Northern California - 2009 Century a Month

It's official - I'm shooting to ride a century in each month of 2009. It all started with Ron's Patterson Pass ride on January 31 and me realizing that if I was able to stretch that out to 100 miles, I'd get my January century in just the nick of time.

So this thread is for folks to track the centuries they've done this year whether they're shooting for one a month or just one :)

January
1/31 - This was Ron's Patterson Pass ride (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=507208). I rode from my house to Fremont, met up with Donald, and we continued to the official ride start at the Dublin/Pleasanton BART. At that point I had 35 miles in already and by the time we finished the ride I had 102.7 on the day. Afterward I took BART up to Oakland and recuperated at my girlfriend's place. Bikely route (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/246756)

February
2/21 - Glenn's Sierra/Welch/Morrison ride (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=513508). Met up with Chris, Pete, Ramon, Marco, and Ruth at Menlo Park Caltrain and we rode across the bay to the official start at Fremont BART. We did the official 65 mile loop and then rode home again. My mileage for the day was 102.7, exactly the same as the previous month! Bikely route (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/254046)
2/28 - Henry Coe (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=515758) bike trail loop for 106 miles.

March
3/28 - The Marshall Wall (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=525250) ride. Including riding to and from the start I got in 108 miles. Approximate route here (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2683070) (although I got totally lost following Pete through the wiggle to Fairfax)

April
4/25 - "Something Quick" ride. Started out as a quick climb of Page Mill and grew from there. Hit Page Mill, W84, Tunitas, Kings, WOLH, EOLH, Alpine, and W84. 97 miles. Bikely (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/285389)

May
5/16 - Western Wheelers Corralitos ride. Overpriced ostrich sausage sandwich. Hot. Ladybugs. 114 miles. Bikely (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/296141)

June
6/20 - Mt. Madonna Century (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=9146388&postcount=1826) including a couple miles of dirt plus the Mt Bache and Loma Prieta dead end. Solo. 98.6 miles, 8300'. Gmap (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2940435)

July
7/14 - Death Ride. 124 miles, 15000'

August
8/31 - Commuting century (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?538104-Century-of-commuting). Left home at 4am and rode 60 miles on my way to work. Rode 45 more miles after work. 104.6 miles, around 1000' of climbing. Flat!

September
9/5 - Hamilton backroads ride including Kincaid. 120 miles, 12000' or so. Gmap (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3163498)
9/29 - Yet another weekday century. 12 miles of commuting and then a 91 mile after-work ride. 103 miles, 3000'. Toaster (http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=85631)

October
10/31 - Coast ride. San Francisco to Santa Cruz to Los Gatos. 127.4 miles, 5300'. Toaster (http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=90532)

November
11/14 - Sierra and Welch Creek ride plus a couple misc deadend roads. A bit rainy in the beginning but then it cleared up. 106.5 miles, 5500'. Toaster (http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=92123)

December
11/13 - Rainy ride to Gilroy with Ygduf and bam. 104.4 miles, 3200'. Toaster (http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=93374)

I am game to join you in the Century a Month club (minus January in my case - I'll make it up later).

February
2/21 - I was also on Glen's Sierra/Welch Rd. ride (65 mile loop). From Menlo Park train station to the Fremont start was about 35 miles round trip. Plus I had about 12 miles to and from the station for a total of 112.

March
3/7 - Western Wheelers Club ride. Gunn HS, Kings Mtn, 84, Stage, Pescadero, W. Alpine - 75 miles. To and from the start: 19 miles. (Without Ben's idea, this would have been about a 90-92 mile ride.) I added a couple of mile loops at regroup points. I added a couple of miles by going down Moody at the end. And I did several flat miles in Menlo Park/Atherton to end with a total of 102 miles.

3/28 - Ron/Pete's "Marshall Wall" ride - GG Bridge, Marshall, Fairfax/Bolinas. 100 miles on the nose from Sports Basement. Plus 3 miles to meet Ramon on the Peninsula for a total of 103. (This covers January since I did not start the program until Feb.)

April
4/4 - Marco's Long Mountainous Ride - 127 miles dawn to dusk; OLH, Pescadero, Bonny Doon, Alba, Rt. 9

May
5/16 - Western Wheelers ride, 130 miles; Redwood City to Los Altos start, Redwood Gulch, Hwy 9, Soquel, Corralitos, Eureka Canyon, Los Altos, Redwood City. It was well into the 90s - HOT HOT.

5/30- Western Wheelers, 114 miles. Gunn HS/Redwood Gulch/Alba/Zayante/Skyline, 11,000 vertical. Pleasant weather.

June
6/20 - Terrible Two Double Century. 200 miles, 16,000 ft. vertical, perfect weather.

