I hope you like climbing, cause this beautiful but tough ride's got plenty of it, particularly as about 90% of it is packed into the first 35 miles. After a 6 mile warm up out of the gate you come to the first two climbs; Malcolm Dixon and Dear Valley Roads. While these climbs are fairly brief (~ 2miles) and there are only short intervals of 8-10% pitches in otherwise 5-6% territory, they are two of the most popular segments on the local circuit. So, if you ride them to match or beat segment times, as I always do, they are plenty enough to take a chunk out of your lungs in the very early part of your ride. After dropping steeply down Jurgens Road to the bottom of a steep ravine and fording Weber Creek on foot, the grinding variety climbing begins, starting with a short (mercifully) 17 to 20% pitch as you turn east on Luneman Road. There follows a 3.8 mile , 675 foot climb on Luneman road back up to Lotus Road (and very pretty). A few more rolling, pleasanat miles land you in Coloma. If you want to go north from Coloma there's no getting around climbing the canyon wall of the South Fork, and on this ride that means the always obnoxious Prospectors Road climb; 1,050 feet over 2.62 miles, pretty much 10 to 13% the whole damn way - and the centerpiece leg burner of this ride. I find it best not to look up too much going up this hill, it's just too shocking and depressing. That complete and feeling you deserve a break, you get to climb some more all the way up to Georgetown, another 720 feet in elevation over the next 6 miles; along a very pretty forested stretch of road however. There is a great Deli in the center of town, take advantage and refuel! I highly recommend the Spanish Dry Diggins Road and Sliger Mine Road diversions coming back down to Cool, rather than the typical, high-traffic volume, Georgetown Road (Rt 193). There are a couple of annoying 10% pitches on Spanish Dry Diggins, but these roads take you through some gorgeous small ravines and rolling hills dotted with well kept private homes, ranches, and vineyards. Southbound on Salmon-Falls Rd is not as tough as northbound, but still presents some challenges, especially after what your legs have already been through. The first two miles of Salmon Falls southbound is pretty much all up. Then you're rewarded with the wildly fun steep downhill sections, but then there is that 1 mile 8% climb after you cross the bridge at the bottom, and some more rollers all the way in to the finish. A tall ice coffee awaits at the finish. Go for it.