A WORD OF CAUTION: This challenging 100 mile route features beautiful scenery, but also has sections of bad pavement, steep climbs and twisty descents. If that doesn’t sound like fun to you, please register for the Avenue of the Giants 100K ride.
RIDE DESCRIPTION: The ride starts out easy enough, with a relatively flat run south from Ferndale to Humboldt Redwoods State Park. After about 30 miles, the route turns west under Highway 101 onto Bull Creek Flats Road. In 2017, this historically potholed road was repaved and remained in good shape until January of 2023, when the earth shifted and heaved under the asphalt about 1.5 miles east of Hwy 101. The damaged section has been replaced with 1/4 mile of gravel. But never mind the blemished road surface, the redwoods along this gently rolling road are still stunning. After the redwoods, things get serious when riders begin the seven mile climb up to Panther Gap, the high point of the ride at 2700 feet of elevation. And the adventure truly starts on the downhill to Honeydew followed by the trip north through the wild and scenic Mattole Valley. Rough pavement (including a few more stretches of gravel), the inevitable headwind along the coast, and the formidable Wall and Endless Hills which stand between tired legs and the finish line, make this one of California’s toughest 100 mile courses.
REST STOPS will be at the following locations and times:
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- Rio Dell Volunteer Fire Department, Mile 13.5, opens at 7:30am
- Dyerville Overlook parking lot, Mile 31, opens at 8:15am
- Mattole Grange, Mile 61, open from 10am until 1pm
- Capetown, Mile 83, open from 11am until 3:30pm
Due to the distance and difficulty of terrain between rest stops, riders are advised carry two water bottles and resupply with pocket food at each rest stop.
CUT OFF TIME: Riders must be able to finish by 6:00 pm. Riders who are not on pace to finish by 6:00 pm must board a SAG vehicle when directed to do so by the ride staff. This means that 100 mile riders must reach the Capetown rest stop by the cut off time of 4pm. There will be no SAG support on the course between Capetown and Ferndale after 5pm.
PRO TIP: To reduce suffering, we recommend installing a pair of 28c (or wider) tires with tough sidewalls on a sturdy set of rims. Check your brake pads (or bring disc brakes), and make sure your gearing is adequate for the steep climbs.
REGISTRATION FEE: Reg fee is $100 until Sept 1st, when it increases to $120 until on line registration closes on Sept 13th. There will be no on site registration.
CHECK IN AND START TIMES: Check in for this ride starts at 6:15am. There will be a mass start at 7am. Riders who need extra time in order to finish by 6pm may start as early as 6:30am.