Southern California - Your favorite century or organized ride?

I hate to say it cause this is California but Tour De Tucson! I've done that ride and it totally blows away all of the Cali centuries. I've done Solvang, Brawley,Tour de Cure Riverside, Amtrak, Ride Around the Bear, Cool Breeze, MS rides, Borrego to the Sea,Tour of Borrego, Palm Springs maybe a few others, and NONE of them compare to Tour de Tucson.

It's a different attitude towards cyclists out there! I even did Casa Grande metric in AZ and it was supported so much better than any of these rides. I mean cops stopping traffic at every intersection. Even Casa G had more than arrows painted on the ground and a rt slip. They had people in orange vests with orange flags telling you which way to turn.

Hmm, I 'm California born and raised but those AZ people got us beat!

Well for me, it was Tour De Tucson. What was your favorite and why?

If yu guys boot me out of here, I'm going straight to the AZ forum!:D

Good question! One of my favorites was the tour de borrego but there was like zero support. But it was beautiful. I also love the scripps ranch old pro ride every fourth of july. I'm really looking forward to hearing other opinions on local so cal rides!

Good question! One of my favorites was the tour de borrego but there was like zero support. But it was beautiful. I also love the scripps ranch old pro ride every fourth of july. I'm really looking forward to hearing other opinions on local so cal rides!

Yeah, that is a pretty area. I did TOB about 3 years ago. Was before the big rainy years. Was real nice out there! Maybe 2 yeas ago, I di B to the Seametric. It was purty too!

About 2 years ago, I had Gina do the tour alone. I just followed in the truck. Was a good thing. When we were leaving town, we took the S22(?). We ran into 3 riders on new bikes. One had a crooked back rim, the other had a flat and was out of tubes. I fixed up the rim. Fixed the flat, gave 'em my tubes and replaced the rim strip as it had moved. They were getting flat after flat and didn't know why. New bikes and newbies! That was a couple of years ago, I think if I hadn't have come by, they might still be out there!:D

It's a different attitude towards cyclists out there! I even did Casa Grande metric in AZ and it was supported so much better than any of these rides. I mean cops stopping traffic at every intersection. Even Casa G had more than arrows painted on the ground and a rt slip. They had people in orange vests with orange flags telling you which way to turn.

D

Is that the CG century in January? My family is in Az. and I've been thinking about that one because it starts a couple of blocks from my father in law's house and we'll probably be out there for the second week of winter break. I haven't seen that the dates have been released yet, but my only concern is that if it's held the same weekend as last year, I will have to have the kids back for school the next morning and driving home with three kids after riding a hundred isn't sounding like fun! :p

Hey Brandy! That is a different ride. That's a century. The ride I did in CG is a metric (62 miles). It's a great place to ride. Not much traffic. I remember going thru some small little town. People lined the streets and cheered as we rode by. It was a small run down old looking town, but heck, the clapping was great!:D

The ride I did was the first week of March if I remember correctly. I remeber getting confused with a few others in the forums as they spoke of the century and I the metric. I thought it was the same but they set me straight. I met 3 of the Bicycling forum members there.

I'm sure if this ride is great, the century in January is better. I remember the forum people saying thatthe century is much bigger than the metric I did.

Do it, I bet it's fun! Matter of fact, tell Mom and Dad I may drop in for the weekend! Don't you have a long lost brother named Mr. Beanz?:D

Hey Brandy! That is a different ride. That's a century. The ride I did in CG is a metric (62 miles). It's a great place to ride. Not much traffic. I remember going thru some small little town. People lined the streets and cheered as we rode by. It was a small run down old looking town, but heck, the clapping was great!:D

The ride I did was the first week of March if I remember correctly. I remeber getting confused with a few others in the forums as they spoke of the century and I the metric. I thought it was the same but they set me straight. I met 3 of the Bicycling forum members there.

I'm sure if this ride is great, the century in January is better. I remember the forum people saying thatthe century is much bigger than the metric I did.

Do it, I bet it's fun! Matter of fact, tell Mom and Dad I may drop in for the weekend! Don't you have a long lost brother named Mr. Beanz?:D

Oh...okay. The one in January offers a metric as well. That one goes from Chandler to Casa Grande and back. I wonder if the little town that you went through was Toltec? My in-laws lived there before they moved to Chandler because FIL worked in Phoenix and MIL worked in Tucson. BTW...if you showed up at my FIL's house, he would offer you a beer and invite you to spend the night. :eek: :D

Oh...okay. The one in January offers a metric as well. That one goes from Chandler to Casa Grande and back. I wonder if the little town that you went through was Toltec? My in-laws lived there before they moved to Chandler because FIL worked in Phoenix and MIL worked in Tucson. BTW...if you showed up at my FIL's house, he would offer you a beer and invite you to spend the night. :eek: :D

No, I think it had an American name like Taylor. Eh, I'm lost!.......Oh, believe it or not, I don't drink beer, I just look like I do! Or else I would go!:D

i have to agree with you beanz. I did the Tour de Tucson last year. The mass start made it seem like a race, and if you're with the right group of people, you can paceline it all the way to the finish line at a good pace.

