Southern California - Fellow Californians, Your favorite Organized Ride?

Reading the PalmSprings thread got me thinking of the organized rides I've done and which is my favorite. Which would be your favorite and a short explanation fo why. I have a short attention span and not likely to get more than halfway through the real long stuff!:D

For me it woud be Ride Around the Bear. Not very crowded, Gina can follow in the truck and good challenge for my big heavy Clyde butt.:D Roads are nice and smooth. If there are any cracks in the road on the way up, I was going to slow to feel them!:D

Amtrak.................................1 time
Solvang................................1 time
Brawley.................................century on tandem with Gina 1 time
Palmsprings....................3 times-1 century with Gina (when course as tougher) and 2 times solo
Tour De Borrego....................2 times
Borrego to the Sea................1 time
Ride Around the Bear.............4 times
Breathless Agony...................1 time
Tour De Tucson AZ..................1 time
Casa Grande AZ.......................1 time
Cool Breeze double metric........1 time
Rosarito.....................................7 times
Alpine Challenge........................1 time
5 Lakes Tour De Cure century (Riverside/Corona).......2 times- one with Gina on tandem, one solo.

Ride to the Liquor Store...............Too many too remember, and they
weren't very orginized.:lol:

Grand Tour Double Century . . . 6 times
Knoxville Double Century . . . 6 times
RAGBRAI (across Iowa) . . . 16 times
Ride Around the Bear . . . 10 times
Seattle to Portland . . . 4 times
Breathless Agony . . . 4 times
Amtrak Century . . . 5 times
TOSRV . . . 9 times
Assault on Mt. Mitchell . . . 1 time
Eastern Sierra Double Century . . . 5 times
Davis Double Century . . . 5 times
Mt. Tam Double Century . . . 2 times
Wildflower Century . . . 5 times
Lighthouse Century . . . 5 times
Hemet Double Century . . . 4 times
Mt. Shasta Double Metric . . . 1 times
Cool Breeze Double Metric . . . 6 times
Las Vegas Century . . . 1 time

Is that enough Beanz?

Rick / OCRR

Lighthouse century - great food. can't beat the berry bars, pasta salad and chocolate fondue (?)

Grand Tour Double Century . . . 6 times
Knoxville Double Century . . . 4 times
RAGBRAI (across Iowa) . . . 16 times
Ride Around the Bear . . . 10 times
Seattle to Portland . . . 4 times
Breathless Agony . . . 4 times
Amtrak Century . . . 5 times
TOSRV . . . 9 times
Assault on Mt. Mitchell . . . 1 time
Eastern Sierra Double Century . . . 5 times
Davis Double Century . . . 5 times
Mt. Tam Double Century . . . 2 times
Wildflower Century . . . 5 times
Lighthouse Century . . . 5 times
Hemet Double Century . . . 4 times
Mt. Shasta Double Metric . . . 1 times
Cool Breeze Double Metric . . . 6 times
Las Vegas Century . . . 1 time

Is that enough Beanz?

Rick / OCRR

All that and you didn't answer the question! :eek:

Lighthouse century - great food. can't beat the berry bars, pasta salad and chocolate fondue (?)

Been tempted to try that one but I think that's the one that sells out quickly.:)

In order of preference:

Death Ride (2 times)
Wine Country Century (2 times)
Grizzly Century (2 times)
Sequoia Century ( 1 time)
Grizzly Peak Century (3 times)
Sierra Century (1 time)
Solvang Century (1 time)

All that and you didn't answer the question! :eek:

Sorry Beanz. I thought I'd gone way beyond your attention span so you wouldn't notice!

Rick / OCRR

The SLO Lighthouse usually sells out within hours, but you can often buy someone else's entry as the date approaches. The same is true with SLOBC's Wildflower. I like them both because of the quality of the preparation and the excellent food. I love the Lighthouse because it's pretty easy (mostly flat) and I love cycling the coast. The Wildflower I usually find tougher, and riding in the interior ("over the grade") isn't as appealing, but I still do it almost every year.

