rdtompki

Who among us is doing the Lighthouse Century? Can't get much more tandem friendly. DW and I are a year older and a year tandem-wiser so we're anticipating a really nice ride. I'll keep telling myself to take it easy on the one small hill early on in the ride and all will be well. Hope to see a bunch of tandems there.

Homeyba

I'll be there since it's a home town ride for me. If you see a naked Calfee with "RAAM Tough" stickers on it, that'll be me. I'll be with some friends , some of whom aren't very fast so we'll be putting along. Unless I decide to do the Hilly version and meet them at the lunch stop. It's a great ride!

specbill

We are registered and are looking forward to the ride again this year....it is one of our favorite because of the coastline and cool damp mornings...it just doesn't get any better. We will be at the campgrounds across the street from the college for four or five days to get in a little more riding in this wonderful area.
We will be doing the 'flat hundred' option.

If anyone is looking for a great ride in the eastern Sierra this coming weekend, Sept 11th, this century is a very scenic and popular one:
https://www.fallcentury.org/...
While it is not very flat, there were a lot of tandems there last year. The grades are long in places but not real steep...a little challenging but a fun Century for tandems.

Bill J.

JMarino

Ok, so I assume we are talking about the Maine Lighthouse Century. So, if I am correct, Kathy and I will be there, too. We are on our Silver / Blue Co-Mo. We'll be there with some friends on singles, but would enjoy other tandems around. Joe

rdtompki

Joe,
Geography is not my strength, but I think Maine is a bit of a drive. The El Tour de Tucson is almost beyond our max range at 700 miles. Based on the website the Maine ride looks like a lot of fun and very, very tandem friendly. Enjoy, it's just around the corner. Post pictures of the 9 lighthouses.

Homeyba

This would be the lighthouse century we're talking about:

https://www.slobc.org/lighthouse/index.html

When the time gets a little closer, we should set up a place to say hi at the start. I'm sure we'll end up all over the place once we leave.

JMarino

Ooops. Well I feel awkward now. Enjoy the ride everyone. We're looking forward to seeing the lighthouses on this end of the country.

Homeyba

The lighthouse (In SLO ) is next weekend! Anyone interested in hooking up near the start? I will be riding in the leisure class for this ride with some friends. Probably in or around the 15mph range on the flat route.

rdtompki

Sure - We'll be hard to miss - two seniors on a daVinci. What time do you expect to roll out?

Homeyba

Don't know yet. I have friends coming up from San Diego. Probably sometime around 6:00 or so but I'm sure we're pretty flexible.

Homeyba

The start is usually near the Gym, close to the south parking lot.

specbill

We will be riding down the main entrance to the college to start the flat 100 right around 6:00 as well.

Rick...we know we can spot your da Vinci easy enough with that bright blinking DiNotte tail light...and BTW we'll have our's flashing as well on our gray'ish Trek T2000.

Homeyba...we'll just look for a Calfee flashing by and assume it was you....probably not much sense is wavng because by the time I lift my arm you'll be too far down the road to see it

Hope you both have a safe and fun ride.

I'm surprised that we haven't heard from more BF tandem teams saying that they are riding the Lighthouse this year...real surprised.

Bill J

uspspro

We did this one in 2008.

The "hilly" really wasn't too hilly, but it did have an awesome descent. Forget the name of the Hwy.

Homeyba

The difficulty of the hilly route depends on what year you did it in. The last few years it really only adds a couple thousand feet of climbing. It goes up Old Creek Road then down Hwy 46. It's a mildly fast (45-50mph) 9 mile descent. The climb on Old creek is around 5 miles and averages 8%. In the old days the route used to go over Santa Rosa Creek Rd too That added 20% grades, curvy steep descents on 1 lane roads. The bike club probably quit using it for fear of getting sued after some newbie crashed on it.

Specbill, we're going to be just cruising. This will be my stokers first ride on my tandem and the others in our group are recreational riders so we will just be cruising. My Calfee is naked with Zipp wheels, aerobars and "RAAM Tough" stickers on the top tub. I'll probably be wearing a team JDRF jersey and shorts.