The only things I don't like are the two river bed crossings. Especially the second one...

i have to agree with you beanz. I did the Tour de Tucson last year. The mass start made it seem like a race, and if you're with the right group of people, you can paceline it all the way to the finish line at a good pace.

The only things I don't like are the two river bed crossings. Especially the second one...

Whew! Somebody agrees with me! Thanx, you just might have saved my rear from being booted out of here!:D

Oh...okay. The one in January offers a metric as well. That one goes from Chandler to Casa Grande and back. I wonder if the little town that you went through was Toltec? My in-laws lived there before they moved to Chandler because FIL worked in Phoenix and MIL worked in Tucson. BTW...if you showed up at my FIL's house, he would offer you a beer and invite you to spend the night. :eek: :D
Pretty neat, my IL's live in Chandler by Gilbert Road and Hunt Hwy, at the edge of civilization. I keep a bike there, and I ride from Chandler to Casa Grande and back when I want to do a long ride.

Back to the OT, I like Ride Around the Bear.

The Death Ride is pretty good. Closed roads for most of it and nice scenery. I didn't check out the food, so maybe I got ripped off, but it looked good too. I rode alone for probably 90% of it, which is fine with me. It's not like a paceline will help you much there anyway.

Pretty neat, my IL's live in Chandler by Gilbert Road and Hunt Hwy, at the edge of civilization. I keep a bike there, and I ride from Chandler to Casa Grande and back when I want to do a long ride.

Back to the OT, I like Ride Around the Bear.

That is a good one! I get tickled everytime I do it!

The Death Ride is pretty good. Closed roads for most of it and nice scenery. I didn't check out the food, so maybe I got ripped off, but it looked good too. I rode alone for probably 90% of it, which is fine with me. It's not like a paceline will help you much there anyway.

That's one that I would consider when I'm in shape. But what kills it is you have to enter a lottery don't you?

Pretty neat, my IL's live in Chandler by Gilbert Road and Hunt Hwy, at the edge of civilization. I keep a bike there, and I ride from Chandler to Casa Grande and back when I want to do a long ride.
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Mine are on Cooper and Riggs...not far from there!

Mine are on Cooper and Riggs...not far from there!


When I did theTour de Tucson, my parents lived right of the 10 and Ina Rd. Couple of miles from the start. But they moved back to Cali!:mad: .........So I had to cut my hair and remove my tats!:p

All you Zonies!

I've done Solvang 9 times,(not sure why), Lighthouse 5 times, best food along with the Wildflower, and Cool Breeze 5? times, most people I recognize of any ride and well organized, but I think my favorite is the LA Wheelmen 5 counties ride. It's only 60-80 riders, but the roads are remote and quiet and the support is good and it's cheap. I always seem to have a great,memorable time there. It's coming up Oct. 14th.

My favorite century is smog to surf... but then I am a little biased...

but I think my favorite is the LA Wheelmen 5 counties ride. It's only 60-80 riders, but the roads are remote and quiet and the support is good and it's cheap. I always seem to have a great,memorable time there. It's coming up Oct. 14th.

Is there a link for this ride?

The Sierra Fall Century, out of Mammoth Lakes, CA. I've done this one twice. Spectacular scenery, a decent amount of climbing (three passes over 8k feet), excellent support and good food. In 100 miles, there's about 2 right turns and one left in the whole course, and maybe one stop sign. And except for the 20 or so miles at the start, very remote roads with almost zero traffic.

Very, very nice.

Midnight Ridazz!! :)

The San Diego AYH Christmas Trip (http://www.sandiegohostels.org/bike.shtml)-- it's 6 days, 400 miles through all different environments in SoCal, starting in SD, through the mountains out to Palm Desert, and back through Hemet and then De Luz/Murrietta (which is some really beautiful scenery) and then along the beach back to the start. It's a multi-day tour that's all about riding, with good official routes and nice unofficial alternate routes available almost every day. The past couple years have had new maps that are really nice, too. And it's way inexpensive.

It's probably 60-70% repeat riders every year, with some people having done it for decades. People come from all over the country, sometimes in groups (bay area contingent, Seattle group, NYC group) and are all really nice and lots of fun, and generally good people to ride with. I think this year will be my 7th time doing it, and we're trying to recruit some Montrealers for international flavor and to make them make french toast for breakfast the last day (the menu is pretty much the same every year, determined largely by the cooking facilities at each place the group stays). When my GF was on the bicycle tour of colorado, all she kept thinking was "I wish the food were like the christmas trip". The accommodations are a little rough (sleeping on floors in churches and community centers) but there are showers every night except the last, and some inexpensive hotel options near most of the places.

