rumbutter
05-05-08, 10:13 AM
Let me just start off by saying that this is the flattest century I have ever ridden. The only hills were the little ramps up onto the levies or down to the rest stops. This was also the only century I have ever ridden that had a ferry crossing as part of the course which was pretty cool.
I wasn’t expecting this century to be very scenic. I thought it would be miles and miles of open farmlands. I was very wrong and the century was eye candy throughout. Almost the whole 100 mile course was along virtually traffic free scenic levies. There were long periods where you didn’t see a single car or bike. The rest stops were lightly populated too and well stocked with good food. The temperatures were just about perfect all day and generally the course was very well marked out.
On to the bad stuff…….
Living in this part of the world you know there will be wind and usually that wind will get stronger as the day goes on. Sundays ride was no exception. What did confuse me was that we seemed to have 75 miles of head/cross wind and only 25 miles of tail wind. The wind was never particularly strong but it was pretty tiring especially if you didn’t ride in a group all day. Thankfully the last 10 miles had a tail wind. The other thing that wasn’t so good was that many of the roads were pretty bumpy or rough textured. I think the rough roads coupled with being sat down all day (flat century) gave me my first saddle sore in about 20 years. I was pretty uncomfortable towards the end and one of the levy sections on the way back was just plain horrible.
Overall this was a great century and my wife and I enjoyed it. Most of the people we encountered out on the course did not seem to be enjoying the wind but everyone was happy at the rest stops.
I wasn’t expecting this century to be very scenic. I thought it would be miles and miles of open farmlands. I was very wrong and the century was eye candy throughout. Almost the whole 100 mile course was along virtually traffic free scenic levies. There were long periods where you didn’t see a single car or bike. The rest stops were lightly populated too and well stocked with good food. The temperatures were just about perfect all day and generally the course was very well marked out.
On to the bad stuff…….
Living in this part of the world you know there will be wind and usually that wind will get stronger as the day goes on. Sundays ride was no exception. What did confuse me was that we seemed to have 75 miles of head/cross wind and only 25 miles of tail wind. The wind was never particularly strong but it was pretty tiring especially if you didn’t ride in a group all day. Thankfully the last 10 miles had a tail wind. The other thing that wasn’t so good was that many of the roads were pretty bumpy or rough textured. I think the rough roads coupled with being sat down all day (flat century) gave me my first saddle sore in about 20 years. I was pretty uncomfortable towards the end and one of the levy sections on the way back was just plain horrible.
Overall this was a great century and my wife and I enjoyed it. Most of the people we encountered out on the course did not seem to be enjoying the wind but everyone was happy at the rest stops.