Conference noted::bicycle

< Note 867.0 by UMBIKE::KLASMAN >
                            -< Century Mania Month >-

I'll start it off.

Saturday, 9/10:  NVP Fall Century, Groton Mass.  
                 6:03 for 97.5m (by my computer, 102+ by their route sheet).  

   A very scenic route, quiet roads, tho VERY bumpy in sections with about a 
   million turns.  Very well marked tho...I rarely looked at the cue sheet.  
   Small turnout. 

Sunday, 9/11: The Flattest Century in the East (TFCE), Tiverton, Rhode Island.  
              5:08 for 100.26m (again by my computer; 101.9m by cue sheet).  

   Another pretty route, tho I didn't spend much time noticing the scenery.  
   I was trying to break 5:00, and rode hard from the start.  Since this one 
   had an enormous turnout (1600 riders last year) I only had to follow riders 
   up ahead, no cue sheet needed.  Roads were also well marked.  This is not 
   as flat as implied by the title; I'd consider it rather rolling, tho gently. 
   I'd thing the GSW Seacoast C would be flatter (I'll report on that one next 
   week).  A good course to ride fast on, except that the large number of 
   riders makes for a somewhat congested course.  I started late and there 
   were no large groups...just a bunch of small groups oftentimes taking up 
   the entire lane (or road).  A 5 minute stop at the first checkpoint/water 
   stop, a couple of stop lights and a rather stiff wind over the last 50m 
   kept me from my goal.  But I still PR'd!  I can't wait until next year...if 
   I haven't broken 5 hrs by then, I'm sure I'll do it here next year.

Ed Fisher also rode multiple C's last weekend...I'll let him post his own 
story. 

A non-DEC friend, Paul Morrisette, also rode both C's last weekend, riding 
approx 6:4? at NVP (he added about 12m due to wrong turns) and broke 6 hrs at 
TFCE.

Next up: GSW Seacoast C in Hampton, NH on 9/17-9/18 and CRW in Newton Mass on
9/18. 

    Well, I only wish I had the time to do several centuries... my wife
    has plans for me every other weekend this month (sigh).  Anyway,
    last Sunday I did the Harmon Hundred out of Wheeling, Il.  Pretty
    flat through some nice farm country once we cleared the Chicago
    suburbs.  We rode through some of the Northwest suburbs out into
    McHenry County, going out just west of Woodstock Illinois.
    	I was with a guy doing his first century, so we held the pace
    down, finishing in 6:54.  Not that I'm all that experienced; this
    was only my second century.  Anyway, it was really fun, the slow
    pace meant that I was strong all the way through....got some dirty
    looks from other riders when I was still sprinting up hills at 90+
    miles into the ride.  I tried an energy drink this time on the ride
    and found it really very effective.  On my next century, I hope
    to break 5:30 (my first century this spring, I did 5:57).

Sunday, 9/11: Pioneer Valley Century - Hadley Mass.  
              4 Hrs 50min ( by cateye) 99 miles by the map we did an extra 1mi.

   Very pretty route, also flatter than Tiverton. I didn't spend much time
noticing the scenery. I was riding with a group of Worcester Road Club riders
and some DEC rider who were out trying to break 5:00, and rode hard from the
start. This one had turnout of approx 30 riders.

Roads were well marked. A good course to ride fast on. We  started late and
there were no large groups...just a few riders, alone mostly.

Some data, our running clock time was approx. 4 hrs 50 min.
Our running clock average speed was 20.67 mph.

Not counting the two stops we made, our on the bike time was 4 hrs 33 min. Our 
average on the bike speed was 22 mph. No wonder my legs feel tired Monday!



/Chas

    I rode TFCE on Sunday.  I was riding with my cousin and it was his
    first C, so the pace was pretty easy (we finished under 6hrs). 
    I saw Kevin blow by me at 90 miles.  I yelled his name but he was
    gone.  At least I think it was the UM Man.
    
    Kevin, was that you on the blue bike with the funky handle bars???
    
    Phil

I will be riding the Bud Light MS ride this Sunday. It starts out in Charlton
I goes --> ?. There are 25, 50, and 100 mile loops. I hope to do the 100.
This will be my first century so I'm a bit wary. My longest ride this year was
the 80 some miles the first day of the great mass getaway. Anybody else riding
this weekend?? How the terrain anyway? I will be groing with 4 others so I
can make sure no one plans a suprise attack from the REAR :-). I hope to do
it in around 6 hours - severly wind aided.

