Southern California - Solvang Century - March 2008

Anyone been to the Solvang Century? I need help
finding a cheap hotel room for March 7 - 9. I went to
most travel sites on the Internet, and it seems everything
is sold out in the under $200 range. Also, I don't mind sharing
a room with others to defray the cost. Thanks, Ben

Try Lompoc...its about 20 minutes from Solvang

Try Lompoc...its about 20 minutes from Solvang

+1. I think I paid $170/night 2 years ago.

Try Motel 6 in Buellton. Works for us.

Rick / OCRR

Try Motel 6 in Buellton. Works for us.

Rick / OCRR

+1

Try Motel 6 in Buellton. Works for us.

Rick / OCRR

I tried...full....

if er dead set on staying the night, santa barbara is only a bit over 30 minutes away...

if er dead set on staying the night, santa barbara is only a bit over 30 minutes away...

Did that 2 years ago...its even more $$ than Lompoc and farther!!

Camp at Flying Flags. Right across the street from Andersen's Split Soup.

Camp at Flying Flags. Right across the street from Andersen's Split Soup.

Anybody else up for staying at a campground?

I'm thinking of just sleeping in the back of my Toyota Highlander, taking a shower in the morning and heading up to Solvang for a nice long leisurely breakfast.

Hey, who all's going to this??

Anybody else up for staying at a campground?

I'm thinking of just sleeping in the back of my Toyota Highlander, taking a shower in the morning and heading up to Solvang for a nice long leisurely breakfast.

Billy
There are two showers at Flying Flags. The ones in the little bungalow out in the grass area have these flow restrictor valves. The one in the main building by the pool are full blast!!

They have wireless internet there as well in case you need your Bike Forums fix.

Thanks for the tip thomson.

Unfortunately, Flying Flags is already booked for the weekend. I would imagine they all are, as it's pretty close to event day.

I can get up and drive no problem, but would prefer to spend the night somewhere closer.

Anybody have a campground spot booked with room for one more vehicle?

Hey, who all's going to this??
I just signed up for this ride! How about you?

Thanks for the tip thomson.

Unfortunately, Flying Flags is already booked for the weekend. I would imagine they all are, as it's pretty close to event day.

I can get up and drive no problem, but would prefer to spend the night somewhere closer.

Anybody have a campground spot booked with room for one more vehicle?

Booked??? Even if you don't need hookups? They have a large grass area that you can pitch a tent or car camp. If you are interested, I would call them again and ask if the grass area is full.

The assigned spots are likely filled. They are in the middle of reconstructing several. The grass doesn't have assigned areas.

Thanks for the tip thomson.

Unfortunately, Flying Flags is already booked for the weekend. I would imagine they all are, as it's pretty close to event day.

I can get up and drive no problem, but would prefer to spend the night somewhere closer.

Anybody have a campground spot booked with room for one more vehicle?

Check Lompoc....its only a 15-20 minutes away....

I'll be there with a few friends. It will be my friend Jackie's first century! We're staying in Lompoc at Embassy Suites.

Booked???

I just called Flying Flags Campground:

1. A 2 night stay is required for this "Special Event Weekend", and they are completely booked for both the 7th and 8th.
2. You're not allowed to sleep in you car.

So I called Cachuma Lake County Park. They have 420 campsites, 90 of which have full hookups. They said it's $20 for a site with no hookups on a first come first serve basis and he didn't think it was going to fill up for this weekend.

Click Here for Cachuma Lake Camping Information (http://www.sbparks.org/DOCS/cachuma.html#Tent,%20Trailer%20and%20RV%20Camping)

Cachuma Lake is super close to Solvang. If anyone wants to share a campsite with me, send me a PM.

I'll be there, huffing along in the rear.

Jackie and I will be there, starting and finishing in Beullton. Also OC Rebels, Rodney, Maria, Patty, Peggy, and maybe a few others I'm not remembering at the moment.

Rick / OCRR

I'll be there, huffing along in the rear.

You doing the century Bernie?

You doing the century Bernie?

Everyone should do the century. It's not too difficult, plus lovely scenery and (bonus!) good training for the Solvang Double two weeks later.

Rick / OCRR

For me, this will be training for a century later in the year. I plan to push the pace a bit. Anyone else wanna join?

You doing the century Bernie?

That's the plan. But the damned rain has kept me to about half the mileage I'd hoped to build up before Solvang. I'm riding to school every day to make up for it, using the hilliest routes.

