Peninsual Metric Century - Southworth/Gig Harbor Wa. ?

[BengeBoy]

Anyone recommend this? It's Sunday June 1.

It's sponsored by Tacoma Wheelmen; starts in Southworth or Gig Harbor. Organizer don't show a map on their site, but this map is on bikely....

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Peninsula-Metric-Century

[Oroluk Lagoon]

I hope to ride it if I get home from Mexico in time. Haven't ridden the exact route before, but having ridden most of the area I tell you it's a lot of rolling hills varying between sea level and about 400 feet.

[East Hill]

I think I might try to make it for that one.

East Hill

[FlowerBlossom]

I'll be in Toronto that day. Post the ride, anyone, who rides. It will be a good reference for next year.

[East Hill]

All right, I am just about to head out the door for this one :) . Hope to see some of you there--I'll be riding the tiny Sachs, so wish me luck on the hills :D .

East Hill

[Marinman]

My wife, friend and I did this today and I thought it was a great ride. We ended up doing the metric (her first), it was actually a bit chilly and hilly (add 12 miles to get to the ferry and back). Best $20 ride out there.

[East Hill]

Ah, too bad I didn't run into you!

The start (at Gig Harbor)

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/My%20bikes/IMG_2472.jpg

A nice romantic image of Gig Harbor

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/My%20bikes/IMG_2473.jpg

Camels!

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/My%20bikes/IMG_2474.jpg

The Southworth Ferry

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/My%20bikes/IMG_2476.jpg

Me, at the second rest stop

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/My%20bikes/IMG_2477.jpg

I was still smiling at the end, too! As Marinman says, quite a hilly ride, and a bit cool to boot. I was glad that there were as many rest stops as there were--it was a good excuse to take a breather from those hills. Nice paved roads for those lovely long swooping downhills, and only a bit of nasty chip seal. Hills were numerous, but not too hilly on the metric century, with the exception of the one right turn up the hill heading for the Gig Harbor finish/rest stop. I was absolutely unprepared for that, and had to restart at the bottom of the hill (bear in mind that the Sachs is a ten speed).

I met a very nice gentleman who belongs to the Wheelmen who had ridden the course just the previous day :eek: . I never did get his name, but I hope I encouraged him enough to join us here :D .

East Hill

[Oroluk Lagoon]

It seemed as if there was almost no one on the first loop for the 100M route and it was very hilly. I had averaged 18.5MPH until I started that loop. By the time I finished the loop and got back to the rest stop my average had dropped to less than 16. It was my first full century and first on my new bike. It was a good ride but a little cool for my thin blood. East Hill, thanks for taking and posting the pictures.

[East Hill]

Yes, it was an interesting, spread out bunch of riders. By the time I got back to Gig Harbor, there were at least two hundred riders who had started from there, and I'd never seen them. I suspect a lot of people did the short loop.

My problem with doing the full centuries is time. I get off work early in the morning, and have to go to work by 8.00 pm the same day. That will change in a few weeks, but my new job will have Sunday off, and rotating days off through the week.

Still, at least I can do the organised rides :D .

East Hill

[BengeBoy]

Looks like a great ride....I will watch for it again next year.

East Hill: still haven't fixed the Rodriguez? You are a glutton for punishment.

[East Hill]

Looks like a great ride....I will watch for it again next year.

East Hill: still haven't fixed the Rodriguez? You are a glutton for punishment.

Actually, the Rodriguez is ready to roll, but I am trying to get as much butt time on the Brooks as I can :lol: .

I may try switching the Brooks to the Rodriguez, especially if I am going to be doing any more hill climbing. Although, the gentleman who rode with me started chatting with me because he noticed that my bike was....tiny :thumb: .

East Hill

[kevinger]

East Hill, Hilly it was. We had a blast doing it, but we were dog tired after the ride. On a tandem it was a real challenge. We were very glad our LBS mechanic Phil of Phils South Side in Fed Way 253-661-3903 told us to skip the 100 miler. We did the 69 miles of the "100k" in 5 hours 20 minutes. You may have passed up one of the big hills. We were dressed in Neon bright green long sleeve jackets. It was great though as that is the 3rd club sponsored ride we have done. Having a great time.

[East Hill]

Yes! I remember you :) . There were actually three or four tandem riders that I spotted (usually they were ahead of me, too).

I don't think I could have handled the 100 miles on the Sachs--perhaps the Rodriguez, but not the Sachs! I've been riding a lot of nice rides this year, but this one was my favourite so far.

Which other rides have you done?

East Hill

[Oroluk Lagoon]

A couple on a tandem caught up with me but then stopped at the corner where the lady with the big camera was taking photos. Anybody know if those photos have been posted to the web somewhere?

[East Hill]

A couple on a tandem caught up with me but then stopped at the corner where the lady with the big camera was taking photos. Anybody know if those photos have been posted to the web somewhere?

:eek: !

I don't remember seeing any photographers along the route. Was that just for the 100 miler?

East Hill

[Oroluk Lagoon]

I think the photographer was at the corner of Ray Nash Dr. and 36th (near Horsehead Bay), which would have made it at just over 90 miles for the 100m and just over 50m for the 100k.