Classic & Vintage - 2012 Century A Month Challenge

Ding Ding!
I got a late start, and made the ludicrous decision to replace my traditional 30 mile stop with a liter of orange juice, and just plow on through. A big mistake, with the first 50 miles being into a stiff headwind. I could have used the break, not to mention the coffee and refreshments. They've recently removed the outside benches from that stop, making it much less attractive. Guess I'll have to learn to live with it.
8 + hours total time, and the balls of my feet remain sore even after the shoes are off and the shower. I've been fiddling with ways to fix that one, but have yet to find the solution. No flats on this one.
Pics:
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/seedsbelize/flowers%20and%20trees/flowersandtrees018.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/seedsbelize/flowers%20and%20trees/flowersandtrees019.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/seedsbelize/flowers%20and%20trees/flowersandtrees015.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/seedsbelize/flowers%20and%20trees/flowersandtrees014.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/seedsbelize/flowers%20and%20trees/flowersandtrees013.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/seedsbelize/flowers%20and%20trees/flowersandtrees012.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/seedsbelize/flowers%20and%20trees/flowersandtrees010.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/seedsbelize/flowers%20and%20trees/flowersandtrees006.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/seedsbelize/flowers%20and%20trees/flowersandtrees001.jpg
And many more. 'Tis the season.

Here's hoping I can do better this year. Thanks for starting us off.

I'm in. New Year's resolution I guess.

I was inspired by last years thread. One of my resolutions is to accomplish this, this year. Did a metric century today.

Hello,
I'm new to this board, sorry to but in this thread.
I was hoping to be contacted by RobbieTunes to ask a few questions regarding a bike I'm considering, and noticed Robbie has rebuilt one.
This board doesn't seem to allow new members to post pm's.
Thanks in advance
j

OK, seeds, that's a lot of tropical goodness! I'm in for 2012 and already did my January 1st starter. I'm adding a bigger goal for myself by aiming for an R-12 classification. In randonneuring terms an R-12 means completing at least one brevet or permanent of at least 200k in each month. Yesterday's ride was a 200k brevet around the California coast from Moorpark to Carpinteria and back. I rode my 1978 Trek TX700. A terrific group of a couple dozen of my Rando friends made this ride a great start for the year! A couple of other lugged steel bikes in attendance as well.

As far as New Year's goals, my goal for the year, besides the R-12, is to ride in the Furnace Creek 508 (miles, that is), which is 800km in 48 hrs, in October. I am joining with a friend to ride the 508 as a two man team, so I ride alternate 100k segments with him. BTW, about 35,000 ft total climbing. I also hope to do a 1000k brevet this year.

I wish everyone great rides for 2012!

Jim

Hello,
I'm new to this board, sorry to but in this thread.
I was hoping to be contacted by RobbieTunes to ask a few questions regarding a bike I'm considering, and noticed Robbie has rebuilt one.
This board doesn't seem to allow new members to post pm's.
Thanks in advance
j
I rec'd your email, and answered. Hope it helps.

Hi, love the photos btw of all the flowers, I hike a lot and look forward to a great spring of wildflowers here in the desert.

Hi Robbie, I appreciate your response, and will get back to you, and sorry to jump in on this thread.
We do have a couple century's here in Palm Springs if anyone wants to make the commute, the Tour de Palm Springs is coming up in April, great ride if the wind doesn't blow.
j

Welcome to the forum.

Woah!

I was all set to start a new thread before I realized you've already gone and done it for me! Cool.

Well I did my century yesterday as well. Beautiful day for it, too. Got out of the house about 7:10 AM, meaning to meet TimmyT at Bridgehampton. We basically followed roads I've ridden before, stopped to check out a few things along the way. It was a beautiful day. Stopped at a picnic table on a beach on the Sound for lunch; I had brought some sandwiches that were small but (I thought) pretty good... and Tim had brought mimosas. Really, I'm not making this up. Also an apple and an orange and some sugared pecans, all very tasty.

We arrived at my house well after dark, weighted down with two pizzas, soda, and lots of beer.

My total, 115 miles for the day; on my Lambert three speed again. Tim's total, 72 miles (so he's in for a metric anyway) on a Kona Jake.

