The Octopus 

I have no association with the ride, but I wanted to help get the word out on a new double century being offered this year -- the Metamora 200, being run August 12, 2006, out of Metamora, IL (which is just northeast of Peroria). It's 4, 50-mile loops over relatively flat terrain. Here's a link to the info. on the ride: https://www.big-dogs.org/umc/mm4X50/mm4X50home.htm.

The lack of doubles in the midwest is appalling, given how many endurance and long-distance riders there are here. I don't know if I can make this for a variety of reasons, but I'm sure going to try. In any event, I wanted to help spread the word, hoping to add to the turn-out and thus the success of the ride. I'm really hoping that this ride has a "build it and they will come" response.

Machka 

I noticed that ride and was intrigued!

I was even more intrigued when I realized that I'd be driving somewhere in that area on my way to the BMB!!

Now I'm wrestling with the idea of making a quick stop on the way to the BMB to ride a double century!!!




There is a serious lack of organized long rides in my part of the world too ... and I'm sort of working on an idea something along those lines. I really like the concept where riders can ride as little as 50 miles or as much as 200 miles as they choose, and because they are all on the same 50 mile loop, there's less chance of riders ending up out there all alone, miles from anywhere (which is my situation up here).

PYRITE

I was psyched up for this ride, but my brother is getting married. (maybe next year) It looks like a lot of fun. As a resident of the great state of IL, i'll go out on a limb and say expect a very flat route.

Psimet2001 

Ahh...don't forget about the killer winds...saying Illinois is flat riding is like saying Arizona's heat is a dry heat.

Off the site: "Overall the maximum elevation is 827’ and the minimum elevation is 636’."

I didn't see day of event registration....

CyLowe97

Metamora is close enough to the Illinois River valley that they could put some pretty tough little climbs in if they chose, but it looks like they are running it toward Eureka. Hello corn and soybean fields!

I'd be interested, but I'll be dying in the Dairyland Dare that day up in Wisconsin...