Northern California - Any good EASY centuries in September or October?

My buddy and I want to do our first century (longest ride so far is about 78 miles, around Tahoe). Would be willing to travel up to 4 hours or so for something good. I am not seeing anything too exciting so far. Any recs?

Lighthouse in SLO is very easy/flat. It usually sells out early but you can always purchase a registration from someone who won't be using theirs.

Foxy's?

Lighthouse in SLO is very easy/flat. It usually sells out early but you can always purchase a registration from someone who won't be using theirs.

Are you doing Lighthouse? There's a bunch of BFers going?
I _may_ have to give up my slot as a good friend of mine may be having a 40th b-day event that weekend.

Lighthouse is great ... every time I do it, it's a party on wheels. I'm hoping to arrange a good sized group of Norcal and Socal BF'ers .... party!

Thanks for the tips so far! I would love to buy two spots for the Lighthouse if Blast or anyone else has to sell!

Roja,
You might want to check the Lighthouse web site. It has a page for those wanting a registration, or selling a registration. Just keep checking there for anyone selling. Usually, you'll get a lot of people selling 1 week before the ride.

I 2nd Foxy's.

I 3rd Foxy's -- have done it once on a half-bike and once on a tandem -- it's a fun ride with lots of visual and topographical interest, and better-than-average support.

Foxy's is my club's ride. About 4,000' of climbing, runs from Davis west to Vacaville, Fairfield, and around the mountain past Lake Berryessa. Nothing really over 5-7%, so if you & your buddy were able to ride around Tahoe, Foxy's is very doable, especially with two months to train.

Decent food, great support.

http://www.davisbikeclub.org/foxys/2008/index.htm

A friend spoke highly of this ride, the Konocti Challenge, which goes around Clear Lake. I've never done it so maybe someone on the forum can speak up. 6200' of climbing for the full century but the metric is much more doable.

http://www.konoctichallenge.com/

an easy century sounds good, seeing how it'd be my first century.

Is there such a thing as an "easy" century!?!??!?!

I must be a wussie then... or maybe it's because I did my first and only century in [much flatter] Texas, the Hotter Than Hell 100! hahaha! And believe me, 116 degrees was hotter 'n hell!!!

I second that Gary.. nothing is hot like Texas heat. I don't miss it one bit.

Watch craigslist for lighthouse entries also. I've seen a few on there.. just like the deathride. I know its kind of gamble to make the plans for something that isn't a certainty. But if the lighthouse is anything like what I've heard, it would be well worth the risk.

If it were EASY it wouldn't be 100 miles!

If it were EASY it wouldn't be 100 miles!

Hogwash! 100 miles is easy for anyone! :speedy:

Strike that! There's one exception: You forget to butt'r your chamoix beforehand... :eek:

A friend spoke highly of this ride, the Konocti Challenge, which goes around Clear Lake. I've never done it so maybe someone on the forum can speak up. 6200' of climbing for the full century but the metric is much more doable.

http://www.konoctichallenge.com/

Mhendricks and I teamed up last year to ride the Konocti Challenge - a metric century up around Clear Lake, CA. When I say "around", that's exactly what it was.... a ride around the lake.

Now, for some reason I got it into my head that this would be a milk run... a nice easy Saturday ride. I should have paid more attention to the "challenge" part of the ride title. :eek: Turns out, the ride was very, very easy........ for the first 35 miles or so.

We started off in the town of Lakeport, and headed clockwise. It was bitter cold out early on - about 35-39 degrees or so, and we were mostly in the shade. After about 20 or so miles the sun came up enough to take the edge off the chill, and at around 27 miles or so we hit the first serious climb of the day. So, off came the jackets for the remainder of the ride.

After transiting the miserable, ugly little town of Clear Lake, we stopped at about mile 36 for refreshment at the second rest stop. Then, it got pretty ugly. :D Making our way around the south side of the lake, it seemed that for the last 30 miles we were endlessly going up/down gigantic 8-10% rollers. That sure got tiresome after a while!

Actually, it wasn't as bad as it seemed, but since I was mentally set on an easy ride I suffered a bit while coming to grips with reality. Mike graciously put up with my whining, and it was over soon enough. The BBQ at the end was to die for, and soon the pain and suffering of the afternoon was washed away in a tidal wave of tri-tip and ice cream sandwiches. Mmmm...mmmmmmmm.

A few pics:

The Garmin trace - take a look at miles 37 through 55 :eek::
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/Konocti/Konocti.jpg

Late sunrise over the lake, about 15 miles in:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/Konocti/knocti.jpg

Vineyards, at about 40 miles:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/Konocti/vineyards.jpg

Looking down at the lake, about 45 miles in:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/Konocti/lake.jpg

Chasing mike through the rollers, about 15 miles from the finish:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/Konocti/mikeclimbing.jpg

My buddy and I want to do our first century (longest ride so far is about 78 miles, around Tahoe). Would be willing to travel up to 4 hours or so for something good. I am not seeing anything too exciting so far. Any recs?

