vermdice

I just came back to bicycling after a 10 year hiatus. A few weeks ago, I picked up a Cannondale hybrid and threw some road tires on it. The bike has been great to ride and I've only been on the Burke Gilman so far.

I attended the REI Cyclefest event at the Redmond store where a number of organizations and vendors were advertising. The Seattle Century event peaked my interests. I'd probably opt for the half century portion since I don't have much seat time.

Have any of you seen hybrids used in this event? It looked like most of the bikes from the event photos are all road bikes.

Seattle Forrest

I have a cyclocross bike - basically a slightly heavier road bike, with disc brakes. You'd recognize the drop bars and such as a race bike ... it's just built to do some dirt now and then, too. ( Although I love the disc brakes for rainy rides! )

The longest ride I've done so far has been 62 miles, with two friends on mountain bike hybrids. One is in better shape than I am ( runs marathons regularly ) and the ride was easier for him; another isn't in as good shape, and found it a bit more taxing. So I wouldn't hesitate to do the half century part with the bike you got.

When is the event, though? And where can I get more info?

Kneez

I was thinking about this too. You can google it and find their cite. It almost looks like there is more eating than riding!

If anyone has done it before, please give us a review. I have never done a ride like this before so I'd like to hear about other people's experiences.

Kneez

Here is site: https://www.seattlecentury.com/

mattm

I've seen straight-up mountain bikes on the STP, so you should be OK.

Hell, even guys on skateboards & unicycles do the STP!

Just make sure to do some big rides leading up to it, so you know you're ready.

vermdice

Thanks for the replies. I noticed road bikes passing me left and right on Burke-Gilman on my past rides and I can see myself wanting a road style bike in a year or so, heh. I like speed, but another bike purchase will have to wait since I just bought the hybrid. I'll work on getting into shape with the hybrid this year.

I did a 20 mile round trip from Kenmore Air to the U district and back last Saturday and I learned a few things. A half century will definitely require some more training rides on my part.

It's 60.00 if you register before 7/30 and you save an extra 10.00 off that if you register at REI, Gregg's Cycles or Bikeworks in Western Washington according to the brochure handout I picked up at the REI Cyclefest event I attended.

woodway

The Hybrid will be fine. You might think about putting some bar extenders on it to give you another hand position. Just get some seat time and go for it - a half-century is a good way to get started.

CliftonGK1

I ride centuries with a friend who uses a Specialized Stumpjumper with a lock-out suspension fork and 700c rims. If you're comfortable on it, you can ride anything.

As for the Seattle Century, I think it's an expensive ride. I've heard great things about it, but I'm spoiled (price-wise) after riding with the Seattle Randos and I'm not much for big crowds so I shy away from most organized rides these days.

vermdice

Thanks for posting about your experience with Randonneurs. I just looked up the Seattle Randos website and that looks like something I'd enjoy.

JC 911

I rode the Seattle Century 2 years ago during the inaugural year (they have been doing the Portland Century for a while I think).
The organization was okay and you ride a lot of the Burke Gilman and Sammamish River Trails which are loaded with walkers/runners/other riders which I wasn’t a big fan off.
They could do a lot better job of marking the route as I and a lot of other riders got lost a few times due to inadequate markings. The best thing about the event is the food and not the ride itself.
Not sure how last years event went but after doing the 1st year, I wasn’t impressed enough to do it again.

Seattle Forrest

Thanks for the review, JC. You just saved me $60.

I do a lot of riding on the Burke and Sammamish River Trail, and get myself lost on the east side. But it's free when I do it. The crowd size is anywhere from one to five, this way, though.

BengeBoy 

The Seattle Century wouldn't be my pick for a century as you can ride that route any time; there is plenty of support (stores and even bike stores) along the route; and the scenery is something you see every day. To me, organized centuries are more fun (and worth the $$) if they motivate you to get out to somewhere scenic, or provide support (food, SAG, etc.) in less populated areas where riding on your own might be more difficult to arrange.

Biking Bis, a Seattle-based big blog, has an excellent list of local organized rides (FYI, this weekend is the Camano Climb, a circuit around Camano Island).

https://www.bikingbis.com/blog/_WebPa...ingtonMay.html



One of my favorite rides is coming up in about 10 days -- the Skagit Valley Spring Classic -- starts in Burlington, goes up the Chuckanut Drive, loops around Lake Whatcom, etc. Nice roads, good organization, small crowds. There are a variety of routes -- I think the standard routes are 40, 60 and 100 miles, but there is a nice network of roads up there so you can probably ride about any distance you want.

Rascale

A friend from work told me he did the 1/2 century ride a couple of years ago and the food was great and he enjoyed it. If you want a social ride with support, great food and live music (even massage at the end) this is it.

Even though I've done most of this solo too many times to count, I'm going to give it a try, I got the $10 off coupon code. I can't resist the combo of pedaling, pie and partying. Oh, and did I mention "a cold microbrew or two in the free beer garden"?