The Tour of the Unknown Coast is a fantastic early season century bike ride. The event starts in Ferndale and delivers one of the most scenic and difficult rides you’ll find anywhere. Highlights include the Avenue of the Giants, Panther Gap, the Mattole Valley, and the infamous ”Wall”. If that’s not enough, you then meet the “Endless Hills” before descending back into Ferndale.
California’s Toughest Century Bike Ride
You will have ridden one of the world’s toughest 100 mile courses when you complete this great ride. It packs 9,400 feet of climbing in, much of it over the final 20 miles. Your day starts out with mostly gentle rollers and a beautiful stretch through the Avenue of the Giants. There are plenty of fully-stocked rest stops for refueling and support. The first big climb comes 40 miles into the ride with a 6.8 mile ascent of Panther Gap Ridge.
After a lunch stop at 63 miles, you head toward the coast on rural roads. Turning north at the coast, you are often greeted with a hefty head wind for the next nine miles. Finding friends to draft with is a incredibly smart move at this point.
The Wall – 1 mile Climb of 18-22% Grade
Here you are at mile 81. Take a deep breath, gear down and settle in for The Wall. You can do it. My memory is a bit vague here but I do remember thinking that the Endless Hills which follow The Wall were more difficult. Regardless, it’s one heck of a way to top off an amazing bike ride.
Here are a few highlights
- Outstanding support
- Beautiful scenery
- Great food – including an actual lunch
- Low traffic roads
- Amazing climbs
- Huge post-ride endorphins
- And to top it off, the ride fee includes a great post-ride meal.
Official Web site: tuccycle.org
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