. RMCC membership forms will be available at the start of the ride.
4) Preregistration is encouraged (but not required) to participate in this event. Preregistration allows us to plan how much water we need to stock our support vehicle with. If you make a last second decision to participate, please plan to bring extra water for yourself which you can store in the support vehicle.
5) The primary goal of this event is to
safely complete as many of Boulder County's most notorious climbs as possible within the 11 hour time limit.
This club event is not a race! For some riders, this event will be an opportunity to spend a fun (but challenging) day on the bike with their fellow RMCC colleagues. For other riders, it will a chance to train for other "climbing" events...maybe a local hill climb race such as Bob Cooke/Mt. Evans or the events of the Colorado Triple Crown. However, for everyone who participates, it will be a cruel reminder that cycling season is here! Time to dust off those climbing legs and get to work!!!
6) Each rider will receive an event passport during the check-in. At each control point, riders must record: 1) the time they reach the control point and 2) answer the question on the passport to verify that they actually completed the climb. Please bring a pen or pencil to record your answers.
7) For 2013, riders must complete the climbs in the following order: 1) Super James, 2) Sunshine Canyon-Fourmile Canyon loop, 3) Sugarloaf Road, 4) Magnolia Road, 5) Flagstaff Mountain).
Please refer to the cue sheet and map for route specifics. This will be posted on the RMCC main page very soon! For a preliminary preview of the route, click: 2013 Boulder Fearsome Five. Riders may complete as
few or as
many of the climbs as they want to. But in order to receive credit for any of the climbs, they must have their event passports turned into the final checkpoint at Eben G. Fine Park by 6:00 p.m.
Passports will not be accepted after 6:00 p.m. Please budget your time carefully!
8) Results will be posted based on number of climbs completed. Individual rider's times will
not be posted.
9) Riders are
strongly encouraged have a
red tail light to ride through the tunnel in Boulder Canyon. This tunnel is not very long (75 yards or so), but it is simply too dark to ride through it safely without a tail light! Rider safety is our utmost importance!
10) Did I mention that this ride is
extremely difficult?!?
Event Tips and Strategies:
1) Nutrition and hydration are critical to completing this challenge! These climbs are insanely difficult and it is very easy to bonk (especially early in the season) if you do not keep up with your caloric intake, hydration, and electrolytes. Consider eating a bar or snack at the top of each climb.
2) After completing the first climb up Flagstaff Mountain Road, riders are encouraged to return to their vehicles at Eben G. Fine Park to refill their water bottles before starting the jaunt up Boulder Canyon to the beastly Magnolia Road.
3) Riders are strongly encouraged to ride with three water bottles, at least for the first 40 miles. The RMCC will provide a support vehicle stocked with water that will be located at several locations along the course (see above). Riders may store any additional provisions that they may require in the support vehicle. After completing the climb up Magnolia Road, riders may return to their vehicles at Eben G. Fine Park in Boulder and refill their bottles before beginning the final climb up Flagstaff Mountain.
5) Consider riding with 25 mm (or even 28 mm) tires for this event! These will be especially helpful on the long (7+ miles) packed gravel sections of Sunshine Canyon, Gold Run Road, and Fourmile Canyon Road.
6) If your legs require a bit of "warming up" before riding, consider arriving 15-20 minutes early to do a bit of spinning.
7) Oh yeah...gearing...bring the
smallest gears you can find. A 34 x 27 would be ideal (and you still won't have enough gears)!!
Climb Descriptions:
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| The top of the SuperJames climb and the high point of the BFF course, a little over 8,500 feet! |
Devil #1: The Super James
Starting from Eben G. Fine Park in Boulder, riders will travel north on the western streets of Boulder, turning west on Lee Hill Road and climbing over Olde Stage Road. At the junction of Lefthand Canyon, riders will head west and embark on their first devilish climb of the day. This devil, known to Boulderites as the "Super James," climbs James Canyon Road through the town of Jamestown, eventually pitching upward as the road name changes to Overland Road. For participants of the Boulder Fearsome Five, this climb marks the beginning of a long day suffering! After passing through the town of Jamestown, James Canyon Road continues to get steeper and steeper and steeper! The final 1.5 miles features consistent grades of 14-15%! As the road flattens out a bit at the summit and riders reach the very much anticipated "Pavement Ends" sign, participants can breathe a sigh of relief after completing the first major climb of the day! Now back to Boulder! Time is ticking to complete the Boulder Fearsome Five course in under 11 hours!
