Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - First Century tomorrow (I think I'm ready)

I've established a solid base of 500 miles/month and have done several rides in the 65-95 mile length range.

Tomorrow, I'll participate in the Burnham Plan Century: http://burnhamplan100.uchicago.edu/events/id/956

"Burnham Plan Century: Make No Little Rides

Saturday, June 6, 2009 9:00am to 7:00pm

The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, along with the Calumet Citizens for Connecting Communities, are collaborating to host a 100-mile bicycle ride from Lake Forest, Illinois to Michigan City, Indiana. The event, dubbed the Burnham Plan Century: Make No Little Rides, is scheduled to take place on National Trails Day, Saturday, June 6th.

The ride is in honor of Daniel Burnham's visionary 1909 Plan of Chicago, and aims to celebrate the plan's centennial anniversary by highlighting 10 major off-road trail facilities along the 100-mile route. Another goal of the ride is to raise awareness of the need to link these facilities together since most will not directly connect. Where gaps exist, event participants will be routed along bicycle-friendly roadways with good pavement and low traffic volumes.

The ride will leave Lake Forest at 9 AM, and arrive in Michigan City by 7 PM CST traversing through 18 Illinois and Indiana communities.. The midpoint of the ride will be Lansing, Illinois".



So, my first century is an trip through scenic industrial NE Illinois & NW Indiana. Yikes! I'm glad it's during daylight and that I won't be traveling alone!



Well the bike & gear are ready;

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll210/wildcat-bucket/IMG_0194.jpg



http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll210/wildcat-bucket/IMG_0195.jpg

I hope the motors ready :innocent::twitchy::innocent:

Looks like you're all set. If you've done rides of 95 miles, you'll know what to expect and what you need to do to fuel. Have a great time!

You seem to be more than prepared. Only thing I question are the heavy winter gloves.

You seem to be more than prepared. Only thing I question are the heavy winter gloves.


Those are summer MTB gloves. They are Lycra and keep cool. I seem to have less skin pain between the thumb & first finger with these.

You seem to be more than prepared. Only thing I question are the heavy winter gloves.

Those aren't heavy winter gloves, they are cool weather cycling gloves, if your riding on a cool morning, there are still many places where the temp can start below 10℃/50℉ :twitchy: peek above 20℃/70℉ and end back where it started:eek:.

So then why not wear those gloves and leave the other pair? I would also get a travel size sunscreen. Not trying to be a know it all, just thinking how you can lighten your load. It may not seem like much but it will save you weight and space over the long haul. Then you can lose the bag under the top tube and manage to keep it all in one bag under saddle.

Your motor is definately up to par, you put in a lot of miles.

:)

Remember, it's all mental after the 70 mile mark - you can do it!!

One clif bar for a hundred miles? Are you stashing more in your shirt or is there a lunch break or vehicle carrying chow?

John

So then why not wear those gloves and leave the other pair? I would also get a travel size sunscreen. Not trying to be a know it all, just thinking how you can lighten your load. It may not seem like much but it will save you weight and space over the long haul. Then you can lose the bag under the top tube and manage to keep it all in one bag under saddle.

Your motor is definately up to par, you put in a lot of miles.

:)

Thanks, Yeah, I'll apply some of what you see and stop at a drug store in the morning for a travel size tube.

I carry a folding tire & tubes under the seat, the rest goes in the Nashbar pump bag. It looks like a lot, but It's only 3.5 lbs including everything you see plus the the folding tire, bags, rear light, computer... the fully loaded bike is ~26 lbs.


Remember, it's all mental after the 70 mile mark - you can do it!!

I'm lucky to have a solid century partner, he has renamed me Joey-bike, and uses that name when I need to slow down and be more careful.

Michael

First of all, having grown up in the Chicago area, I'm jealous! Sounds like a great ride. Secondly, is it a supported ride? Will there be manned rest stops along the route, or are the riders on their own? If you're on your own, bring some cash to buy Gatorade-type drinks and food at convenience stores.

looks like fun, I still have to plan my own century trip:)

One clif bar for a hundred miles? Are you stashing more in your shirt or is there a lunch break or vehicle carrying chow?

