On Sunday June 24th I rode to Quinnipiac U. from my house in Cheshire and hooked up with 2 other riders on my way back home. Eventually I put 31 miles on, which is the most I have done since getting back on the bike. Anyway I was expecting a big pack of riders to emerge from Sleeping Giant state park, but it was only 3 guys! It was fun nonetheless and tremendously motivating. I hope to do it again some day as I really enjoy riding with other people. I'll even take my share of turns at the front, I just need to figure out what the best way is to take my turn.


Are you sure it was "the" Sleeping Giant ride ?.....
I have heard horror stories about the pace and the folks that get spit out the back of that one....
The route's as flat as a board from what I've seen.....I prefer some hills myself to break things up...

I am quite sure it wasn't "the" ride but I was riding along the route they would have passed me on, at least based on the route shown on bikely.com. Maybe they took a different route. I agree about the pace being rather scary - the owner of Cheshire Cycle suggested it was an easier ride than their Tuesday night ride at 20 mph. He said the Tuesday night ride is a killer at 24mph+ average. So unfortunately neither one of them is newbie friendly so I will keep looking.

And the route is quite flat, which I like. I always get dropped on hills at point and find them quite painful and not something I "like" to do. :-)

"...Started riding my road bike on June 13th with a 6 mile ride. My goal is to do a century by July 31st and then do two centuries in two days by September 15th...."

So what centuries do you have in mind to tackle ??

"...Started riding my road bike on June 13th with a 6 mile ride. My goal is to do a century by July 31st and then do two centuries in two days by September 15th...."

So what centuries do you have in mind to tackle ??

I was just looking into that. Having never been on an organized century I had naturally assumed I would have to do a self-supporting one. 20 years ago, when I was in my late teens/early 20s that is how we used to ride - pick a destination, ride there for lunch, turn-around and go back. But now I find that there are lots of centuries in the Northeast that offer water/pit stops and all kinds of niceties for reasonable entrance fees. Any recommendations? Thoughts on whether July 31st is too ambitious?

As for the double on September 15th, when I started back on the road bike I was hopeful I would get to do part/all of a 5 day ride with a group the company I work for is sponsoring. I find out on Wednesday if I am selected to participate or if I have to do it on my own. If I have to do it on my own it will definitely take some planning - water stops, food drops, wife available by cell phone in case of breakdown etc.

Any recommendations?


CT Summer Breeze Century - July 22nd....$40
Both Metric and Standard length century routes.....I rode the 100 miler last year on a very hot day. The route is fairly flat with a good section along the shoreline.
http://www.ctcycle.org/century.htm

Tour of the Litchfield Hills - August 5th - $30
Routes of 12 to 75 miles.
http://www.tourofthelitchfieldhills.com/
Haven't done this one yet but I'd like to this year....anyone else do this ride ?

The CRANE (Century Rides Across New England) website will give you plenty of others to choose from:
http://www.c-r-a-n-e.com/

CT Summer Breeze Century - July 22nd....$40
Both Metric and Standard length century routes.....I rode the 100 miler last year on a very hot day. The route is fairly flat with a good section along the shoreline.
http://www.ctcycle.org/century.htm

Tour of the Litchfield Hills - August 5th - $30
Routes of 12 to 75 miles.
http://www.tourofthelitchfieldhills.com/Haven't done this one yet but I'd like to this year....anyone else do this ride ?
The CRANE (Century Rides Across New England) website will give you plenty of others to choose from:
http://www.c-r-a-n-e.com/

I do the Tour of the Litchfied Hills pretty much every year. It used to be called "The Tour de Torrington"

I really like this ride. There is usually a fairly large turnout with live entertainment or a DJ, a good food display after the ride, SAG support and there are bicycle shops/mechanics in attendance. I had always registered the day-of and it has never been a problem. I also park across the street in the shopping center lot and walk across to Coe Park which makes it easier when I want to leave for the day and avoid traffic. They are pretty well organized.

The route is very scenic and moderately challenging in the climbing department, but nothing epic. It has the right amount of climbing for the distance. The only thing that I dislike about this ride is that it has a mass start; Hundreds of bodies and bikes all squished togethter like runners at the starting gate of a marathon. However, this is the only ride with a mass start that clears up in the first couple of minutes. You will almost immediatley start climbing. The ride goes from a few hundred riders to single file within 1/2 mile. This initial uphill goes for 5 miles up RT 202 and then at mile 5.5, the 50 and 77 mile routes split.

