ViperZ

Our club's Annual Harvest Century was completed today. It is a 100 mile ride through the rolling farm lands of Saskatchewan...... OK, actually it's relatively flat with some hills, but would you believe it had a killer head wind that was not favorable to the course? It did....

The ride started off at 8:30 AM, the temperature was about 8C (46F). The wind was coming from the South at about 22 Km/h, and was said to be somewhere around 33 Km/h by noon, with a temperature of 26C. There were about 45 to 50 Riders that partook of the ride. It had a SAG wagon support, however I did not see it on the course as we were the lead group out. We had 3 check stops, one at ~80km, the other at 120km, and the last one at 145km. At the stops we were treated to Bagels, Oranges, Bananas, Donuts, Cookies, Gatorade, Chicken noodle soup....etc.

I head out with the typical A group riders. I was able to hang with them until about the 80km mark, it was then I could not keep up to the killer pace they were setting, especially in to the 22km/h head wind. I had to drop off and run my own pace for there was still a long way to go to finish the ride. My one Litespeed Riding Buddy hung back with me and I have to thank him for helping me maintain a decent pace, and pulling long shifts in to the headwind. I may have done better however yesterday I went for a 100km ride that was suppose to be slow & easy, however it turn out to be fast & Hammer, so I was paying the price today.

It was just Hans and I battling the wind, and the road. The road had a lot of pebbly sections that was really working in to my lower back and hands. I was getting road worn. Later Hans and I passed a small road side gas station, and he mentioned we should stop and get a coffee for the road. Sitting there drinking my coffee with Hans and chatting about bikes and riding in general, it was then that I realized riding isn't always about hammering, and it's simple things like this that makes the ride fun. Hans and I chatted about bicycles and equipment, something him and I both love. Once the coffee was done, we rode on for a few Km to our second check stop where we were treated with lots of great sugary candy.

After reloading the system, we then set off for the final leg of the ride. This started with a cross wind that was really blowing us around the road. We turned and started to head back to the city with the killer head wind in our face. Were were only doing about 22km/h into the head wind, and never had I been so happy to see a hill up ahead, for the hill provided a slight wind break, sure we had to climb, but it was much better than the wind. We had hooked up with 2 other riders that help pull through the wind. It was much appreciated.

There was a reprieve as for the final run back home we got about 15km of riding with the wind. It was a nice way to finish off the ride, as we just hummed along with the wind. When we got back into the city, I was spent, and if there was any doubt, the climb up the Broadway bridge reminded me of that. I ride up this bridge every day on my commute, and I can spin up this bridge at about 30km/h, no problems. I dropped down to my 19tooth cog and began to spin at a high cadence up the bridge. I was about half way up the bridge when my legs just quit, for there was nothing left in them. I shifted to my 21 cog (largest) and it was a painful crawl up the remainder of the bridge.

Total Ride Distance was 185km (115 miles).

Century Ride Distance 162km (100 miles)
Time to complete 5:02

I just got back from our windup banquet, I'll post the pictures, and then it's off to bed for this tired boy.



8th Street Early morning to the meeting point.


My Buddy unloading his beautiful SystemSix Team Si


Ride Shirts given to all participants. I took a Yellow


Our Club Prez handing out Power bars


Lance in his Commando Jersey


Checking out Frank's Carbon Soloist


I'm about the 7th guy from left, front row


Rolling through the city


Members of the Cycledelia Racing Club

ViperZ

Heading Down the Broadway Bridge. On a regular day, I can blast up this bridge, but today when I came home, it hurt!


In the Country now


Pit stop time


The Machine rolling along


First Check point... FOOD!


Windy!


Hans and I having a coffee


The Trusty Steed


Second Check Point, CANDY!

ViperZ

Almost Home, rolling along at 50km/h


Hey, A picture of me!


When it was done, we went to Dariy Queen for a post ride treat


Ride Log
-Speed 44.2 km/h
-Cadence 85 RPM
-Trip Time 5:02.02
-Distance 161.02 km
-Average Speed 32 km/h
-Heart rate 173 bpm

senatorw

Nice. I like reading these stories, real inspirational as I work toward my first one. Congrats.

ViperZ

Thanks and good luck with your ride.. One thing I should have brought along, but forgot... Advil That would have really helped.

