The Hard COEre 100
100 miles and 20,000 feet of climbing.
New: the 2012 edition will (provisionally) take place Saturday 2012/10/6, 6am.
Update: the 2012 edition is on!
Also, check out this article on the 2011 edition and the Everest challenge in the current issue (#14) of the awesome XXCMag.com; there is a free web preview and it can be purchased for $2.25 (digital download) or $11.45 (print version).
2011 changes
The route is essentially the same as last year, with one small modification: Phoneline trail has been included, a fun singletrack that bypasses some uninspiring section of the Coit fireroad. The gpx file, cue sheet as well as route description have been updated. Due to the short notice and the fact that it is a very minor change (the new course will add a tiny bit of climbing and time), both the old course as well as the new one will be accepted for finishers. The date and time of the group start is 2011/10/1, 6am, Hunting Hollow.
No entry fee, no prizes, no support.
The Hard COEre 100 is an unofficial 100 mile mountain bike challenge taking place in Henry Coe State Park near Gilroy, California. This is not an organized race or sanctioned event. It is similar in format and spirit to events such as the AZTR 300/750 and other self-supported events.
All that is provided is a route, a suggested start time and tabulation of "results". There is no race organization, no checkpoints, no support system, nothing. You are completely on your own. The route description page contains a few tips with regards to logistics (water etc) and timing (the aim is to finish in one day).
You're welcome to ride the route at any time. We* provide a suggested start date if you want others to ride with/against. ITTs (individual time trials) will be ranked with the current year's results. If you want to be included in the results you need to adhere to the park's regulations and the rules of self-supported travel as listed here. It is your responsibility to know, understand and follow these rules. We'll observe the honor system (i.e. we'll take you on your word with regards to traveled route, finishing time and such unless we have good reason not to - of course you're more than welcome to send us or post a recorded gpx file). You can contact us here if you have questions or comments.
(*) In case you're wondering: 'we' are a bunch of Coe nuts (Dirk/ElHombre from MTBGuru, Patrick/Ratpick and Roy/Plymmer)
There are no rewards for completing this, except for the immense sense of accomplishment you should feel, the fact that you've been able to enjoy the glorious beauty of this vast and underappreciated land and the infinite fame and bragging rights granted to you by having your name listed on this site!
The experienced endurance mountain biker may not be too impressed by the prospect of doing a 100-miler, but this is not an ordinary 100-miler. For starters, it consists of one big loop, with no laps or repeats, most of it in a remote near-wilderness hours away from civilization. It also features over 20,000 foot of total elevation gain (or, about 25% more than the harder NUE 100 mile races), on terrain and in conditions that can be brutal and unforgiving. The majority of trails in Coe weren't 'designed' or built with mountain biking in mind; they often consist of half-overgrown game trails, rocky creek beds, ridiculously steep fireroads and old horse carriage trails. But there's also plenty of buff and gorgeous singletrack to be found.
Finally, if you're a local, we'd encourage you to support the volunteer trail work, more info on trail work days and Coe rides in general can be found on the Norcal forum of mtbr.com (a quick search on 'Henry Coe' will yield a wealth of information).
