2010 Salton Sea Century

Date:              Saturday, October 16, 2010
                        Ride back from retirement!
Distances:    100/83/72/55/45/28/17 mi. options
Location:      600 Christmas Circle, Borrego
                       Springs, CA 92004
Field Limit:   2,000  

Start Times:
    Team Time Trial (TT):  7:00 - 7:05 A.M.
    Individual TT Riders:    7:05 - 7:15 A.M.  
    Individual Riders:         7:05 - 9:00 A.M.

Welcome!  Thanks for visiting  BEST DEAL deadline     JULY 31, 2010

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Lodging Options:

Alliances: Click here for links to lodging options.  Some have century promotional rates.

Complete List of hotels and camping: Click here for lodging information from the Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce. Borrego Springs has about 350 rooms at all price points and sizes. Each room sleeps at least 2 and the total hotel capacity is about 1,000. Booking early is recommended for rooms, camp sites, and RV spaces.  Mention the Salton Sea Century when you book reservations for possible discounts.

All riders receive with paid entry:

     •  Ride registration
     •   3 Laps allow riders to select distances
           of 17, 28, 45, 55, 72, 83, or 100 miles
     •   Ultimate 100-mile Individual and 4-person
            Team Time Trial Challenge (optional)
     •   Cue sheets for all distances     
     •   Six fully stocked rest stations, and
            lunch/rest stop items at Christmas Circle
     •   Photography services        
     •   Dedicated Law Enforcement
     •   Tom Cody's Bike Mobile roving support van
     •   Lunch at Christmas Circle 
     •   Post-ride music, DJ, and festivities at
            Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs
     •   Free Parking
     •   Rider goodie bag
     •   Full Century Finishers posted on website
      •     Time Trial Results posted on website
     •    NEW:  Long & Short Course pricing options
      •    NEW:  Individual & Team Time Trial options
      •    NEW:  Tandem Team Time Trial option
      •    NEW:  Custom Salton Sea Medallion & Pin

      



             The Springs at Borrego RV Resort
             Photo credit: Stephanie Gonser               

2010 Ride Description:

The Salton Sea Century is a recreational road bicycle event held in the low-to-middle desert elevations in and around Borrego Springs, California, USA.  In addition to individuals riding various distances, the century course features optional individual and 4-person time trials. The low-traffic roads and pristine desert scenery flanked by soaring mountains make this ride another marquee “safe, scenic, and sensational century ride on roads less traveled” Shadow Tour century experience. The ride starts and finishes at the grassy community park in the heart of Borrego Springs, known as Christmas Circle, at an elevation of 600 feet above sea level. The course is comprised of three distinctive laps.  Each rider may select which laps to ride and in what order to ride them.  The order preferred by most full century riders, is to ride Lap 1, the 28-mile lap containing the 5-mile Yaqui Pass climb first.   Next is Lap 2, a scenic 17-mile tour around Borrego Springs.  Last is Lap 3, a 55-mile out-and-back segment heading east toward the Salton Sea on S22, over a 975 foot elevation desert pass, creating pano-views of the Salton Sea, mountains and desert, before descending to Salton City at about 75 feet below sea level.

The Salton Sea is the largest lake in California and one of the largest saltwater lakes in the world. It was formed from 1905 to 1907 when a poorly constructed temporary dam on the Colorado River collapsed. The Salton Sea is a breathtaking sight from a distance and is home to hundreds of species of birds; however the lake is not recommended for water activities due to high saline content and poor overall water quality. Several local and federal projects are underway to improve the fragile ecosystem of the lake.  Learn more about the Salton Sea on the SDSU Salton Sea website ( click here ).

More details:

Lap 1:  Southeast on Borrego Springs Road toward SR 78 and back to the Montesora intersection, known as the "Hot Corner", where the course turns south on S3 and climbs up a 5-mile ascent from 508 ft el. to the Yaqui Pass Summit at 1,750 ft el. The route returns down the well-earned 5-mile downhill stretch, across the flat, usually breezy, 5-mile desert floor to the Christmas Circle/Rest Stop.  Distance is approximately 28 miles.  There are fully stocked rest stops and portajohns at Christmas Circle and at the summit of Yaqui Pass.

Lap 2:  Riders proceed north on Borrego Springs Rd for a 17-mile mid-morning grand circular tour of the City of Borrego Springs, again returning to Christmas Circle at approximately mile 45.  Once again, there is a fully-stocked rest stop and rest room/portajohn facilities.  Lunches will be served at Christmas Circle starting at 10:30 A.M.

Lap 3:  Riders head due east on S22 toward Salton City.  There is a rest stop approximately mile 62.  At the rest stop, riders may turn around and return to Christmas Circle for a 78 mile ride.   Full century riders continue east over the 975 ft el. desert pass, to the turnaround point in Salton City at mile 72.  As the course desends below sea level, the road surface becomes rougher from mile 68 to 71.  Riders should slow down and use extra caution on this section.  There is a mini rest stop at the turnaround point (mile 72) with portajohn(s).  The route returns west bound on S22 to the intermediate rest stop, and then continues on to the full century finish at Christmas Circle.

