Southern California - 2009 So Cal C-A-M Challenge - Data Only

Ok folks it’s that time of year again to start thinking about your goals for 2009. What better goal than to do a century a month to keep your fitness level up and to be ready for any organized ride you wish to do without worrying if you’re “in shape” for it. Riding a century a month is a great way to train for doing Bevets (http://www.rusa.org/), Double Centuries (http://www.caltriplecrown.com/schedule.htm) or Multi day tours (http://www.planetultra.com/).

CENTURY FAQ:
A century is defined by the UMCA (http://www.ultracycling.com/index.html) as being from 90-149 miles and completing it within an 11 hour time limit including time off the bike and maintaining an average of 8.33mph.

What Counts?
• Any Organized/sponsored ride that is billed as a century
• Any informal group or solo ride that totals between 90-149 miles
• Any Indoor Century: You may ride indoors "centuries" (six hours) for credit.
• Tandem Century: Centuries may be done on a tandem bicycle. A tandem rider accumulates tandem mileage independent of partner.

• Double centuries count, but only as a single century.
• This is self reported. The honor system is all we have so if you lie about your data may you be cursed with thorns on every trail you ride. :eek:

PLEASE, DO NOT REPLY TO POSTS OR POST ANYTHING OTHER THAN YOUR DATA.

Please post the data for your century/month as follows:

Date of Ride:
Type of Ride: (group ride or solo ride)
Name of organized ride or route:
Actual Mileage:
Ride Time:
Total Time:
Avg. Speed:
Altitude Climbed: (if available, either by route map, or cycling computer)
Weather conditions:
Synopsis of Ride: (please be respectful as you never know who might read this)


Remember, even if you don't make all twelve, please still post your data for as many months as you can - all centuries are an accomplishment! So, although this is a challenge, it is in the spirit of camaraderie!

Below is the official list for 2009. If those of you who are planning to go stealth this year, or are on the fence want to join the fun please let me know. If you do not see your name or century months updated, please PM me, and I will update your info. Thank you!

RIDERS WHO ARE TAKING THE CHALLENGE:




GP 4/12
jsigone 1/12
merckx89 2/12
Rick@OCRR 3/12
robertkat 11/12
scvroadie 1/12
Shnuddy 7/12
Shprung 11/12
viros20 1/12
WhiteCarbonDude 10/12




REMEMBER: YOU HAVE TO FILE A RIDE REPORT WITHIN 14 DAYS OF THE RIDE (except for Jan.) IN THIS THREAD TO GET CREDIT

Alright, maybe I was a little hard on you, since the UMCA allows up to 2 make up rides you can start as late as March (http://www.ultracycling.com/standings/year-rounder.html)

Date of Ride: 1/17
Type of Ride: group/solo ride
Name of organized ride or route: OCW Seal Beach Century modified from home
Actual Mileage: 101.5
Ride Time: 05:48
Total Time: 07:22
Avg. Speed: 17.45
Altitude Climbed: 1500 (Ciclo HAC4)
Weather conditions: Cool day with strong winds avg. temp 66.1 degrees
Synopsis of Ride: This was my first fixed gear century for 2009 and I rode from home to the start of the ride 16 miles away in Irvine. We rode through Irvine, down Laguna Cyn and up PCH all the way to the Queen Mary where we turned around and came back down PCH where I peeled off at the SART and headed home for another 19 miles alone. This was a pretty flat century perfect for the fixed gear.

Date of Ride: 01/17/2009
Type of Ride: Century
Name of organized ride or route: Orange County Rebel Riders Monthly Century
Actual Mileage: 101.2
Ride Time: 5:05
Total Time: 6:16
Avg. Speed: 15.4
Altitude Climbed: 2,000 ft. approx.
Weather conditions: 45 at 7:00 start, 75 by noon, headwind out, tailwind back
Synopsis of Ride: Rode with Wick and Julie early on (Jon, Julie say's "Hi!" worked with you on Butterfield last year @ Mini-Stops), then mostly solo.
Missed first rest-stop, then made one up in Corona at mile 49.8 (It's A Grind Coffee). Irvine to
Corona and back via Yorba Linda. Lovely day, overall.

Rick / OCRR

I'm out this year, focusing on more high intensity for racing

Date of Ride: January 3, 2009
Type of Ride: San Diego Randonneurs Brevet
Name of organized ride or route: Rainbow 200K
Actual Mileage: 124.06
Ride Time: 8:30
Total Time: 10:04
Avg. Speed:
Altitude Climbed:
Weather conditions: Light rain / drizzle. Didn't rain hard enough to make me stay in bed; just enough to give me hope of good weather and then make me miserable.
Synopsis of Ride: La Jolla to Rainbow via San Elijo, Del Dios, Couser and Rice Canyons then to the coast and south back to La Jolla. My feet were soaked in the first hour. Riding in the rain sucks. However, the randonneurs are some of the friendliest cyclists I've ever met.

[1] Date of Ride: Sat 1/10/09
Type of Ride: Brevet 200k
Name of organized ride or route: Pacific Coast Highway Randonneurs 200k
Actual Mileage: 128
Total Time: 8:30
Avg. Speed: 15 (using 128miles/8.5 total time)
Altitude Climbed: ~ 2,300
Weather conditions: windy, very windy, then somewhat come.
Route & photos: http://www.shprung.com/sfvbc/?ride=BR-200k
More info & others ride reports: [/URL]http://www.pchrandos.com/html/brevets.html (http://www.shprung.com/sfvbc/?ride=12459)

- - - - - -

[2] Date of Ride: Sat 1/24/09
Type of Ride: group ride
Name of organized ride or route: R.J 50th Birthday Century
Actual Mileage: 129
Total Time: 9:26
Avg. Speed: 13.7 (using 129miles/9.433 total time)
Altitude Climbed: ~ 6,000
Weather conditions: started with 3 hours of rain, rest of day mostly dry
Route & photos: [URL]http://www.shprung.com/sfvbc/?ride=12459

Rode from home (Encino) to CSUN, did the century and rode back home. got home at 5:30PM - just about dark.

