They don't call it the Death Ride for nothing!

PJAMM 2015

Death Ride: 5 for 5 - YEAH!

PJAMM’s Profile Tool

Click on “Profile Tool” just below “Full Summary” for interactive data.

DEATH RIDE RIDE STATS:

• 104.2 Miles
• 14,399’ gained (full ride)
• Gradient Review:

• 50% of the ride is at 0% elevation or is descending;
• 23.9% at 0-5%
• 21.9% at 5-10%
• 3.7% at 10-15%
• < 1% at 15-20%

• Steepest segments:

• ¼ mile = 12.5% on Ebbetts Pass West
• ½ mile = 11% on Monitor Pass East
• 1 mile = 10% on Monitor Pass East

• Climbs ranked by difficulty (in PJAMM’s experience and opinion)

• Monitor East
• Ebbetts East
• Monitor West
• Ebbetts West
• Pacific Grade

Five passes (you go over Monitor and Ebbets twice).

The Death Ride is an extremely challenging yet fun event.  It is very well organized and in our three times participating, we have never had any form of bad experience - it’s all good . . . well, except for 127 miles and 15,000’ of climbing in one day - OUCH!

INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT FACTS:

• 2021 Is the 40th Anniversary of the Death Ride
• This was a timed race until 1987
• This event began as gathering of 17 friends looking for a challenge.
• Check in from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday before the ride, or beginning at 4:00 a.m. the morning of the event.
• The official start time is 5 a.m. or later (but, many people begin earlier)
• You must be off the course by 6:30 p.m.
• Ice cream this year is at the end, as the customary ice cream spot was Carson Pass.
• KOM for Death Ride 2021 Route: Peter Stetina at 5:15:45 (Strava Page).

HERE ARE YOUR OPTIONS

START

The ride begins at Turtle Rock - early!

Nice pancake and egg breakfast.

Bring your lights and a windvest/jacket.

MONITOR WEST

Ride 8.2 miles gaining 2,648’ at 6.1% average grade.

PJAMM CYCLING’S PROFILE TOOL

This will be the easiest of the day because it is first, and fairly mild with a consistent 6% average grade.

Start.

Monitor Pass.

MONITOR PASS EAST

Ride 9.5 miles gaining 3,261’ at 6.5% average grade.

PJAMM CYCLING’S PROFILE TOOL

This is the hardest climb of them all and a Top 100 US bike climb.  It is a grueling 9.5 miles at 6.7% average grade.  You will be ascending in the early morning so the temperatures, which can be stifling in the afternoon in the summer, will be mild and manageable.

Bottom of Monitor East - Start of Climb #2.

Monitor Pass . . . again . . .

EBBETTS PASS EAST

Ride 11.4 miles gaining 2,951’ at 4.9% average grade.

PJAMM CYCLING’S PROFILE TOOL

It’s starting to hurt now.  This is the longest climb, and while only 5.2% grade, has some steep segments to it (e.g. half a mile at 9.9%).

The steepest segment (quarter-mile at 10.9%).

Ebbetts Pass.

PACIFIC GRADE

Ride 2.3 miles gaining 963’ at 7.9% average grade.

PJAMM CYCLING’S PROFILE TOOL

Pacific Grade is new to the Death Ride this year.  Carson Pass has been eliminated and replaced with Pacific Grade.  We feel this greatly improves the quality of the ride because Caron Pass is extremely busy with fast moving traffic and the west side of Ebbetts (including Pacific Grade) replacing it is much more scenic, peaceful, and quiet.

Cycling Pacific Summit

Ride 2.3 miles gaining 963’ at 7.9% average grade.

This is a fairly short climb but it packs a bit of a punch because the gradient is not uniform. Instead there are several steep sections, interspersed with shallower sections. It is difficult to get into a rhythm with the different slopes.  It might be tempting to just power through the steep sections, but slow and steady could be a better approach.

EBBETTS PASS WEST

Ride 5.2 miles gaining 1,654” at 6% average grade.

PJAMM CYCLING’S PROFILE TOOL

The fifth and final leg of the Death Ride is blessedly short at 5.2 miles (6% average grade).

Bottom of Ebbetts Pass West.

Ice cream at the finish!