I have also done the route unsupported and was able to find stores or state parks to stop and get water with no problem. Don't get me wrong - there are areas that you will go through and there is nothing but you, your bike, and some wildlife, but you will come upon places to stop which is sufficient for the distance. The cue sheets are posted online and there are very few turns for the most part.

Hope this helps.

I do the Tour of the Litchfied Hills pretty much every year. It used to be called "The Tour de Torrington"

I really like this ride. There is usually a fairly large turnout with live entertainment or a DJ, a good food display after the ride, SAG support and there are bicycle shops/mechanics in attendance. I had always registered the day-of and it has never been a problem. I also park across the street in the shopping center lot and walk across to Coe Park which makes it easier when I want to leave for the day and avoid traffic. They are pretty well organized.

The route is very scenic and moderately challenging in the climbing department, but nothing epic. It has the right amount of climbing for the distance. The only thing that I dislike about this ride is that it has a mass start; Hundreds of bodies and bikes all squished togethter like runners at the starting gate of a marathon. However, this is the only ride with a mass start that clears up in the first couple of minutes. You will almost immediatley start climbing. The ride goes from a few hundred riders to single file within 1/2 mile. This initial uphill goes for 5 miles up RT 202 and then at mile 5.5, the 50 and 77 mile routes split.

I have also done the route unsupported and was able to find stores or state parks to stop and get water with no problem. Don't get me wrong - there are areas that you will go through and there is nothing but you, your bike, and some wildlife, but you will come upon places to stop which is sufficient for the distance. The cue sheets are posted online and there are very few turns for the most part.

Hope this helps.

Spin,

Thanks for the description....I'm dieing to ride to Cornwall Bridge.....I love that area but I've never been through there on a bike....I am hoping for alot of climbing....:D

I have not ridden to the Cornwall bridge, but I can tell from driving over it to Limerock many times that the hills to get there are killer! There is one hill that has to be miles long and so steep in the car that I need to shift down (it is a manual transmission) to keep my speed up. Good luck with that! I think I'd need a triple chainring just to get up some of those hills, you will definitely get what you asked for.

Spin,

http://lifestylebydesign.org/eventscalendar.html

That's a nice link you have in your signature.....

What rides you planning to do this summer/fall ?

I'm looking at the Summer Breeze Century again in late July...
That Highlander tour in September looks interesting...lots of climbing
http://www.highlandercycletour.com/rides.htm
Know anything about it ?

Last year I did the Great River Ride in early October....it was great. I'd like to finish my year with that again I guess....

J.

That Highlander tour in September looks interesting...lots of climbing
http://www.highlandercycletour.com/rides.htm
Know anything about it ?
J.

Ugh ! I just Mapquested the drive to this ride....over 5 hours.....I think it's a little beyond what I'm willing to do...:mad:

Spin,

http://lifestylebydesign.org/eventscalendar.html

That's a nice link you have in your signature.....

What rides you planning to do this summer/fall ?

I'm looking at the Summer Breeze Century again in late July...
That Highlander tour in September looks interesting...lots of climbing
http://www.highlandercycletour.com/rides.htm
Know anything about it ?

Last year I did the Great River Ride in early October....it was great. I'd like to finish my year with that again I guess....

J.

Hey Joe,

I'm glad you like my road cycling calendar web page. I do add rides and update links often, so check back.

I have not done the Highlander tour - it is quite the drive. I will consider doing it this year if the weather is good. I would love to make a weekend of it. I hear that it is an awesome route.

I usually ride the Golden Apple Century in NY that Sunday instead. That is a terrific ride and I highly recommend it. There is quite a bit of climbing (not 11,000 ft as advertised at Highlander) and a very scenic route with many options to cut it short or increase to a double metric. I did the 125 route a few years ago and they have since changed the route and it is even nicer now.

As far as other rides: Here are my tentative plans - for organized rides on the "day-of" .... I did do all of these last year except for Mt Washington. I rode the route with a friend on a different weekend which might happen again this year. I still may swap The Prouty or other centuries as well. I am spontaneous and have been known to find a new century and just go at the last minute.