John

I agree, one Clif Bar seems a little light for an century that is not supported. :eek: Then again, you have done 95 miles unsupported, so I'm sure you will do fine!!:thumb:

Edit, I see two bars now in the picture, which is better, especially if you find some place to eat along the way.

remember, it's all mental after the 70 mile mark - you can do it!!

+1.

I'm sure you will be fine. The Performance tube concerns me, however. I've heard they tend to be defective.

No chamois cream?

I know not everyone uses the stuff, but I can't do without it. On a century, I always have a small squeeze bottle of sunscreen and another of chamois cream.

More water, or at least you know of some refilling stations.

More food, or at least you know of some refilling stations.

Cell phone?

So then why not wear those gloves and leave the other pair? I would also get a travel size sunscreen. Not trying to be a know it all, just thinking how you can lighten your load. It may not seem like much but it will save you weight and space over the long haul. Then you can lose the bag under the top tube and manage to keep it all in one bag under saddle.

Your motor is definately up to par, you put in a lot of miles.

:)

Gee, you would love to see what I carry, even on much shorter then a century trips, for example today I am taking my circa 1981 film camera, that adds about 4kg. This is providing the current rain doesn't last long:notamused:.

I think this ride is a neat tribute to the creator of the "Chicago Plan" and the man responsible for the Chicago lakefront parks. “The Lakefront by right belongs to the people....Not a foot of its shores should be appropriated to the exclusion of the people.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnham_Plan

The ride's subtitle comes from a Burnham remark to "Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will not themselves be realized."

Burnham built many significant buildings in town, including The Rookery, which I hope to visit one day:

http://www.cityofchicago.org/Landmarks/images/landmarks/r/rookery1a.gif

Gee, you would love to see what I carry, even on much shorter then a century trips, for example today I am taking my circa 1981 film camera, that adds about 4kg. This is providing the current rain doesn't last long:notamused:.

I try to keep things simple, he asked for opinions I gave my opinion.

How did the ride go? Did you complete the century??

Gee, you would love to see what I carry, even on much shorter then a century trips, for example today I am taking my circa 1981 film camera, that adds about 4kg. This is providing the current rain doesn't last long:notamused:.

Photographers get a special exemption. :)

Photographers get a special exemption. :)

I don't know, sometimes I think I would like to add a smaller and lighter camera to the collection, question is find a Hexar RF in good condition or a P&S digital? It's similar to bicycles in a way, the number required is always N+1:D

I try to keep things simple, he asked for opinions I gave my opinion.

How did the ride go? Did you complete the century??

Well, the ride went very well. I traveled 114 miles in 8 hours of riding time. I stayed with the group for most of the ride since the route was point to point and a little complex in places. Three of us did the whole event from start to finish. We had up to 25 riders during some of the ride, as people joined for part of the distance. I added about 8 miles to the standard route, I avoided some city streets in Chicago by taking a MUP, but it really added miles. even so I stayed ahead of the rest of the group and was the first to finish (even though that really has no meaning).

The bike was flawless, as fast as I wanted, comfortable, zero operational issues. Near the end we took a gravel trail that was flooded in spots and could be soft enough for my tires to sink. I think I was the only road bike to do that section. The Soma Cyclocross bike with Gatorskin tires ran perfectly.

The weather was very good, cool with temps from 50 to 65, mostly overcast with a few drops of rain. Minimal sunburn risk. We had a beneficial wind for about 70% of the way and never had a difficult headwind.

The motor ran well and wanted to run faster. I'm sure I have a six hour century in me. I had some minor foot, back & seat pain, but not worst than my normal 45 mile rides.

The mental aspect was good while riding and I enjoyed the scenery. I got a little impatient while standing around. I had some traveling to do before reaching home and was concerned that I might be cycling at 11 PM on city streets. It was a situation where the slowest rider determined the pace and frequency of breaks, ugh.

Well, I'm addicted. I'll try to do a century once-a-month or more.

Michael

Sounds awesome, great job.

Good for you! A century once a month? I'm debating whether to do one once a year.