July
7/25 - 100 miles. Was supposed to be a Western Wheelers ride doing both sides of Mt. Hamilton. Only one other riders showed so we decided to go our own ways. I got 33 miles on the flatlands (Alameda to Mitchell Park, Palo Alto, then Foothill Expressway and some diversions onto local streets for miles) before I hit Moody. Then out to Pescadero and Stage Rd. to Tunitas. A few misc. miles added on to get exactly to 100.

August
8/1 - Marin Double Century. Throw in a wrong turn and the total was 214 miles, 16,000+ vertical feet.

September
9/5 - Western Wheelers ride, 100 miles. Old La Honda, Pescadero, Pigeon Point, Gazos Creek, Alpine. 4 miles tacked on at the end to reach 100.

9/19 - Knoxville Double Century. 201 miles.

October
10/17 - Solo ride - 102 miles. Page Mill, Gazos Creek, Pescadero, Stage Rd, Purissima Creek Rd, Tunitas

January
None Officially, but I got one in on 12/22 which was pretty close to January ;)
12/22 - Ron's Sierra/Calaveras/Palomares/etc ride on my solo bike. Rode from San Mateo for the start and to Mtn View at the end... Total was 115 miles.

February
2/21 - Glenn's Sierra/Welch/Morrison ride (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=513508) on the Tandem with Ruth. Rode to/from home, plus most of the original route. Total was 109.8 miles. Bikely = http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Glen-s-Hill-route-to-and-from-home

March
I want to do this: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Double-Century-Training-SMC
Or something like this: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Mines-Sierra-loop-from-home
[To prep for DMD]

April
DMD: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Devil-Mountain-Double :eek: (some minor inaccuracies... but I don't feel like making my own version)

I know some more people got centuries in recently besides Marco, Chris, and me. Post up!

I did one yesterday. Thanks to a wrong turn, we came in at 104 miles. A preview of the May 23 NorCal ride. I'll probably do it again in April. I want to make sure that I have all the twists and turns worked out before leading the ride.

Here's the route:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/folsom/102484260913

Looks like I am not getting one for March :(

Unless I can use my Santa Cruz Mtns ride on 4/4 as my post-dated March century ;)

4/18 is DMD... so April will eclipse March for sure.

So how anal are you about the actual recording of a century? There's a good reason why I didn't post mine up ... was just shy of 100 ... but if you count rounding up ... :p

Round to the nearest 10 miles :)

Round to the nearest 10 miles :)

and +/- one week, but no double counting ;) :lol:

Wow, you guys are generous. Round to the nearest 10? Ok, in that case, I guess you can add mine ... Marshall Wall ... 96.5 miles.

Jeez, last year I had 3 or 4 centuries by this point. This year, my longest ride is the 71 miler last Saturday.:(

JB

OK, I'll play.

January: Rode down Hwy 1 from my house in Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz and return. 98 miles, 4400 ft.

February: I missed this month due to all the rains and such.

March: Marshall Wall ride on March 27th with the BF group. 96 miles, 6600 ft.

April: Planned 4/4 ride with Marco on his DMD training ride. 101 miles, 8100 ft.

May: Wine Country Century - registered.

This century newbie is feeling good after his first one this past Saturday. Let's see how long I can keep this up. :thumb:

March
3/28 - Marshall Wall Ride (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=525250) - 96 miles

April
4/25 - "Something Quick" Ride (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=534890) - 100 miles

May
05/17 - Marco's Pescardero RR Ride (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=540572) - 93 miles in the hot, hot, heat

This century newbie is feeling good after his first one this past Saturday. Let's see how long I can keep this up. :thumb:

March
3/28 - Marshall Wall Ride

That's a pretty tough first century - especially considering you were riding with some strong cyclists!

JB

That's a pretty tough first century - especially considering you were riding with some strong cyclists!

JB

Mellum's gonna be a strong rider. He was doing just fine yesterday... He'll be in the lead pack by June. :thumb:

Here's my rides:

January
1/31 - This was Ron's Patterson Pass ride 66.5 miles plus 23 miles each way from my house to the ride start. Total of 112 miles.

February
2/21 - Glenn's Sierra/Welch/Morrison ride. Rode 25 miles before the official start at Fremont BART. Did the 65 mile loop and then rode home. My came out to 96 miles, not quite a century.
2/28 - Since I didn't get an official century the previous week, I did the Henry Coe Ride, plus the ride to the start and back for 106 miles.

March
3/28 - The Marshall Wall ride. Starting from the Sports Basement I got a total of 95 miles. Not quite 100 again, but the next day I did get in 14 miles on the BMX with my kids before 10:30 start of the previous day. So 109 miles within the 24 hr window :).

April
4/11 - Got my April century in early. Went on a DMD training ride, http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=530150, for a total of 116 miles.

May
5/30 - Fremont Bart to Mt Diablo. Route included Palomares to and back, Norris Canyon, Dublin Canyon and Mt Diablo to the peak for a total of 88 miles. Total adding the ride to/back from home came out for a total of 101 miles.