Date of Ride: 1/17/2009
Type of Ride: Group ride
Name of organized ride or route: Stagecoach Century
Actual Mileage: 100.1
Ride Time: 6:52:38.
Total Time: 7:20 ish
Avg. Speed: 14.6
Altitude Climbed: 4,827
Weather conditions: Almost perfect...arm warmers only to start, never too warm, just a light wind.
Synopsis of Ride: Stagecoach is a well organized ride. I started with a group from my desert area, but of course could not keep up. I enjoyed the company of many other riders, did hook up with some great men who pulled me home the last 20 miles. My first century after major surgery last August. Woo hoo! :thumb:

Date of Ride: 1/25/2009
Type of Ride: Group ride
Name of organized ride or route: Santa Clarita Century (pre-ride)
Actual Mileage: 100.5
Ride Time: 6:40:00.
Total Time: 7:30
Avg. Speed: 15.0
Altitude Climbed: 6,954
Weather conditions: Great weather, sunny and clear all day, cool in the morning, a little wind midway through the course, otherwise a perfect day for January.

Synopsis of Ride: We pre-rode the course for this our first annual Century in Santa Clarita, to be held on February 28th. The route basically follows the beginning of the Stage 7 route for the Tour of California, which happens the week before this ride. At the intersection of Aliso Canyon and Angeles Forest Hwy, the route changes. This route offers alot of climbing, with only a couple of steep ramps. It is a perfect challenge for seasoned century rider. Come join us on February 28th. For those that procrastinate it will allow you to achieve your February century on the last day of the month.

Date of Ride: 1/31/2009
Type of Ride: Race
Name of organized ride or route: Poor College kids RR
Actual Mileage: 102
Ride Time: 5:12
Total Time: 6:00
Avg. Speed: 19.8
Altitude Climbed: about 4000
Warm up, race and cool down.


#2
Date of Ride: 2/1/09
Type of Ride: Race
Name of organized ride or route: Mothballs crit
Actual Mileage: 98, but I'm counting it anyway, because I turned my garmin off for a little while before I started warming up
Ride Time: 5:24
Total Time: 9:00
Avg. Speed: 18sih
Altitude Climbed: 2000
Weather conditions: Mothballs crit, cat 3 in the morning, cat 1/2/3 in the afternoon with a bunch of rolling around in between for warm up and cool down for both races.

Date of Ride: 1/31/2009
Type of Ride: solo ride
Name of organized ride or route: Azusa
Actual Mileage: 97.5
Ride Time: 6:15:00.
Total Time: 7:05
Avg. Speed: n/a
Altitude Climbed: n/a
Weather conditions: Sunny

Synopsis of Ride: Took a solo ride from my home in south gate up to san gabriel river, to santa fe dam then 15 miles up asuza, turned at the bridge and ate lunch at the general store. This was a very spontaneous ride, I had no clue what route Id end up doing, very glad I chose to climb.

[1]
Date of Ride: Sat 2/07/09
Type of Ride: Brevet 300k
Name of organized ride or route: Pacific Coast Highway Randonneurs 300k
Actual Mileage: 198
Total Time: 15.5 hours
Avg. Speed: 12.8 (using 198miles/15.5 total time); the Garmin show avg speed of 15.7mph which can be calculated to 2.8 hours of breaks/off-bike.
Altitude Climbed: ~ 6,000
Weather conditions: 4 hours of strong rain follow by less to no rain
Route & photos: http://www.shprung.com/sfvbc/?ride=BR-300k

[2]
Date of Ride: Sat 2/21/09
Type of Ride: Going to watch TOC
Name of organized ride or route: SFVBC ride # 321
Actual Mileage: 100.2
Total Time: 9:29 hours
Avg. Speed: 10.6 (using 100.2miles/9.5 total time); the Garmin show avg speed of 15.6mph which can be calculated to 3 hours of breaks/off-bike. (We did rode, stop, wait for the pros, and rode back)
Altitude Climbed: ~ 7,000
Weather conditions: mostly about 50.
Route & photos: http://shprung.com/sfvbc/?ride=321

Date of Ride: 2/14/09 Happy Valentine's Day :)
Type of Ride: Group
Name of organized ride or route: Tour de Palm Springs
Actual Mileage: 103.5
Ride Time: 7:04:39
Total Time: About 8
Avg. Speed: 14.6
Altitude Climbed: Around 3,500 I think. 2,200 of it comes in the first 20 miles
Weather conditions: Really great considering the forecast was originally for rain. It was cold, in the low 40s at the start, but the skies were blue, it warmed up nicely, but not so much that you had to haul around all your warm clothes.
Synopsis of Ride: Even though this is my hometown ride, it was the first time for me. We met at a friends house who live about 2 mile from the start. Headed out at about 6:35 toward downtown, so actually started out ahead of the pack. Quite a bit of cross and head wind in the first 20 in addition to all that climbing. But, the reward was the next 30 was mostly downhill with a tailwind. Fabulous. Had a flat, some huge piece if metal that gouged my tire. Although I made it the 10 miles or so to the next SAG, it was recommended to replace the tire. So I did and had no other problems. I saw NYgirl777 at the 2nd stop, but no other BFers.