OK, seeds, that's a lot of tropical goodness! I'm in for 2012 and already did my January 1st starter. I'm adding a bigger goal for myself by aiming for an R-12 classification. In randonneuring terms an R-12 means completing at least one brevet or permanent of at least 200k in each month. Yesterday's ride was a 200k brevet around the California coast from Moorpark to Carpinteria and back. I rode my 1978 Trek TX700. A terrific group of a couple dozen of my Rando friends made this ride a great start for the year! A couple of other lugged steel bikes in attendance as well.

As far as New Year's goals, my goal for the year, besides the R-12, is to ride in the Furnace Creek 508 (miles, that is), which is 800km in 48 hrs, in October. I am joining with a friend to ride the 508 as a two man team, so I ride alternate 100k segments with him. BTW, about 35,000 ft total climbing. I also hope to do a 1000k brevet this year.

I wish everyone great rides for 2012!

Jim
I'm also trying for a R-12 this year, but just because the century has become, dare I say it, an easy ride for me, and 125 feels like the century did a year ago. Maybe next year I'll be up for 300k a month.
It being a new year, I'll introduce my same old century bike. A 1978 Schwinn World Sports, with Mavic MA 40 on the back and Araya CTL 370 on the front, both with Shimano 600 hubs. It also has Benotto rat trap pedals and plastic toe clips, and weighs in at around 37 pounds fully loaded with tools, etc. I'm a flatlander here, so the weight isn't a huge issue. I hope to have a newer (80s), lighter bike by year end.

I'm also trying for a R-12 this year, but just because the century has become, dare I say it, an easy ride for me, and 125 feels like the century did a year ago. Maybe next year I'll be up for 300k a month.

Awwright! Were in for the vintage R-12. Next year I hope to do the 508 solo classic (lugged steel, toeclips and straps required)

In randonneuring terms an R-12 means completing at least one brevet or permanent of at least 200k in each month.

In other words, not just a 200k (or longer) ride, but an organized and RUSA approved ride, correct? And, of course, you have to do one every month.

A worthy goal! I don't think I could do it without driving to most of the rides, though.

For what it may be worth, I did a gravel metric on New Year's Day. For some reason, I thought my fixed-gear '88 Diamondback with studded winter tires would be a good choice. To add insult to injury, there was a stiff wind that day, often gusting up to 50MPH. :eek: So it was quite the grind, and I'd like to think I did the equivalent of 100 paved miles with a normal bike. :D

Here's a shot of our group (and my bike), taking a break. Man, we were dead by the end.

232372

Here's more evidence. As usual, I was caught in an awkward pose (stretching my hamstrings, if you're curious.)
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1SvrBcpKPtw/TwHmsqN4J-I/AAAAAAAAASg/cQke0eOcxVw/s640/DSCN0371.JPG
The blog caption reads:

Scott on his fixie commuter with steel rims, studded tires and single water bottle. Guess who wins the award for most overconfident cyclist? He finished though, which is pretty badass.

:D

In other words, not just a 200k (or longer) ride, but an organized and RUSA approved ride, correct? And, of course, you have to do one every month.

A worthy goal! I don't think I could do it without driving to most of the rides, though.
Not in my case; just a simple 200 km once a month. I don't got in for all that organized stuff, AND it doesn't exist here anyway.

I don't think I can commit to 12 centuries this year, but I'll tell ya... When rhm started the challenge last January, I thought it was nuts. I thought I would never do another century. And he proved me wrong. We rode together in April (or was it May?) and I did a metric century while he did an imperial century. Then several of us had a ball doing one in July, starting at Rudi's cottage. I think I ended up doing 110 miles that day. I told my middle school students (of bike mechanics) what I did, and they couldn't imagine!

So I do hope to do more long rides this year than last, and maybe more than one of them will exceed 100 miles.

Thanks for starting this thread. I followed last year's challenge with joy, experiencing the wonderful stories and scenery vicariously from my comfy chair. But this year I'm in, it's my new year's resolution. I've rounded up some local friends and we're going to try to commit to a century a month, possibly starting this Sunday... weather permitting, of course.

Sunday will be my January attempt.
40 out, 40 back, then my 20-mile training ride after a quick lunch.
Haven't decided on the bike.

