Compare Century Rides

Ride Name Distances     Elevation Difficulty Field Size Weather

Winter Stagecoach

Last update
2-1-08

100 miles
90 miles
84 miles
75 miles
50 miles 
26 miles 

Rider Option Distance: (out-and-back route)

4-Person
Team Time Trial Option

56 mile Option for Triathletes
112 mi Option for Ironman riders

4,685 Ft

Using Garmin GPS

Moderately Difficult

Dependent on weather conditions.

2005: 177

2006: 1,250

2007: 1,044

2008:  723

Desert Riding:  Always respect Mother Nature in the desert.  Prepare for a wide variety of conditions, even on a single ride.  Always top off water bottles.  Carry extra clothes such as arm warmers, full finger gloves, vest, and toe covers.  Wind, heat, cold, rain, and sunny conditions can be present.  When in doubt, prepare for the worst.

Normal:  Early morning winds neutral to frontal to turnaround.  Winds at your back on return.  Temps 50's - 60's F.

Unusual cold temps can be 30's - 40's F. Unusual hot temps can be 70's - 90's F.

 

The original Stagecoach Century.  Kick off your New Year with a flexible out-and-back route, allowing riders to select their own distance, based on weather conditions and fitness levels.  Very low traffic on Route S2 offers miles of exceptional desert views with only one Stop Sign.  Starting at 471 ft elevation and rising to 2,667 ft near the turn-around, the vistas are diverse all along the course.  The return ride from Shelter Valley is mostly downhill and usually wind-aided for a speedy return to the Start/Finish in Ocotillo.  This ride is fortunate to have outstanding community support from the residents of Ocotillo in the South and Shelter Valley in the North/turn-around.  Inbetween, Rest Stops are professionally staffed by veteran cyclists/volunteers from San Diego Knickerbikers & San Diego Century Riders, volunteers from area Optimists International, and great friends and family members of the Shadow Tour organizers.

Spring Stagecoach

Last update
2-1-08

100 miles
90 miles
84 miles
75 miles
50 miles
25 miles 

Rider Option Distance: (out-and- back route)

4-Person
Team Time Trial Option

56 mile Option for Triathletes
112 mi Option for Ironman riders

4,685 Ft

Using Garmin GPS

Moderately Difficult

Dependent on weather conditions.

First Year

 

Desert Riding:  Always respect Mother Nature in the desert.  Prepare for a wide variety of conditions, even on a single ride.  Always top off water bottles.  Carry extra clothes such as arm warmers, full finger gloves, vest, and toe covers.  Wind, heat, cold, rain, and sunny conditions can be present.  When in doubt, prepare for the worst.

Normal:  Early morning winds neutral to frontal to turnaround.  Winds at your back on return.  Temps 80's - 90's F.

Unusual cold temps can be 30's - 40's F. Unusual hot temps can be 90 - lo 100's F.

 

Spring version of the original Stagecoach Century.  The route is unchanged, using an out-and-back format, which allows riders to select their distance based on weather conditions and fitness levels.  Low traffic on Route S2 offers miles of exceptional desert views.  Starting at 471 ft elevation and rising to about 2,600 ft near the turn-around, the vistas are widely varied along the entire course.  The return ride is downhill and generally wind-aided for a fast return to the Start/Finish in Ocotillo.

Salton Sea

Last update
10-14-07

 

100 miles

72 miles

52 miles

25 miles

17 miles

4-Person
Team Time Trial Option

4,404 Ft

Using Garmin GPS

Easy to Average Difficulty

Excellent beginner ride

Dependent on weather conditions.

First Year

Desert Riding:  Always respect Mother Nature in the desert.  Prepare for a wide variety of conditions, even on a single ride.  Always top off water bottles.  Carry extra clothes such as arm warmers, full finger gloves, vest, and toe covers.  Wind, heat, cold, rain, and sunny conditions can be present.  When in doubt, prepare for the worst.

Normal:  Expect wind and temps to pick up in the afternoon, otherwise, nice conditions. 

Unusual cold temps can be 30's - 40's F. Unusual hot temps can be 90 - lo 100's F.

  An ideal end of season ride for veterans, or for teams, consider the "Ultimate 100 mile four person Team Time Trial."  This is a perfect choice for a first-ever century rider.  The Salton Sea Century offers several distance options with full support.  A 17 mile loop around Borrego Springs returns to the Start/Finish at Christmas Circle.   Next, riders head out-and-back to the Salton Sea, again, returning to Christmas Circle at approximately 72 miles (or 52 for Half Century riders).  The last section, for century riders, presents more elevation.  It begins by heading out toward Highway 78, passing through and returning to the 'Hot Corner'.  Next, it's a 5.0 mile climb to the Yuqui Pass Summit, elevation 1750 feet, before returning to the Start/Finish to round out the 100 mile route.