Hope to see some of you there.
Mano

< Note 867.4 by USMRM2::PJOHNSON >

>    I saw Kevin blow by me at 90 miles.  I yelled his name but he was
>    gone.  At least I think it was the UM Man.
>    Kevin, was that you on the blue bike with the funky handle bars???
    
Probably was me, but at 90m I was fading fast.  I completely lost it on the 
last hill with about 2m to go.  For a moment I thought I'd ACTUALLY HAVE TO 
GET OFF THE BIKE!!!  But I didn't.  Sorry I was so anti-social (if I was...I 
don't remember anything but the wind).  When I'm in hammer mode I don't pay 
attention to anything but me, the bike, and the road.  (Somewhere near the end 
I dropped my hammer...did you see it anywhere? :^)

re .3:

Nice time Charlie!  Flatter than TFCE?  I've done several routes this year 
that were flatter than TFCE.  That's definitely a case of false advertising.  
Were you guys drafting?  Was the other DEC rider Russ Holden?

Anybody doing the GSW Seacoast and/or CRW C's this weekend?

Kevin

    	I'm a bit awed by the times that I've seen in this note.  I
    would like to assure novice riders that sub-7 hours is NOT keeping
    the pace down and that many people will Never get below 6 hours
    for a Century.  In fact, the typical club rider (does 30 to 40 mile
    rides on the weekends, 10 to 20 mile rides evenings in the summer,
    no time trials or other fast/competitive stuff) will take closer
    to 8 or 9 hours to do a Century.  We typically allow for a minimum
    speed of 10 mph when we figure out when to close checkpoints.  So,
    don't get discoraged if you take 9 hours to do your first Century
    - just completing it is a terrific accomplishment!  - Chris

To Qualify for the LAW century patch, you need do the century in 12 
hours.  This allows most anyone to do it at your own pace, and 
pacing yourself is the key.  Don't push too hard in the beginning.

	~Mike

    ref:  .3  
    
    Flatter than TFCE?  I haven't done a flat anything all year.  Is
    it possible to enter the route info. here?  Over the next few weekends
    I'd like to enjoy some long leisurely rides - flat - and soak up some 
    nice New England scenery.
    
    Bob

    Your wish has already been fulfilled, just look at note 847.3. 
    I was told that the WRC riders went like bats out of hell on the
    ride and that they had a spill.  However, given the beauty of the
    countryside, the only way I'd seriously consider having to trade
    this countryside for watching someone's backside is if that someone's
    Ann Margret!
    
    Alfonso
    

    ref .10
    
    Sorry, I didn't make the connection with 847.3.  I already have
    that route set aside for one of my fall rides.  
    
    Any others?
    
    Bob

< Note 867.0 by UMBIKE::KLASMAN >
                            -< Century Mania Month >-

Saturday, 9/17: GSW Seacoast Century, Hampton, NH.
                5:41 for 102m.

   Very scenic route as it rides along the ocean most of the way.  A few 
   unpleasant steel grate bridges, one of which gave me a flat.  Took 20:00 to 
   change...at that point I wasn't hurrying.  Once I got back on the bike and 
   picked up a tailwind, started riding hard, trying get a good time despite 
   the flat.  Had some traffic problems with sightseers near the turnaround in 
   Maine, and of course, the tailwind became a headwind and seemed to 
   strenthed on the way back.  Fortunately, no hills, so I just had to fight 
   the wind.

Sunday, 9/18: CRW Fall Century, Newton, Ma.
              5:52 for 97m (100 on que sheet).

   A nice, rather hilly route, especially after we got out into the country.
   Rather big climbs into Purgatory Chasm in Sutton Ma.  Another well marked 
   route...the local clubs do a great job!  Rode with a couple of friends and 
   occasionally others.  Took it easy, was mainly interested in how my legs 
   would feel after a hard one yesterday.  Felt good, climbed well, could have 
   gone faster, but was glad I was trying. A social ride, for a change.


Next up:  Does anyone know of a New England Century for next Sat 9/24?  If I
can't find one nearby, its off to New Jersey for a Sat C followed by the 7 
Hills Wheelman C on Sunday in Spencer, Ma.  I'm also looking for C's in 
October.  I understand there's the North Shore C on 10/9.

    I agree with Kevin that the CRW Century was a pretty good one. 
    Frankly I didn't expect the ride to be as nice given that it goes
    through fairly residential, rather than rural, towns.  Well, it
    was pretty nice and the route was well marked.  Some hills, mostly
    in the middle of the trip, but good camraderie and treats at the
    end (after 100 mi., even Alpo is a treat!)
    
