I don't think I've seen anyone post a thread for this year's.

Who's in? What distance? What time you leaving?

Website (http://www.cvcbike.org/cruisin/)

Map My Ride Route (http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/newbury-park/556096628)

Full Century
bolshoi2008
jaguar27
mkadam68

21-Mile
elares + kids

Unsure Distance
geosherman
nesdog

I'm in with my kids for the 21 grueling miles of the shortest route. Departing before 9:00AM.

This will be my 1st century and will try to take off around 7:15-7:30.

I'm in. Doesn't seem like we have much participation from the various BF folks this year. But as it's local to me, I signed up.

I'm not sure which course I'm going to do. I've done the Century twice, the moderate metric once, the half metric years ago, so just to round things out, I may do the hard metric. However, I also asked my wife if she wanted to ride this year. If so, we'll do the half metric, as that will be a good distance for her.

Either way, it should be fun and I'm looking forward to getting underway.

Sheldon

This will be my 1st century and will try to take off around 7:15-7:30.

This was my first century several years ago. Good luck and ride well. Manage your fluid intake and fueling smartly. The majority of the climbing (4500' of 6000') comes in the first 50 miles. Once you reach the top at Dos Vientos, it's a bit easier through to the end.

And if you haven't ridden our area before, word of caution for you on two descents: Westlake/Decker from Mulholland down into Westlake Village...as written....an "E" ticket (anyone remember these? :) ) lots of turns, with one sweeping left hand decreasing radius one and a very steep section near the bottom (roughly 18% for a short distance)

Also Portrero into Camarillo. It's a long runout to the bottom.

On both of these, there is generally a volunteer calling out words of caution at the top.

Good luck! Have fun!!

Sheldon

Thanks Nesdog for the caution! I'm already excited and can't wait anymore to tackle this. Nesdog, I was wondering if you still remember the exact route for the century. I'm not familiar with the area and would be very happy if I could map it out early.:o

bolshoi -

Go to motionbased.com and search their trail network for Crusin the conejo - the routes will come up.

Thanks Nesdog for the caution! I'm already excited and can't wait anymore to tackle this. Nesdog, I was wondering if you still remember the exact route for the century. I'm not familiar with the area and would be very happy if I could map it out early.:o

Oh sure, we ride these routes all the time so I could do this without a cue sheet. PM an e-mail address and I can send you a graphic with a copy of a route sheet. It might vary a turn or two but it's generally correct.

There are enough people riding this event that you could generally just follow everyone!

Sheldon

As far a cue sheets, the course is very well marked. In my neighborhood the road has already been marked with a fresh coat of paint to match the cue sheet. If you have a white cue sheet you follow the white arrows, Yellow paint for the Yellow and etc. The local bike club - Conejo Valley Bike Club and the local Boy Scout Troop have this down to a science!
I am riding either the Century or the Challenging Metric depending on how my Uncle feels. I am working with him to turn him into an avid cyclist. Probably start about 7AM. I echo the warnings about the descents. These are exhilarating descents and at least one professional cyclist went down hard on Westlake Decker descent earlier in the year prior to the Tour of California.

And FWIW, the way the courses are laid out, there are numerous ways to bail if you want to. So if you start for the Century and die by Hidden Valley, no worries! It's even possible to do the first 75 miles and still cut it short (via the Read bypass or Tierra Rejada) and head for home.

Sheldon

Hi Guys and Gals...
I'm doing this for the first time on Saturday and haven't a clue what to expect, we're doing the Century, is there more than one?
Luckily, I've done zero training for this so I'm coming well prepared ;-)
Hope to see you all there, I'll be riding my Orange Six13, come to think of it, I have no choice, it's the only road bike I own....

BTW, what are the percentages of the climbs? hopefully there's nothing greater than 2-3 ?

Oh sure, we ride these routes all the time so I could do this without a cue sheet. PM an e-mail address and I can send you a graphic with a copy of a route sheet. It might vary a turn or two but it's generally correct.

There are enough people riding this event that you could generally just follow everyone!

Sheldon

Nesty, could you send one to me too?

Thanks!!

