The Perfect Century

[mkadam68]

<Has this been posted before?>

Well...I've followed many conversations, and--just out of curiosity--I'd like your help in developing a list of ingredients that would make up the perfect century ride. Here's what I've gleaned so far from other posts:

Excellent (diverse and unusual) food supplemented by regular fare
Regularly spaced rest-stops
Epic route/challenging
Awesome/inspiring scenery
Little traffic
Clear map available before the event
Clear on-road directions
Opportunities for personal SAGs to meet up with riders where feasable
Lots of vocal/fan support
Plentiful on the road support (SAG)
Mechanical support in SAG and at stops
After-ride festivities & meal
Good photo coverage
Reasonable price
Lots of samples/giveaways
Lots of riders
I'd add a couple things I haven't seen discussed that are just personal and reflect my own background more than anything, I suppose (many of these are ideas from Granfondo rides):
Mass-Start
Police-controlled intersections as necessary
One-way or circular route (don't like out-n-backs)
An official timing mechanism
T-shirt just for registering/entering
Patch for completing ride
Video of ride? (local film school project :D )
Can you add anything to the list? Can we move any of my personal preferences up to the main list? Should we move any items off the list?

Gee...could we do a Bikeforums.net Century Ride?

[merider1]

Hmmm...I'm just happy with a clear route and places to stop, personally. But in utopia, my perfect century would have a locker room with shower access, hot tub and free massage provided at the end of the century. Oh, and free drinks...of the adult beverage type. :D

[Happytime]

55°-65° Temps would be nice. ;)

[Scootcore]

55°-65° Temps would be nice. ;)
+100000

[roadfix]

A coffee bar at every rest stop would be nice......I could always use some cafe negro....:D

[nesdog]

Hmmm...I'm just happy with a clear route and places to stop, personally. But in utopia, my perfect century would have a locker room with shower access, hot tub and free massage provided at the end of the century. Oh, and free drinks...of the adult beverage type. :D

Cool Breeze gets you close. They have a shower room and massage tables, if the vendors are the same. No hot tub or alcohol though.

Sheldon

[VanceMac]

Numbers 3-4-5 (original list) are my highest priorities. Number 12 is a big one, though, if I'm paying for a ride. In my brief experience, it seems as though I do not really get my money's worth from these rides. It would help if more of the expense was dedicated to the post-ride food.

[merider1]

Cool Breeze gets you close. They have a shower room and massage tables, if the vendors are the same. No hot tub or alcohol though.

Sheldon

Hmmm...I've never been in the shower room (but yes, now that you mention it, they do have one) or taken the massage. Come to think of it, Cool Breeze is close to a perfect century in a way. Well...they have popsicles. :p

[merider1]

It would help if more of the expense was dedicated to the post-ride food.
+1 Why is it that so many of these rides provide the crappiest food after? :mad: Solvang Prelude's/Century's $11 BBQ blows!

[nesdog]

Do you have the mass start as a good thing or bad? I think the mass start is a con as it bunches riders together. Could be a problem if you have less experienced riders. Also different speeds, etc.

For me, the perfect organized ride (Century or otherwise) is all having nice scenery, clearly marked turns and courses, high SAG visibility (ie; vehicles with signs that say "SAG" on them all over the place), multiple routes that coincide at times so you have bailout spots, decent food and a festive atmosphere at the finish. Oh, and lots of parking!

Sheldon

[merider1]

And men in spandex. Very important. No men in spandex, NOT a perfect century. :p :D

[Happytime]

And men in spandex. Very important. No men in spandex, NOT a perfect century. :p :D

+100000

[cjbruin]

#1 should be Elle Macpherson (in fact, she should be 1-10)
#11 - Free bacon

Then again, these ingredients would make any event awesome.

[mkadam68]

Great Ideas. Keep 'em coming!

(Love me's humor!!)

[voltman]

#1 Free Elle Macpherson (in fact, she should be 1-10)
#11 - Should be bacon

Then again, these ingredients would make any event awesome.

Fixed.

[big john]

The reason to avoid mass-starts and timing of rides is to avoid crashes caused by people racing who don't know how to race. I've done a mass-start ride and it was frightening. As for timing the ride, I don't even use a speedometer, so I don't care about that.
The best food ever is on SLO club rides, Wildflower and Lighthouse. You can't leave these rides hungry, and the food is great. Lighthouse even had chocolate fondue at one rest. Cool Breeze is pretty good, too.
The baked goods at the Cruisin' ride were great, too.

[merider1]

#1 should be Elle Macpherson (in fact, she should be 1-10)
#11 - Free bacon

Then again, these ingredients would make any event awesome.

Umm....excuse me...NOT that I'm jealous or anything...;)....but Elle couldn't ride more than 10 miles on her itty bitty, supermodel legs. :p

But yeah...I'm with you on the bacon. :D

[mkadam68]

The reason to avoid mass-starts and timing of rides is to avoid crashes caused by people racing who don't know how to race. I've done a mass-start ride and it was frightening. As for timing the ride, I don't even use a speedometer, so I don't care about that.
The best food ever is on SLO club rides, Wildflower and Lighthouse. You can't leave these rides hungry, and the food is great. Lighthouse even had chocolate fondue at one rest. Cool Breeze is pretty good, too.
The baked goods at the Cruisin' ride were great, too.
Yeah...but like I said above, these reflect my background...I'm an ex-racer. Love mass starts. So, maybe a compromise...mass start and then those that just want to roll out later can do so?

