Southern California - Solvang Century

Which route is better -
Solvang's Finest Century in November?
or Solvang Century in March?

Solvang Century in March is okay. However, if you ride the SKOR Prelude, you get the pretty portion of the route. IMO, the March ride is the Prelude with 40 miles of less than pretty area thrown in to get you to 100.

As for the Solvang's Finest Century, I will have to get back to you after November 10th on that one.

solvangs finest....way better.

Anyone doing the one in March besides me? (& Herb, I think)

Anyone doing the one in March besides me? (& Herb, I think)

MArkaj and our friend steve are going...
I have a reservation in Lompoc

Anyone doing the one in March besides me? (& Herb, I think)

yes

Anyone doing the one in March besides me? (& Herb, I think)

I'll be there :)

Anyone doing the one in March besides me? (& Herb, I think)

I'll be there with North Texas Team In Training. It will be my first.

Solvang Century in March is okay. However, if you ride the SKOR Prelude, you get the pretty portion of the route. IMO, the March ride is the Prelude with 40 miles of less than pretty area thrown in to get you to 100.

As for the Solvang's Finest Century, I will have to get back to you after November 10th on that one.Sorry about being pedantic, but it's Specialized Cardiac Outpatient Rehabilitation, or SCOR.
It was my second century in 1989, and I did it 8 more times. One time there were 6000 riders.
Edit; I had switched the 2nd and 3rd words in SCOR. Dyslexia strikes again.

Sorry about being pedantic, but it's Specialized Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation, or SCOR.
It was my second century in 1989, and I did it 8 more times. One time there were 6000 riders.

I stand corrected and rightfully so. :o

I'll be there with North Texas Team In Training. It will be my first.

I'll be there w/ TnT also, last year was my first also w/ TnT. Good luck!

What do you get for the $65 entry fee???

A sore butt! Sorry, . . . couldn't help it.:D

The opportunity to ride from Solvang to Santa Maria and back ... some okay food, and a little bike swap meet. All that for a whopping $65 .... what a bargain, eh???

$2 dollar beers at the finish...

oh, and solvang was my first century, also done w/ team in training...

this year will be my second... also with team in training. speaking of which... i need to do some training, haha

I have seen the elevation chart for the ride but have no idea about what the course is like.

Can anyone share? long steady climbs, or short steep ones? how much is flat? etc?

Thanks!

What are the temperatures like at this time?

I just signed up for the March 8th Solvang because a couple of friends whose pace resembles my own signed up. Yes, the $65 pisses me off; Cool Breeze gives incomparable support for a lot less. Still. As usual, I'll say hi to BF riders at the start and watch you disappear over the horizon!

The Fall Solvang century ride reports are in this thread. It was hard, but good. I had a great time.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=361287



I really like the approach PU takes to this ride, and will definitely be doing more of them. Personally, I don't mind paying their fees. I believe it allows them to continue in the business of putting on cool rides that are just a little bit different.

It's all good...

Looks like I am doing the spring ride, along with a good friend that will be doing her first big organized ride (though she'll probably do the 50 miler).

Any recommendations for good places to stay? I'd love to find a place with a sauna, but that's probably asking for too much....

Looks like I am doing the spring ride, along with a good friend that will be doing her first big organized ride (though she'll probably do the 50 miler).

Any recommendations for good places to stay? I'd love to find a place with a sauna, but that's probably asking for too much....

Solvang books up a year in advance for this...I am staying in Lompoc...also some places in Santa Barbara book up...

Jackie and I always ride the Spring Solvang because its good training for the Solvang Spring Double, which is usually two weeks later (haven't checked for 2008).

I actually like the Spring Solvang Century course a lot, good variety in terms of climbs and flat bits, plus excellent scenery. Checkpoint fare is okay/adequate, but certainly not wonderful. Temps vary dramatically from year to year, but the one thing to keep in mind (at least I do) is that the worse the conditions are, the better stories you have for the years that follow!