Wow! There are a lot of great centuries during Sept and Oct.

In addition to the above mentioned rides, consider doing one for a cause!
On September 27th, is the Wine Country Ride to Defeat ALS (http://bwebba.alsa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=EV_BA_2_About). Fantastic ride, great support and it goes to a great cause. Why would anyone ride anyplace else, when you can do this ride??

If that doesn't float your boat and you want to do something more strenuous, The Auburn Century (http://www.auburncentury.com/) is about as hard as they come. This is on Sept 20th and there are a lot of option on this ride.

Also, click here (http://bbcnet.com/RideCalendar/RideListDate.asp) for a list of other rides that you may fine. Good luck.

BR

Don't let Rushfan freak you out. Foxy's statute has 4,000 feet of climbing, but the metric has about 50 feet.
It is a great first century (the metric) for someone who wants an easy, well supported, scenic, first shot at short distance. Good food on the ride, good food after the ride, and 1,200 really great friends riding with you.

Foxy's is my favorite fun day of riding.

Don't let Rushfan freak you out. Foxy's statute has 4,000 feet of climbing, but the metric has about 50 feet.
It is a great first century (the metric) for someone who wants an easy, well supported, scenic, first shot at short distance. Good food on the ride, good food after the ride, and 1,200 really great friends riding with you.

Foxy's is my favorite fun day of riding.

Yeah, the metric crosses an overpass and a little hill to Lake Solano.

If you can ride around Tahoe, there's no reason you can't do the full Foxy's.

When does registration typically open up for Foxy's and how much is it?

Thanks!
Gary

I've had my eye on Foxy's for a while as a first century. Looks like fun. Now if only I can get rid of this achy knee.

Lighthouse is great ... every time I do it, it's a party on wheels.

Not if your are trying to hold the wheel of the M+R tandem :lol: ;)

Yeah, the metric crosses an overpass and a little hill to Lake Solano.

TWO overpasses (for the metric) thank you.

Foxy's will run October 18th this year. Registration will open in late August or early September. You have to keep checking the Davis Bike Club website to find out when. It fills fast. Very fast.

The metric route runs 20 miles from Davis to Elmira, 20 miles to Lake Solano, 22 miles back to Davis (mileages are approximate. Your mileage may vary).

Did I mention that the food is excellent, and why else do we ride?

http://www.davisbikeclub.org/foxys/2008/index.htm

I have heard that the Davis area can have a lot of wind. Is that typically an issue for Foxys? Does it make the event harder than the stats indicate?

The first 20 out to Vacaville and the last 20 back from Winters are the flat section and can be windy, with the afternoons being the worst. Typically, you can pick up pacelines.

Foxy's is an excellent first century choice. Enough hills to make it interesting but not killer.

The first 20 out to Vacaville and the last 20 back from Winters are the flat section and can be windy, with the afternoons being the worst. Typically, you can pick up pacelines.

Foxy's is an excellent first century choice. Enough hills to make it interesting but not killer.

Depends on whether it's a north wind or delta breeze. The delta breeze makes the first part of the ride tough while the north wind can make the end of the ride tough. But the pacelines certainly help.

I have heard that the Davis area can have a lot of wind. Is that typically an issue for Foxys? Does it make the event harder than the stats indicate?

Yes and Yes. ;)

Depends on whether it's a north wind or delta breeze. The delta breeze makes the first part of the ride tough while the north wind can make the end of the ride tough. But the pacelines certainly help.Since the wind blows all the time in Yolo and Solano counties, it's really only a matter of velocity as it builds in the afternoon.

I've checked NOAA to confirm that it isn't my imagination that you can have a headwind at all times riding clockwise loops from Davis to Winters.

I can confirm with empirical experience.

Since the wind blows all the time in Yolo and Solano counties, it's really only a matter of velocity as it builds in the afternoon.

I've checked NOAA to confirm that it isn't my imagination that you can have a headwind at all times riding clockwise loops from Davis to Winters.

I ran into this the first time I rode Foxy's. Head wind in the morning (delta breeze), head wind in the afternoon (north wind). That said, I geared down into the headwind and rode with other folks for protection and still had a great ride.

Thanks for the thoughts on the wind. Is there a difference in this regard between the metric and imperial versions? I just did the Tour de Organics and am wondering about a full century or whether to stick to the metric.

Another October century is the one near Modesto -
http://stancobike.org/chees_wine08.html

How hard is this one? They don't post the ascent distances.

Thanks for the thoughts on the wind. Is there a difference in this regard between the metric and imperial versions? I just did the Tour de Organics and am wondering about a full century or whether to stick to the metric.

Another October century is the one near Modesto -
http://stancobike.org/chees_wine08.html

How hard is this one? They don't post the ascent distances.

The Foxy Metric is a flatlands ride. The century goes over the same flatlands for the most part to get to the hills near Lake Berryessa. You have more shelter on the century when you get beyond the metric route, except when riding in to Fairfield if the delta breeze is going.

The threat of wind might be overblown on this thread....

(it's not that bad most years)