Mini-Devil #1: Lee Hill Drive
Lee Hill Road is a route that is familiar to many RMCC club veterans, as the club frequents this climb several times per year. From Lefthand Canyon, participants will climb up the western side of Lee Hill Drive. Riders will be relieved to know that the western side of Lee Hill Drive is not nearly as long or as steep as the eastern side. After descending the steepest sections of Lee Hill Drive, participants will make an immediate right onto Wagonwheel Gap Road.
Mini-Devil #2: Wagonwheel Gap Road/Linden Drive Loop
Okay...not many riders outside of Boulder are aware of the Linden neighborhood. Nestled in the foothills to the west of Boulder, this little community--with its steep, windy residential roads is a mini-cycling gem--and in this case, a mini-devil! It also marks the first time that riders will encounter
gravel roads for the day. What was that??? You read that correctly.....
gravel roads. I beg your pardon! Road bikes on gravel roads??? This is simply preposterous!!! This simply cannot be!!! Well, the Boulder Fearsome Five is a clear departure from the RMCC norm to
not ride on gravel roads. But that's what you're going to do to complete this mini-devil challenge!!! From Wagonwheel Gap Road, riders will turn south onto Bow Mountain Road. The climb up Bow Mountain Road is not long...only a little over one mile in length, but it is steep!!! Riders will encounter grades as steep as 15% on gravel roads. Be prepared to keep your hind end in the saddle! Riders will complete the paved Wild Horse Circle loop at the top of the climb before beginning the twisty descent down Timber Lane and Linden Drive to return to west Boulder.
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| Scenic views from Fourmile Canyon |
Devil #2: Sunshine Canyon-Gold Hill-Fourmile Canyon: The Dirty Devil!
For their next devilish climb, riders will embark on one of Boulder's classic cycling loops, the Sunshine Canyon-Fourmile Canyon loop, passing through the communities of Gold Hill and Salina. This loop is simply one of the best cycling climbs in the state! Andy Hampsten, the only American to ever win the Giro D'Italia (1988), has called this route his favorite in Boulder County. Well...if it's good enough for Andy, then it's good enough for the RMCC! In all honesty, if you've never ridden this route, then you're missing out on a true cycling gem! This loop features serene, peaceful canyon roads, and amazing mountain views! However, the climb is very steep in places, pitching up to 18% toward the top of Sunshine Canyon. And there is also the omnipresent reminder of forest fires. The 2010 Fourmile Canyon fire devastated large sections of Fourmile Canyon and Sunshine Canyon...the damage can be seen for miles.
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Ominous views from Sunshine Canyon are a constant reminder
that forest fires are a very real risk in Boulder County! |
In order complete this loop, however, riders are going to
once again ride on gravel roads...
nearly seven consecutive miles of gravel roads for that matter! For the most part, the gravel roads are in very good shape. Yes...there are some sandy sections (especially in the switchbacks) that can be a bit tricky to negotiate. But the views of the amazing rock formations and mountain vistas from the top of this classic Boulder loop are stunning, making this loop worth the added effort! From near the top of Sunshine Canyon, riders will complete the final three miles of this climb on packed gravel roads, then make a tricky four-mile descent through the rustic communities of Gold Hill and Salina. From Salina, riders will once again embrace the beautiful smooth pavement of Fourmile Canyon Drive, descending south to Boulder Canyon. Riders will turn
west onto Boulder Canyon Drive toward their next climbing challenges of the day...the feared Sugarloaf Road and Magnolia Road!
