jppe

Tis the time of year to sign up for those week long tours and larger one day events. Things seem to be falling in place for me for 2014. It's essentially a repeat of the rides I've enjoyed plus a sprinkling of some new ones. Here is a summary of the plan-not every ride.

February-Longer training rides 80-100 miles with some rides in the mountains-weather permitting
March-More of the same but more time on hills-possibly one local organized ride of 70 miles-a century for me ridden from the house
April-An organized ride in the NC mountains with a decent amount of climbing (one ride confirmed)
May-Organized Events every weekend culminated buy either Assault on Mt Mitchell or Mountains of Misery
June-Week long tour in Colorado-Ride the Rockies or Bike Tour Colorado, depends on lottery and routes. Blood Sweat and Gears in Boone, NC (registered) Possibly Grandfather Mountain depending on Tour Schedules
July-A week long tour in the midwest where my wife will travel with me and volunteer at rest stop so I'm assured an entry........and it's our anniversary week???.......then a 200 miler late July (confirmed)
August-My favorite organized ride in the NC Mountains with 10,000+ ft of climbing and 105 miles, plus a week long vacation starting the day after in Aruba-----I'm taking the whole family to celebrate my daughters Masters degree!!
September-Good chance my wife and I will travel to Washington State and visit friends and for me to ride. Back to Back century days in late September (confirmed)
October-Tour de Pig....need I say more??
November-Fun rides with annual Century the day after Thanksgiving
December-Saturday Centuries with the local Bike Club

Would like to add a ride I have not done. I've had my eye on the one in Wisconsin-Dairyland Dare. What other ride or touts might you recommend?

How about you? Any rides you are training for or anticipating for 2014?

Dudelsack

Not like yours.

I'm trying to go 100 very hilly miles in London, KY this April.

I'd like to do the difficult century for the Old Kentucky Home Tour.

Tour of the GAP, one way from Pittsburgh to Cumberland.

It's possible I might go up to Columbus, Indiana for a 200K permanent.

az_cyclist

The Solvang Spring Double Century in March
The Hemet Double in April
The Grand Tour in June

I also signed up for the Ultracycling Year Rounder challenge... 12 rides in 2014 of 90+ miles, in 10 months.

Biker395 

<drool>...

As for me ... doing the Furnace Creek 508 with a mixed twosome. I'm not sure where it's going to be held ... perhaps Arizona, perhaps Nevada ... maybe even Utah.

Really want to do this: https://www.cycleamerica.com/cc6-heartland.htm

Other than that, a few doubles and the assorted weekend rides. I like your schedule much better!

OldTryGuy

No real plans other than 112 miles in Ironman Florida in November and waiting for lottery results for the 112 miles of the Ironman WC in Kona. More to life than many miles of biking for me.

Barrettscv 

I did the Dairyland Dare 150km and the 100 mile Apple Cider Century last year.

Plans so far;

March: I'm already registered for the Barry Roubaix in Michigan https://barry-roubaix.com/
May: I've registered for the 100 mile length of the Dirty Kanza in Kansas https://www.dirtykanza200.com/ .
June: Horribly Hilly 150km (I've registered for the lottery) : https://www.horriblyhilly.com/index.htm
August: Dairyland Dare 150km
October: 100 mile Apple Cider Century

BlazingPedals

Does Apple Cider Century still put the century riders on that 100 yards of sand? I 'bout sunk up to my axles the one and only time I did it. They do pass pretty close to Redamak's, though...

Barrettscv 

No sand in 2013. After some light rain in the early morning, it was a great event.

JimF22003

I think this year will be a "recovery year" compared to past years:

Skipping Mountains of Misery, but still signed up for Storming of Thunder Ridge
Skipping Ride Idaho (because of the lack of interesting terrain mainly)
Doing the easiest Bike Virginia route in 7 or 8 years, and staying in a HOTEL for the trip

I'm hemi-semi planning a week or two down in NC to take in as much of the Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounding rides as possible. That will depend on my work schedule.