I did my January 200 km today. I had favorable winds right out of the chute, and so changed plans from the century I was going to do. One does not look a gift horse in the mouth. Two things of note, the second of which made itself very noticeable as I was stepping out of the shower. I've been doing core strengthening exercises for the past year and a half. This is the reason I can do a century a week, I'm pretty sure. When I come in from a double metric, as I did today, My core muscles are quite sore, the abs and obliques in particular. They've been out there doing isometrics for 9 hours. But then, maybe I'm just full of beans.
Pics:
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/seedsbelize/connieandjacqui017.jpg
My first car was a '64 Falcon convertible, a pale yellow re-paint, which I shared with my older sister.
This is the church in Baca, where our good friends have a house that they'll use more frequently once they retire.
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/seedsbelize/connieandjacqui018.jpg
They're putting up a welcome center at my usual lunch spot. Seems there hasn't been a big demand for cylindrical posts.
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/seedsbelize/connieandjacqui020.jpg
No ready mix for government projects. This is high tech.
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/seedsbelize/connieandjacqui021.jpg
I rode through a forest of coconut trees, on both sides of the road, for maybe five miles. Somewhere in there I stopped for some ice cold coconut water and some coconut tortillas.
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/seedsbelize/connieandjacqui022.jpg
second lunch
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/seedsbelize/connieandjacqui023.jpg
That diamond tuck saddle is original to that bike, and is THE most comfortable saddle I've ever ridden. Hands down.
Til next time....

In other words, not just a 200k (or longer) ride, but an organized and RUSA approved ride, correct? And, of course, you have to do one every month.

A worthy goal! I don't think I could do it without driving to most of the rides, though.

Thanks! I strongly believe in not driving to cycling events if it can be helped, so I ride locally or ride to or take the train to an event if possible. Along those lines I have prepared four official 200k Permanent routes and submitted them for RUSA approval just this past week. Once approved, I can ride and get R12 credit for these permanent routes that start essentially from my doorstep. Once you are a RUSA member you don't need to have a local club or organization, you just contact RUSA directly. I'm not sure if RUSA will accept routes that are not in the USA but I don't see a reason why not.



But my goal is for the greater good. To open up more areas to ride in that are low traffic, clean air, and mildly interesting. I hope that other RUSA riders (and non-RUSA for that matter) will take advantage of those routes. Come often, I'll make more!



And welcome to ThermionicScott and southpawboston!



Jim

Well, my intention was to complete my January century this past weekend, having cleared out my plans for Sunday to achieve it. But then the forecast for Saturday was more favorable, and I found out that a good friend was leading one of his excellent rides on Saturday... so I joined him and some other area cycling buddies instead of attempting the Sunday century. Ended up clocking in a metric century at 64 miles total, but I know it's not the same. Maybe next weekend or the one after... alas...

Thanks, leaping_gnome! My friends and I set out to do another gravel metric this past weekend and got 62.1 miles, but since ~35% of the final route was paved, it's kind of a neither-fish-nor-fowl thing as far as this thread is concerned.

I *did* use my '91 Bianchi for it, though. :D
233077

- Scott

P.S. If I don't manage to complete true "imperial" centuries in January and February, I plan to do enough during the less-frigid months to make up for them. ;)

Just saw this... Really looking forward to participating in this thread this year.

Thanks! I strongly believe in not driving to cycling events if it can be helped, so I ride locally or ride to or take the train to an event if possible. Along those lines I have prepared four official 200k Permanent routes and submitted them for RUSA approval just this past week. Once approved, I can ride and get R12 credit for these permanent routes that start essentially from my doorstep. Once you are a RUSA member you don't need to have a local club or organization, you just contact RUSA directly.

Oh, now that is very cool indeed! What do you know about the approval process? As for the routes you have prepared, did you ride them before submitting them, or did you just whip them up on bikeroutetoaster or the like? I'm kinda wishing you had mentioned this earlier... but January is still young... I could do this too!

Oh, now that is very cool indeed! What do you know about the approval process? As for the routes you have prepared, did you ride them before submitting them, or did you just whip them up on bikeroutetoaster or the like? I'm kinda wishing you had mentioned this earlier... but January is still young... I could do this too!