Here's the elevation profile from last year. Looks worse than it was, I think:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2276/2470095327_07b061c3d5_o.gif

And the course map (although road names are too small to see very well):
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3204/2470917902_1662896a08_o.gif

I found the hardest parts were Rock Store climb (~2 miles, 6% avg) and 3 B*tches (although they're very short and not too bad).

Hi Guys and Gals...
I'm doing this for the first time on Saturday and haven't a clue what to expect, we're BTW, what are the percentages of the climbs? hopefully there's nothing greater than 2-3 ?

Mostly rollers and mild climbs until you reach Mulholland, around 27 miles in. Then Rock Store, 2-1/2 miles of 7% with 9% sections. Short break and then a climb to the rest stop. Nice drop down Encinal and more climbing to a turn on Lechusa. Claw your way back up the Three "B"'s, some pretty steep spots there but mostly just a block or so.

After rest stop in Westlake, through Hidden Valley and a somewhat steepish climb out. Then up through Dos Vientos.

All very doable but there are definately significant amounts of work to be done in that first 50 miles. It's all about pacing.

Sheldon

Thanks Sheldon, I'll be OK, I started training for this last Sunday ;-)

I think the hardest part will be getting out of Bed and setting off at 4:30am...

As far as I can tell, it's going to be in the low 70's and cloudy which is perfect for me..nice British weather..

I finally did my 1st century!! I rolled out at about 7:15 and got back around 2:45. I had to ride my own pace in fear of the climb and running out of steam. The rock store climb was the most difficult part of the route for me. It looks like that climb will never end but manage to do it without stopping at 4.5-6 mph on my 39-25. One rider encouraged me to hammer it to the top of the rest stop after seeing it on sight. At the descent, I'm not sure if it was in Lechusa or Decker that scared the hell out of me. I have to really slow down on those turns (especially on that one left hand). Support was excellent on this one, it was well stocked and that valet service was a luxary. At the 65 mile RS, that turkey sub was good and got me refueled and let me finish strong.

I also did the century and am already looking forward to doing it again next year, I had one hairy moment at the bottom of one of the descents, I hit some bad road surface at maybe 35mph and went into a speed wobble....I thought I was going down!!
I've never ridden, or even been in that area before but thanks to the great road markings we never needed to use the route slip...
Everyone at the SAG stops did a great job....

The weather was perfect for a century.

Thanks for everything CVC, see you next year!

Congrats to both of you. Well done. Hope to see you out there next time.

Nice going achieving the Century guys!

I'm guessing the left turn you referred to is on Decker/Westlake. It's a decreasing radius sweep that can easily catch you by surprise. Everytime I go that way, I worry about that spot!

Jag: there is some pretty bad road surface on the descent into Camarillo, especially through the bottom half. Even though it's not hugely steep, you get a pretty good run up and then hit all of those cracks. It sucks. They repaved the top a couple of years ago.

sheldon

Jag: there is some pretty bad road surface on the descent into Camarillo, especially through the bottom half. Even though it's not hugely steep, you get a pretty good run up and then hit all of those cracks. It sucks. They repaved the top a couple of years ago.

sheldon

sheldon, thanks, I didn't know where we were at the time, I never checked the route sheet once.

It just caught me by surprize, it was my own stupid fault, thinking about it I guess I did the best thing by standing on the pedals letting the bike do whatever it needed to and hope for the best...:eek:

On some of those bends I was in the drops and braking as hard as I could while bracing myself against the Bars...I think it's the closest I've been to being thrown over the Bars ...

Do you ride this area often? If so, I'd love to tag along sometime ....

sheldon, thanks,

Do you ride this area often? If so, I'd love to tag along sometime ....

I live here :) If you want to ride with locals, you have a variety of choices on Saturdays:

Agoura Cycles Shop ride: I do this one most Saturdays. Leaves from the shop at 8:00. Our long ride is generally 35-45 miles. www.agouracycles.com

Sundance Cycles shop ride: Departs at 7:30. Short and long rides. Pretty fast bunch. www.sundancecycles.com

CVC: Bike Club that hosts Cruising. Different levels, etc. www.cvcbike.org Also rides during the week. Check their calendar.

All of these groups spend plenty of time in the Santa Monica's and each has a different personality so you can pick and choose!

Sheldon