Does 6:00 sound like a good time to meet? Near the bike parking area tables where you pick up your ride stuff?

rdtompki

0600 would be fine with us as far as getting up, but pretty dark at that hour. If 0600 is the consensus I can probably pick up a cheap headlight that will get us by for less than 1 hour.

Homeyba

Is it that dark at 6:00? By the time everyone gets done yakking and putting on their shoes, gloves and straightening their helmets it'll probably be 6:30 anyway.

specbill

Sorry guys....I swore we left at 6:00 the last few years but my stoker says I'm way wrong on that...she says it has been more like 6:45 or 7:00 beause it is "REALLY DARK AT 6:00AM"....man, I just can't trust my memory worth a dang any more.

I'm good meeting at 630 and rolling out when we can see....sans lights!

Bill J

rdtompki

I'm good for a 0630 meet. Official sunrise yesterday was 0650, but I expect there was enough light to roll of a few minutes earlier. I work on Central time so I'm a keen observer of sunrise through my home office window.

Homeyba

I leave for work at 6:30 and it's light enough for me to ride then but others may not think so. Meeting at 6:30 is good for me too.

hup

Hello Bill - your post caught my eye since we will also be staying in the campground across the street, arriving Friday. This is my first Lighthouse and my first century. Can you give me the skinny on the campground itself? Nice? Quiet? Restrooms? Showers? I haven't been able to find much feedback about it online. Any info you might have is greatly appreciated!
We aren't riding tandem, I'll be single on my road bike (a green Serotta).

Thanks!
Henry

specbill

Henry....we like this little park a lot....it is a pretty typical Calif regional Park. A bit old but quite clean and well cared for. There is one central building iwith showers and bathrooms.....again they are a bit dated but clean.

It has three loops of camping spaces of 20 to 30 spaces in each loop. The first loop is "primitive' with large open spaces and plenty of room but very few trees and of course, no hook ups. It is easy to see the entire loop and all these spaces, when you first drive in to the camping area without having to drive around the loop.
The second and third loops are tighter and have to be driven to see what sites are available These loops have many trees and nice spaces with all having electric and water. If you have a long trailer or MH you can find spaces to fit but will need to be careful navigating thse loops and a little selective in finding a proper spot.
It is a 'first come, first serve' park, no reservations except for large groups which they do take. My guess would be that this park is very busy in the summer time ,but for this time of year we have had no problem finding a space with hook-ups when we arrive on Thursday or Friday early. We have not seen the park full for this weekend either of the last two years.
We think you will enjoy the park and we know you'll really enjoy the ride...it is a great first Century.
Bill J.

Homeyba

I was up at 6:00 this morning and actually paying attention, it was pretty dark. 6:30 wasn't so bad so if we meet around then, by the time we take off it'll be more than light enough.

Hup, Even though you are on a single bike you're more than welcome to hang with us if you want. I'll have a couple single with me as well.

hup

Thanks so much for the quick reply, Bill!
I actually was able to make a single space, full hookup reservation over the phone in June (the same time I registered for Lighthouse), so I guess I'm in as far as that goes. We have a pop up tent trailer. We are planning on bringing our tandem along, so if you see a purple Burley putt-putting around, please say hello

Thanks again for the helpful info.

Homeyba - thanks for the invite! Not sure what the rest of my club is planning as far as a meetup, but I will sure look for you all. That morning I'll be the guy on the green bike with the deer in the headlights look

Take care and thanks again for your friendly replies -
Henry

Homeyba

The lighthouse is a great first century. It's very well supported and a relatively easy course. You'll have a great time Hup.

hup

It was great to meet Bill & Patty at the campground. Thanks Bill, for the friendly hello.

Funny, I chose Lighthouse to escape the heat of the Central Valley .... not
...... that was one warm return leg, even near the water. Fun ride though .... I'm sure I'll be back.
We did get a chance to get out on the tandem, too. The Fresno Club that I belong to rode to breakfast at Avila Beach on Sunday, so we went along on the Burley. Still hot, but fun too.

Take care
Henry