Road Cycling - Anyone else do the Sudden Century this past Sunday?

Joliet, Illinois. At 60 miles you had to turn north into a 15-20 mph headwind for a solid 20 miles. Small potatoes to some here I'm sure, but after that at the 80-mile SAG stop I have never felt so bad in all my life! Thank god for the folks at that rest stop! Still, finished the century (was actually a shade over 106) in just over 6 hours of saddle time. My first century and definitely not my last.

I was out there but did not brave the full century, we rode the metric century which was also a bit long (70 miles). All in all it was a really well organized ride. My ride was going really well until about the 60 mile mark when I got a flat tire.

Did you get a chance to ride on the chicagoland speedway?

The Speedway was great fun. I never knew just how steep those banks were until I rode up one! I thought the ride was very well done - the road signs were clear and luckily I had no problems. I did get chased by two dogs, but thankfully both times I was on a slight downhill section so was able to get away! I'm thinking of the Udder Century up in Union as the next one.

Joliet, Illinois. At 60 miles you had to turn north into a 15-20 mph headwind for a solid 20 miles. Small potatoes to some here I'm sure, but after that at the 80-mile SAG stop I have never felt so bad in all my life! Thank god for the folks at that rest stop! Still, finished the century (was actually a shade over 106) in just over 6 hours of saddle time. My first century and definitely not my last.

I was going to ride that ride. Three friends of mine did. One rode the century and complained more about the cold than he did the wind -- although he did mention he could only eek out a 15 mph average. That's VERY slow for him. He mentioned that he noticed people were opting for the 62 route rather than the century when they got to that "fork in the road".

I'm riding the Arlington 500 on May 16 and probably TOMRV. My buddies and I try to ride as many local rides as possible. We ride RAGBRAI together pretty much every year. I don't belong to a club but ride occasionally with Spokes out of Wheaton and a little with the Naperville Bicycle Club. The church I go to in Naperville has a lot of roadies and we're thinking of starting our own group ride.

I don't belong to a club but ride occasionally with Spokes out of Wheaton and a little with the Naperville Bicycle Club. The church I go to in Naperville has a lot of roadies and we're thinking of starting our own group ride.

You're local to me! I ride with the Naperville Spokes shop, which is also my LBS, most Sundays. We leave at 08:00 and take a route that heads out west of Rt. 59. Great group of people.

You're local to me! I ride with the Naperville Spokes shop, which is also my LBS, most Sundays. We leave at 08:00 and take a route that heads out west of Rt. 59. Great group of people.

I have thought about checking out the Sunday morning Naperville Spokes ride. I have crossed paths with that group a few times -- usually on my way home as I start my Sunday rides before the sun comes up. I have also seen your group while on my way to church (it's the big yellow box on the Ogden curve over by the post office). I have heard good things about the Naperville Spokes group ride. I rode with Wheaton Spokes a lot two years ago, mostly on Tuesdays and a few of the Saturday rides.

Hopefully we'll cross paths some time!

Speedway was awesome!! What a great view that was. Had no clue that the incline was so, ahem, steep. Very cool experience. Thought the ride was handled very well. Great SAGS along the way. I did the full ride, thanks to some friends I met along the way. Wouldn't have been able to finish without some supportive partners. Wind was a %#$^&, but what do you expect for Chicago in May? There isn't any corn yet to block it. My only complaint was the last 10 miles or so on the trail and having to unclip every 1/2 mile or so to get through the intersections. Other than that, loved the ride. Can't wait for the next one!!

I thought I had done every club invitational ride in Northern Illinois. Now I realize, I've never ridden the Sudden. I have ridden the Joliet Club's AIBR--which was very well done. I also know some of the Joliet Club members...good folks.

I wouldn't have been good for a century last Sunday. Due to an injury, my season has gotten off to a slow start.

You should enjoy the Udder Century. It, too, is very well done.

I am planning to ride TOMRV this year, too.

Oh, MacMan...congratulations on your first century! I remember my first. It was the Blackhawk Bicycle Club's Haldeman Hundred, which was renamed TOSOC (Tour of Scenic Ogle County), but is now defunct. This year, the Blackhawks aren't hosting a century at all. Somewhere around mile 90 on that ride, I was feeling bad. BAD! I did a mental inventory.

Have I eaten enough? Check.
Have I had enough to drink? Check.
Have I peed enough? Ut oh.

I was feeling so tired and beat up that I didn't realize how badly I needed to urinate. A quick stop in a field of tall corn and I was good to finish.

Centuries get easier with practice. The more you do, the stronger you get. Keep up the good work.

And, everyone, come ride the Old Mill Century out of Oregon, Illinois on August 22.

www.oldmillcentury.com

Joliet, Illinois. At 60 miles you had to turn north into a 15-20 mph headwind for a solid 20 miles. Small potatoes to some here I'm sure, but after that at the 80-mile SAG stop I have never felt so bad in all my life! Thank god for the folks at that rest stop! Still, finished the century (was actually a shade over 106) in just over 6 hours of saddle time. My first century and definitely not my last.


I did the full 100 as well. :D I was talking myself out of the 100 but when I got to the rest stop I decided to go for it. The wind was miserable. :mad: I also agree with having to unclip so often on the return flight from Frankfort. I wish they would have had an additional sag stop near Grant Park. The 40 mile round trip without a place to refill was kind of a pain.

