Are group Centuries fun of do you prefer Solo or one other rider?
05-01-15, 09:58 AM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Tulsa OK
Posts: 2,076
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 63 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Small groups are fine. I would do a club century anytime. Most big t-shirt rides though are a no go. Not a fan. I don't know anyone there and have zero faith in their handling skills or common sense. There are a few smaller more local charity rides I've enjoyed but don't care for the big ones.
05-01-15, 11:36 AM
#29
SuperGimp
On a closed course maybe, but I did my ride in Haleiwa Hawaii, it's a one lane 2 way road and it's unsafe to pass for very large sections of the ride, and since I started near the back of the pack, all the riders got strung out, so I had to pass through the D, C, B, packs, then my friend would get a flat, I would stop to help, then begin passing all over again.
This is normally not an issue had the ride organizers actually followed through with separating the riders by skill level (which they were supposed to do but forgot I guess?)
This is normally not an issue had the ride organizers actually followed through with separating the riders by skill level (which they were supposed to do but forgot I guess?)
Pick out any 100 mile distance along the California coast. As long as you're heading south you usually have a tail wind. The Amtrak Century is an organized 100 miler that ends up in San Diego and everybody takes the train back up. That's a popular route for solo centuries (or small groups) too.
05-01-15, 11:43 AM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Triangle, NC
Posts: 1,480
Bikes: S-Works Tarmac
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 182 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Nothing beats riding with a group - whether its a fast or recovery paced ride. I only ride solo when I have to, which fortunately isn't very often.
05-01-15, 11:51 AM
#31
Speechless
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Central NY
Posts: 8,842
Bikes: Felt Brougham, Lotus Prestige, Cinelli Xperience,
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 163 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 39 Times
in
16 Posts
Last year, I did a two day 257 mile tour, and I knew that the second day I would have a 20-30 mph tail wind pushing me home. For 55 miles, I was perfectly in line with it, and covered that distance with grand visions of a five hour solo century. Then I had to start vectoring across it, sometimes at 90° angles, and those visions disappeared.
05-01-15, 11:52 AM
#32
well hello there
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Point Loma, CA
Posts: 15,430
Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 503 Post(s)
Liked 336 Times
in
206 Posts
I prefer solo because the group I ride with is so fast that I just suffer too much. I can push hard for 40 or 50 miles. But not 100.
__________________
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
05-01-15, 01:35 PM
#33
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 90
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
I've done one century, which was a solo effort. You learn a lot about yourself and your cycling abilities when you're completely solo for 100 miles...its liberating.
I've got a group century this Sunday, so I'll be able to comment on that after then. But I'm expecting a much faster pace/finishing time just because I'll be able to rotate off the front and back into the draft.
I've got a group century this Sunday, so I'll be able to comment on that after then. But I'm expecting a much faster pace/finishing time just because I'll be able to rotate off the front and back into the draft.
05-01-15, 01:50 PM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 8,896
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 196 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
All of the "English" centuries that I've ridden have been group rides, ranging from 1-3 people to large organized rides. However, I have ridden numerous metric centuries solo. To ride 100+ miles, it really helps to have other people to ride with, for the companionship as well as drafting. Most organized centuries also have a few rest stops where you can get water, food and use a portajohn.
05-01-15, 02:35 PM
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Oahu, HI
Posts: 1,396
Bikes: 89 Paramount OS 84 Fuji Touring Series III New! 2013 Focus Izalco Ergoride
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 285 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 74 Times
in
54 Posts
On a closed course maybe, but I did my ride in Haleiwa Hawaii, it's a one lane 2 way road and it's unsafe to pass for very large sections of the ride, and since I started near the back of the pack, all the riders got strung out, so I had to pass through the D, C, B, packs, then my friend would get a flat, I would stop to help, then begin passing all over again.
This is normally not an issue had the ride organizers actually followed through with separating the riders by skill level (which they were supposed to do but forgot I guess?)
This is normally not an issue had the ride organizers actually followed through with separating the riders by skill level (which they were supposed to do but forgot I guess?)
scott s.
.
05-01-15, 02:50 PM
#36
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: take your time, enjoy the scenery, it will be there when you get to it
Posts: 7,281
Bikes: 07 IRO BFGB fixed-gear, 07 Pedal Force RS
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I've never done a solo century. I have done one with another person which was nice (it was my first one and bonked around mile 85). I did two with groups, and I think I prefer that best, especially if you get with a good fast group, where you can trade off pulling at the front. My last century I did, we finished in 5 hours, it was fast but being able to recover in the back from a long pull makes it much more manageable.
I'm supposed to do another group one this Saturday, but I think I'm going to skip out and take the mountain bike out instead.
I'm supposed to do another group one this Saturday, but I think I'm going to skip out and take the mountain bike out instead.
FTR, I've come close to a 5hr century a couple times, but I've never done one with a group.
05-01-15, 03:02 PM
#37
Senior Member
Oh no, I had plenty of fun despite having multiple flats and riding in the rain, the good definitely outweighed the bad. I'll still sign up for the Honolulu Century in September, inexperienced riders is less of a gripe and more of a matter of course, it's not like I was angry, I had all smiles that day.
05-01-15, 04:02 PM
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
I once rode to a group ride with a few teammates, did the group ride with about 50 riders, and then rode back with a small group and then eventually by myself. 100 miles, big group, small group, solo. So, yes.
05-01-15, 06:04 PM
#39
Senior Member
I like riding solo
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
allroy71
Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling
8
10-28-11 02:28 PM
Barrettscv
Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling
11
09-01-11 11:21 AM
