neospazzy

First time doing the Sea Otter Classic Century. It first started out a little chilly, but boy did the temperature heat up by the time we got to the mountains! The road conditions weren't all that great (very gravely) and descending on my screeching Reynolds Assaults proved some hairy and scary moments. The gate to the main road wasn't opened and people were forced off their bikes and go through a hole in the fence. We were greeted with lots of headwinds by 9am as well as rising temperatures. Along with 97+ degree heat, the Calhoun Summit climb at the 60 mile mark was brutal and punishing. Just when I thought there is going to be a 3rd SAG stop around the bend, I was handed more switchback climbs. After finally reaching the top with a water stop, the following descent proved to be a welcoming change. At the 4th and final SAG stop, a fellow rider shared news that the 3rd SAG stop ran out of water! The last two climbs were pushing the limits of the riders, especially with the heat. The Laureles Grade climb wasn't too bad, but the very last one after entering the gate at Laguna Seca was a very cruel joke, especially to those who battled the heat this far into the century! But boy was that one steep climb! My Garmin 705 read over 16% in certain areas of the climb. Both my quads seized up with cramps right in the middle of the last climb and I was about to give up when a nice fella walking down the steep hill taught me how to stretch out the cramps by bending my knees and holding my feet while standing on the other foot. I felt like a flamingo doing this, but amazingly it worked! After thanking the guy, I hopped back on my bike (albeit fighting against gravity while trying to clip on to the pedals) and finished the climb. The Laguna Seca Raceway was just on the other side and a nice, easy descent to the finish.

https://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/8061007#

If the headwinds and the heat were not a factor, maybe I could've gotten a better time. What I have learned though, is that the century this year cut the mileage by 15 miles. It was 108 miles last year from what I heard.

I don't know if I will do this ride again next year. Not because of the heat and headwind factor, but the fact that it was held on a freaking Sunday and I had to drive 380 miles down to So Cal that same evening with my family wasn't too ideal. I had work the next day and my two girls had school. If the ride next year is going to be held on a Saturday, I just may revisit this ride. But for now, it was an experience to remember.

Here are some pics of the ride:


My wife took this dorky picture of me before heading out to the starting line.


"Ready ... Set ... wait ... there has been a 5 minute delay!"


I believe this is somewhere in Salinas. Loved the view, hated the road conditions!


At the top of the Calhoun Summit. I heard that they ran out of water not too long after I left.

redtires

Crazy schedule....great pics.

HAMMER MAN

looks like the roads here in texas

neospazzy

I emailed the Sea Otter Classic Committee about possibly changing the recreational tour day to a Saturday instead of a Sunday. I honestly believe that would attract more out-of-towners to do this ride. Luckily one of my friends decided to call in sick and stayed another evening at the hotel. He let me use his hotel room shower after the ride and right before I began driving my family down to So Cal. I couldn't imagine being in the car with someone who just finished a century in 97+ degree weather, only to drive down for 6-7 hours right after the ride. If it were just me ... maybe. But I had my wife and two girls who came to Sea Otter with me to consider. That post-ride shower was a sigh of relief to what may have been a torturous ride for my wife and kids.

Got to remember, most hotel checkout is by 11am. My wife and kids already checked out while I was still on the ride.

Ingleside

Good stuff !
I did not ride in it but it was my cousin-in-law's first century.
The only thing that seemed weak was the finish. Himself and some other riders could not find the right finish and ended back on to the race track where the ride started. The only problem was that the mens cross country pro final was about to finish up and the UCI reffs wanted eveyone off the track.

About that climb on South Boundary Road.. its insane! I can't believe they made you guys do that after all those miles. I had to climb up that starting at 218 last year when I attended the Moto GP race. It wouldn't have been too bad on my road bike but I was on my 40 lb. downhill rig. Thats the closest I've been to hell on earth.