For me, this will be training for a century later in the year. I plan to push the pace a bit. Anyone else wanna join?
Pushing the pace means different things to different folks. What kind of a time are you shooting for, roughly?

Pushing the pace means different things to different folks. What kind of a time are you shooting for, roughly?

Close to 5-1/2 hours ride time or less. I don't want to kill myself, just push harder than a leisure ride. I'm not overly concerned with break time.

Pushing the pace means different things to different folks. What kind of a time are you shooting for, roughly?

Ditto! I'm all for a paceline behind Mark! (he'll drop me) Awright, I'll take my turn...

This of course is at way less than 30mph on the flats!:D

100 / 5.5 = 18.181818
Hmmm... I wonder if I could hang on to that...

I told my friend I would stay with her through her first century, so we are looking at probably 7-1/2 hrs ride time.

For those who have done Solvang before, what is the start situation like? I understand they release us in small groups. Any recommendation when to get there, and how long we will have to wait?

Close to 5-1/2 hours ride time or less. I don't want to kill myself, just push harder than a leisure ride. I'm not overly concerned with break time.
That is exactly my goal this year too. I've done it twice before, but that was more than 10 years (and ten broken bones and two back surgeries) ago. This year is more of a preparatory stepping-stone to my long-term goal, which is to finish 4:44 next year.
I wasn't planning on organizing a TTT, but figured with a ride as populous as Solvang, it wouldn't be too hard to scare up a posse of like-minded hammer-heads to share in the wind-breaking.

So far this month, I've finished a solo 66-mile ride averaging 19.5mph and finished a windy 83-miler feeling pretty fresh. I'll be:
~Wearing a Purple Jersey with yellow letters: "Jan Rekers Tweeweilers -- Hoensbroek, NL"
~Riding a flat-black Felt F55, Brooks saddle
~6'2", blond, 185-lbs, no tattoos (which should make it a little easier to spot me)
~Reining in the ponies to remain in Zone 3 until the climb at mile 85
http://www.calamarichris.com/junk/080202-mugshot.jpg
-Chris in Carlsbad (calamarichris@yahoo.com)

Do we all have a certain time that we want to meet at? Or just chance meeting on the road?

Name a landmark and a time and I'll be there.

OMG...I don't know Solvang at all :omg:

Anyone help out here?? I am thinking 7:30am, maybe?

Jackie and I will be starting from Buellton at about 7:00 AM (depending on what we do for breakfast). Should be wearing Rebel kit, so we should be easy to pick out of the crowd.

Not going for any specific time, just going for somewhere between cruise and hammer . . . like 18-19 mph on the flats. Not that there are many flats on the Solvang course.

I'm using it as a training ride for the Solvang Double, so any time will be good!

Rick / OCRR

Is it better to pick up stuff at registration Friday evening, or is it okay Saturday morning? Since we are staying in Lompoc, I'm trying to minimize the back and forth.

Is it better to pick up stuff at registration Friday evening, or is it okay Saturday morning? Since we are staying in Lompoc, I'm trying to minimize the back and forth.

I did the Prelude checkin Sat am and it was fine...will do the same here...I agree, dont want to drive back and forth...

Am I correct in understanding that we are given a staggered start time (maybe in groups) based on our bib numbers? For example, 1st 100 riders @ 6:00, 2nd 100 @ 6:05, 3rd 100 @ 6:10, et. c.? If so, when we get our reg. packets with our bib numbers, perhaps posting those numbers here will give an idea of how feasible it is to meet up.

The ride start is at the Royal Scandinavian Inn, about 3 blocks south of the main intersection: Mission and Alisal. South on Alisal to Oak.

The ride heads west to Buellton on Hwy 246; should we try for meeting up on Hwy 246 ? That's about 3-4 miles. Then it's Left on Avenue of the Flags in Buellton for 3/4 mile; curves into Santa Rosa Road for a looooong time. Any thoughts?

Given the option I would try for a 7 - 7:30 AM start; I'm open to suggestions

I am in for the Century as well!
Personally I feel it is best to check in Friday night....
This is a VERY popular ride and Saturday morning will be crazy.....
They do let you go in waves so just be at the start line at the time you want to start.....

Karen

I am in for the Century as well!
Personally I feel it is best to check in Friday night....
This is a VERY popular ride and Saturday morning will be crazy.....
They do let you go in waves so just be at the start line at the time you want to start.....