Rick / OCRR

I've only done the whole route for Solvang's Finest, but I've ridden all of those roads over there at one point or another, and I would say looking at the route for the on in March that the Finest route is better. I could do without the back half of Foxen, Dominion, and going through Orcutt.

Solvang books up a year in advance for this...I am staying in Lompoc...also some places in Santa Barbara book up...

where are you staying Herb? I may be up for this one...

where are you staying Herb? I may be up for this one...

Your favorite place.....
Holiday Inn Express - Lompoc...
stayed there for the Prelude...

Your favorite place.....
Holiday Inn Express - Lompoc...
stayed there for the Prelude...

okay, I ended up with Comfort Inn.... almost $60 less per night... but at least I got a room! :D

okay, I ended up with Comfort Inn.... almost $60 less per night... but at least I got a room! :D

But but....you always stay at HE...yeah they were a bit more....I think you are further down the road....there is a motel6 right next to the HE...might be even cheaper!!!

Well...Lompoc it is.

But but....you always stay at HE...yeah they were a bit more....I think you are further down the road....there is a motel6 right next to the HE...might be even cheaper!!!

Okay, I found an "in" and will be staying at the holiday inn now!!! YIPPEEEE!!!!

....but the one thing to keep in mind (at least I do) is that the worse the conditions are, the better stories you have for the years that follow!

Rick / OCRR

Like the lightning, hail and rain in 2006...:p

Okay, I found an "in" and will be staying at the holiday inn now!!! YIPPEEEE!!!!

Party ON

Not sure where Jan is staying..but she did say Lompoc

Like the lightning, hail and rain in 2006...:p

Oh please...not that again...
I learned then why using CO2 in the rain/hail is a bad idea....

Oh please...not that again...
I learned then why using CO2 in the rain/hail is a bad idea....

I keep peeking in here and I don't know why. I'm not doing the ride, but I think I was so traumatized by 2006's ride that it's like a train wreck. :p

Oh please...not that again...
I learned then why using CO2 in the rain/hail is a bad idea....Why?

Ya,. . . why??

I keep peeking in here and I don't know why. I'm not doing the ride, but I think I was so traumatized by 2006's ride that it's like a train wreck. :p


You say that, but you know you want to do it. :)

I'm at Quality Inn. Did you get a good rate Trac'?

I'm at Quality Inn. Did you get a good rate Trac'?

pretty good.... these weekends are still pretty expensive though :rolleyes:

Why?

Because compressed air gets very cold...as in freezing..
well apply that to a wet stem..and the co2 pump freezes to the stem thank ya very much!
If you pull to hard the stem snaps...

I'm at Quality Inn. Did you get a good rate Trac'?

There is a motel 6 next door to the HE....

Party in Tracs room!!!

I keep peeking in here and I don't know why. I'm not doing the ride, but I think I was so traumatized by 2006's ride that it's like a train wreck. :p

I missed last year so I HAVE to do this...
come on ME...arent there some animals to pet up there??

Because compressed air gets very cold...as in freezing..
well apply that to a wet stem..and the co2 pump freezes to the stem thank ya very much!
If you pull to hard the stem snaps...

:lol::lol::lol:

:lol::lol::lol:

I wasnt laughing...I was so cold and wet after that I turned around...had to stop at the gas station on 246 to go inside to warm up for 10 minutes before I could ride anymore...

I don't doubt it from everything I've heard about last years event.

You say that, but you know you want to do it. :)

no, you know I really don't :rolleyes:
:p

come on ME...arent there some animals to pet up there??

Wait...I'm sorry, didn't read the OP. Are the single men on here going? ;)

I don't doubt it from everything I've heard about last years event.

I heard last year wasnt too bad...just some wind...

Wait...I'm sorry, didn't read the OP. Are the single men on here going? ;)

I am sure there will be some!!

I heard last year wasnt too bad...just some wind...
Oh, . . . guess it was the year before then that the freezing rain hit. Time goes by so fast when you're having fun.

Oh, . . . guess it was the year before then that the freezing rain hit. Time goes by so fast when you're having fun.

Yup 2 years ago....