My new fave is the Tierra Bella in Gilroy. It's also well-staged, has good food, and the scenery in the hills is wonderful.

Sorry Beanz. I thought I'd gone way beyond your attention span so you wouldn't notice!

Rick / OCRR

OK, hold on, I'm still stuck at "sorry Beanz"!:roflmao2:

Thanks BBT, sounds like a couple to keep in mind.;)

OK, hold on, I'm still stuck at "sorry Beanz"!:roflmao2:

The problem, Beanz, is that the rides are so different, it's tough to pick a winner.

The Knoxville Double Century (out of Vacaville, CA) is my favorite double century, presented by the Quacks who do a wonderful job with it.

RAGBRAI (across Iowa) is my favorite multi-day ride (presented by the Des Moines Register) and in fact is the most fun you can have on a bicycle in one week. Probably why I've ridden it so many times!

Favorite Century is tough, but I would have give the award to one of the SLOBC centuries (Wildflower or Lighthouse), with Lighthouse getting the top spot based on slightly better scenery.

Favorite Climbing ride, again is tough between The Bear and Breathless, but I'm going to give it to Breathless Agony because of the huge party atmosphere they inject into a brutally difficult ride (thanks to Robert and Jill Kahler, Chuck Bramwell and friends).

Hows Zat?

Rick / OCRR

My favorite organized ride is LAGBRAU - a ride across Utah. One week of absolutely the most beautiful scenary imagined. Great roads. no traffic. I made life long friends.

I also enjoy doing the 4 day Skinny Tire Festival (road) out of Moab. Yes I love Utah. Thinking of retiring there. No better place to live if you like cycling.

As to century rides, I have done many - OK not as many of Rick (my hero) but my favorites are:

Wildflower (out of Creston). The town and bike club (SLOBC) comes out and does a bang up job. The scenary is gorgeous. The route challenging. There are wildflowers! Food - too much and too good. Great jersey designs!

Cool Breeze. JUst a lovely well organized ride. Again the scenary is awesome, food good, route challenging - popsicles! And cool weather along the coast - a plus plus. Also great jersey design.

Cruise the Conejo. I've done all of the routes. Each is just perfect. Again awesome scenary, good food. Boy Scouts! They are so cute!

Lighthouse. Another SLOBC ride so no complaints. See above.

Spooktacular. The bike club really tries to put on a good event. The routes are all interesting. I have never done the 100 mile routes. They scare me. My favorite jersey designs ever!!!! Please go and do this ride and support the club in Bakersfield (kern Wheelmen)

High Sierra Fall Century (out of Mammoth). Tough but my goodness the views are SPECTACULAR! What a challenge but well worth the effort.

* * *

Been there done that never again:

Amtrak. Don't get its popularity. I can do most of the ride on my own anytime I want. Much better than attempting to do it with 10,000 goobers all over the road and in my way. And traffic, traffic, traffic. Heat. The train is LOUD! Hate this ride. Did it 5 times and each was worse than the other. Although I have to say I had my best century time on Amtrak (6 hr. 50 minutes total time).

Ride Over the Bear. Much nicer rides out there that climb hills. Only a small portion of this ride appeals to me.

Palm Springs. Roads suck.

Solvang. Rather do Wildflower.

Tour de Tucson. Was my first century. TOO MANY PEOPLE! No sag (which is why instead of the 50 I planned I rode 109). No stops. Initially that sounded cool but now i know I need those stops to rest my feet and hands and butt.

Hows Zat?

Much better!:D


Tour de Tucson. Was my first century. TOO MANY PEOPLE! No sag (which is why instead of the 50 I planned I rode 109). No stops. Initially that sounded cool but now i know I need those stops to rest my feet and hands and butt.

Yeah, I did it back in 98 and it was overpopulated back then!:eek: Like Palmsprings is now:(:...I did do Casa Grande a few years ago (maybe 4 or 5). same great attitude but FAR less people, maybe 200-300 riders!