Karen

Cool!! I know my friend will be VERY interested in your pink bike! She already sports a pink helmet, shoes (Pearl Izumi), pedals (Speedplay), jacket and assorted tops :)

I am in...! ...They do let you go in waves so just be at the start line at the time you want to start..... Karen

Cool indeed! If that's the case it'll be much easier...

I think 7:30a is a tad late for the century. The stretch between the first and third stop (Radisson in Santa Maria can get windy. The earlier you're on this portion, the better off you are. Solvang has a fair amount of climbing but most of it occurs after mile 70. The key to doing well at Solvang is to get to the start of Foxen Canyon feeling just dandy. FC is the start of 14 miles of uphill punctuated with a short little nasty to get out. FC really isn't that bad unless you're tired at the start. The rest of the climbs aren't so bad although that one right after the last stop ... I'd like just a 1/4 mile of flat before hitting it, oh well.

Last year, the wind really beat people up. Big guys weren't quite as affected, but the smaller ones (e.g., women) were taking a beating. On some portions, you could feel the bike move sideways underneath you. The year before that ... hail, rain, wind, hail, drizzle, hail ...

I'm hoping for good weather this year.

I just called Flying Flags Campground:
I called Cachuma Lake County Park. They have 420 campsites, 90 of which have full hookups. They said it's $20 for a site with no hookups on a first come first serve basis and he didn't think it was going to fill up for this weekend.

Click Here for Cachuma Lake Camping Information (http://www.sbparks.org/DOCS/cachuma.html#Tent,%20Trailer%20and%20RV%20Camping)

Cachuma Lake is super close to Solvang. If anyone wants to share a campsite with me, send me a PM.

Yes, I am quoting myself, but No - I'm not talking to myself.

I had one person PM me as interested about this, and I still plan on camping the night before. Here's what I'm bringing:

- Firewood
- Chair
- Single burner Coleman stove to cook some noodles
- Some veggies to cook in aluminum foil on the fire

I'll be sleeping in my Toyota Highlander, and getting up bright and squirrely to eat breakfast in Solvang. Personally, car camping and sitting around a fire at night is much more enjoyable than watching TV in Motel room. Anyone else interested is welcome to bring a chair and hang out at the camp fire.

Fake Edit: I also plan on reposting this every page or so.

I think 7:30a is a tad late for the century...
I'm hoping for good weather this year.

No problem. Do you think 7am will be better?

Yeah, I hope for good weather too. ::fingers crossed::

SVGBiker who opened this thread or anyone else needing a place to stay. I have a room in Lompoc at the Budget Inn Motel (http://www.budgetinnlompoc.com/1409956.html) My wife decided not to go and I just got off the phone, changed the king to two queen beds. The room is $99.+ because of the the race and I have it for Fri and Sat. PM if interested.

Anyone interested in carpool PM, I'm in Costa Mesa, can take one, planning to leave mid morning Fri. do a ride when I get there, hang out until checkin opens, then head for Lompoc. Hoping for an early start but from the thread that seems to be up in the air until checkin.

We'll be there, staying w/friends in Buellton, and that's where we'll start from -- maybe 1/2 mi. west of downtown.

If you see this tandem go by
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w76/cgallagh/Tandemfrompaper2.jpg
grab the wheel and hang on!

They don't have the 50 Miler starting until 9:30.

Does anyone know if this is a firm start time, or can you take off earlier?

I certainly don't want to get in anyone's way at the start, but I don't want to be waiting all morning either.

They don't have the 50 Miler starting until 9:30.

Does anyone know if this is a firm start time, or can you take off earlier?

I certainly don't want to get in anyone's way at the start, but I don't want to be waiting all morning either.

My friends who have done it said you can start anytime....
We are planning on rolling about 8:45...PM sent...

My friends who have done it said you can start anytime....
We are planning on rolling about 8:45...PM sent...

Thanks for the info. My friend and I were planning to do the century (her first), however she has been sick all weekend and still is coughing alot today. I don't want to push her too hard and make her worse, so we decided to just do the 50 and regroup for Spring Stagecoach.

Me too, spent the last six days in bed.
Expect perfect weather for the century and a tailwind the whole way now because I won't be able to make it.
Two months of preparation down the tube. :(

Everyone is more than welcome to join our group on the 50....
roll time will be between 8:30-8:45