Yes you could! And I hope you do. Some of the routes I have submitted are essentially the same as some of the century rides I dis last year. It took me a good deal of the holiday break to prepare the four routes that I have submitted for approval. They are being reviewed right now by the RUSA permanent coordinator, Crista Borras. Here's the link to the RUSA page http://www.rusa.org/perminfo.html. When the permanents are approved I will post them here and on my home Randonneur site here: http://www.pchrandos.com/html/permanents.html I hope to have them approved by Febuary. I also have a 200k brevet scheduled for April 14th. Those are listed hare: http://www.pchrandos.com/html/brevets.html
I also use and like BRT also but have chosen RideWithGPS because it lets me add indications on the map for where the checkpoints are. The RUSA folks have started asking for that. Here's a sample of one of my routes: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/876162 (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/876162)You may even recognize some of the pictures!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mbdiekT-7w

February, Complete! Did it yesterday, January 28. WTF, is it still January? Ooops! Well, it may be January but it felt like May. Seriously, what a beautiful day. If this means I'll have to do another one in a couple weeks... I guess I might be live with that. Heh heh heh.

Seriously...

I was up late the night before setting up another bike, to be featured in photos soon enough; but its 5 speed hub was giving me too much trouble, so I abandoned that project and put a new seat on my 1948 Raleigh Record Ace. This is the Brooks Swallow saddle I got from my secret santa and put new leather on. It's very hard. Loaded my saddle bag with fig newtons, kiwi fruit and other snacks, as well as quite a bit of rusty old English steel crap to pass off on my riding partners.

I left the house 7:15 and rode to the train station at Hamilton NJ where I met forum member TimmyT, getting off a train from NYC 7:35. Rode into Trenton where we had coffee and donuts before meeting forum member Iluvnoise, getting off a train from Philadelphia, 8:35. Rode east out of Trenton, not very nice, but at least Trenton is not very big. Overhead was one of the strangest clouds I've ever seen, shaped like a feather boa. Might have been a jet contrail, or maybe not.

Soon we were out into the countryside. Just past the NJ Turnpike we passed through Allentown, a cute little town, and turned south. This is where the landscape gets pretty. It's much hillier than you'd expect if you have the usual cliche image of NJ in mind. Deeply cut streams, millponds, old mills, steep little hills, little groves of big old trees, pretty old houses. Very nice. And it was getting warm; soon I was down to a wool jersey.

After Cookstown we entered the pinelands and the military bases, a rather boring ride between pine forests on both sides, and various military installations; bivouac sites and the like, all labeled and numbers and looking, for the most part, like places where someone had tortured the vegetation to death. A couple signs saying do not enter, practice range, that kind of thing; but no fences or checkpoints. We rode on.

On the other side of that we reached the town of Brown's Mills. Brown's Mills is in a nice location, with a lake and surrounded by the pinelands, and I'm sure some part of the town is very lovely indeed. We did not find that part of the town. But at the Burger King we met up with forum member Photogravity a little after 11 AM. Put all that rusted steel in his car and after a quick snack the four of us went for a beautiful 20 mile loop through the pines. Most of the little forest roads are not paved, and the ground is sand, so you have to chose your route carefully. You cannot ride on sand; it's as soft as sugar. But Google Maps has a good satellite image, and where you can see asphalt through the trees you can probably ride. In fact the nicest roads were the ones in worst condition; quiet and scenic. Ended up back at the Burger King. Iluvoise wasn't feeling his best and elected to get a ride back to Philadelphia with Photogravity.

TimmyT and I headed north-west past Fort Dix and then stopped to consult the map and the clock. We'd done about 55 miles, and we figured the train station at Princeton Junction was about 45 miles north... and we noticed there was a strong wind from the south-west. So we headed north, sometimes on roads I've ridden before, sometimes not; and most of the time I wasn't sure one way or the other. As the day progressed our shadows got longer and the wind got stronger. For a couple hours there we were pedaling at what I consider my top speed, wind behind us. Rode with another cyclist for a short while before deciding that he, at 19 mph, was too slow for us. Making a quick excuse about a train to catch, we left him in our wake. Got to the train station at Princeton Junction just as a train was leaving. But it's Saturday Night, so there's another train in twenty minutes. This was just before 5 PM; the sun was low on the horizon, but the air was still warm. TimmyT got the train to NYC, I got on my bike again, getting home in the dark but well in time for dinner. Of course I was in time for dinner, I picked it up at the grocery store on my way!