Rick@OCRR

My big goal ride for this year is the Devil Mountain Double. https://www.quackcyclists.com/dmd.htm It's 200 miles with between 18,000 and 20,000 feet of climbing (depending on which site I check and who to believe). Several of my friends have done it; will find out on the day if it's do-able for me!

Jan: I rode three centuries and several climbing rides in the mountains for base miles.
Feb: Camino Real double, 200 miles but only 8,000 feet of climbing on the 15th.
Mar: Joshua Tree Double Cent. on the 15th, Spring Solvang Double the following weekend.
Apr. Mulholland Challenge on the 12th (126 miles, 12,000 feet of climbing). Then on the 26th of April, Devil Mountain itself (Yikes!) .
May: Breathless Agony (114 miles, 12,400 ft. of climbing) on the 3rd, Davis Double Century (probably) on the 17th, and the Eastern Sierra Double on the 31st.
Jun: Tour of Two Forests Double Century (maybe) on the 7th, and (for sure) Grand Tour Double Century on the 28th.
Jul: I got nothin' Well . . . unless I do RAGBRAI, which is possible but not yet for sure.
Aug: Mount Tam Double (maybe) on the 2nd.
Sep: Ride Around the Bear (Century w/9,400 ft. of climbing) on the 6th, White Mountain Double (maybe) on the 13th and Knoxville Double (for sure, my favorite Double!) on the 27th.
Oct: Bass Lake Powerhouse Double on the 11th

That's the plan . . . will have to see how it plays out!

Rick / OCRR

Barrettscv 

I need to move to California.

az_cyclist

I will look for you at spring Solvang, Rick. I am assuming you will ride the Highland route on the Grand Tour, so may not see you there

Rick@OCRR

I moved to Southern California in 1995 from St.Louis, MO area. It's amazing the number of cycling events we have to pick from each weekend day and all throughout the year.

Yes, hopefully I will see you on Solvang but on Grand Tour, do yourself a favor and ride the Highland . Much more beautiful, less traffic, fewer stop signs and lights, less wind. I rode Lowland once (my first Grand Tour, on a friend's advice) but never again!

Rick / OCRR

az_cyclist

Several of us have talked about riding the Highland route. The Bull Shifters have A and B groups. The A group usally rides the Highland route, and the B group usually rides the Lowland. The B group usually has several who are riding their first double. Since the Lowland only has about 5000 ft of climbing, which is better for new double riders. Assuming it works out I can ride the Grand Tour again this June, I will probably support the group riding the Lowland route. Those of us who are doubles veterans take the pull more for the newbies.

Stevie47

I did Levi's Gran Fondo in Santa Rosa last year. It was the best ride I've done in the US, rivaling some Italian rides I've done. I'm definitely in next year. If you do, they have a "gravel road" option for part of it. That is a must do..a rideable path through the redwoods!

az_cyclist

I will probably add a 200k between now and the first week of March. I would like to get in another long ride before Solvang

Carbonfiberboy 

My wife and I have registered for the STP one-day on our tandem. We also plan on doing RAMROD. We're currently doing the SIR Winter Training Series and then will do the RAMROD Training Series. We'll also do a couple of 200k rides, one ACP, one just with friends, and probably a couple of centuries. We'd like to do the Lighthouse Century in CA if we can get in.

jppe

I really enjoy seeing what everyone else is planning. I like to add a new ride or two each year and you folks have given me some ideas. Dudel-Redbud might be an option for me even though it's a 5 hour drive.


Jim-Thunder Ridge looks a lot more appealing than either Mitchell or Misery. Although the last time I rode in Va didn't end well!! That's not a bad drive from my house and I love the Peaks of Otter area. I still have on my list to ride the Skyline/BRP end to end but just not sure it will be this year.

My friends still do a week of cycling in Spain and Italy but not sure I'll get a hall pass to consider that if I'm already doing two tours.