Summary:  The Salton Sea Century's primary draw for most riders is virtually traffic-free roads, with mostly wide bicycle lanes.  There are no stop lights at all.  Fabulous scenery graces the entire route.  However, desert riding is more advanced than most urban cycling events.  Weather and hydration definitely are in play.  For first-time desert riders the course is designed to allow maximum flexibility and rest stop support.  All Full Century riders, and those attempting Lap 3, need to be well prepared.  The Lap 3 section, out to the Salton Sea and back, is more challenging as desert heat, afternoon winds, and gradual elevation gains creep up during the ride.  Expect tailwinds on the way out (which you probably won't feel) to Salton City and strong head winds on the way back (which you definitely will feel!).  Roughly 2,400 feet of climbing accumulates in the first 45 miles on laps 1 & 2. The remaining 2,000 feet of climbing is embedded in lap 3.

Riders may decide the order of the laps, unless weather conditions or field size dictate otherwise.  Rider update emails will provide more details at the end of Jul, Aug, and Sep.  Safety is always the primary consideration!

Full Century Finishers will have their names and cities posted on the website.  Only riders who register for the Full Course are eligible.

The finish line festival will feature music, a mini expo, food and beverage catered by local restaurants, other local vendors, and sponsor booths.  There's also the opportunity to chill with your friends post ride!

There are shade trees, picnic tables, restrooms, and plenty of grass to spread out a blanket and hang out with friends and family after the ride. 





          Photo Courtesy Jean Anderson

The 100-mile course has about 4,400 feet of gentle climbing and we rate it as average difficulty overall. For a beginner century rider, the first 28 miles of the route involves riding longer and steeper desert climbs and descents on secondary desert roads.  The second half of the course is non-technical and has very gentle grades with long sight lines and low vehicle traffic.  Expect predictable rising afternoon winds and temps in the high 80s to low 90s, which combine to challenge many riders. For more experienced riders, there is plenty of challenge if you want to ride a more spirited pace, or even form a team for the Ultimate 100-mile Individual or 4-Person Team Time Trial options. The Yaqui Pass leg is the steepest climb on the route, rising 1,242 feet in 5 miles. The Yaqui Pass summit at 1,750 feet elevation is the highest point on the course and is followed immediately by a fast 5 mile descent. Overall, the ride is not a technical challenge, but variable afternoon winds and potentially hot conditions in the desert in October must be respected when selecting your distance. We have purposely designed the course to be flexible, with three distinct laps  allowing riders several decision-points to modify actual riding distances based on the weather conditions and how riders feel out on the course on the day of the ride.
  

         
              Team "Salton See Ya When We Get There"  at Yaqui Pass Summit, photo by Larry Gitman 

                                         
                                               2008 Tony Darr, Imperial, CA completes his
                                                  solo century in 5:09 including rest stops!

 
  2008 Salton Sea Century Front                               2008 Salton Sea Century Back

See sizing chart below, or visit www.voler.com for more details

Salton Sea Century Voler Jersey
Orders by Aug 26, '10 receive jersey at event, after Aug 26, jerseys mailed in Dec '10.

Ride Sponsors, Affiliates, and Volunteers:

	Kendall's Cafe at The Mall 587 Palm Cyn Dr 760-767-3491 Ride Lunches Post-ride BBQ Meals
Shadow Tour    Logo Designer	Official Lunch and post-ride BBQ	Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce	Current Weather   Borrego Springs	West Shores Chamber of Commerce
Fluid Replacement	Nutritional      Supplements	Official Energy Bar		Cyclists Attorney
			Borrego Vista Realty  Jean Anderson Borrego Springs CA  92004 (877) 500-7534
The Springs at Borrego RV Resort & Golf Course	Leucadia Cyclery	Worldcycles.com	Jean Anderson  Lunch  Volunteer
	Borrego Springs     Soroptimists
Borrego Valley Inn	Lunch Volunteers	Tom & Dawn Cody     Roving Mechanics	Borrego Springs         Resort	Tony DiLorenzo     Timing Marshal

Course Maps and Elevation Profiles (Updated with 2008 Course Modifications):

    Regional View of Borrego Springs, Salton Sea, Salton City, and Salton Sea Century Course:

        

    Century Maps and Profiles:

                Century Map (Click on "100 Mile" button for jpeg image, click on jpeg to enlarge.)

                Century Profile

                Century 3D Profile

    Lap 1 Map and Profile:                      Distance                    Elevation  

                      28 Miles                1,734 Feet
                                                    
    Lap 2 Map and Profile:

                      17 Miles                379 Feet  

    Lap 3 Map and Profile:

                     55 Miles                2,708 Feet

     Display of all Salton Sea Century Maps:  Click here

Registration:

Registration now open!

