Road Cycling - Recommendations for a first century (L.A.)

I just got my road bike, and I know I need to get it tuned in, and me tuned in to it. However, I am itching to do a century. I have been doing a fast, non-stop 45 - 50 miles every Saturday (on a MTB), so I think I could handle it. I am thinking of no sooner than March.

Do you guys have any reccomendations for a good first one, not too far from Pasadena?

Any reccomended event web sites?

Haven't done this ride in a while, but you should be able to tackle this one, no sweat....
http://www.bikescor.com/solvang/welcome.htm

I believe you can ride the Acura LA Century.

Information is available at

http://www.acuralabiketour.com/index.php

I would probably ride this century for the fun of it, but I'm already committed to 200 km brevet at San Luis Obispo on that day.

Check out the Western States Ride Calendar: http://www.bbcnet.com/RideCalendar/RideListDate.asp

How far from Pasadena is too far? Solvang is a very popular century and there is also the Spring Death Valley Century, both in March. The Ride around the Bear is in June if you like to climb (approx 9,000 ft).
http://ocw.org/bear/bearinfo.asp
http://www.caltriplecrown.com/Centuries/Bear.htm
I do one organized century each year, the Amtrak Century, from Irvine to San Diego, returning on a train. It's pretty flat but it's not until September.
There's plenty to choose from in SoCal.

believe you can ride the Acura LA Century.

I think it follows the route of the LA Marathon and so is only 26.2 miles long. Unless they have changed it for this year.

just do it.

I just got my road bike, and I know I need to get it tuned in, and me tuned in to it. However, I am itching to do a century. I have been doing a fast, non-stop 45 - 50 miles every Saturday (on a MTB), so I think I could handle it. I am thinking of no sooner than March.

Do you guys have any reccomendations for a good first one, not too far from Pasadena?

Any reccomended event web sites?

Crusing the Conejo ride in May. Here is the website. It's in the Thousand Oaks area.

http://www.cvcbike.org/cruisin/index.html

Sheldon

The AcuraLA is only 26 miles. I checked into that.

Fixer, That Solvang one looks good. And my wife is out of town that weekend, so I'll have nothing to do!!!!

That gives me about five weeks on the new scoot. Perfect.

Try OCW's ride around the Bear ride... it is supposed to be a killer !

if ya wanna roll down to OC this Saturday, my bike club is doing a Century ride... they have a 100, 75, 64, 50, 44, 25 mile rides planned... unsupported, never too hilly... a good fun ride

http://www.ocrebels.com

unfortunately, I got roped into flying to AZ to see the in-laws... ugh

jeff

Sipper: Dude, you can't call it a club......or the Rebel Police will come get you in your sleep and deport you to the People's Republic of Irvine until your attitude is readjusted!!

oh yeah... that's right.. I forgot.. uhh "It's not a club... it's an attitude" hehe I guess they are not offically a club... but they are a good group of people to ride and BS with :-)

Jeff

The SFVBC - www.sfvbc.org - has centurys of all levels going throughout the year. The first one I did several years ago was relatively flat and a lot of fun. It started at CSUN, made its way over the hill into Santa Monica and then up the coast to Oxnard, where it turned inland. Then it wound back through Moorpark and Simi Valley and back to Northridge. I averaged over 20 mph and got all cocky.

Needless to say, the next century I did had a few more hills and kicked my ass.

Good luck.

55/Rad

Sorry about the Acura link.

I'll be going to San Luis Obispo on March 7, and riding in the 200-km (124-mile) brevet.

You could probably handle that one quite well. It basically goes from SLO to Pismo Beach, up to Morro Bay then along Hwy 1 to the Piedras Blancas lighthouse. The return bypasses Pismo Beach.

Information is available at

http://www.slobc.org

Once there look under SPECIAL EVENTS then click on BREVETS.

My recommendation for a first century is the Amtrak Century. Kinda easy, very scenic and rides along the beach for the most part. Sometimes the secret to riding a century isn't so much the miles but sitting on your butt all that time.