#1
Date of Ride: 02/13
Type of Ride: solo ride
Name of organized ride or route: Anaheim to Palm Springs
Actual Mileage: 101.5
Ride Time: 6:00
Total Time: 6:59
Avg. Speed: 16.9
Altitude Climbed: 4514 feet VDO MC1.0+
Weather conditions: Rain, cold, windy as hell. Average temp 52.6, low of 44
Synopsis of Ride: I've had this idea for a couple years in my head to ride to Palm Springs Friday do the Tour de Palm Springs Saturday and ride home on Sunday having completed 3 centuries in a row. Since my father lives out there I sent him my clothes and extra SE and Heed I needed for my trip. The weather was not good for this trip but I headed out anyway. I waited till the rain stopped at home to leave and traveled north on the SART. From there I took Green River through Corona and various roads ever to Victoria, a great road for bikes that follows the orange tree groves for miles. All the roads were wet like I had just missed the rain but up ahead looked bad. Through Moreno Valley I stopped at In-n-out for some water and the temp was dropping with the wind I was shivering. Up and over Redlands Blvd to San Timoteo Rd I hit two detours that took me up and out towards Oak Glen were it started raining at almost 3000 feet the temp was 44 and the cross winds were 20-30mph. I headed down Beaumont Ave to 6th St and finally the wind was in my favor and I was headed down Ramsey St at 30mph. From there you get on the 10 Fwy and exit the next off ramp at Fields Rd. There is an old frontage road that follows the fwy till you get to the 10 again at the 111 and take it to Palm Springs.

#2
Date of Ride: 02/14
Name of organized ride: Tour de Palm Springs i.e. "TandemPalooza"
Actual Mileage: 103.5
Ride Time: 5:27
Total Time: 6:28
Avg. Speed: 19
Altitude Climbed: 3406 feet VDO
Weather conditions: Windy and cold at the start avg temp 59, low 43, high 65
Synopsis of Ride: Met up with my club'o tandems at the start and had strong head/cross winds for the first 14 miles. Flatted @ 13.5m just before the first CP and my team left me for dead. I caught up with one of our tandems and road with them for the day. I felt surprisingly strong and was doing most of the work for my team mates. Picking up many riders along the way and many thanked me for pulling so much. My friend wanted to get home to his wife for Valentine's Day right after the ride and he asked me if I wanted a lift. I decided to take him up on his offer and go home a day early and surprise my wife for V Day. Killed my plans on doing 300 for the weekend but it made my wife happy:love:

Date of Ride: 2/22/09
Type of Ride: Small group (2)
Name of organized ride or route: Oceanside to Huntington Beach and back
Actual Mileage: 111.42
Ride Time: 7:04:25
Total Time: 8:40
Avg. Speed: 15.7
Altitude Climbed: not much
Weather conditions: cloudy, high 60s

RobertKat and I rode up the coast to have coffee at the Starbucks on Main in HB. We could have turned around at any of the other 100 Starbucks we rode by but stuck with the original plan of going to the only f&*^)#g store in the chain without a bathroom.

Date of Ride: 2/14/09
Type of Ride: 75 miles race + wu+ cd
Name of organized ride or route: Valley of the sun stage race day 2
Actual Mileage: 93
Ride Time: 4:28
Total Time: 4:28
Avg. Speed: 21.4
Altitude Climbed: I think it was about 4000
Weather conditions: cloudy, high 60s

Date of Ride: Feb. 21, 2009
Type of Ride: Planet Ultra Double Century
Name of organized ride or route: Cameo Real Double Century
Actual Mileage: 197.2
Ride Time: 12:21
Total Time: 14:35
Avg. Speed: 15.1
Altitude Climbed: 8,200 feet
Weather conditions: 54 to start, High 71, 60 at finish
Synopsis of Ride: Good route, plenty of bike lanes, good food and friendly folks staffing all the checkpoints. Excellent weather, excellent ride, no complaints!

Rick / OCRR

Date of Ride: 2/22/09
Type of Ride: Small group (2)
Name of organized ride or route: Oceanside to Huntington Beach and back
Actual Mileage: 111.42
Ride Time: 7:04:25
Total Time: 8:40
Avg. Speed: 15.7
Altitude Climbed: nothing significant
Weather conditions: cloudy, high 60s

With Grumpypig, copied from what he said, as it's a pefect description. "...rode up the coast to have coffee at the Starbucks on Main in HB. We could have turned around at any of the other 100 Starbucks we rode by but stuck with the original plan of going to the only f&*^)#g store in the chain without a bathroom." It's true, I think we found the only Starbucks that doesn't have a toilet. It was a good ride though, except for the head wind going north.

Date of Ride: 03-01-09
Type of Ride: (group) large, organized
Name of organized ride or route: Gran Fondo San Diego (http://www.granfondosandiego.com/)
Actual Mileage:98
Ride Time: 6:24:07
Total Time: 8:00:00
Avg. Speed: 15.3 mph
Altitude Climbed: about 4900'
Weather conditions: nice, clear, warm into the 80's in the eastern mountains
Synopsis of Ride: Great ride. A lot of good climbing, especially the 7 miles up Honey Springs. Course well marked, good support. Some roads not so great but the entire route is new to me, and I'll likely want to ride parts of it in the future. Route map link. (http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/690581530155)

Date of Ride: 2-28-09
Type of Ride: Club ride
Name of organized ride or route: Celo Pacific Elfin Forest loop, plus riding back from Carlsbad
Actual Mileage:89.3
Ride Time:5h16min
Total Time:about 8 hours, lots of talking at lunch time
Avg. Speed: ???
Altitude Climbed: about 3100ft according to routeslip.com
Weather conditions: Sunny, mid 70's
Synopsis of Ride: First long ride of the year. Woke up and decided to ride to meet the team rather then drive there. Easier to get bonus miles I guess.

