Anyone doing this ride? Mhendricks an I plan on being there for the metric.

http://www.konoctichallenge.com/

I'm going to try this - looks doable, probably fantastic scenery. it will be my first century. I'll launch as soon as the course opens, and will be wearing a NorCal jersey.

Steve

So many great rides, so little time...I'm already signed up for the Grizzly Century that weekend.

JB

I'll be resting up for the Diablo the following day. Looks like a nice ride though, enjoy and drop a report on us when you get back

I'm going to try this - looks doable, probably fantastic scenery. it will be my first century. I'll launch as soon as the course opens, and will be wearing a NorCal jersey.

Steve

Steve,
We'll look for you and maybe we can hook up with you late Friday night when we puill into Lakeport. Any others interested in this ride you can always give me a call at 408-828-1577 so we can plan together.

Hey thanks - I'll get in touch, and/or see ya up there.

For general amusement, I put the 65 and 100 mile routes into bikely:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Konocti-Challenge-2007-65-mi

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Konocti-Challenge-2007-100-mi

After about 25 years off a bike, I started riding again about 10 months ago, bought a bike, shed some pounds, and this weekend, completed my first century! No record breaking pace, but I'm satisfied with 106 miles in just over 8 hours elapsed, 7 hours rolling, 14.9 average. Konocti, I hear, is a relatively flat century, 6200 ft of climb. Loch Lomond was the toughest climb, 2 miles of 10% on an overall climb of 10 miles averaging 4-6%. But hitting speeds up to 42mph on the other side was fun fun fun!

I knew it was going to be a chilly start, so I came prepared with layers. Mid to high 30's at the start, but it warmed up fairly quickly, and we were greeted by a simply gorgeous day. Clean air, wonderful scenery, quiet roads, well supported, especially for a ride with only 500 riders total, including the century, metric, 30 mile and family ride. SAG was well evident, and the BBQ at the end made it all worthwhile.

I added 4 miles onto the official century route when I missed a rest stop and a turn, and proceeded 2 miles down the metric course before realizing my error, reversing direction and finding the century course again. There happened to be a SAG right where I stopped to get myself oriented, who helped direct me the right way.

At mile 70, one of the only 3 rest stops shared by both the century and the metric, I met up briefly with BigBossMan and MHendricks, who seemed to be also having a great ride. I'll definitely plan on doing this one again next year, and also hope to pick up others in the spring.

Steve

Mhendricks and I teamed up on Saturday to ride the Konocti Challenge - a metric century up around Clear Lake, CA. When I say "around", that's exactly what it was.... a ride around the lake.

Now, for some reason I got it into my head that this would be a milk run... a nice easy Saturday ride. I should have paid more attention to the "challenge" part of the ride title. :eek: Turns out, the ride was very, very easy........ for the first 35 miles or so.

We started off in the town of Lakeport, and headed clockwise. It was bitter cold out early on - about 35-39 degrees or so, and we were mostly in the shade. After about 20 or so miles the sun came up enough to take the edge off the chill, and at around 27 miles or so we hit the first serious climb of the day. So, off came the jackets for the remainder of the ride.

After transiting the miserable, ugly little town of Clear Lake, we stopped at about mile 36 for refreshment at the second rest stop. Then, it got pretty ugly. :D Making our way around the south side of the lake, it seemed that for the last 30 miles we were endlessly going up/down gigantic 8-10% rollers. That sure got tiresome after a while!

Actually, it wasn't as bad as it seemed, but since I was mentally set on an easy ride I suffered a bit while coming to grips with reality. Mike graciously put up with my whining, and it was over soon enough. The BBQ at the end was to die for, and soon the pain and suffering of the afternoon was washed away in a tidal wave of tri-tip and ice cream sandwiches. Mmmm...mmmmmmmm.

Oh..... And I had my first BF NorCal jersey sighting - Steve MacK. :)

A few pics:

The Garmin trace - take a look at miles 37 through 55 :eek::
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/Konocti/Konocti.jpg

Late sunrise over the lake, about 15 miles in:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/Konocti/knocti.jpg

Mike, about 10 miles in:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/Konocti/mike.jpg

Vineyards, at about 40 miles:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/Konocti/vineyards.jpg

Looking down at the lake, about 45 miles in:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/Konocti/lake.jpg

Chasing mike through the rollers, about 15 miles from the finish:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/Konocti/mikeclimbing.jpg

Hey! Nice photos. I wish I'd done it. Maybe next year!

[QUOTE=bigbossman;5416895]Mhendricks and I teamed up on Saturday to ride the Konocti Challenge - a metric century up around Clear Lake, CA. When I say "around", that's exactly what it was.... a ride around the lake.

Now, for some reason I got it into my head that this would be a milk run... a nice easy Saturday ride. I should have paid more attention to the "challenge" part of the ride title. :eek: Turns out, the ride was very, very easy........ for the first 35 miles or so.

We started off in the town of Lakeport, and headed clockwise. It was bitter cold out early on - about 35-39 degrees or so, and we were mostly in the shade. After about 20 or so miles the sun came up enough to take the edge off the chill, and at around 27 miles or so we hit the first serious climb of the day. So, off came the jackets for the remainder of the ride.

After transiting the miserable, ugly little town of Clear Lake, we stopped at about mile 36 for refreshment at the second rest stop. Then, it got pretty ugly. :D Making our way around the south side of the lake, it seemed that for the last 30 miles we were endlessly going up/down gigantic 8-10% rollers. That sure got tiresome after a while!

Actually, it wasn't as bad as it seemed, but since I was mentally set on an easy ride I suffered a bit while coming to grips with reality. Mike graciously put up with my whining, and it was over soon enough. The BBQ at the end was to die for, and soon the pain and suffering of the afternoon was washed away in a tidal wave of tri-tip and ice cream sandwiches. Mmmm...mmmmmmmm.

Oh..... And I had my first BF NorCal jersey sighting - Steve MacK. :)

A few pics:

The Garmin trace - take a look at miles 37 through 55 :eek::
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/Konocti/Konocti.jpg



Just wanted everyone to know that Bossman is no whiner and no slacker! He climbed just like the rest of us. It was good to meet another BF member Steve at that rest stop. Loved the red potatoes! We'll be doing this ride again next year for sure as long as they keep that Tri-Tip coming. Best end of the ride feed that I've had. Thanks John!

Very nice report and great pictures. Definitely one to keep in mind for next year. So many rides to ride, so little time.

Couldn't resist - a couple more pictures.

Sunrise at the start
http://smackenz.users.sonic.net/pics/konocti2007/IMG_0360a.JPG

A couple country scenes
http://smackenz.users.sonic.net/pics/konocti2007/IMG_0361a.JPG

http://smackenz.users.sonic.net/pics/konocti2007/IMG_0362a.JPG