I still enjoyed the ride. The wind was a pain but it wasn't as bad as last years ride!

where do these dupage county ride go? I keep meaning to join either the naperville cycling club, or spokes but I'm an afternoon riser and feel a bit intimidated riding my track bike with a bunch of roadies. Good to hear that 630 is filled with such strong riders. jeff

Regularguy:
I ldid earn a lot on that 40-mile loop between 40 and 80, the main lesson being that I hadn't managed my food well at all. In fact I didn't eat anything on that loop and I'm clearly not strong enough to go that far without some fuel! After eating a powerbar and a peanut butter sandwich at the rest stop, the change in the way I felt just 10 minutes later was amazing.

KHS:
The bike path was becoming a pain towards the end - especially when the odometer read 102+! Still, I was impressed by the sheer scale of that path and the interconecting ones. Great for some early morning training with no cars.

Stickerguy:
No need to feel intimidated at all with the Naperville Spokes crowd - we would welcome new riders of any ability/machine. I was new this year too!

No need to feel intimidated at all with the Naperville Spokes crowd - we would welcome new riders of any ability/machine. I was new this year too!

How are the Naperville Spokes owners? Raouf (Wheaton) never spoke directly to me except for one time when I took off with a group of guys (he caught us, then he took the rest of the group and left us while we waited for him). There was one guy in the group he didn't like and he didn't hide that from anyone -- there was one night when that guy was pulling and Raouf intentionally took the rest of the group behind a building to lose him (no joke -- I'm not making it up). We were at the Eola/Ferry Road intersection. I don't have a bicycle from Spokes, although I bought my Carnac shoes and my Speedplay pedals there. But he always was very congenial to the people in the group who ride Spokes bicycles. I brought a friend along with me on one of the Saturday morning rides and Raouf talked his arm off -- of course, my friend has very nice equipment and obviously spends a lot of money on bicycling. I loved the people in the group but didn't go back last year because Raouf always made me feel like I wasn't welcome. I also never received any communication from Spokes even though they have my email, phone, and home address. It sounded like other people in the group were at least getting emails to advise them of rides and changes to ride times, etc....

Sorry for asking a question in the middle of your thread -- this has bugged me for a while!!!

You're local to me! I ride with the Naperville Spokes shop, which is also my LBS, most Sundays. We leave at 08:00 and take a route that heads out west of Rt. 59. Great group of people.

Wow! You guys take me back. I grew up in Naperville (over ten years ago) and frequented both the Spokes in Wheaton and the one in Naperville. I bought my first real bike (1988 Specialized HardRock) from the Naperville store. Thanks for the memories.

Sorry for asking a question in the middle of your thread -- this has bugged me for a while!!!

No problem at all! I honestly can't speak to the Wheaton shop. I've always found Basil (naperville) to be most congenial. Of course, I have bought two bikes from him and a slew of other related items which has to help! Equally, he's happy to do the odd tweak and tune-up for free. He was the one who encouraged me to get out with the group and was sure to keep an eye out for my first two rides or so. He routinely chats with the riders during the ride and tries to keep it a group ride as much as possible through pace-lines and letting a couple of the really strong riders go off on their sprints. I haven't ridden with any other group, so I can't compare, but I've done a host of sports over the years from rugby, to martial arts, to cycling and haven't hesitated to leave a group if I felt awkward or if I felt they were elitist in any way. I can't say I've thought that about the Naperville group at all. If Basil ever pulled the stunts you mentioned, I wouldn't ride with them. I've never had an email from Basil either. Since I pop in a lot, that doesn't bother me. And it doesn't amaze me either - the spokes website isn't finished and I doubt it ever will be!

Wow! You guys take me back. I grew up in Naperville (over ten years ago) and frequented both the Spokes in Wheaton and the one in Naperville. I bought my first real bike (1988 Specialized HardRock) from the Naperville store. Thanks for the memories.

LOL! My wife and I have been thinking about looking at the Pacific Northwest as a place to relocate to!

LOL! My wife and I have been thinking about looking at the Pacific Northwest as a place to relocate to!

Well, let me be the first to extend an invitation to come riding with us here. There are a few BF members I ride with.

KHS...for that 40 mile loop...we just made our own stop at the gas station. Felt good to walk around after being in the wind for so long.

Equally, he's happy to do the odd tweak and tune-up for free. ..He was the one who encouraged me to get out with the group ..He routinely chats with the riders during the ride and tries to keep it a group ride as much as possible through pace-lines and letting a couple of the really strong riders go off on their sprints. ..If Basil ever pulled the stunts you mentioned, I wouldn't ride with them. I've never had an email from Basil either. Since I pop in a lot, that doesn't bother me. And it doesn't amaze me either - the spokes website isn't finished and I doubt it ever will be!

Thanks, Mac. I feel a little better about Spokes (Wheaton) now. They are the same about helping you out when you come into the shop, especially Sammy. Their group rides are a lot like what you describe about the Naperville shop rides but it sounds like Basil might keep it a little more light hearted and group focused. I need to get back into a regular group ride. It was easy to see the improvement in my riding the summer I rode with Spokes.

KHS...for that 40 mile loop...we just made our own stop at the gas station. Felt good to walk around after being in the wind for so long.

I did the same thing! :) I don't think I would have made it back to Monee on just one water bottle!