El Tour de Phoenix by far! It's timed (don't let me call it a race because there will be a hundred guys calling me names for using the "R" word), it's mass start and the roads are practically closed to traffic. Did I mention that it's got only about 2,500 feet of climbing? :thumb: The scenery? I don't know - all I watch is the wheel of the guy in front of me. The food? Ha! First of all - I don't stop. In my book - your ride is over the moment you get off the bike and start searching for food and socialize. :p Well, stopping for a minute or two to get water and/or pee is OK. Second - doing a bike ride for the food is like going to a restaurant with the intention to get some exercise and burn some calories. :p :D


Yeah, I did it back in 98 and it was overpopulated back then!:eek: Like Palmsprings is now:(:...I did do Casa Grande a few years ago (maybe 4 or 5). same great attitude but FAR less people, maybe 200-300 riders!
Are you wussing out, bro!? What's the problem with too many people? Most of them will bounce off you like bees off your sunglasses. :D I like the Tour de Tucson except for those damn river crossings. That's why I don't think I'll do it again.

Hey Rick, I counted 95 rides you mentioned there. If we assume that the average entry fee is $50, you've spend about $5K on entry fees alone. Add travel and accommodation... Man, give up cycling and I'll put you in a brand new Ferrari. :D

[B]Are you wussing out, bro!? What's the problem with too many people?

Sheesh! The Tour De Palmsprings to many people = have to walk your bike through the first two rest stops and too many riders say mean things to me and hurt my feelings!:(

Is the Phoenix ride 100 or 62? What was your time?

Sheesh! The Tour De Palmsprings to many people = have to walk your bike through the first two rest stops and too many riders say mean things to me and hurt my feelings!:(

Is the Phoenix ride 100 or 62? What was your time?

Too many riders saying mean things to you?? Show them that biceps, they'll get much nicer. :D

Phoenix is 72 miles. My best time is 3:15:13, missed the Platinum by 13 seconds. :o I might try it again this year, I'll see how I feel by mid-March. Are you planning on doing it? I'm sure you'll do well.

[B]
Hey Rick, I counted 95 rides you mentioned there. If we assume that the average entry fee is $50, you've spend about $5K on entry fees alone. Add travel and accommodation... Man, give up cycling and I'll put you in a brand new Ferrari. :D

Hi Jimmy,

That was over about 30 years, plus I left a lot out, esp. expensive ones like Paris-Brest-Paris and the Assault on Mt. Mitchell, plus Mt. Shasta and about 40 other doubles. Oh, and BAM, bicycle across Missouri which was 566 miles in 54 hours.

So I kind of gave up on the Ferrari early on. And the one I still lust over is the '64 Ferrari GTO, but only five were made and when someone sells one, it's a matter of how many million, way out of my range! Maybe after I stop doing so many doubles I'll sell the Miata and buy a Lotus Elise. Maybe.

In the mean time I'll keep paying entry fees, paying for motel rooms and the gasoline it takes to get to the start and back. Well worth it, in my opinion!

Rick / OCRR

Too many riders saying mean things to you?? Show them that biceps, they'll get much nicer. :D

Phoenix is 72 miles. My best time is 3:15:13, missed the Platinum by 13 seconds. :o I might try it again this year, I'll see how I feel by mid-March. Are you planning on doing it? I'm sure you'll do well.

Nope, can't afford to travel right now. I never ride organized rides in a pack anyways, so I'd be far behind:D

Ride Around the Bear 3 times
Everest Challenge 3 times This one is my favorite.. Lots of pain
Breathless Agony 1 time
Mullholland Challenge 1 time
HeartBreak 100 1 time

Tour de Poway three times. That is my "home" ride. The course passes about two blocks from my high school, one block from my middle school and a mile from my parents' house.
Solvang once. It was okay. The course was pretty, but the roads left something to be desired.
Alpine Challenge twice. Probably my favorite. I like the course and I can get my Alpine growler filled at the brewery on the way home.