July 15 - Climb to the Clouds
July 22 - Summer Breeze Century
Aug 5 - Tour of the Litchfield Hills
Aug 18 - Steeplechase Century
Aug 19 - Mt Washington Century
Aug 25 - Blazing Saddles Century
Sept 8 - NVP Fall 125 mile
Sept 9 - TFCE (preregistered)
Sept 16 -Golden Apple (unless I drive to the Finger Lakes for the Highlander)
Sept 22 - Tri-State Seacoast (preregistered)
Sept 23 - Major Taylor Century

I am considering the Maine century rides that I have listed on my link, but need to make last minute decisions based on the forecast. I will happily drive to these rides, but I am not driving 5 hours to go ride my bike in the rain when I could do that out my front door : )

July 15 - Climb to the Clouds
July 22 - Summer Breeze Century
Aug 5 - Tour of the Litchfield Hills
Aug 18 - Steeplechase Century
Aug 19 - Mt Washington Century
Aug 25 - Blazing Saddles Century
Sept 8 - NVP Fall 125 mile
Sept 9 - TFCE (preregistered)
Sept 16 -Golden Apple (unless I drive to the Finger Lakes for the Highlander)
Sept 22 - Tri-State Seacoast (preregistered)
Sept 23 - Major Taylor Century


Wow...that's quite ambitious....back to back centuries on August 18th/19th ???
You go boy !! :D

As we get closer I would be interested in meeting and/or riding the Summer Breeze & Litchfield rides with you if you're interested ?

What the Mt. Washington century like ?

I was going to do the Great River Ride again this year but I just checked and remembered that I'll be in Maine doing the outlet shopping thing with the Mrs. that weekend...

Wow...that's quite ambitious....back to back centuries on August 18th/19th ???
You go girl !! :D ...

There, fixed that for you :D

... As we get closer I would be interested in meeting and/or riding the Summer Breeze & Litchfield rides with you if you're interested ?....

I'm out turning at least 100-200 miles every weekend, organized ride or not - I'm sure that we can meet up/ride somewhere along the line before the evil cold weather creeps back in!

95-100 degrees and humid the next three days? Love it (well, maybe not the dangerously high humidity, but I will take the heat over New Enland raw, cold winter, any day).

There, fixed that for you :D

You know...that was in the back of my mind when I wrote that.....wasn't sure...
Oh well, no harm done. :)

Well thankfully I've been doing most of my riding in the morning before work so the heat hasn't been an issue as of yet. I beg to disagree with you however......I'll trade you the month of August for an additional month of October......I love the cooler temps and changing colors.....plus this year we don't turn clocks back for an additional 3 weeks I think. :D

Have you ridden the Mt. Washington century before ??
I know the hill climb gets all the attention but I've had my eye on the century....
However, I can't do as many weekends out of the house riding as you....too many projects on the Honey Do list for me.....:rolleyes:

Have you ridden the Mt. Washington century before ??
I know the hill climb gets all the attention but I've had my eye on the century....
However, I can't do as many weekends out of the house riding as you....too many projects on the Honey Do list for me.....:rolleyes:

I have ridden the route before. The last time, I went with another Bike Forum member and we were going to ride to the start from where we were staying (my cousin has a place Jefferson). We were told that it wasn't too far off the route... LOL... needless to say, we long missed the official start and rode it on our own. They were just wrapping up each rest stop as we were passing by. They must have thought, "Damn, these two are pathetically slow!" LOL :)

There aren't many turns and the route can easily be done self supported (I know that I say that about "most" of the rides - because I have done most of them without SAG or rest stops before). It was a nice route through the notches and I saw my first Moose! I was thrilled to see such an awesome animal. The only memorable steep section was Pinkham Notch (I think that's the one) just near the top. No actual mountains to traverse on the century route > just a very scenic ride through the White Mountain ranges. The route has a few right turns and that is it. This is one of the few centuries that even I can't get lost on.

I'm a newbie in East Granby - just bought a comfort bike today. Can't wait to try it out!

Storrs, CT. yeeeah quiet corner

oh man I do the 50 for the steeple chase when I can-- this year I will have just gotten home from a backpacking trip, so I'm not sure. I've heard the century is pretty rough.

Newtown here. I ride with the Bethel club sometimes, or fast road rides on my own.

I live in Mass, but do 1/3 of my riding in the NW corner of CT, so can I be an honorary CT? Plus my favorite crit is in Naugatuck.
Next weekend !