Gonna do a century this year....but...
 

I will be pulling my daughter in her chariot. I think I am going to shoot for the Dublin (Georgia) century on St Patties weekend and go for a sub 6 hour ride pulling the kid.

If she does not gain a lot of weight between now and then it will add about 75-80 lbs to me and my bike between Samantha and the cart and all her goodies and food.

The nice thing about the Dublin ride is that it is a 50 mile loop done twice which means if she is tired of riding or if I am dead we can stop after the first 50. I did the single loop (50 miles) last year in 2:56 so I hope to be able to beat that pace.

I'll keep you all posted and use this thread as my online training journal.

I will count my ride with her at Stone mountain saturday, Jan 3, as the first entry, 25 miles in 1hr:25min, my next ride will be a slow paced cruise tomorrow.

I try to do at least two or three rides per week pulling her, weather permitting.

Bikealot, you need to join us at Dublin. I will probably need a draft every now and then to pull this off so I pick YOU! And of course I won't mind pulling my fair share as I'm no wheel sucker.

Wow that's gonna be a tough pull.:eek: I have a Chariot child trailer for my kids as well, and I can attest that 100 miles (especially in 6 hours) will be a feat indeed.
I wish you a safe and fun ride (emphasis on safe).

...Oh and I'm not convinced that rednecks are in fact people....well maybe

Trust me, I know this may be a verrrry lofty goal. But since I have pulled off 50-60 milers at close to a 19 mph average on our rail to trail path here I think I might just pull the hat trick.

Or die trying!

Sam, watch out for the wind gusts tomorrow. If it's not too windy I may join you.


How are you going to keep Samantha entertained for 6 hours at the Dublin century? ;)

When there are other cyclists around she seems to be much more content in the cart. But it is her patience for the ride that may determine whether I do the full century. I will be trying to turn a fast 50 just in case she tires of it so I can at least do a personal best 50 mile ride.

Come down and do it.

You are a brave brave man Sam. Good luck, and can't wait to read an update.

An awesome feat indeed.... If your daughter gets bored have the missus do the ole switcheroo with a sack of potatoes at the 50 mile mark. :D

Not a bad idea Blast. Pre weigh a sand bag to match my daughter and I can still claim my fame if I have to drop her off.

Not to mention it will confirm the thoughts of others who will think I am nuts anyway. ;)

Todays ride was only 10 miles due to the extreme wind conditions. The kid cart was just too hard to handle in the crosswinds and brutal headwind as well.

34 minutes for 10 miles with about 10 minutes of cool down ride after wards, total 45 minutes.

Tomorrows ride will be on the mountain bike weather permitting. Next ride with the cart will be thursday or friday.

Were you riding with just the cart or the cart with kid in it? Your daughter's weight should keep the cart planted, no?

With her in it. It would fly like a kite without her in it.

The gusts today were hitting me from the side at one point and I could feel it making my bike crab along making me countersteer to compensate. I just decided not to take any chances of it tipping over from a hard sudden blast.

The training update:

Yesterday did 18 miles on the mountain bike at a semi hard pace. Today the temps were a bit low but still did 15 miles pulling Samantha in 52 minutes so I am on par with the pace I will need for the ride if I can get my endurance work in between now and March.

It started freezing rain at the end of my ride so I am glad I cut it short.

Sam, I was watching the radar and temperature all day and decided not to ride. As it turned out the sleet/freezing rain started about the time I would have been leaving Stone Mountain. Hmm, riding home (~10 miles) in that stuff. No thanks. I'll leave that to those "crazy Yankees" on the forum. ;)

Instead I hit the semi-annual clearance sale at Galyan's and picked up a balaclava and some more Smartwool socks.

If the roads dry up this morning I'll be testing the balaclava today. The high is supposed to be about 37F (3C) and overcast.

am i to understand that both you and your daughter are named sam?

if you pull off this century you'll be SAMdaSAMtotinMAN

Riphraph, yep, better than a boy named Sue though.

Samantha Cassidy Johnson is her full name.

If I pull this century off I will be Samdadamntiredman.

Todays ride was just an hour of mountain biking. I've had some knee swelling and took a couple of days off.

I'd go see a doctor about that Knee if I were you :D


Marty

She'll be home soon ;)

Todays ride on Silver comet trail was brutal.

18 miles out into a strong headwind but the trip back was fast and fun.

Out time was 59 minutes, return time was 48 minutes. My what a difference a tailwind makes.

Sam,
Good luck on the Dublin Century. The return loop (back 50) is often into strong wind for 10-20 miles. It can be brutal depending on the weather. Of course if you can make it the last 12-18 miles you can have a killer tail wind.

My son just turned 3 and weighs 38 lbs, I haven't tallied the weight of the trailer and everything. Ignorance is bliss. I don't think I have the nads to pull him for 6 or 7 hours. Your a stud.