[1]
Date of Ride: Sat 3/07/09
Type of Ride: Brevet 400k
Name of organized ride or route: Pacific Coast Highway Randonneurs 400k
Actual Mileage: 255
Total Time: 18:27
Avg. Speed: 13.8 (using 255miles/18:27 total time); the Garmin show avg speed of 15.8mph which can be calculated to 2.4 hours of breaks/off-bike.
Altitude Climbed: ~ 8,000
Weather conditions: Started a bit cold (~40) and was very nice all day, and again drop to the 40th at night.
Route & photos: http://www.shprung.com/sfvbc/?ride=BR-400k

[2]
Date of Ride: Sat 3/26/09
Type of Ride: night ride
Name of organized ride or route: Can't do Solvang double, so let's do 140 miles at night insteed
Actual Mileage: 142.25
Total Time: 11:14
Avg. Speed: 12.7 (using 142miles/11:14 total time); the Garmin show avg speed of 15.5mph which can be calculated to 2 hours of breaks/off-bike.
Altitude Climbed: ~ 4,700
Weather conditions: Warm day (75+) that got down to 50 during the night in some areas.
Route & photos: http://shprung.com/sfvbc/?ride=night-1

Date of Ride: 3/21
Type of Ride: OCW Saturday Century Group
Name of organized ride or route: Vertical Jon's TorToure de OC Century
Actual Mileage: 124.46
Ride Time: 08:19
Total Time: 10:15
Avg. Speed: 15
Altitude Climbed: 10,072 (VDO MC1.0+)
Weather conditions: Cold day with cloud cover the whole day avg. temp 59.7 degrees
Synopsis of Ride: This is the hardest century in Orange County designed by me. I had been trying to get Chuck Bramwell, our trusty ride leader, to add it to the rotation and he finally gave in. I rode from home to the start in Irvine 15 miles away. We had a good turn out with about 15 riders to take on this monster quad burner. Chuck announced I was the ride leader and I stayed up front on every climb and regrouped many times to stay together. The first climbs are mild through Santa Ana and Orange then onto Anaheim Hills and over to Yorba Linda. With 1800 feet so far it's a good warm up, with the next 25 miles you will climb 4000 feet with gradients in the teens. After Yorba Linda and Anaheim Hills most of the guys were done and headed home with 7000 feet but the few of us were out for some more tortoure. Now the easy climbing starts through Santiago Cyn and Modjeska with Saddleback Ranch thrown in. Onto Santa Margarita Pkwy then back through the canyon via Live Oak and Santiago.

Date of Ride: 3/25/09
Type of Ride: Solo
Name of organized ride or route: Mid-week, double loop, desert ride
Actual Mileage: 100.3
Ride Time: 6:37
Total Time: 7:15
Avg. Speed: 15.1
Altitude Climbed: Around 1700 (yeah, I know, it's the desert)
Weather conditions: Great. Cool in the morning, never too hot. Very little wind :thumb:
Synopsis of Ride: The ride was so smooth there is very little to report. No problems, no flats. Did get chased by a couple German Shepherds once.

Date of Ride: 4/04
Type of Ride: Solo
Name of organized ride or route: OCW Mount Baldy Century
Actual Mileage: 98.81
Ride Time: 05:59
Total Time: 06:24
Avg. Speed: 16.40
Altitude Climbed: 7599 (VDO MC1.0+)
Weather conditions: Perfect day, Cool morning, low 50's with big puffy clouds over the mountains avg. temp 61.1 degrees
Synopsis of Ride: Woke up late for the group start at 7:30 so I left the house at 7:43 to catch the group in Chino at the McDonald's. Once with the group there's a climb out of Chino Hills where I dropped the group and rode up GMR/GRR to Baldy Village then down Baldy Rd into Claremont/Pomona then through Diamond Bar and Brea/Placentia to home in Anaheim.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=100047&stc=1&d=1238907803

[1] Date of Ride: Sat 4/11/09
Type of Ride: SFVBC level 5 weekend route
Name of organized ride or route: MOORPARK RIDGE REVERSE
Actual Mileage: 110 (rode from home to CSUN where SFVBC start/end)
Total Time: 7:00
Avg. Speed: 15.7 (using 109miles/7 total time)
Altitude Climbed: 3,300ft
Weather conditions: Light wind, and about 55-60 all day; overall very good weather for riding
Route & photos: http://shprung.com/sfvbc/index.php?ride=853#posts

This is a flat century with only few climbs, and the avg speed (riding speed) was 17.3mph which felt fast; especially when we didn't draft much. the first half was harder facing the wind (I think it was a stady 10-15mph) but in the way back we enjoy that same wind.

[2]Date of Ride: Sat 4/18/09 - Sun 4/19/09
Type of Ride: PCH randos Fleche
Name of organized ride or route: FlecheEaters Mount Whitney to the see
Actual Mileage: 310 (Mount Whitney to ventura, and then ventura to sf.valley)
Total Time: 29 hours
Avg. Speed: 10.7 (using 310miles/29 total time); but that include very long (2 hours at a time) stops. The Garmin shows 17.1
Altitude Climbed: 6,000ft, but Altitude loss is about 13,000ft
Weather conditions: excelent for the first 24 hours; way-to-hot (90-100) in the sfvbc on sunday
Route & photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/shprung/200904Fleche

While not specified as a century, nor double, nor tripple; it was a l-o-n-g ride so I added here.
I recomand to all to join the PCHrandos (http://www.pchrandos.com/) for the next year 200k, 300k, 400k, Fleche, and 600k.