We encourage all riders to register early and SAVE BIG!

• Concerned about committing early? Please visit our Refund, Rollover and Transfer Policy

Payment by Credit card entries: processed online through Active.com. Riders receive a confirmation email from Active.com when their entry has processed successfully. For riders without computers, call Active.com Customer Service at 1-877-228-4881 to register by phone.

Payment by Check entries: download the registration form complete, sign and mail with check.

IMPORTANT EMAIL & SPAM NOTICE: All our rider correspondence is through email. Please insure we always have a valid email for you or a friend who can relay messages to you. Additionally, be sure your spam filter allows inbound email from these two sources:

support "@" active.com AND support "@" shadowtour.com

Regrettably, we cannot verify bounced emails from spam filters requiring the sender (us) to actively respond (type a response). We are not responsible for missed emails caused by rider spam filters. We understand and support controls of unwanted spam. However, with thousands of emails to our riders, it is impossible for us to individually respond to these kinds of active response spam filters.

Team Time Trial:

ST Promotions is rolling out a special challenge for Salton Sea Century riders: The Individual and 4-Person "Ultimate 100-mile Team Time Trial" (TTT) . In the spirit of epic events like Furnace Creek 508 , Fireweed 400 , Tour De France , and Race Across America (RAAM) , we have created our own TTT format. This is not a relay, all four members of each team ride together in a single, safe, paceline, from start to finish. The Fireweed 400 motto sums it up best: "Safety first, Fun second, Success third."

The Salton Sea Century Ultimate 100-mile TTT requires teams to strategize, work together, ride safely, and handle all Mother Nature's most wicked wildcards. For a few well-prepared teams, this promises to be a worthy platform for an exciting monster day in the saddle, that can likely rank as one of the most memorable events of a riding career. Make no mistake, despite the perceived gentleness of this low desert course, a full-speed, 100-mile Team Time Trial in desert heat and wind will be beyond difficult for teams wishing to test their limits. Prepare carefully, train well in advance as a team, practice smooth team paceline rotations, work out rehydration strategies, rehearse "plan B's", and above all, ride safely!

Salton Sea Century TTT Divisions:

Club Men Four Rider (4 men, same club, active members) (average age 20+, 30+, 40+, 50+, 60+)
Club Women Four Rider (4 women, same club, active members) (average age 20+, 30+, 40+, 50+, 60+)
Open Men Four Rider (4 men or 3 men + 1 woman) (average age 20+, 30+, 40+, 50+, 60+)
Open Women Four Rider (4 women or 3 women + 1 man) (average 20+, 30+, 40+, 50+, 60+)
Open Mixed Four Rider (2 men + 2 women) (average age 20+, 30+, 40+, 50+, 60+)
Tandem Open (2 men, 2 women, or mixed) (average age 20+, 30+, 40+, 50+, 60+)

TTT Team Roster Form Click here

TTT Rules:   Click here

TTT Results and Records: Click here

Registration Categories:

2010 Registration Notes:

1. Ride takes place rain or shine, wind, heat, or cold
2. Refunds, Transfers, and Exchanges are permitted per Shadow Tour/ST Promotions Policy
3. Postride Meal at Christmas Circle is included with all ride distances 
4. Jerseys:   Riders purchasing Jerseys by Aug 26, '10 will receive them at packet pickup. After 
   Aug 26, '10, riders purchasing jerseys are part of the 2^nd Production Run.  Jerseys will
   be mailed in mid Dec, '10.
5. T-shirts:   Riders purchasing T-shirts will receive them at packet pick up.  Refunds will be issued
   if sizes run out 
6. All riders register as individuals, online or by mail, this includes tandems, teams, and clubs
7. Ultimate Individual and Team 100-mile 4-person Time Trial is optional. No additional fee.

Lodging Alliances with The Salton Sea Century

Website

        Host Hotel
        Special Rates Available
        for rooms and RV's

        221 Palm Canyon Drive
        Borrego Springs, CA  92004

        800-242-0044
        Fax:  760-767-4073

        1112 Tilting T Drive
        PO Box 981
        Borrego Springs, CA
        92004

        888-826-7734

405 Palm Canyon Drive
Borrego Springs, CA 92004-2421

800-333-5810

Enjoy pre-ride warm-ups or post-ride recovery in Borrego Springs' premium desert inn.

Call 1-800-333-5810 to make reservations

Ask about Special Rider Promotion:  Stay 2 nights, get a 3rd night FREE!  Book Fri + Sat and add Thu or Sun for free.  Be sure to mention Salton Sea Century.

2255 DiGiorgio Road
PO Box 70
Borrego Springs, CA 92004

1-866-330-0003

The Springs was recently awarded Woodall's highest 5W rating, placing it in the top 3% of RV parks nationwide for both facilities and recreation!

Rental RV's available!