Cool. Thank you, Dallas. I've sent a note to @rhm for his verdict... I'm pretty excited about this ride. Phil

Yes, but it should be well within the parameters of Buddhist New Year, meaning a nation-wide wet T-shirt event. Anyone on a bicycle is totally fair game for buckets, and even pump-driven hoses, of water. That should keep you cool.

:D

That would be more true in Thailand than Cambodia. I would get some wettings but not many.

Heck I'm in California and I'm not going to be able to make it :/ I also probably won't have time for this alternative either sadly.

Okay, so I have a list of about ten people who express interest in riding with me on April 11.

The tentative plan is to leave my house as soon as it's light enough to ride, and stop at a diner for breakfast after about 15 miles. After that there will be a mix of country roads including a paved rail-to-trail type path, eventually getting to some poorly paved roads down into the pinelands before an extended lunch stop on the return leg. I expect we'll be back at my house well before dark.

There's no need to stress about the bike. I like old bikes, and I'll be riding one, but others can ride what they like. I assume, since we're on the C&V forum, that the bikes will reflect some kind of C&V aesthetic, but I won't be passing judgement about anything. Stinging witticisms are not out of the question, though....

For those who want to join us for part of the route, @Prowler has expressed a willingness to organize a group that will meet up with the rest and ride about 60 miles. I trust he will elaborate on that.

I have not finalized the route, but I know the options. We will probably pass the train station in Trenton to make it easy for anyone in the area between Philadelphia and New York City to take SEPTA or NJTransit and meet us there for a slightly abbreviated route.

Okay, that's it! I'll contact all the interested riders privately to organize further. If there's anyone interested in joining us, who hasn't already made contact, please do so! I don't plan to bump this thread again.

Rudy, thanks for putting this ride together! WooHoo!

For those who can't go - I'm in California with l'Eroica | The Radavist

Saturday April 11, 2015
 

I agreed with several folks who have said "Hmmm, great idea but I wont be up for a full century that early in the season." But I'll bet I can do a metric century so Rudi has agreed to let us shadow the hard men for part of the trip. "L'Ombra NJ" will meet somewhere in central New Jersey, off I195, and go find the peloton (maybe link up with them around 8 or 9am) then ride in their shadow for about 60 miles. We'll all do a lunch stop together (some scroungy place, no white table cloths) then keep together until L'Ombra splits off and heads back to the cars while the hard men complete the full circuit.

We've still got much to do conjuring a route that enables all this but I'm up for it. If you want to join us for L'Ombra phase (should be around 65 miles all together) send me a PM and we'll finish the coordination off line.

Fully unsupported ride. No SAG wagons, no team cars, no umbrella girls, no sectioned oranges or bananas. Get your C&V bike in top shape and bring your own parts, tools, water, fuel.

PLEASE NOTE: there has been some confusion about the date of this event. Rudi and I have actually looked at a 2015 calendar and agree it is Saturday, April 11, 2015. The 12th is the rain date. Come join us.

So, six of us rode an Imperial Century here in New Jersey in lieu of flying to California. Furthermore, one forum member joined for an approximate metric century loop. More discussion and photos here. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-F...%2B%281%29.jpg

I am pleased with the turnout for my ride. Riders came from much farther away than I expected, which I really appreciate. I tried to do it right, meant to bring bottles of wine for everyone (well, at least a box of vino to share out at lunch). There was room in my saddle bag, for sure, but I forgot.
So, who else did his/her own ride to celebrate the Eroica of California, with or without wine?

My wife and I visited her mother in Florida. Lots of family converged from around the country to celebrate her turning 85. Most of us -- but not my daughter or mother in law -- went for a bike ride around Palm Beach. Pictures forthcoming.

I intended to do it but blew it off due to high temps (100*)

I rode our club's second annual "Real men and women ride steel" ride, which just happened to be on Sunday.

A mostly-flat route was chosen to conform to the group of approximately ten rider's varying abilities, a little over 30 miles.

I rode my 1972 Gitane TDF, with original toe-clip pedals and my French Rivat un-cleated cyclocross shoes. Coincidentally, another rider was also on a TDF.

Wine and Panini sandwiches followed the ride, though I had to be somewhere in the Bay Area afterward, so managed to get in some hilly riding there for an additional hour on the Gitane.

The last thing I ever thought of doing is riding one of my bikes off road, in the dirt and gravel. Nope.......I think i'll just watch everyone else do it.

I did a solo half century on a 20" wheeled Dahon folder here in the FL Pan Handle where I'm staying for a month. I called my ride "Le Rouge Cue Riviera" after the nickname for this area. My ride was delayed until yesterday due to the rain blowing in from the Gulf over the weekend (11 inches in 24 hours in some places nearby). Would have done more miles but got a late start due to sick dog and a morning visit to the vet. :( Not much gravel--- but a bit of sand--- and dangerous wildlife! :p

@Michael Angelo, you are such a wimp! :rolleyes:

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...psiqinj2fb.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...pszcyapect.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...pstc3hpael.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...psfwelzv0a.jpg

P.S. I ran my barend shifters in friction mode. The best I could do to capture the C&V spirit of the ride. :lol:

Yes, I'm too cheap to buy the software, hence the watermark.

@RobbieTunes, did you ride through downtown Trenton? My wife taught at a parochial school there when I was in seminary in nearby Princeton. Did you ride the canal path there?

Is that a Cambium I see on there. Doesn't look like denim.

It was the first Cambium I bought. A perfect saddle for here in FL when rain can pop up at any moment. :D I left the denim one back home in NH.

I'm not sure. I know Rudi was leading and I was in the back, and everyone was on DT shifters or bar ends.
I watched a lot of chains moving on freewheels (only one cassette in the group).
I really was not paying that much attention, I just like riding.

Some parts of Trenton looked, uh, neglected, or perhaps reflected a lack of resources.

We rode to the Delaware River and looked over at Pennsylvania.
We rode along some kind of path, with water on both sides and tracks for some kind of rail/metro.
You see, late in the video, where we turn left. I think Rudi said "Turn left here," and I asked "on purpose?"

We ate breakfast, and the sun broke out.

I really didn't start paying attention until the Pine Barrens.
I thought they were cool, and the rural areas afterwards.

In fact you are too close to the water in that picture. You won't be the first one bitten by an Alligator hiding in the tall grass. But, I guess that's why my wife calls me "Mr Safety"......:twitchy:

Always good to have one cautious minded person in close proximity. Helps to keep us fools safe despite our disposition for self destruction! :p

I've have a saved search on eBay for size 43 Rivat shoes. It's been tough, I think l'Eroica drove up prices.