NuBiker

Wow, first century this year and 5:02 I am really impressed; It took me around 56' more to finish mine with 7000ft of climbing and riding by myself.

goldfish

I'm glad you had fun while our team nicely beat your team at the banjobowl today(thats where i spent my sunday afternoon)

Seriously though, great ride report! I'm more than jealous that you had such a great ride today. I did 83km yesterday, i plan on doing a 120km ride next weekend, and then a full century the weekend after...all solo, of course, just like all my rides have been. we'll see if i can do it.

ViperZ

Thanks, if I hadn't rode a hard 100km yesterday, and we didn't have that killer head wind today, I may have broken 5 hours... But then I suppose, if my Aunt had balls she would be my uncle I was aware of the time and was really pushing it at the end, but it wasn't enough.


Thanks, you'll be fine and you can do it! So the Riders lost today by a small margin 27-23 was it? I suppose that was redemption for the Labor Day Smack down the Riders put on the Bombers

goldfish

How did i know you'd bring that up

I really am looking forward to my rides though...it'll be a great way to end the warm(ish) riding season...and good inspiration to keep my form up for hopefully racing next year.

55/Rad

Great story and great pics. I too hope to finally get a full century under my belt for the first time this season in a couple weeks.

Viper - the photo of you - the perspective makes the bike look really small - or you really big. Interesting.

55/Rad

ViperZ

It's my Hockey Player Physic

Psimet2001 

Ha! - Yeah it looks like you're roding 20" wheels! Wierd.

I was going to compliment the heck out of the time...161miles in 5 hrs... ...Oh yeah....metric....STILL....Nice time!



Oh and take those arm warmers off, you guys are making me cold just looking at you...

ViperZ

It was cold out when we started

I have always been told I have huge leg/calfs and arms. I suppose compared to the A-typical bicycle rider, I'm a bigger person

I'm 5' 11", weight 200lbs, and I'm sure it's my pipes (and girth) that is making the picture look strange

furiousferret

Congratulations ViperZ,

So a century that far north (Saskatoon) I take it you rode our to the Fortress of Solitude (Superman's home) and back.

ViperZ

I think there are some crazies here that ride Winter Centuries.

Grasschopper

Wow a couple of dollars worth of bikes on that ride huh? When the Record equipped Litespeed is one of the cheaper bikes in the group it is good to see that much speed....man I love the SystemSIX.

SDRider

Nice ride and great pics! That's an awesome time too.

I'm going to have to get a small digicam for my rides one of these days.

botto 

looks like a good day out on the iron, or Ti as the case may be, horse.

Two of those pics left me scratching my head:

1. what was up with the one dude who was in a sleeveless jersey but arm & knee warmers?

2. i can't believe someone actually bought an aluminum litespeed!

BTW - Rad's right. There's some whack perspective in that pic of you, and your calves are HUGE!

Mariner Fan

Viper, thanks for the ride report. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

cydewaze

Wow, a dry century - with food! Must be nice

55/Rad

Viper - you are not a physical freak - - it's something in the angle of the photo. Note the one above you - the guy on the Litespeed has the same thing going on in the background.

Shifty

Great report and pics, looks like a fun event! I'm also impressed with your ride time, given that headwind, great job!! I love your Tuscany, but that Cannondale System/Six was sure sweet too!

ViperZ

Those are nice bikes to be sure...


Thanks, I used a Canon Powershot 300 (4mp). It's small and fits neatly in my jersey pocket. It has a large LCD monitor that makes taking shots like the moving ones easy.

ViperZ

1: He's an animal on the bike, so I'm not surprised at the jersey.... I guess I don;t really know

2: Thats actually a very nice bike that is a composite of Aluminum, Carbon and Titanium.

The perspective is probably wacked for a person sits up to take the picture, thus giving the image a downward look to the rider. Much like those pictures of dogs where the nose and head looks huge compared to the body


Thanks for reading Mariner!


From your Century ride report, I can see that as being a luxury

ViperZ

Rad, thanks for the affirmation that I'm not a freak, I think it is the downward perspective of the picture that gives it that skew in persepctive, parallax error as it's called.


Thanks Shifty, it was a good ride, and my legs were still a bit tired on the commute to work today. The System Six is one sweet looking bike in person.