gandor

anybody knows if this is a hilly ride? this will be my first time riding a century. I did my first bike event last month at san diego bike the coast 50 mile ride and did not have any problems and im thinking if its just a flat ride like the bike the coast then I can do century. thanks!

TJClay

It's just about the flattest century on the west coast that I know of. Be prepared for strong headwind for the first 15-20 miles, very rough road between mile 45 and 50 and at least 5000 other riders. I've done it the last 4 years. The first two were great, the 3rd was the strongest wind I've ever ridden in, at least 30mph and last was good but very cold at the start. Sign up and do it. And if youre going to stay there be prepared for an expensive price on hotels. If you decide to go look for me, I'll be in black Lycra shorts.......

Rick@OCRR

There are a few small hills, rollers really, but no steep climbs at all. The few longish climbs there are - very slight incline, maybe 2%. As TJClay pointed out, the worst thing about this century is the wind at the start. For the last two years we've started in brutal side winds, then the course turns 90 deg. and it becomes a brutal headwind.

The good news -> Several miles later the course turns again and you get to enjoy a wonderful downhill super-tail-wind on practically perfect pavement for what seems like 15 miles; a long way in any case. Overall though, excellent organization, plenty of food and water at the checkpoints, well marked course and adequate number of SAG vehicles.

The last ten miles get tedious with lots of traffic signals, plus you'll be intersecting the shorter courses so the level of rider skill drops but not a huge problem. Not sure how many times I've ridden it; five or six I'd guess. One year I rode it on fixed gear so it has to be pretty flat for me to do that!

Rick / OCRR

jsigone

between mile 5 - 15 miles or so sucks, then you turn east and the route is super easy.

Lesper4

Well here is my perspective. It is a flat course compared to some hilly ones but there is still 3200ft of climbing, there are flatter centuries and beginning the season it might feel a little worse. Last year when I road in my triple I never used my small ring. The winds can be bad in the beginning but they are manageable especially considering the tail wind. Lots of roller then a 50 downhill section into the bad pavement. The last 25-30 miles has a slight head wind and 1% grade (maybe) so that will pay its toll if you are not ready for it. Definitely a great event but there are LOTS of riders. Great food at the stops and lost of HS bands. Last year I got a room for the next night since I did the half marathon as well and it was roughly $60. definitely one of my favorite rides because of the location. It can be 40 at the start and then warm up to 70 by the end. Last year my ride time was 5h40m and I think I was in the stops for maybe 30mins?

TrojanHorse

Yeah, sign up! It's a terrific ride. it is brutally cold at the start and nice and warm at the end so you can't just slap on tons of warm clothing because you won't have anywhere to put it when you get hot. Layers and wind protection and just know you'll start out cold.

Very windy for the first 10 miles or so.

It's not hilly overall but there are two "hills" you need to get over. The first one is moderately steep and occurs right after the windy part. The second is about 60 or 70 miles in and not very long. The rest of the ride is just riding around on some pretty good streets and having a good day on your bike.

gandor

it looks like its going to be my 1st century ride then...I haven't been on my bike since the bike the coast so I guess its time for me to start training now even with this cold weather. thank you all for your input and hope to see some of you guys out there...my bro-in-law and his crew that I rode with on bike the coast wont make this event so it looks like im riding solo on this event but at least I wont have to w8 for them chatting for 30+mins on every SAG were my legs gets freaking stiff every time..

TrojanHorse

You might be riding alone but it's highly unlikely you'll be riding solo. 11,000 riders... you'll be in a pack for nearly the whole way, whether you want it or not.

gandor

well im new to cycling so even if I start in the middle of the pack, theres still a possibility that i'll end up riding solo at the very back..lol

diphthong

it's perfect for your first century. always a good turnout and it's easier to ride a century surrounded by others than solo. your biggest issue will be hydration/food intake.
i wouldn't worry about the climbing as there's no grade that demands you standing and addressing the pedals directly.

hamster

This.

