bigbossman 

At 48 years old, last year was my real debut into cycling. While I've most always had a bike around, I doubt I've ever ridden more than 20 or so miles in any one year since I was a kid banging around on my Schwinn Varsity.

In the middle of 2004, I decided to get of my fat butt and do something about a career full of expense account generated fat that was weighing me down. So, I hit the gym and started a sensible program. After losing about 20 lbs, I started in on the spin classes in earnest. After losing another 20, I remembered the bike hanging unused since 1988 in the garage.

I took it down, tuned it up, and started taking it for a ride once or twice a week to augment the spinning. At first, 10 miles was a 1 hour+ ordeal. But soon I started to shave it down to 50 and then 40 minutes. A good friend of mine met me in Parkfield CA for a weekend, and we ended up riding 95 miles in two days. Prior to that, I'd never ridden more than 20-30 miles in one go, ever.

Emboldened by my new-found fitness I decided to try a century, just to see how much of it I could finish before sagging out. I picked the flattest one I could find, and much to my surprise I was able to finish it with a little bit to spare. The seed was planted, and my addiction bloomed.

So, I decided to try for one a month. Each one I picked was successively more arduous - and while some were a real grind, I was able to finish them all. Below is a representative photo from each one. I saw some amazing scenery, met some amazing people, and had more fun than I thought possible on the back of a bike. I learned something about myself in the bargain, and I started to feel really good - mentally as well as physically.

Of the 10 listed, all but 2 were solo. 2 were metrics, 1 was an overnight (54 miles/54 miles), and the balance were full-on 100 mile+ centuries.

One special one was not a century at all, but a local race event called the Diablo Challenge. This consisted of a timed run up Mt Diablo, an 11 mile 3000'+ climb to the summit. While it was only ~22 miles round trip, it represented the pinnacle of my cycling year. Until then, I had been too intimidated to take on that mountain, and once atop it I realized that I was capable of riding anywhere I wished to. Thus, this is the only photo of the group presented below that I appear in.

All but the Tour of the Sacramento Delta, the Diablo Challenge, and Bonfante Gardens were completed on a 27lb 1988 Miyata. The TOSRD was ridden on a vintage 1974 Swiss Mondia, and for the Diablo Challenge I treated myself to a brand new bike - a 2005 Giant OCR Limited.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the pictorial log of my 2005 personal success in review. To some here it might not represent that big of an accomplishment, but hopefully there are some that might see it for what it means to me.

Oh yeah - and I apologize in advance for taking up so much bandwidth......

April 2005, Bike Around the Buttes, Yuba City, CA:


May 2005, Sunrise Century, Lodi, CA:


June 2005, Canyon Classic, Patterson, CA:


July 2005, Bike For Breath, San Mateo, CA :


August 2005, Let Us Ride, Salinas, CA:


September 2005, Sierra Fall Classic, Mammoth Lakes, CA:


September 2005, Tour of Sacramento Delta, Sacramento Delta, CA:


October 2005, Roadrunner, Dublin, CA:


October 2005, Diablo Challenge, Danville, CA:


October 2005, Bonfante Gardens, Gilroy, CA:

kxalex

Nice
Thank you for sharing your stories.

jschen

Congrats! Thanks for sharing.

USAZorro

Yo Bossman, maybe when I'm 48, I'll do one a month too. I'm going to shoot for four this year - aside from metrics that is. I just started back too last year, but can only lay claim to two centuries.

Great pictures too. I used to laugh about the hills turning brown in CA in late April. Now, I'd be get in a ride a week. Cycling has made me intolerant of cold winters.

bigbossman 

Thanks. Right now the hills are turning green with a vengeance. In a month, they will be so vibrantly emerald green that it will hurt your eyes to look at them.

It doesn't get any better than that.........

