Road Cycling - Anyone else doing the Elephant Rock Century this Sunday?

http://www.elephantrockride.com/courses.htm

Anyone doing this ride? Anyone done it in the past? This year will be my first time. The course doesnt look too bad. Lets hope the wind is better than last weekend.

I'm signed up for the 65 mile ride. I have a friend I'm starting with who's going to ride the 100, so we'll start together and just part ways at the appropriate turnoff. There's a couple of others in my office who are interested too, and will probably ride either the 50 or 65.

Wind last weekend was shocking! Hopefully it's a little bit less breezy... :)

I would hate to wuss out, but if it is as windy as it was this past weekend I will not complete the 100 miles.

Did it a few years back, but I deem it too dangerous a ride!

Why is it dangerous?

Why is it dangerous?

1. One woman biker from Boulder was killed that year - sort of got to me.

2. The route from Monument to Palmer Lake was filled with cars vying with bikes for road space. The drivers were frustrated by the several thousands of bikers and were driving crazy, I saw absolutely no police enforcement in the area, there was no shoulder, and I saw several near-misses.

3. It was terribly disorganized at the beginning. One small road to get cars into the parking lot - and that was the same road the bikers crossed as they started, resulting in a huge traffic jam. By the time we got parked, my wife was too late for the short mtn bike ride she wanted to do. She had to let me off so I could start and then she had to find a parkng place a long ways away. She was NOT a happy camper, and I don't blame her.

So, I had a rather bad taste after the ride. I did not finish the 100 miles, but instead took another road with another biker up to Larkspur - far away from the madding crowd. This was the best part of the ride, as there were NO cars on this backroad, and it was beautiful. From there I called Nora and she picked me up. I did about 70 miles. It was during this detour that the lady was killed on the main road - I would have been right there. In fact, the rescue trucks were leaving from Larkspur as I went by.

Too many bikes, too many cars, too little organization.

I understand they have changed things a bit - hopefully so!

Reviewing the map at the web site, it appears they have taken the Monument - Palmer Lake section out of the course. If so, this would be a big improvement!

Wow. That does sound like a crappy ride. I am getting an early start so hopefully there will not be too many people out there. Thank you for sharing your expierience.