Last year it was under 40 F at the start and high 60's by noon. Unless it goes differently next year (don't see any reason why it should), aside from being able to ride for 8 hours, the most important skill is being able to ride in near freezing conditions. At the minimum, you need two layers, three is better unless you have a dedicated thermal base layer; leg warmers, warm socks, full finger gloves, and finally a place to put that all when it all comes off 2-3 hours into the ride (longer if you start with the first light). Consider getting something like a triangle bag or a big top tube bag that can fit the clothing. I have a Jandd triangle bag ($30) and I just got a nice Specialized thermal base layer with windproofing for $32 recently on clearance - check your local stores.

TrojanHorse

Jersey pockets! You don't need snacks, that operation provides tons of food.

Anyway, I think I had toe warmers, regular socks, leg warmers (fold up pretty small), regular bibs, long sleeve thermal base layer that I can tolerate up into the 60s, a cycling wind vest, a wind blocking head band for my ears and long fingered gloves.

By the end of the ride I was down to just the bib and jersey, everything else fit in a jersey pocket... somehow.

Given the early temps and early wind, you definitely need some sort of wind-blocking jacket or vest. Long fingered gloves are the other absolute necessity, although my fingers were definitely pretty frigid for the first hour. Heck, so was the rest of me but it did warm up after the first two hours.

GP

Wear a lightweight L/S base layer under a vest, plus arm and knee warmers and glove liners over regular gloves. Stuff a priority mail envelope or some plastic bags under the vest for the morning. Throw the envelope/bags away at the first or second stop. Pull the arm warmers down around your wrist if they're too hot. If it gets real warm, put the vest and glove liners in your middle pocket and the knee warmers in your left pocket. That leaves your right pocket empty for your ID and anything else. IMO, it's best to be cold for the first hour than to carry a bunch of extra stuff.

gandor

thx for the heads up...it looks like I'll be wearing the same thing from bike the coast...long sleeve base layer, jersey, light wind/rain jacket and regular bib should be enough. here's me from bike the coast in matching fluorescent green shoes and jacket.

hamster

Well, you were warned. (I'm pretty sure that the air didn't even go below 50 F during bike the coast.)

TJClay

You can always wad up a jacket or leg and arm warmers and stuff them in the back of your bibs under your jersey when it gets warm

jimxyz

I did the 50 last year with my 10 yr old - we are going to do it again this year as well. Overall the 50 was real easy. There are so man bikes that we got into gridlock twice, but it was still great fun

TrojanHorse

My 10 yr old did the 25 last year and wanted to do more but I think the 50 would have been a bit much (I rode 100, wife and son rode 25). How'd your 10 yr old do with that wind and the early hill? It seems like everything after the first rest stop would be pretty easy on the 50 route.

jimxyz

We had some moments where we were moving pretty slow - one fall over when he wasn't able to clip out - but overall it wasn't bad. I don't recall much wind, but maybe I just blocked it out. haha. He kept riding after that event and we did 50 at the Napa century, which had some climbs that I was a bit worried about - but he did great on that one too. His power to weight ratio is way better than mine, so if he gets his speed up I will have a heck of a time trying to keep up with him.

Willma_Fingerdo

Last year the wind was not that bad, but 2012, WOW, stupid windy. Just get the first 15 miles out of they way and your home free. Watch out for the end, a lot of young kids on mountain bikes, bikes with training wheels and inexperience riders swerving the lst 100 yards.

megalowmatt

It's more of an experience than a ride. Lots of fun with a whole bunch of fellow riders.

hamster

By any chance, does anyone know which distances come with free t-shirts? I know that the 100-miler registration included a t-shirt last year, but it's not clear if any (or all) shorter distances include them too. I don't see this info on their web site.

TrojanHorse

My kids got the free shirts last year for doing the 25 mile ride.

Lesper4

I am pretty sure every ride does.

TJClay

that's about all you get, no post ride food, lousy course markings yet I do it every year and enjoy it, except the wind............