Total for the day, 105 miles in about 10 hours with lots of sitting around. Good time, I think. Good company, too. Maximum speed, according to my new (and very cheap) mileage computer, 99.9. I wonder if the 1955 dynamo hub is generating a magnetic field that's confusing the computer?

Nice work, Rudi! It didn't feel like May here, but as January is coming to an end, Thom and decided last night that today might be the last chance for me to participate in this event.

26 degrees at the start, mid forties the rest of the day. No wind (which always feel like headwinds all day..), and veiled sun.

100+ miles, not sure exactly. It took six and a half hours or so - with 5.5 in the saddle. But there were two of us so a fair bit of reciprocal drafting.

Rode the Merckx Corsa Extra that OFG set me up with now several years back. It is quite modern compared with RHM's ancient rides, as there's 8 speed Ergo stuff at my fingertips.

http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx40/jan_nikolajsen/century2012_1_1.jpg

http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx40/jan_nikolajsen/century2012_1_2.jpg

http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx40/jan_nikolajsen/century2012_1_4.jpg

http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx40/jan_nikolajsen/century2012_1_3.jpg

I'm in with the spirit, if not the letter of the law. Wednesday was my 40th birthday and I did my age in kms, which is about all I could manage after idling for about 6 weeks. I'd excuse myself by claiming bad roads (they are in fact sheeted with salt and sand) but these guys ^ riding dirt and gravel shot down that argument! :) I rode out to and around the lake. The lake loop is about 16 miles. I'm building up seat time on my 89 C-dale which I want to tour with eventually. Waiting for the WAF* to become more favorable.
http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/qq27/putmeontv/c33a6be5.jpg
*Wife Approval Factor

Did my ride for January quick 60 miles with a buddy and then rode another 60 solo

We started in Ewa Beach rode east past diamond head to Kahala (Waikiki was busier than normal for early weekend morning due to probowl) Rode back to Kapolea dropped my buddy in Ewa and I headed back west. Ended up with a flat in Verona village...fixed the tube and duct taped the small split in the tire and got back on the road... after using both my co2 cartridges long story short a couple miles later flatted and ended up riding home on the flat.... Once home with only had 98 miles on the clock, I put on a new tire and tube, loaded new spare tube and 3 co2 cartridges and went out for another 22miles all in all another nice day...
But it is Hawaii.
Total 120.65 total elapsed time 9 hours 9 minutes and 33 seconds , I never stop the timer on a ride
First 60 was done with just water and two lifesavers
Had an energy drink and water for the next 38 I had a yogurt before leaving the house for the last 22.
Mike

January completions:
seedsbelize--2 and a double metric
leaping_gnome----double metric
RHM---------2
Jan----------1
aboatguy----1
Timmy T----1 plus a metric
thermionicscott ----honorable mention, with a metric
southpawboston --honorable mention, with a metric.

and a scratch for Noglider

^^^^^^^

OK, seeds, that's a lot of tropical goodness! I'm in for 2012 and already did my January 1st starter. ... Yesterday's ride was a 200k brevet around the California coast from Moorpark to Carpinteria and back. I rode my 1978 Trek TX700.
Jim

Please remember to include me in your list.

Now that it is finally February and my birthday is today, @56, today's 22-mile commute on my 26-year-old bike gives me 104 points? Nah! I'll get another 100 in soon.

Seriously, great job everyone.

Jim

^^^^^^^


Please remember to include me in your list.

Now that it is finally February and my birthday is today, @56, today's 22-mile commute on my 26-year-old bike gives me 104 points? Nah! I'll get another 100 in soon.

Seriously, great job everyone.

Jim
Sorry Jim, i completely missed that one. thanks for the response. I was thinking of you as I compiled the list.

Yes, me too. I'm in for 1 and an honorable mention with RHM.