There's even one day where I've still never done the official route-- Palm Desert to Hemet through Cabazon, where the headwinds are apparently killer (people get off and walk). I've always gone over the mountains on that day.

It's such a great ride that I fly back from visiting my family on the morning of the 26th, and leave a couple hours after the main group to catch up. My GF puts our bags in the truck and picks me up at the airport with our bikes and we go straight to the start and start chasing.

My favorite was a ride called "Mojave by Moonlight" The original ride would start in Claremont and finish at Calico Ghost Town. The ride would be the 1st full moon of July and would start at 8pm and you would ride all night up to Calico Ghost town. It was amazing when you made it up to the high dessert how much light the moon would give you.. The looks you would get riding up Cajon pass on a Saturday night were great..

Tour de Tucson was my first century. I started off with friends who were doing the century but only planned on doing around 65 miles. I got so caught up in the crowds and excitment of this ride I kept going. I was totally unprepared (I thought) to do a century but I'm proof it's not hard if you put your mind to it. I did struggle from about 85 - mile 100 and would have sagged if a wagOn or van came by but none did so I kept going and "Whoo hoo" completed the 108 miles in decent time (9hr 15 min total). The "river" crossings were, er, interesting...

Back to favorite rides... WILD FLOWER in April out of Creston (between Paso Robles and Atascadero) has to be one of the best in California. Century is just awesome and yes, if the weather gods were good and there was rain, the wildflower display is gorgeous. Sags are great (ride is sponsored by the SLOBC so you know the food is great) and since this is a very small (entries are limited to 1500), very "insider" ride, everyone you meet is fun. Plus it's a good excuse to stay in San Luis Obispo and/or Paso Robles and do soME side riding in great country. Difficulty of the century is about 6 on a scale of 10.

The other absolutely beautiful century I enjoy is the FALL SIERRA CENTURY in September. It starts at Lake Crowly, you ride up past Mammoth to Mono Lake, turn inland, do the famous "rollies" in the back country, do a challenging, difficult climb (Wild Rose Summit - 15% grade), and ride down again into Lake Crowley. Talk about panoramic views!!!! I like going up several days before in order to acclimate, take in some hikes or mountain biking riding and then finishing my weekend doing the Century. Whats not to like about Mammoth! Difficult on this ride is probably 7 - 8 out of 10. The "rollies" are tough!

If you are looking for out of state rides check out LAGBRAU (lagbrau.com) best week of riding EVER!!!! Each day more picture perfect than the next. I also highly HELL WEEK out of Frederickburg Texas. * days of centuries (shorter rides are offered as well). Area is nice, the town is cool and Austin is a stone's throw away.

Is there a link for this ride?
http://www.lawheelmen.org/index.htm There was a landslide on hwy 33, not sure if it is cleaned up yet. Might be a bit of a drive for you as it starts in Frazier Park. It's the same (basic) as the Heartbreak Hundred but with better food and 1/3 the cost.

I enjoyed the Hotter than Hell 100. http://www.hh100.org in Wichita Falls Texas. Great ride, close roads, _EVERY_ intersection with cross traffic had police directing traffic. Hardly any climbing.

The best ride (actually a race) I have ever done is the Pick 'n Pay Argus in Cape Town. The entire route (105 kms) is closed for traffic, 30,000 participants and they all get timed individually. It is something unbelievable.
Here in the US, I agree with Mr Beanz - El Tour de Tucson. Yes, the river crossing sucks but not enough to diminish the merits of the ride. I've heard good things about the Tour de Phoenix but I've never done it.
In CA - I like the rides in San Diego area: Alpine Challenge, Tour de Poway and The Old Pros 4-th of July ride (50-mile not suitable for you mega-milers ;) but a great ride by all means). The "Bear" is good in terms of organization but there is a lot of room for improvement – the traffic control is practically non-existent, the route is not well marked and the food at the rest stops is definitely not suitable for a long hilly ride like this.

LA Wheelmen Grand Tour (double) in June.
Great support, good food and starting in the dark is always kinda cool.

Cool Breeze (my first century and I have ridden it for the past three years) - fast route and you get a popsicle at the last rest stop.
LA Wheelman Grand Tour Double - best organized ride I've ever ridden, and they are so cool about time limits, etc. Great group.
:D

Cool Breeze (my first century and I have ridden it for the past three years) - fast route and you get a popsicle at the last rest stop.
LA Wheelman Grand Tour Double - best organized ride I've ever ridden, and they are so cool about time limits, etc. Great group.
:D


Im into the Santa Cruz Mountian Challenge, which is a 103 mile 10,600 assent. Ouch!

Im into the Santa Cruz Mountian Challenge, which is a 103 mile 10,600 assent. Ouch!


Santa Cruz, huh? Ever tried the Sea Otter Classic Century up north? Not as much climbing, but the apprx 7K feet of it is pretty much all after mile 70 up in the Carmel Valley hills (outside of Carmel and Pacific Grove). Gorgeous, stunning vistas and a hell of a ride. :D