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| Views from the packed gravel roads on top of Sunshine Canyon |
Devil #3: Sugarloaf Road
It can be argued that this climb is perhaps the "easiest" of the Boulder Fearsome Five climbs: 1) It doesn't have the insanely steep grades featured in the other climbs of the Fearsome Five and 2) Sugarloaf Road "only" gains 1,600 feet in 6.7 miles. (Although it does descend almost 500 feet to the turn-around point at the "Pavement Ends" sign. Riders do have to climb back up this section to return to the "high point" of this climb). However, Sugarloaf Road can become a beast of climb if there are brisk westerly headwinds or if temperatures are on the toasty side. Sun exposure can be a real issue on this climb as forest fires from past years have left the top portions of this climb with a barren, moonscape appearance. Be prepared to descend like "blazing saddles" when returning toward Boulder Canyon as this descent is not nearly as technical as some of the other downhills that riders will descend during the Boulder Fearsome Five. After returning to Boulder Canyon, riders will head east down the canyon, immediately turning south onto Magnolia Road.
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| Yup...that's not a lie! Be prepared to suffer, especially on Magnolia Road!!! |
Devil #4: Magnolia Road
Okay...Magnolia Road is a BEAST! Don't be fooled by its serene, peaceful name... Magnolia Road has Boulder County's steepest sustained grades, climbing almost 2100 feet in 5 miles (avg 9.1% and 420 feet/mile). In comparison, Lookout Mountain in Golden climbs 1,250 feet in 4.5 miles from the pillar at the bottom of the mountain to the turn-off for Buffalo Bill's grave (277.7 feet/mile). Magnolia is 34% steeper than Lookout Mountain! The first two miles will hit you like a "ton of bricks," averaging almost 14%! The road does "mellow" a bit after the first two miles, but then pitches upward again as the road switchbacks toward the summit. Exhausted riders will turn around at the "Pavement Ends" sign. Be sure to record your time and answer the informational question on your cue card to receive credit for completing the climb. From the turn-around point, riders will begin the gnarly descent down Magnolia Road back to Boulder Canyon.
Be cautious of gravel on the road! Riders will then head east down Boulder Canyon Drive back to Eben G. Fine Park to grab a quick snack and to refill their bottles before beginning the final devil of the day...Flagstaff Mountain!
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| The pristine Boulder Flatirons at the base of Flagstaff Mountain |
Devil # 5: Flagstaff Mountain
From Eben G. Fine Park, riders will head south through side streets of west Boulder to approach Baseline Road, which runs to the north of Boulder's beautiful Chautauqua Park. From this point, riders will begin the daunting task of climbing Flagstaff Mountain, gaining nearly 2300 feet from Eben G. Fine Park. The actual climb is only a little over 5 miles long, but mile 4 to 4.5 will have you begging for mercy, pitching up to 20% in the switchbacks! Congratulations on conquering the final devil! But participants shouldn't get too content! They still have to get back to Eben G. Fine Park to get their event passports turned in before the 11 hour time limit expires. From the summit of Flagstaff Mountain, riders will make the final descent back to Eben G. Fine Park.
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| Views of the dreaded tunnel along Boulder Canyon Drive |
Words of Caution:
1) Overall, this route is a fairly safe route. However, Boulder Canyon--with its speedy traffic--is
not the safest cycling road. But hey...it's Boulder, and most drivers are fairly conscientious of cyclists. In spite of this, riding single file is imperative!!! Always be sure to look behind you before passing another rider to make sure you are obstructing traffic.
2) As previously stated many times, please be extremely careful when riding (either ascending or descending) Boulder Canyon. This road has a very narrow (and in some places no) shoulder.
3) Riders are encouraged to take their time and safely navigate the gravel sections of the course, especially from the top of Sunshine Canyon through Gold Hill and Salina.
4) I'll mention it again...as riders cruise west up the Boulder Canyon, they will encounter a short (75 yard) tunnel approximately 3 miles west of Eben G. Fine Park. Riders are strongly encouraged to have a rear red tail light to ride through this tunnel!!! It is simply too dark to proceed through it without a tail light!!! If you notice that you will be riding through the tunnel as vehicles approaching from behind, please pull of the road momentarily to allow traffic to enter the tunnel first!!!
5) Please be careful on ALL of the descents. Given the frequent spring snow storms this season, many of these roads will undoubtedly be covered with gravel. These descents are NOT the best places to try to beat your friends to the bottom!
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| Riders at the start of the 2012 Boulder Fearsome Five. |
Good luck to everyone as you prepare to "dance with the devils!" May the cycling forces be with you!
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