Include me, please. None yet, so put a scratch in for me for January.

Happy birthday Jim! I'm 5 years behind you.

I'll try and do better next month. I should have just held back and let RHM start the thread again. He's such a natural talent, and I'm feeling out of my league.
The original listing has been edited, and edited again.

It's OK, seeds, you've got 11 months to improve.;)

I should have just held back and let RHM start the thread again.

Yeah, well, I'm glad you beat me to it. Shows this is century-a-month thing is a universal goal, not a perversion unique to myself.

This thread, and it's 2011 version, have been a constant inspirition to me. And I know that it is a challenge to keep all the posts straight. That's my way of saying - Good Work seeds and rhm!

For Feburuary I can offer this repeat of a ride I did last year, the Retro Ramble. That's my 120 mi, 10,600 ft of climbing journey over the mountains to join the Velo-Retro club ride in Pasadena, then return the way I came. Sunday's ride was in beautifully clear skies and freeking cold temperatures from my house and through the mountains, while being sunny and close to 80 degrees in Pasadena. Meeting up with the Velo-Retro guys (Chuck Schmidt) is always a learning experience for my. These guys know more about C&V bikes than I'll ever know but mostly is't just the relaxed good riding and bike porn visuals. BTW, I rode my 75 Eisentraut Limited. So here are some pictures.

Mid way through the trip down I had a flat. Three riders passed me as I replaced my tube. They were the first of dozens I would encounter on the "city side" of my otherwise lonley march through the mountains.

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff498/leaping_gnome/2012%20Bike%20Rides/IMG_0058_sm.jpg

On the city side, now, that's Burbank in the distance.

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff498/leaping_gnome/2012%20Bike%20Rides/IMG_0061_sm.jpg

Joining with the group, we ride through some nice neighborhoods from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena to the Coffee Bean in Sierra Madre.

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff498/leaping_gnome/2012%20Bike%20Rides/IMG_0074_sm.jpg

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff498/leaping_gnome/2012%20Bike%20Rides/IMG_0076_sm.jpg

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff498/leaping_gnome/2012%20Bike%20Rides/IMG_0077_sm.jpg

Although this is actually an early morning shot on my way down I thought it would look better as a parting shot.

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff498/leaping_gnome/2012%20Bike%20Rides/IMG_0055_sm.jpg

And sunset as I made the last long climb. The cold wind was in my face for this whole climb, not to mention on the dark descent that followed. Brrrr.

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff498/leaping_gnome/2012%20Bike%20Rides/IMG_0083_sm.jpg

I now have four Permanents approved. The Retro Ramble is on my list but I have trouble getting "checkpoints" to verify the miles since much of the distance is so remote. Here's a link to my permanents, all the ones that start out in Antelope Valley: http://www.pchrandos.com/html/permanents.html

See you somewhere down the road!

Jim

I got my February century in this past Sunday. I have been unable to post until now, because I've been busy with houseguests and with my newfound RETIREMENT! As of Monday evening.
No photos, but I saw a flock of 15 white pelicans, soaring, which made my day. Then, as I was slowing for a police checkpoint, I reached for my water bottle. When I looked back up I saw a largish snake crossing the road, but unclear which direction it was going. It was coming my way, and I had to slow and swerve while holding the water bottle. Turkey levers would have come in handy. Between 5 and six feet long, slender, and a shiny, solid copper color. Very pretty.

February's century...
http://connect.garmin.com/dashboard?cid=3463944 seems like my 305 gets hokey with some of the date on rides over 60 miles but the total time and distance are correct.... moving average speed is not accurate... although I wish it was....

I'm flying out today so I needed to knock it out IOT not have a scratch this early in the year.
I'm on the hook for a 200 miler in the begining March so a few weeks off the bike may end up costing me Oh well.