Date of Ride: 4/11/09
Type of Ride: Solo
Name of organized ride or route: Rancho Mirage loop
Actual Mileage: 100.5
Ride Time: 6:39
Total Time: 7:30
Avg. Speed: 15.1
Altitude Climbed: Around 2400
Weather conditions: Great. Stayed cool all day. Wind started to come up after noon, but not too crazy.
Synopsis of Ride: The ride was so smooth there is very little to report. No problems, no flats. (yes, I did copy that from my last entry :p)

Date of Ride:`April 11, 2009
Type of Ride: group
Name of organized ride or route:Mulholland Challenge
Actual Mileage: >100 (computer died)
Ride Time: ?
Total Time: 9 hour
Avg. Speed: ?
Altitude Climbed: 10,000
Weather conditions: sunny, High 60s
Synopsis of Ride: I put my report in the Road Cycling forum

Since we are allowed make ups, I almost forgot about this one.

Date of Ride: 03-15-09
Type of Ride: group and then solo
Actual Mileage:100.25
Ride Time: 6:21
Total Time: unknown
Avg. Speed: 15.8 mph
Altitude Climbed: unknown
Weather conditions: very nice. cool, sunny
Synopsis of Ride: Up the coast from Oceanside to a bit north of Dana point with Patty and Eric. Eric continued on while Patty and I stopped for food then turned back to return to O'side. I continued alone roaming south more or less along the coast to end in Solana Beach.

Date of Ride: April 18, 2009
Type of Ride: Very Small Group (3)
Name of organized ride or route: Lauretta's First Century
Actual Mileage: 101.2
Ride Time: 6:18
Total Time: 7:35
Avg. Speed: 14.5
Altitude Climbed: 1,255 ft.
Weather conditions: Sunny, Low 60' start, High 90's finish
Synopsis of Ride: It was Lauretta's first century, my first on a Fixed Gear, and Arthur joined us as well. Yorba Linda regional to SART to Huntington Beach Starbucks,
Back up SART to Rio Java for food and more coffee!
Stop in Corona (It's a Grind - Bedford Canyon) for food and still more coffee!
Out to Tom's Farms, snack food (no coffee), then back through Corona to
the finish at Yorba Linda Regional.

Conclusion: climbs and descents are difficult on the fixed gear (42 x 15 = 75"), but do-able!
First time too on Sella Anatomica saddle; very comfy!

Rick / OCRR

Date of Ride: 4-26-09
Type of Ride: 2 of us
Name of organized ride or route: Irvine to Cbad.
Actual Mileage: 98.2
Ride Time: 6.5 hours
Avg. Speed: 15.3
Altitude Climbed: approx 2500'
Weather conditions: Nice. In the 60's, but a bit of wind here and there keeping it chilly in the morning.
Synopsis of Ride: Met up with Patty (CbadRider), took the Amtrak north to Irvine. Looped out of Irvine using the OCW Amtrak route, around and down through Lake Forest and Mission Viejo into Capistrano, then south to Encinitas, east into the coastal hills and back north to O'side. Out of Irvine and again later in Cbad, we got some wind that pushed us around and made it tough going. Lot's of fun though, even the wrong turns I made. The chicken sandwich and fries at Carls Jr for lunch in San Clemente wasn't too bad either.

[1]
Date of Ride: Sat 5/02/09
Type of Ride: Orgenized group ride (What they like to call 'The toughest Century in Southern California)
Name of organized ride or route: Breathless Agoney (http://www.cyclingpros.com/onyx.htm)
Actual Mileage: 112.07
Total Time: 7:56
Avg. Speed: 14.1 (using 112miles/7:56 total time); the Garmin show avg speed of 15.8mph which can be calculated to 0:50 hours of breaks/off-bike.
Altitude Climbed: ~ 11,300
Weather conditions: Perfect for climbin; start at 54, drop to 50, back to 60, and drop to 48. Wind help all day long to clmb.
Route & photos: http://shprung.com/sfvbc/?ride=BA

Visit http://www.cyclingpros.com/onyx.htm for everything abour Breathless agony

[2] - this one is not a century (nor two, nor 3), but just a very long ride:
Date of Ride: Sat 5/09/09
Type of Ride: 600k
Name of organized ride or route: PCH rando 600k
Actual Mileage: 378
Total Time: 30:25
Avg. Speed: 15.8 (Garmin 705).
Altitude Climbed: ~ 13,500
Weather conditions: Nice. not too hot during the day and not too cold during the night, but it was very wet for few hours (from about 3:30am to 7:00)
Photos/Video with description as a ride report: http://picasaweb.google.com/shprung/600k

Date of Ride: 5/02
Type of Ride: Stage II KOM
Name of organized ride: Breathless Agony
Actual Mileage: 115.7
Ride Time: 7:21
Total Time: 8:00+
Avg. Speed: 15.72
Altitude Climbed: 11831 VDO MC1.0+
Weather conditions: Perfect avg. temp 66.3 low 57
Synopsis of Ride: http://www.cyclingpros.com/onyx.htm

Date of Ride: 05/16/09
Type of Ride: group
Name of organized ride or route: San Diego Century (http://encinitasrace.com/sdc/)
Actual Mileage: 105.5 (says my computer)
Ride Time: 6:34:41
Total Time:7.5 hours
Avg. Speed: 15.9 mph
Altitude Climbed: ~ 4300' (according to a route map) felt like more.
Weather conditions: Cool and a bit of morning fog in the coastal areas, very warm in the inland mountains
Synopsis of Ride: Wonderful. I had a very good time and I think this has been the best ride I've done so far this year. The course covered some of the popular local riding areas - Del Dios, Elfin Forest, Poway, RSF & Fairbanks Ranch. The climb to Ramona on Scrips Poway Pkwy and 67 was a challenge but very enjoyable. The sag stops were nice with plenty of water and snacks. Volunteers were nice and supportive. Roaming sag and mechanical support provided by B&L. For the most part the people were nice. I met a girl. :love: There were the usual idiots though. I'll do it again next year if the course is different. My bike work flawlessly, and the new wheels set made a big difference, especially on the climbs.