[merider1]

(Love me's humor!!)
:rolleyes: What humor? I'm serious. Perfect Century:

1. Men in spandex
2. Men in spandex
3. Men in spandex
4. Men in spandex
5. Men in spandex
6. Men in spandex
7. Men in spandex
8. Men in spandex
9. Men in spandex
10. Bacon

What more do you need? I've completed the top ten. :D

[voltman]

Umm....excuse me...NOT that I'm jealous or anything...;)....but Elle couldn't ride more than 10 miles on her itty bitty, supermodel legs. :p

But yeah...I'm with you on the bacon. :D

I'm rather certain CJ wouldn't mind carrying her.

[nesdog]

Ok, here's another one but it's an intangible you can't really plan for:

Lots of friendliness and conversation among the riders. In the course of any ride, especially a long one, it's nice to be able to pull alongside someone and talk. Just general stuff, health, the course, etc. When everyone is open to that, it makes the day a social event, which I enjoy. This year's 70 mile Cruising course for me was awesome compared to last year's Century. Not because I rode less miles or tackled smaller hills. Rather, I met and rode in some excellent company where as last year, I spent most of the day solo.

Sheldon

[voltman]

:rolleyes: What humor? I'm serious. Perfect Century:

1. Men in spandex
2. Men in spandex
3. Men in spandex
4. Men in spandex
5. Men in spandex
6. Men in spandex
7. Men in spandex
8. Men in spandex
9. Men in spandex
10. Bacon

What more do you need? I've completed the top ten. :D

11. Men in bacon?

[merider1]

The best food ever is on SLO club rides, Wildflower and Lighthouse. You can't leave these rides hungry, and the food is great. Lighthouse even had chocolate fondue at one rest. Cool Breeze is pretty good, too.
The baked goods at the Cruisin' ride were great, too.
+1, +1 and +1!

[roadfix]

Post ride BBQ'd chicken at the Grand Tour was nice......especially around 10 pm.....:D

[merider1]

11. Men in bacon?

As in covered in bacon? :p Hmmm....so many possibilities with that one.

[merider1]

Post ride BBQ'd chicken at the Grand Tour was nice......especially around 10 pm.....:D
Oh, the LA Wheelman guys have got it right all the way around. The cup of noodles at Recon (sp?) was the BEST!

[ronjon10]

I like a lot of route options. Palm Springs has great options. I had fun riding in with the kids and the families. However, the course wasn't nearly difficult enough to be perfect.

[ronjon10]

I should start taking advantage of the food options at these things. I still just bring my own. I didn't even look at the food items at Palm Springs, Solvang or Conejo. I ate the mediocre post ride bbq at Solvang.

Usually I just refill water at stops, maybe take a few bites of whatever I brought and hit the road, or hang out and chat if that's the thing to do.

[BCIpam]

Cool Breeze
Lighthouse
Creston Wildflower (great jersy every year)
Spooktacular (best jersey every year - my favorite!)

All offer great food during and after the ride. You can't beat the price $45 - 50 for all that great food!!!! I'm usually so stuffed after Im done for the day!

I compare all this to the first century I did - The Tour De Tucson - fun ride but quite expensive ($115) and the sags although plentiful were just OK (mostly Clif Bars - gag!) and there was no food after. And no sags. I was so ready to be picked up at 100 miles (the ride was 108) but couldn't find a sag to save me. I do have to say there was great crowd participation. That got me through the ride.

Best scenery - try the Sierra Fall Century out of Mammoth or the Moab Century. Both rides in the Fall. Most event rides use photo crazy but the Fall Sierra used a local outfit. Their photos were sensational - very high quality!

[CyLowe97]

what is the typical registration fee range for an organized century in So Cal?

[cjbruin]

Umm....excuse me...NOT that I'm jealous or anything...;)....but Elle couldn't ride more than 10 miles on her itty bitty, supermodel legs. :p

But yeah...I'm with you on the bacon. :D

CLEARLY you have not spent nearly enough time "studying" Elle's physique! She was never one of the waif-like super models (I'm not at all a fan of them). She is fit and strong. AND...as Voltaire points out...I would be happy to assist...maybe she should be on the front of a tandem!!! Woohoo!!!

[DaveSANYYZ]

what is the typical registration fee range for an organized century in So Cal?Of the very few that I've been to, around $50 excluding post-ride meals (~$10+).

[merider1]

CLEARLY you have not spent nearly enough time "studying" Elle's physique! She was never one of the waif-like super models (I'm not at all a fan of them). She is fit and strong. AND...as Voltaire points out...I would be happy to assist...maybe she should be on the front of a tandem!!! Woohoo!!!
She has skinny model legs, dude. Again, NOT that I'm jealous or anything...:p :D And yeah, you go right ahead- put her on your tandem and listen to her whine about her skin getting grit from the wind on it.