I did the Candy Corn Classic a few years back and it was very nice event. Good food, good support and friendly locals. Very small and intimate ride.
http://www.candycornclassic.com/

Spooktacular. The bike club really tries to put on a good event. The routes are all interesting. I have never done the 100 mile routes. They scare me. My favorite jersey designs ever!!!! Please go and do this ride and support the club in Bakersfield (kern Wheelmen)

Thanks Pam for the plug! We try to make it the best. For the last few years I've been doing the food for the ride, tri-tip, chicken, beans, salad and bread. We're starting a new spring ride the Woody Y Century & Family Fun Ride, it will have the same great food. It's put on by the Asthma and COPD Education Center (ACEC). All the people working on it are Kern Wheelmen and hopefully we can keep up the excellent ride you're use to. The century route has 3,100'+/- of climbing and the 65 has 1,800'+/-. The road are in excellent shape with great views. For more info go to the website http://cyclingforasthma.com/. We are in the process of adding more info to the site so please check back.

Angeles Crest Century - Planet Ultra route with start in La Canada. An inspired ride. Heartbreak is also a fun ride, unless you get those afternoon headwinds on the last plateau. Then probably Cool Breeze for it's deceptive nature.

Solvang's Finest would be better and at the top of the list if it was held on a cold wet day during harvest.

Angeles Crest Century - Planet Ultra route with start in La Canada. An inspired ride. Heartbreak is also a fun ride, unless you get those afternoon headwinds on the last plateau. Then probably Cool Breeze for it's deceptive nature.

Solvang's Finest would be better and at the top of the list if it was held on a cold wet day during harvest.

Sea to Summit. Ventura to Mt. Pinos. 12,000 ft. in 87 miles. I've done it 6 times. A great ride for a really good cause, Teen Challenge.

Solvang 9 times.
Cool Breeze, 10, I think.
Lighthouse 5.
Conejo 5 or 6 times.
Wildflower once.
5 Counties/Heartbreak/Tour de Francis/L.A. Wheelmen 5 Counties at least 20 times, including doing the route solo. My favorite route, prefer the Wheelmen or TDF versions for the super food and support and for being dirt cheap.
Tour de Francis Castaic Century 3 times. The TDF rides are put on by a club called Adobo Velo. They are the best, by far.
Mulholland Challenge twice.
Breathless Agony once.
Tour de Turkey once. This was my first century (1988) and it was held Thanksgiving weekend.
Angeles Crest Century twice, but I've ridden that route so many times (thanks vertical bob) that I forgot the organized version.
More I can't remember right now.

Solvang Prelude

Sea to Summit. Ventura to Mt. Pinos. 12,000 ft. in 87 miles.

Did that used to be a race in the 80s?

I think that Everest Challenge, Breathless Agony and Death Ride would be my favorites, so far.

Did that used to be a race in the 80s?

I think that Everest Challenge, Breathless Agony and Death Ride would be my favorites, so far. It may have been. It's still a timed event:o

Tour de Poway three times. That is my "home" ride. The course passes about two blocks from my high school, one block from my middle school and a mile from my parents' house.
Solvang once. It was okay. The course was pretty, but the roads left something to be desired.
Alpine Challenge twice. Probably my favorite. I like the course and I can get my Alpine growler filled at the brewery on the way home.

I like both the Alpine Challenge and Tour de Poway. I would put Alpine first - I like the route better, and the local police does pretty good job controlling the intersections.

Cool Breeze Century is my favorite. I've done it four years in a row, and plan on doing it again this summer. Lighthouse and Wildflower are almost as well-organized, but not the equal of CB. Route markings are almost perfect, the scenery is splendid, and it's never been too hot, even in August. And the first half has some challenging climbs.

I like Palm Springs well enough, but the century route goes through some congested areas with broken up roads, and I got lost the first year (I've done it three times). The 55-mile route is actually much pleasanter riding.