Date of Ride: 05/16/09
Type of Ride: group
Name of organized ride or route: San Diego Century
Actual Mileage: 103.5
Ride Time: 7:19
Total Time: 8 ish
Avg. Speed: 14.2
Altitude Climbed: My Garmin said 6,310 (although robertkat seems to have a way different number. It felt like 6310!)
Weather conditions: The weather was very good. Cool and cloudy for the first couple hours. Breezy and cool after that. A little warm on the climb in Poway, but not too bad. Ramona always seems hot and stinky, and it was again.
Synopsis of ride: The folks who put this on seem to do a little better every year. Plenty of snacks, liquid, this year they had sandwiches at the 5th aid station (veggie too, yeah!). I had a tough time with the hills this year (do they get harder each year?), but that's probably because I'm in relatively lousy shape. :p The course is very well marked. I did the ride alone this year (hubby had other commitments), but met lots of nice folks along the way. I think I saw Markg getting his stuff ready before the ride, but other than that saw no familiar faces.

Date of Ride: May 23
Type of Ride: Stage III KOM
Name of organized ride: Heartbreak 100
Actual Mileage: 100.8
Ride Time:
Total Time: 7.5 hours
Avg. Speed:
Altitude Climbed:
Weather conditions: mid 70s to low 80s, light winds
Synopsis of Ride: Spent 5 hours on the freeway driving up on Friday. My POS Silca pump, made by little Italian elves, quit working Saturday morning. I spilled hot coffee on my hand 1/2 hour before the start. Then the ride started, I saw my BF buddies and everything was OK.

Date of Ride: Saturday to Sunday 6-13 / 6-14-09
Type of Ride: Traning aka The SoCal Epic of all Epics
Name of organized ride or route: Traversing the Transverses (http://shprung.com/sfvbc/?ride=TTR)
Actual Mileage: 251 miles
Total Time: 24.5 hours
Avg. Speed: 10.5; the Garmin show avg speed of 13.5mph which can be calculated as close to 6 hours of breaks/off-bike.
Altitude Climbed: 20,400!! :twitchy:
Weather conditions: Perfect for climbin yet misty and fogy up to 6,000ft. 40 at 8,200ft and 65 in the 3,000 ft.
Report: It like being/doing AC century, the Bear, and Breathless Aguny all in one day. For photos/videos click here (http://picasaweb.google.com/shprung/TTRJun2009).

Date of Ride: 6/13/2009
Type of Ride: group
Name of organized ride or route: Herb's NCN Almost Flat Century
Actual Mileage: 98
Ride Time: 6:14
Total Time: Over 9 :eek:
Avg. Speed: 15.7
Altitude Climbed: My Garmin said 2,200(Although, according to Herb it is more like 1000 :))
Weather conditions: The weather was great. Cool and cloudy opened up to mostly sunny by late morning.
Synopsis of ride: The whole ride was marred by an accident about 30 miles into ride. A rider went down when his bike basically fell apart. Fortunately, quick response by passing motorists as well as the other riders near him helped stabilize him until the ambulance arrived. He was severely injured, but it looks like he will recover. We also had about 20 flats over the course of the ride. The result was the over nine hour total time on this ride. The people were great, and the course was pleasant, along the coast with very little climbing (as advertised).

Date of Ride: May 13
Type of Ride: Solo
Actual Mileage: 117.9
Ride Time: 08:08
Total Time: 09:15
Avg. Speed: 14.5
Altitude Climbed: 7215
Weather conditions: Cool, humid mostly in the 60's wet roads in Redlands and light rain, then warm headwinds all the way into Perris.
Synopsis of Ride: Had to be in Perris for a family get together so I rode my bike there but took a detour through Moreno Valley, Redlands, up an over Oak Glen to Beaumont and San Jacinto to Perris. Instead of a 42 mile strait shot from home it turned into a 118 mile tour of San Bernardino.

Since doubles count as one...

Date of Ride: 6-27-09
Type of Ride: group, but I was mostly solo or with one or two others
Name of organized ride or route: LAW Grand Tour (http://www.LAWheelmen.org/grantour.htm)
Actual Mileage: 199
Ride Time: 13:05
Total Time:15:20
Altitude Climbed: 8500 -ish, according to the website
Weather conditions: perfect. The usual coastal stuff, with the expected warm inland areas.
Synopsis of Ride: There will be reports, but it was great. My first double. Best ride of the year. I road the highland route (http://www.lawheelmen.org/gtroutes.htm). I thought it was well planned, though several sections made me wish for a triple and wider tires. The climbs were challenging but not horrible. The areas we travelled through were all new to me, and I'm glad to have seen it by bike. I can't wait until next year.

