TrojanHorse

Getting ready for the "cool breeze" century in Ventura on Aug. 18.

Did this over the weekend:

Saturday, super climb laden route: https://app.strava.com/rides/15115077

Sunday, just wanted to round off the weekend to 100 miles, missed by one or two, oh well: https://app.strava.com/rides/15420443

Next weekend I'm hoping to do about an 80 mile ride with some climbing in the middle.

I'm not really sure what to do the weekend before the ride - I'm guessing regular riding (probably one longish day), and then I'll stop a few days before to let my legs rest up. I made it through Sunday's ride on only one Clif bar, so that felt good. Except for some persistent front derailleur issues that are self inflicted, everything worked well and I felt good.

I accidentally took 3 weeks off in early July, so I'm catching up from that a bit and have convinced myself that if I ride 200 miles in July and 200 more before the century I'll be in fine shape. i'm sure it'll be fine, it's not an arduous century aside from the distance but I'm looking forward to it.

cafzali

If you can already do that first ride you took, you'll be in fine shape for most any century I've ever seen. The only things I've seen that are tougher than that are some of the Gran Fondos around the country.

Good luck!

volosong

Why don't you do the double-metric? Most of the hills are front loaded, and nothing even close to the difficulty of GMR.

Cool Breeze was a nice ride last year. The weather was quite cool in the morning, and warmed up nicely in the afternoon, but never "hot". On the return leg from Sta. Barbara, you have that prevailing ocean breeze pushing you back to Ventura. Cool Breeze has to be the most scenic century anywhere in SoCal. They have a nice jersey this year.

TrojanHorse

I agree about the jersey - I'm digging it.

As for the double - you tempter! I think given the fact that I've never ridden a century, just completing the century will be OK. Having said that... my riding buddy injured his knee a month ago and i'm still not sure if he's going even though he says he is. if he bails I'll track you down and draft you the whole way.

Do you stay out there somewhere or just get up early? It's a healthy drive from the AV isn't it? it's about 2 hours for me, my wife is trying to convince me that i don't want to get up at 4 to drive out there.

peckma

did it last year; going again this year. don't sweat trying to get there so you can depart at 7AM. driving from Manhattan Beach we arrived at 7AM, didn't depart until 8AM and had plenty of company. parking gets a bit tight, though, so you may have to park on the streets. if you've done a good mix of climbing and distance - and sounds like you have - then you'll do just fine. most of the hard climbs are from 30-40 miles. rest stops are well stocked. Afternoon breezes along Hwy 101/PCH are a nice touch.

Homeyba

I wanted to do this ride with Mr Beanz but he decided it wasn't good enough for him. Since I didn't want to do it all by my lonesome I decided not to. Maybe I should have done it anyway.