As for yesterdays ride it was breezy seemed like it was a head wind in every direction however, with Oahu's moderate winter temperatures I'm not going to complain.
Mike

2012 Tour De Palm Springs Century. Didn't see too many classic bikes this year on this ride. Last year, rode with it on an 84 Centurion. This year, an 84 Lotus

As for yesterdays ride it was breezy seemed like it was a head wind in every direction however, with Oahu's moderate winter temperatures I'm not going to complain.
Mike
My sentiments exactly. I had to take evasive action, and do a couple of out and backs on a somewhat protected stretch of road. Normally, I would turn east into whatever wind there was, but yesterday that option was unthinkable.
At mile 100 of 125, I asked myself was it really worth it in these conditions. So I took a last, sit down break in the shade, ate my last banana, and set off for the end. I got a tailwind for the last 15 km or so, as I always do on that route.

I was going to name my post "The Old Man and The Wind".
Next time we meet, somewhere out there on the road, we will do so with mutual respect.
Feb. 200km completed

Go Seeds go! :thumb:

I was going to name my post "The Old Man and The Wind".
Next time we meet, somewhere out there on the road, we will do so with mutual respect.

I like that. I just usually get a Bob Seger kind of "Into the Wind" kind of mood but I also paraphrase Frank Herbert:
"God created the wind to train the faithful...Bicyclist"

Great job knocking out those February rides!

Jim

February in. 115 miles, 7880', 7.5 hrs door to door. Here's the route. (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=216947951708909921790.0004b9e3c4c2a746d4927&msa=0&ll=37.420345,-109.702606&spn=0.856163,1.213989)

Never ridden this route before, as it starts a couple of hours south of here. it's called the Big Loop by the local riders down there, and among other tasty tidbits, crosses Comb Ridge twice, climbs 900' in 2.5 miles on gravel, and traverses Cedar Mesa at altitudes over 7000'.

(none of these photos are mine) Here's Comb Ridge:

http://tonyrogers.com/images/2005_colo_utah/comb_ridge/153_5362_900px.jpg


And the gravel climb of the Moki Dugway:

http://www.jasonmcelroy.com/pics/utah_moki_dugway_outlook.jpg
Anybody else this weekend?

February in. According to BikeRouteToaster, it was 102.14 miles and 1004 feet of climbing. Love those NJ hills!

Gotta get a new battery for my camera, it's not holding much of a charge-- went from 100% to 10% in three photos.

I rode down into the Pinelands of central NJ again; trying to learn which of the more secluded roads are paved. Maps (including Google Maps &c) show hundreds of miles of roads through the area, but most are not paved, and many are overgrown with trees to the point that you can't even find them on the ground. Some are partially paved, and a few are paved all the way through, but the only way to figure out which ones are paved all the way through is to look at the satellite photos of every mile. It's almost as slow as riding them! It's worth it, though, because the substrate is sugar sand and almost impossible to ride a bike on.

Best thing about these roads is that they're totally unphotogenic. So I didn't get photos of the best parts. Other roads are interesting mostly for their blandness. These photos were taken at the 50.9 mile point, at which point I turned back homeward.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7179/6788881604_0fcd39f04a_b.jpg
This one, for example, goes straight as an arrow for miles. A truck passed me going 50+ mph and I could still see it like four or five minutes later, until it went over the hill in the distance. Yes, there's a hill in the distance. Oh, fine, you'll just have to take my word for that.

Sometimes the roads have curves in them, as shown here:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7177/6788882098_10abfdf4b7_b.jpg

I didn't bring a map, and inadvertently found myself on busier --and more direct-- roads than I meant to take. So when I got home, my odometer read only 93.6 miles :notamused: in just under 8 hours. But I figured we could include my ride to work this morning, another 10 miles in the same 24 hour period, right? Fortunately BikeRouteToaster precluded the need for such technicalities by measuring the same route at 102.14 miles. Whew!

Yeah, I know, not a stellar effort... but I'm coming down with a cold, and my bike was heavy and older than me:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7176/6934994905_37388deefc_b.jpg

Great job, guys! I rode a double century last weekend and then a 200k on my 1985 Centurion this past Saturday - but since I already reported a ride for February I won't go into any details - I was just fun in good weather. Next weekend, another double century - then I can think about a C&V ride for March.

Jim

Hi rhm,
How on earth can you ride that old, heavy bike that far, and w/ out clip-in pedals, or at least cages!?
Are those actually "drum style" brakes?
Your the man, even that light looks way heavy!

ss

I believe a ride like that, on such a bike, is simply business as usual for rhm...