Date of Ride: July 25,2009
Type of Ride: solo
Route: Irvine train station to home in Escondido (modified Amtrak route)
Actual Mileage: 107
Ride Time: 6:26
Total Time: 8:30
Altitude Climbed: 4000-ish
Weather conditions: Pretty nice. Cool but very humid in Irvine. Warmed up in Lake Forest. Very nice in Mission Viejo and on the coast. Got warm on Pendelton and it was hot going through Del Dios.
Synopsis of Ride: Took the Metrolink north to the train station in Irvine. Hit the road about 7:30. Nice weather but humid so I was not happy about that. About 25 miles in I missed a turn and added about ten miles and some climbing. Good stuff. Down into Capistrano I found a Starbucks for a nice break stop. Filled bottles and had iced coffee and a breakkie sandwich. All good and I'm on my way. Down through San Clemente taking the "bike route", then flew through the park and Camp Pendelton. Stopped at the LBS in O'side to chat for a bit. Stopped in C'bad for an iced coffee and strawberry tart. Flew down the coast, then made a strong finish getting east from Solana Beach up through the hills of RSF and Del Dios to get back home to Escondido. Lots of fun.

Date of Ride: 7/25/2009
Type of Ride: solo with a great friend
Name of organized ride or route: The Girlfriend Century
Actual Mileage: 98
Ride Time: 6:12
Total Time: 8
Avg. Speed: 15.8
Altitude Climbed: My Garmin said 2,200
Weather conditions: The weather was fabulous, light breezes, clear sky. Even when we went inland for the one short climb it wasn't too warm. Nice tailwind coming home.
Synopsis of ride: I needed to get in my July century before it got too late. It has been way too hot in the desert to even try. I emailed an LA area friend and invited myself on a ride. She was kind enough to not only offer a place to stay, but to ride the whole century with me. :thumb: Good friends are worth their weight in gold. :)

Forgot to update the C-A-M, but I am not sure if the GRR (1200k aka 750miles) can count as (at least one) century ride.
Date of Ride: July 6-10, 2009 Monday-Friday
Type of Ride: RUSA and ACP approved brevets
Name of organized ride or route: the Gold Rush Randonnée
Actual Mileage: 758
Ride Time: 80hours
Avg. Speed: about 14mph
Altitude Climbed: 29,000ft
Ride report & photos/videos : http://picasaweb.google.com/shprung/GRR1200k

#7

Date of Ride: Aug 15
Name of ride: OCW Mt. Baldy Saturday Century
Type of Ride: Solo/Group
Actual Mileage: 114.1
Ride Time: 07:45
Total Time: 09:10
Avg. Speed: 14.7
Altitude Climbed: 9721
Weather conditions: Humid morning in the 70's warmed up to 90 in the IE
Synopsis of ride: Met up with the core OCW Saturday Century riders in Anaheim, rode with them till GMR then I was mostly alone the rest of the ride. Went to the Ski lifts for the first time this year, it was hot up there. The rest of the ride was typical, mostly down hill but with a strong head wind killed the legs.

#8

Date of Ride: Aug 23
Type of Ride: Solo
Actual Mileage: 100.11
Ride Time: 05:41
Total Time: 05:57
Avg. Speed: 17.6
Altitude Climbed: 4810 VDO MC1.0
Weather conditions: Cool to hot and humid avg temp 78.0
Synopsis of ride: Solo century from my home to San Clemente and back. The ride starts through Santiago Canyon up and over Live Oak and down Antonio to Ortega then down to the coast. My one and only water stop was at the Carl's at the end of El Camino Real. I returned up the coast to Niguel, Alicia, Paseo, Los Alisos, Murilands, Irvine Center to the bike trail up over Jamboree back to home in Anahiem.

Date of Ride: 8-22-09
Type of Ride: brevet
Name of organized ride or route: SDR Summer 300k
Actual Mileage: 189
Ride Time: 12
Total Time: 14
Altitude Climbed: unknown
Weather conditions: warm, windy
Synopsis of Ride: Started at the transit station in Old Town. North to Sunset Beach and back. Going north was easy. We had a nice tail wind and the weather was cool, not too warm yet. Going back south we fought a strong head wind all the way to San Clemente. That wore me out. Had to take I5 back, which isn't so bad, though not as scenic as the base. Most of the ride I was with a few people. In fact, almost all of the riders stayed in a group until Oceanside. The last 50 miles I was riding alone. Going up Torrey Pines in the dark is very zen like, but the Rose Canyon path is creepy at night. Good fun but the rough roads and wind really get to you. Bike handle perfectly, especially with the new tires (Grand Bois "Cerf" 26mm)

Date of Ride: 9-21-09
Type of Ride: solo
Actual Mileage: 99 miles
Route: Escondido to Oceanside via San Diego (described below)
Ride Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 7 hours
Avg. Speed: 16.5 mph
Altitude Climbed: unknown (not much)
Weather conditions: Cool, humid, windy
Synopsis of Ride: On the fixed beastie using a 42x16 gear. Left my house in Esco heading North West to Carlsbad in a rambling sort of way, then turned South to make my way down the coast in a more or less direct way. Side routes through Encinitas, Solana Beach, and Del Mar. Torrey Pines, Rose Canyon, and through Mission Bay into downtown SD. Nice break at It's a Grind (http://www.itsagrind.com/). Back the way I came more or less but continuing North through Carlsbad to Oceanside to meet some people for food and then catch the train home. The weather was nice for the most part. Perfect temps though it was quite humid and windy so I brought home a nice coating of beach sand on my legs and arms. I had to fight a head wind (very strong out of SD and going through Cardiff). I wears on a man considerably. Still had lots of fun, and it's been a while since I did a long ride on that bike, so she was all smiles.