    I rode with a pack of about 25 that started thinning out as we
    approached Purgatory Chasm to about 8-10.  The pack further thinned
    as we went through Milford and Hopkinton to 3 and we arrived at
    5:05 (4:49 excluding the water stop).  All in all, it was fun, the
    only pity is that the pack thinned out as time went by.  The CRW
    should be praised - they did a great job overall.  I will say that
    the time I did was good because the only thing on my mind during
    the ride was that it was my wife's birthday and that I'd better get home
    pronto!
    
    Alfonso
    

< Note 867.0 by UMBIKE::KLASMAN >
                            -< Century Mania Month >-

Saturday, 9/24: Jersey Devil Century, Centerton, New Jersey.
                6:11 for 97.5m (on my computer).

   A flat, pleasant course, that promised to be fast, if one wanted to go 
   fast.  Roads were fairly quiet and mostly smooth, with a few very rough 
   sections and one gravel section to keep you awake.  A figure-8 course with 
   start/finish at the intersection; both loops about 50m.  The wind picked up 
   near the end of the 1st loop and continued thruout the remaining distance.  
   Ed and I just cruised thru this one, with a 10:00 flat fixing stop and a 
   long break at the halfway point (being tempted by the smell of the hotdogs 
   being offered for lunch!).  The most notable thing about this one is the 
   local riders penchant for wearing pro team jersies.

Sunday, 9/25: 7 Hills Wheelman Fall Century, Spencer, Ma.
              4:59:52 for 99m (100 on que sheet).  Solo!  PR!!

   I love this course!  Its rather hilly, but not mountainous.  This was to be 
   my last attempt this year to break 5 hrs, and I went hard from the 
   beginning.  Got there late and started a hour behind most everyone else.  
   But that's ok, I like to chase.  Rode the first 25m at 22mph and passed the 
   first of many riders a few miles later.  The uphills began shortly 
   thereafter, and my average began to drop.  Passed Ed at about 57m, who had 
   challenged my to catch him, and by 75m my average had dropped to 20.4 mph.
   After a 2:00 stop to sign in and fill my bottles, I was off again, now on 
   what seems to be the hilliest part of the course.  And I really suffered on 
   those hills, both physically and mentally, watching the time slip away.  My 
   legs were really spent (I don't think I ate enough).  As I took the final 
   turn, with less than 1/2 mile to go, I check the time and saw that I still 
   had a chance. Somewhere I found some strength, and managed to make the 
   finish in just under 5 hours.  Most people found to course to be about a 
   mile short, so I guess I missed my goal.  But that's close enough...I'll 
   take it. But I'll be back next year, looking for at least a 4:45.

Next up:  A trip to Ohio for two more centuries this weekend.

    The Seven Hills Wheelmen course, if followed by the arrows (their
    is one turn that is easy to miss at the 65 mile point) should be
    100 miles.  This course has been used multiple times by SHW.  
    Your sub five hour century is real.
    
    steve

    	I just told my wife that a guy at work was in New Jersey
    last weekend doing centuries and that he was going to Ohio this
    weekend to do a couple more.  She thought that was great until
    I mentioned that I might also like to do something like that.
    She then reminded me about the lawn, the kids, the garage,
    the deck, etc., etc. ..... go for it Kev.....while you can!
    
    						Jerry

    re: .16
    
    DITTO

< Note 867.16 by AIMHI::JSMITH "Bikes Spoke_n Here" >
                       -< Do Domestic Centuries Count? >-

>    the deck, etc., etc. ..... go for it Kev.....while you can!
    
I know what you're thinking, Jerry... Maybe (hopefully?) next year Lisa and I 
will be doing this kind of stuff together, maybe even on a tandem!  After all,
she's just become a UMCA member, too! 

Kevin

< Note 867.0 by UMBIKE::KLASMAN >
                            -< Century Mania Month >-

Alas, I couldn't get away from work last Friday, so Ohio was out.  Instead, Ed 
and I went back to New Jersey for a C on Saturday.

Saturday, 10/1: Huntington's Disease Benefit Tour, North Branch, New Jersey.
                7:18 for 103.5m.

   This ride had a rather inauspicious beginning.  By 7m, Ed had broken a 
   spoke and I had hit a small pothole and flatted both tires.  27 minutes 
   later, after fixing both flats and patching one tube, we were riding again. 
   The ride was advertised as very hilly (I found this out HALFWAY thru the 
   ride) but NJ can't be very hilly, can it?  I found out... this one was 
   constantly going up and down, rather steeply, too.  The roads were tight 
   and twisting enough so you couldn't let it fly on the downhills.  We 
   rounded one downhill corner to find several riders stopped and an ambulance 
   hauling a couple of riders away.  In several spots it seemed as tho we'd 
   gone thru some sort of 'geography warp'.  I couldn't believe the hills.  
   What the course designer had done was route us across the grain of a number 
   of very steep ridges.  I got to the point of not wanting to descend, 
   fearing the inevitable climb up out of the valley.  It made for a rather 
   long, tiring day.  I'm glad I didn't start out fast on this one.

