Death Ride Training (Tour of the California Alps)
Conquer five mountain passes and 15,000+ feet of climbing. Train for the Death Ride with VO₂ max testing in Santa Cruz-get precise power zones for one of California's toughest cycling challenges.
The Death Ride (officially the Tour of the California Alps) is a legendary single-day cycling event covering 129 miles and 15,000+ feet of climbing across five Sierra Nevada mountain passes. It's not called the Death Ride for nothing.
You'll climb Monitor Pass, Ebbetts Pass (twice), and more-all at altitude ranging from 5,000 to 8,700 feet. VO₂ max testing at sea level provides a baseline to calculate altitude-adjusted power zones and prepare for the extreme demands.
Riders must complete each pass within cutoff times or face being pulled from the course. Proper pacing based on your physiological limits is essential.
Sustained Climbing Power: Zone 2-3 power you can maintain for 1-2 hour climbs without blowing up.
Altitude-Adjusted Zones: Account for 20-30% power reduction at altitude when setting targets.
All-Day Endurance: Base zone for flat sections between climbs to conserve energy.
Descent Recovery: Know your recovery heart rate on downhills to prepare for the next climb.
The Death Ride typically occurs in mid-July:
March/April: Initial VO₂ max test to establish base training zones for 12-16 week preparation.
May/June: Mid-training retest to verify climbing fitness adaptations and adjust power zones.
Late June: Final test to confirm your readiness and set altitude-adjusted race day power targets.
Testing at sea level in Santa Cruz provides your baseline VO₂ max and power zones. From there:
- Calculate altitude-adjusted zones for Monitor/Ebbetts Pass elevations
- Understand your power drop-off at 7,000-8,000+ feet
- Set realistic pacing for each climb
- Know when to push and when to hold back
- Plan nutrition and hydration based on effort zones
Sport-Specific Data: Testing on a bike (not treadmill or rower) gives you power numbers directly applicable to cycling.
Position Matching: The KICKR Bike adjusts to match your road bike position exactly, ensuring accurate results.
Power Meter Integration: Results translate directly to your bike's power meter for training and race day.
While Santa Cruz can't match Sierra altitude, it offers excellent climbing training:
- Empire Grade: 2,000+ foot climbs for sustained power work
- Bonny Doon Climbs: Repeated hill work at threshold
- Alba Road: Steep gradient training
- Highway 9 to Skyline: Long sustained climbing
Based on your VO₂ max results, you'll know:
- Your maximum sustainable climbing power for 1-2 hours
- How to pace each of the five passes to make cutoffs
- When you can push harder vs. when to conserve
- Whether attempting all five passes is realistic for your current fitness
- What training focus will best prepare you
Fit Evaluations
311 Soquel Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Contact:
Phone: 831-400-9227
Email: info@fitevals.com
Test in Santa Cruz on the Wahoo KICKR Bike. Prepare for California's ultimate cycling challenge: 129 miles, 15,000 feet of climbing.
Survive the Death Ride
Book your cycling VO₂ max test and prepare for California's ultimate climbing challenge.
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💀 Death Ride Reality Check
The Death Ride has a high DNF (Did Not Finish) rate. Many riders start too hard on the first climbs and blow up by pass three or four. VO₂ max testing takes emotion out of pacing-you'll know exactly what power you can sustain all day at altitude. This isn't about crushing the first climb; it's about finishing all five. Data beats bravado in the Sierra Nevada.