[merider1]

what is the typical registration fee range for an organized century in So Cal?
And Chicago?

[herbm]

Pre-ride route maps with elevation profiles and showing where the rest stops are for planning hydration and nutrition

Loop is fine, out and back is fine..no one ways...too much hassle

[BCIpam]

<I'd add a couple things I haven't seen discussed that are just personal and reflect my own background more than anything, I suppose (many of these are ideas from Granfondo rides):
Mass-Start
Police-controlled intersections as necessary
One-way or circular route (don't like out-n-backs)
An official timing mechanism
T-shirt just for registering/entering
Patch for completing ride
Video of ride? (local film school project :D )
Can you add anything to the list? Can we move any of my personal preferences up to the main list? Should we move any items off the list?

Gee...could we do a Bikeforums.net Century Ride?

The Tour de Tucson offers all that - there were 8,000 riders at a mass start. Took 20 minutes to get to the start line and a good 30 minutes after to really start riding. I don't like mass starts although they are cool looking. The Tour also had everything else but it cost $115!!!! There was an official timing device so for my first century that was cool. The police controlled every intersection so you didn't have to worry about traffic and stops but after a while a stop seemed like a good idea. The Tour also had 2 "river crossing" which makes it unique.

[BCIpam]

All the rides I Listed above were $45 - 50 dollars and included the post ride meal.... I haven't been to one that I had to pay for an post ride meal...

Although you could buy an extra meal for friends and family...

[CyLowe97]

And Chicago?
Anywhere from $15 to $30 for a typical club organized century, but big rides like Horribly Hilly Hundreds and the Dairyland Dare up in Wisconsin are around $60 to $65.

Post ride meals only at a few of the local rides. Usually the cafeteria spaghetti type meal.

[voltman]

51. Women in full kit.

[cjbruin]

She has skinny model legs, dude. Again, NOT that I'm jealous or anything...:p :D And yeah, you go right ahead- put her on your tandem and listen to her whine about her skin getting grit from the wind on it.

I call bull$hit. She's 6' tall with long legs so they may appear slender (but definitely not skinny). I've met her and the girl has some muscle.

[voltman]

I call bull$hit. She's 6' tall with long legs so they may appear slender (but definitely not skinny). I've met her and the girl has some muscle.

Didn't you meet her legs, to be precise?

[Grumpy Pig]

One of the best organized century I've ridden was the San Diego Brevet in January '07. The entry was $5. I rode with forum members but the other riders were extremely friendly. The checkpoints had water only and there were no sag vehicles. There were plenty of convenience stores and one of the checkpoints was at a deli.

[merider1]

Anywhere from $15 to $30 for a typical club organized century, but big rides like Horribly Hilly Hundreds and the Dairyland Dare up in Wisconsin are around $60 to $65.

Post ride meals only at a few of the local rides. Usually the cafeteria spaghetti type meal.
I saw pics over in your region and it looks so pretty there. And you've given me an idea. I think I'm going to start charging for any BF century I organize. :p

[merider1]

I call bull$hit. She's 6' tall with long legs so they may appear slender (but definitely not skinny). I've met her and the girl has some muscle.

Look it you....she does NOT have cyclist legs! (again...not that I'm jealous of her long, slender, gorgeous model legs or anything) So, I call bull$hit. If you would like to prove me wrong, call her up and invite her out to a BF organized century...nah, make that a half century. Let's see what a measely 50 flat miles does to her! Bet she won't look so gorgeous then! :p :D

[roadfix]

Our very own Santa Barbara Amtrak century!

[Indolent58]

My first century was the Seagull Century in Salisbury, MD. It started at a state college and after the ride you could use the gym showers and get a massage. The one of the rest stops had live music, pie and ice cream. Very civilized.

I was left with the expectation that all Centuries would be like that. I am constantly disappointed.:o

[CyLowe97]

Look it you....she does NOT have cyclist legs! (again...not that I'm jealous of her long, slender, gorgeous model legs or anything) So, I call bull$hit. If you would like to prove me wrong, call her up and invite her out to a BF organized century...nah, make that a half century. Let's see what a measely 50 flat miles does to her! Bet she won't look so gorgeous then! :p :D
She's already slated to ride with us out of Waterford, WI*, this weekend. I can't remember if she said she was doing the metric or the whole 100 miles.

We'll let you know how she does. I hear she can climb like Rasmussen, but she's not as skinny as he is. :)


*yes, where they make Waterford bikes!

[merider1]

She's already slated to ride with us out of Waterford, WI*, this weekend. I can't remember if she said she was doing the metric or the whole 100 miles.

We'll let you know how she does. I hear she can climb like Rasmussen, but she's not as skinny as he is. :)


*yes, where they make Waterford bikes!

:mad: I expect pics as proof. :p

[DaveSANYYZ]

How much do airlines normally charge to transport a bike? I better book my tickets now. :lol:

[mkadam68]

Wow...do you all work for a living? Or do you just goof off like me? :D