   On the positive side, it was a pretty ride, mostly.  There were a few river 
   valleys we rode thru (briefly) and the leaves had already begun to change.  
   Quiet roads, too.  And tho the morning was foggy and cool, by noon the sun 
   was out and it got quite warm.  Other than the repair stop at 7m, we spent 
   only 5-10 minutes off the bike, getting water and removing extra clothes as 
   the day warmed up.

   This was probably the hilliest non-mountain ride ride I've ever done.  If 
   you want a challenge, this is a good one!

There were no centuries scheduled within a day's drive, so I broke my streak 
of 2 C's a weekend (had 3 in a row, was going for 5 in a row).  However, 
there's always next week...

Next up:  A trip to Ohio for two more centuries this weekend.  This one we 
should be able to get in.  I'd better... its the last weekend that I know of 
where this is possible.

    I had a real nice ride last weekend (9/25) in Vermont.  It was called
    the Double Gap Century.  Great weather, beautiful scenery, nice
    roads, and a challenging course.
    
    I don't remember the route #'s but we made a big circle from Mt.
    Pelier.  The route was rolling hills, except for Middlebury Gap and 
    Appalacian Gap.  Both gaps were about 4 mile climbs (App Gap was
    steeper).  I have no idea of the elevation gain.  If anyone out
    there is familiar with these gaps, I'd be interested to know the
    elevations.  The total distance was 108 miles and the course was a 
    real treat compared to some of the roads around here.
    
    Phil

>>>< Note 867.20 by USMRM2::PJOHNSON >
>>>                            -< Double Gap Century >-


Who sponsered the Double Gap Century? 


Just curious,

JC

    I'm not sure who sponsored the Century.  The one I recently rode
    was unsponsored.  The sponsored ride was held the previous week
    and started in Burlington, Vt.
    
    Phil

The reason I asked is that my father is an active member of the Green 
Mountain Bicycle Club. They have sponsered many rides and this one 
sounded familiar. It sounded like a great ride, just like something my 
father would think up. His idea of fun is to do a loop from Burlington 
through Smugglers Notch one weekend. Then do a loop from Burlington 
through the Appilachian Gap the next. Both are over 90 mile rides. I 
survived, barely. Oh, he likes to do this in May, before we have even 
ridden 200 miles yet in the season.....

I have had some great rides with him,


JC

< Note 867.0 by UMBIKE::KLASMAN >
                            -< Century Mania Month >-

Alas, neither Ed nor I could get psyched about driving to Ohio for 2 C's in 
marginal weather, so we wimped out, stayed home and only rode one this 
weekend.

Sunday, 10/9: Annual North Shore Cyclists Century, Beverly, Ma.
                7:29 for 100.

   We almost wimped out and skipped this one, due to the ice covering 
   everything at 6am.  However, we talked ourselves into going, (I had to hack 
   the ice off of my roof rack!) and drove down to Beverly, being very careful 
   due to the slick roads.  Saw at least 2 ice-induced accidents on the way 
   down.  Temp at the start was probably mid to high 30's, climbing to around 
   50 during the day.

   This is a beatiful route!  Up along the seacoast on rt 127, around 
   Gloucester, where we saw very large breakers (surfs up!), up to 
   Newburyport, then along the Merrimack River valley, finally returning to 
   Beverly.  Roads were mostly quiet, with a few notable exceptions, and the 
   scenery was great.  I had no trouble keeping myself entertained while 
   riding slowly, which we did.  It was rather windy most of the way, but I 
   didn't worry about it.


And so ends Century Mania month, 1988.  Final score: 8 centuries in 5 weeks. 
Not quite the 10 I had planned, but I'll take it.  This time last year I had
only done one (my first ever).  The weather was quite cooperative... remember
last September? 

ps.  One silver lining to the greenhouse effect cloud:  For us in New England, 
a longer outdoor cycling season.

    
>ps.  One silver lining to the greenhouse effect cloud:  For us in New England, 
>a longer outdoor cycling season.

    Rumor has it that the Vermont Tourist Board has bought huge quantities
    of Freon in the past few years...