June
6/7 - Sequoia Century, 200k version. Total came out to 123 miles.

Mellum's gonna be a strong rider. He was doing just fine yesterday... He'll be in the lead pack by June. :thumb:

yeah, young and strong. Even after 95 miles he did a hard sprint back to the Sports Basement.

If I do everything on my calendar for May, I'll have two centuries and one double that month.

And what have I done so far this year? Two metrics and a handful of half-centuries. :P (all this month, I think)

Thanks for the challenge Ben. I got my 5th century in so far. No way would that be the case if not for your game. So there's still time for everyone else, at least to do a Century a Month for the rest of the year. (Personally, I can see rounding to the nearest mile but beyond that is just fudging it.)

If I get +/- one week then I would still be compliant. haha.

For May, I got in 106.5 miles (Wine Country soggy century), and 135.8 miles (Davis, partial double century).

and 135.8 miles (Davis, partial double century).Hey now, you completed the double (metric) century!

In defense of my 97 mile April century:
I don't have a cyclometer* and instead I plot my routes out after the ride on bikely or gmap-pedometer. So the figures I post are guaranteed to be free from "miscalibrated wheel circumference" error. Also I don't measure the distance I ride in circles waiting for regroups. So the distances I post should be taken as "minimum" distances, not actual distances :)

- If I *did* have a cyclometer and it said 97 when I got home I surely would have ridden around the block a few times. As it was I didn't realize I only had 97 miles until I was off the bike, out of my clothes, plotting the route out on my computer, and surely not getting back on the bike that day.

In defense of my 97 mile April century:
I don't have a cyclometer* and instead I plot my routes out after the ride on bikely or gmap-pedometer. So the figures I post are guaranteed to be free from "miscalibrated wheel circumference" error. Also I don't measure the distance I ride in circles waiting for regroups. So the distances I post should be taken as "minimum" distances, not actual distances :)

- If I *did* have a cyclometer and it said 97 when I got home I surely would have ridden around the block a few times. As it was I didn't realize I only had 97 miles until I was off the bike, out of my clothes, plotting the route out on my computer, and surely not getting back on the bike that day.

(JUDGE'S VOICE) Defense noted and accepted. Exception granted.

I updated the first post with the rest of my centuries for this year. In the process I realized that I have two months where I didn't quite achieve 100 miles: April (97) and June (98.6). Oops. But I am still satisfied enough to call my mission accomplished :)

This turned out to be a great way to keep myself riding throughout the year and not slip into an extended period off the bike which I have done in years past. Also all but one of the centuries I did this year were self-supported, something I had never done before. This really changed my concept of a century from a Really Big Deal where you pay money to ride with hundreds/thousands of other people to just another ride that happens to be long.

congrats Ben! way to kick some mileage butt :)

Kudos Ben. You didn't exactly pick "easy" centuries there, either.


Mellum's gonna be a strong rider. He was doing just fine yesterday... He'll be in the lead pack by June. :thumb:

Nostradamus is that you? I've been on the wrong end of that equation a couple of times.

Hey Ben, great personal achievement and the big question...are you going to do it again this year?

Started the year thinking I wanted to get serious about racing, but realized right away I didn't have the drive I once had and also came to the realization that I was a little burned out having a 10,000 plus miles in 2008.

Primavera Century-April
Ron, Richard and Todd...various other characters. It was pretty hot and tough one.

Wine Century-May
Lots of BF'rs, but a complete Clusterf**k. I had a great time with lots of laughs...in between flats.

Davis Double-May- Lot's of BF'rs. Most difficult double yet.

AIDS LifeCycle-June-Arrgh...Legs were fine...Butt+new Brooks saddle= Suffering, but did do it fixed gear all the way to LA.

July till December=comatose...don't even wanna go there.

January 1st 2010- Start riding again, need some interesting goal to go after....? hmmm....

Thanks everyone :o

Pete, as to whether I'll do it again, I think the answer is no. At least not in exactly the same way. It does feel good to have set out with this long term goal 11 months ago and to have worked steadily toward it. Actually I think I could do well to apply that kind of discipline to other parts of my life :innocent: But a couple of the rides were pretty forced, just for the sake of keeping the streak alive according to the "rules".

Case in point - August. I got that century on very last day of the month which happened to be a Monday. Yeah I also worked 8 hours that day. Not exactly fun although I suppose it was good experience if I ever wanted to do something like Furnace Creek 508 :rolleyes:

So if I did it again I'd loosen the rules. Instead of sticking to the "century per month" rule I might do something like "10 centuries a year with at least 2 per season". It would hopefully allow for more flexibility with the rest of life while still keeping me riding year round.

But for 2010 I think it will be the year of the double. Not 12 of them though! But maybe 3 :)