7.62

Hey all,

Is anyone doing this ride in May? This will be my first long distance ride of this type (but not my first century).

mkadam68

Nah...I did it last year in the Fall. Couple things:

Make sure you carry some warm gear at the start...I was too hot at the start so didn't bring anything and was fine. But when the sun went down, I was freezing mg:

If you actually want to see the full moon, check the moon rise times and ride slower or leave later. I left when the ride first started, but I guess I rode too fast (5:20 ride time) and only saw the full moon when I pulled into the hotel parking lot at the finish (9:15pm)

SAG stop food was not too varied, so bring your own stuff you like.

Make sure your lighting system can handle 3+ hours of riding in the dark. My batteries had enough at about 8:15 (I had them on the high beam setting too long) and I had to ride in the dark the last 20 miles with other riders around me, showing the way.

Scootcore

its a good ride. what mark says is tack on. if youve done a PU ride before you know the food yer gonna get(which is fine by me!). for lights all you really need isa little battery powered guy unless its cloudy. i did it the first year they ran it and rode most of the night using my little double a cheese ball light! and yeah, it can get COLD!!!! wind can be tricky too, but thats what makes it fun, right? i may do this, depends on work though!!

7.62

Thanks for the info.

I'm mostly concerned about the wind as I've heard a few stories.. I've ridden out to Willow Springs from Lake Elizabeth and back with some horrid side and head winds, but I'm sure that could pale in comparison to what May 17 could bring. lol

Scootcore

could be calm or windy.......whats the fun in knowing what its gonna be like?!?!??!!?

7.62

Doesn't really matter. Gonna' do it regardless.

Scootcore

awesome! it was actually kinda fun and rewarding when the wind was really going and it took all i had to go 11mph! had to stop to takea drink! good times!!!!!

7.62

Yeah.. I can certainly understand that. I literally asked for more head wind out loud the last time I rode in the desert. It's kinda' funny what cycling and the elements does to a person.

Entropy906

Apparently it leads to insanity.

I haven't had a need to ask for more wind in the couple years I've lived in Palmdale. I was planning to do this ride if it was in the fall but I realized that it had moved to the spring too late to ask for the days off.