August
Date of Ride: Aug 29
Name of ride: SLO to Moorpark
Type of Ride: 300k
Actual Mileage: 196
Total Time: 14:16
Avg. Speed: 13.7
Altitude Climbed: 4700
Weather conditions: Hot!
Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/shprung/20090829300k

September
Date of Ride: Sep 26
Name of ride: Malibu to Carpinteria & back
Type of Ride: 200k
Actual Mileage: 127
Ride Time: 7:24
Total Time: 8:00
Avg. Speed: 15.9
Altitude Climbed: 2400
Weather conditions: Nice coastal weather of about 80F, but disappointing wind direction
Photos: http://www.shprung.com/sfvbc/?ride=MCC

Date of Ride: 9/26
Type of Ride: group/solo ride
Name of organized ride or route: OCW Oceanside Century modified from home
Actual Mileage: 138.00
Ride Time: 07:58
Total Time: 09:25
Avg. Speed: 17.40
Altitude Climbed: 5066 (Ciclo HAC4)
Weather conditions: Cool morning with thick fog, avg. temp 76.2 degrees, hi/low 94/61 toasty the last 40 miles
Synopsis of Ride: This was my last longish training ride before THE 508 so I took it easy and went down the coast with a few friends. I rode from home to the start 17 miles away. Met up with Chuck, Greg and Livia. My goal was to pull for them the whole day and pretty much accomplished that except for when I let Greg go up front and I hung off the back a few as not to draft completely.

Date of Ride: 10/04/09
Type of Ride: group
Name of organized ride or route: Tour de Poway
Actual Mileage: 101.5
Ride Time: 05:33
Total Time: 06:15
Avg. Speed: 18.2 mph
Altitude Climbed: 4500 or so according to the website
Weather conditions: Quite nice. Cool, partly cloudy. A bit windy but not awful.
Synopsis of Ride: Pretty fun and a personal best for me. Met a few forums people at the start, and we left together but didn't really stay together (sorry guys but I told you I was going for it). Rode with (Calamari)Chris until the first rest stop. Poway RD is not a bad climb but I don't know if I'd want to do it during heavy traffic. Pulled a big group through the San Pasqual Valley, tried to get through Escondido on my own, then got into a sketchy paceline on Palomar Airport Rd. Cruised down the coast and worked with a few people through Del Mar and Carmel Valley. More or less made myself into a one man pain train along Camino del Sur to Pomerado, then I picked up a couple people I paced with earlier and we took pulls to the finish.

October
Date of Ride: 10/10/09
Name of ride: Malibu to Carpinteria & back
Type of Ride: 200k
Actual Mileage: 127
Ride Time: below 7 hours
Total Time: 7:30
Avg. Speed: 18.9
Altitude Climbed: 2400
Weather conditions: 7:30am is was about 60ºF; by noon it was about 68, and at the 3pm it was about 75. Overall it was a very good weather.
Photos: http://www.shprung.com/sfvbc/?ride=MCC

I guess this could count for my October "Century"


Date of Ride: 10/3/09
Name of ride: Furnace Creek 508
Type of Ride: Time Trial Race (no drafting)
Actual Mileage: 509.58
Ride Time: ~35H
Total Time: 42:16
Avg. Speed: ~14
Altitude Climbed: ~35,000
Weather conditions: Windy, Hot, Cold, Windy
Synopsis of Ride: http://www.the508.com/ The 26th Anniversary Furnace Creek 508 Bicycle Race on October 3-5, 2009. Founded by John Marino in 1983 and known as "The Toughest 48 hours in Sport," it is the world's premier ultramarathon bicycle race. This 508-mile bicycle race is revered the world over for its epic mountain climbs, stark desert scenery, desolate roads, and its reputation as one of the toughest but most gratifying endurance challenges available, bar none. The course has a total elevation gain of over 35,000', crosses ten mountain passes, and stretches from Santa Clarita (just north of Los Angeles), across the Mojave Desert, through Death Valley, to Twentynine Palms. Solo, two-person relay, and four-person relay divisions are offered with a field limit of app. 200 racers.

Date of Ride: November 29
Type of Ride: solo mostly
Name of organized ride or route: Out & back to San Clemente
Actual Mileage: 98.5
Ride Time: 05:33
Total Time: 6:40
Weather conditions: Chilly but quite nice

Synopsis of Ride: Woke up early, got ready to go. Stood in the kitchen having coffee and oatmeal as I look at the weather trying to decide change my clothes, just go, or not go. It was 43 and wet out, but I hit the road at 8:30 ish. Booties and warm gloves make all the difference. Out of Escondido the roads were still a little wet from all the rain but not terrible. The clouds were all gone by the time I got into Carlsbad. Stopped to grab a Cliff bar and pee then turned to head north. Through the base and onto the path. At the parking lot I stashed my arm warmers and winter gloves, stretched and put on regular gloves. It was warm enough now that the winter weight knickers and wool jersey were plenty. I like to be on the cool side anyhow. On the path going under the tunnel, it was one giant puddle. Easy enough to just roll slowly through. Two guys on fancy race bikes didn't think much of it and turned around. Who trains on race wheels anyhow? Especially on those roads. A head wind from Oceanside all the way to San Clemente was more of a side wind, so it slowed me but not too bad. As I'm getting into San Clem, I passed a cafe and see some familiar bikes and jerseys, only to hear my name. Stopped and made that my break/turn around. A group of people from the club made an impromptu ride so I joined up. A nice tail wind and good company made the trip back to Oceanside go quickly. Continued south into C'bad. Quick stop for coffee and pastry, then over the hills via Airport Rd and such to head east and home. The last five miles gave me a ferocious head wind on a straight shot through town to my house. Down in the low gear and barely holding 15 mph. Felt like I was standing still at some point. Home safe with no issues except a dirty bike and tired legs.