P.S. - Don't tell they guys over in Classic and Vintage that I'm riding a newfangled carbon bike now. I'm not ready for the scorn.

gpelpel

Hi bigbossman,
I also started centuries in 2005 but only rode 3 of them (Solvang, Grizzly Peak in Moraga, and Grizzly in North Fork).
I didn't ride the Diablo Challenge as it was the day after the Grizzly (10,000' of climbing). Although I would like to ride it this year. Climbing Mt.Diablo is one of my goals for this year. I see it everyday from my home but it's also a bit scary. How tough was it to climb?
The other century you rode I am interested about is the Fall Sierra Classic. I love the area. How was the route? I read that it could be boring. What did you think of it?
How was the organization?
Thanks for your feedback. If you are up to it I highly recommend the Grizzly Peak Century on May 7th. It's very well organized and challenging (8500').

caligurl

goregeous pics!!!! good job!

jschen

I didn't view the pics last night since I was on a modem (only decided to load text), so I'm just seeing the pics now. Wow! Those look like lovely rides! Congrats again.

bigbossman 

I too live in the shadow of Mt. Diablo, and rode by it on my local loops several times a week. I spent a whole year looking at Diablo and living in fear of it, and in fact didn't decide to climb it until the morning of the event. As with most anxieties, it was nowhere as big a deal as I had thought it would be. It was a good workout to be sure, but not really that hard. Just bring plenty of water and gel packs, and pick a day with good weather.

The Sierra Fall Classic is a fantastic ride. I can't imagine anyone describing it as boring - you ride through some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet! 1 stop sign in 100 miles, awesome geology everywhere you look, sweeping vistas, very well supported, way-cool jersey, 3 passes over 8'000', and screaming downhills (I hit a personal record of 56.2 mph).

It was easily the best century all around of the one's I did last year.

rzims

Congrats Man,
Although I'm a few years younger I decided the same thing this year. I've only had the bike a couple fo months and the Solvang Half Century will be my first long organized ride.
I'm going to do the Wildflower Century in Chico after that and the Ride around Lake Tahoe about a month later.
I don't think I'll get one a month in this year, but my fitness level has definitely incrreased and will continue to do so.
HAven't hit Diable yet, but plan on doing it in Feb

-Rich

Mhendricks

Bossman,
I really liked the story because it sounds just like me. Now at 50, I'm about to do my first century on my '83 Trek 720. Like we've talked about, I need to get up there for some rides with you. Since were like neighbors, I also know what you mean about the hills. Looking at Mt. Hamilton every morning from my front window is a beautiful site. Oh yeah about the guys over in the Classic and Vintage, I figure if Zorro and I know about the new bike, your secret is safe as long as you turn over all of your vintage stuff to us.

bigbossman 

I guess I'm screwed, then.....

The 1974 Mondia goes in the coffin before they close the lid, dude. I'm the last one that will EVER ride it -
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA................

scarry

Gotta love the Eastern Sierra Fall Century.

SesameCrunch

Thanks for sharing your story and the pictures. My story is very similar to yours. I'm 50 and started riding in last year. Like you, I started working out at the gym, discovered spinning classes, then dusted off my 1985 Panasonic DX2000 from the garage rafters in May. By August, I had bought a real bike (Lemond Zurich). I didn't quite make a century last year (best ride was 75mi 7,000ft climb), but will be doing several this year. Great sport, great hobby.

bigbossman 

Any time you're looking for a ride partner, drop me a line. I live over by Mt. Diablo.

SesameCrunch

Great! Maybe you can take me up Mt. Diablo... Thanks for the invite.

gpelpel

We should organize a Bike Forums Members ride up to Mt. Diablo.

adxm

Awesome rides! Makes me miss norcal all the more.

Maybe next year you can shoot for this:
Eastern Sierra Double ... goes over much of the same terrain as the Century, but it's twice as far. I'd say it's twice as fun...but it probably isn't . It is a great double though.

And to gpelpel: dude, if you've done the Grizzly Century you could tame Diablo no problem!

FLBandit

Cool! I'm 45 and 2005 was my first full year of riding as well. I did a bit over 5000 miles but only 3 centuries. One was organized (Strawberry Century in Plant City FL.) and the other two were just solo take off and ride kind of trips. Love the pics.

jimx200

bigbossman, thanks for the pics and story. This year I have committed to 5-6 centurys and 3-4 of the charity rides. At 55, I have always kept myself in good shape, but, I have never done an "official" century. I have done rides of 30-60 miles on a road, hybrid, and mt. bike, but this year I am going to make the true 100 miler. I just registered for the Solvang century on March 11. Thinking about a new road bike, but my old Raleigh (cro-mo) is pretty comfortable. Hope to see you on the road somewhere. Ride safe.

bigbossman 

If, by chance, you're in the SF Bay Area and want to go for a ride, drop me a line. I'm always looking for a ride partner.