OMG ... where do I start? Well ... my favorite ride is easy ... the Eastern Sierra Double. :love: Great climbs, great descents, great scenery, and typically great weather. You start in Bishop, climb out of the Round Valley before it gets hot and spend the rest of your time riding between 7000 and 9000 feet where the weather and riding is about perfect. The June Lake Loop is the best 15 miles you'll ever do, and you can't beat lunching with a view of Mono Lake. The icing on the cake is the typically smoking gentle descent to Bishop from Benton with the Sun setting on the 14000 foot White Mountains to the East. Seriously beautiful ride. My only gripe is the expansion cracks between Sagehen Summit and Adobe Meadows.

Other rides? I dunno ... I've done a bucket, and I'm not sure I can remember them all.

Deathride: Fun, scenic, well supported, but a bit dangerous. Too many inexperienced riders mixed with racer wannabes on narrow roads. Someday, there is going to be a nasty crash on that ride.
Breathless Agony: Very nice climbing ride.
Cool Breeze: Great first century. Well supported.
Wildflower: OK route. Very nice support.
Cruising the Conejo: Little tougher than the cool breeze ... also a great first century.
Different Spokes Mulholland Highway Century: Nice route, GREAT support, really nice people.
Mulholland Double: Epic ride. Nasty steep climbs. Can be hot and cold on the same ride. The ride ends on a pass in the Santa Monica Mountains with a great night time view.
Devil Mountain Double: Epic ride. Nice ascents and nice descents. GREAT support.
Terrible Two: Nasty steep and hot climbs, but lost of opportunities to paceline. GREAT support.
Mt Tam Double: Nice course, pretty good support.
Central Coast Double: First half of the course is fab. Second half just OK.
Tour of Two Forests: The traditional route is a good one.
Solvang Double: A great first double. Scenic and generally good weather.
Butterfield Double: I haven't done the revised route. I wasn't a fan of the original route, though.
LA Wheelmen Grand Tour: Well supported with nice routes. I'd avoid the Lowland Double, though ... booooring.
Borrego to the Sea: Got there late and rode it by myself. Under those circumstances, boring!
Tour De Palm Springs: Easy and well supported century. Good first century for beginners. Warm and beautiful.
High Sierra Fall Century: Scenic and beautiful. Expansion cracks near Adobe Meadows suck. Headwindy return from the bottom of Watterson Pass. Well supported. Ignore the route slip and take the June Lake Loop.
SCOR Solvang Century: Beautiful place to ride, but crowded and not well supported for the cost.
SCOR Solvang Prelude: Ditto.
Death Valley Double: Harder in fact than it is on paper. Typical headwinds in morning and afternoon.
The 508: Good first ride. Easy course with buttery smooth roads and no winds. Cool sea breezes. :twitchy:

Other rides? I dunno ... I've done a bucket, and I'm not sure I can remember them all.



Dude you left out one of the most EPIC of all.

The 508 (http://www.the508.com/)

Dude you left out one of the most EPIC of all.

The 508 (http://www.the508.com/)

OK ... fixed it for ya. :innocent:

...The icing on the cake is the typically smoking gentle descent to Bishop from Benton with the Sun setting on the 14000 foot White Mountains to the East....

Great ride description. But doesn't the sun set in the West - or has something changed ? :rolleyes:

Great ride description. But doesn't the sun set in the West - or has something changed ? :rolleyes:

They don't call me "wrong way" for nuttin. :)

What it is? The sun is setting in the West, but illuminating the White Mountains, which are to the East.

It's really sweet. Riding a gentle downhill (and typically with the wind) through the virtually deserted Chalfant Valley. And to your left ... the 14,000 foot White Mountain rising directly from the valley floor, bathed in orange light. Oh, yea. :love:

They don't call me "wrong way" for nuttin. :)

What it is? The sun is setting in the West, but illuminating the White Mountains, which are to the East.

It's really sweet. Riding a gentle downhill (and typically with the wind) through the virtually deserted Chalfant Valley. And to your left ... the 14,000 foot White Mountain rising directly from the valley floor, bathed in orange light. Oh, yea. :love:

Of course that's after you've just ridden 20 miles of 2 X 4's. :eek::lol: