Lucky07

Well, this is kind of incredible. Glen, the former organizer of the 5BBC Montauk Century has split off to form his own 'Montauk Ride'... https://www.montaukride.com/ https://www.5bbc.org/montauk/

The amazing part? Both of these rides are currently scheduled for the same day. May 20, 2007.

There are only 6 or so centuries scheduled in and around Manhattan every year (Montauk, NYC Century, Escape NY, MS Ride, Twin Lights, North Fork, etc). It strikes me as silly that some of these rides fall on the same weekend or even on the same day as other mass organized rides.

I'm sure part of this has to do with working around other city events or holidays, but you'd think the organizers would talk to each other & space out the rides a bit better. That would benefit everyone...

jbcNewYork

I've done the Suffolk Bike Rider's Association (club) and Huntington Bike Club centuries and both were well organized. Thanks for the info on this new century.... I'll definitely check it out.

oboeguy

Heh, I was going to post about this but Lucky beat me to the punch. I, for one, remain loyal to Glen. He's run great Montauk centuries, NYC bike shows and "Blessing of the Bikes" events for years and is a great guy to boot. This whole affair makes me want to renounce 5BBC membership.

oboeguy

Have you kept up with the acrimonious battle between Glen & the 5BBC? Apparently Glen was accused by the 5BBC board of stealing Montauk money when in fact it was a board member who was stealing. How $%!@ed-up is that? THAT's why there this butting of heads.

Scorer75

When the guy who ran the ride in it's entirety for the 5BBC leaves to do it on his own, guess where I'm going????

See you all there.

Lucky07

Oboe,
Yeah, I read Glen account. The 5BBC for their part, claim that they told Glen they were looking at bunch of contractors for the ride, including Glen.

Glen supposedly then used the 5BBC mailing list to air his dissatisfaction with that situation. I didn't read that email, but I did read the apology from the 5BBC afterwards... I don't know if the stealing accusation came before or after the email incident.

I'm sure Glen is just defending his rep and rightfully so. Organizing rides is what he does for a living, but it all seems like a tempest in a teacup to me... Selfishily, I just wish Glen & the 5BBC would kiss & makeup so I won't have to choose between the 2 rides...

oboeguy

For me there is no choice. I read all the emails involved. I can't know what the real situation is, but Glen has always been an honest, earnest stand-up guy, and that's enough for me. The whole idea of looking at different contractors when under Glen's leadership the Montauk Century(TM) (<-- how lame) has done so well is preposterous. My understanding is that the '04 ride, which Glen did not run (for political reasons again, perhaps?), SUCKED.

merlinextraligh

Same day. Same course? Does mean there will be dueling rest stops? Can you dual register and get credit for a double?

Hambone

I rode Montauk last year and loved it.

I had a friend who was scheduled (read had paid) and couldn't ride (he'd been hit by a bus) and Glen went way beyond what I would have done to help my friend out. He was a decent and nice guy.

My impression was that the email list he used was the list he generated running the Montauk century last year. He also used it for a few other mailings and I never once thought he abused it. In fact, if asked I would opt in to his distribution. His emails are infromative and fun enough that I don't mind reading them.

I don't know all the nuances here. All things being equal, I'll pay Glen.

Heck, if Glen is giving the money to the local PDs and FDs, you'd think he could get a different day. Two Montauks this summer would be cool.

Air

The background is here

Glen's it is!

superslomo

This sounds like it may make both of the rides kind of unappealing. The chaos of two different groups of riders with competing SAG, rest stops, and finish line makes the whole thing sound like a disaster waiting to happen.

I was looking forward to trying the Montauk Century this coming spring. Not sure what to do now...

Stacy

I guess the big question is, does 5BBC actually have a Montauk Century without Glen? Each ride certainly has its own flavor and Montauk wouldn't be the same without him.

Although I'm a 5BBC member I never received Glen's email so I'm guessing he used the list gemerated by Active.com that I recently unsubscribed. I certainly did read all the responses posted on 5BBC's bulletin board.

Well we still have five and a half month to go. Let's hope they kiss and make up before then.

Hambone

That could be a good way to resolve this. If we, the members of 5BBC, told the club we wanted them to make this happen.

I can't believe the people/police will agree to competing routes.

Somebody is going to have to be an adult about this.

Stacy

As things stand now, I'm in no hurry to plunk down any Montauk money until I have a better idea about where this is going.

Yes I agree that we, as members, should probably insist they find a way to resolve this ASAP.

Lucky07

I agree. But since both are ALREADY soliciting registration, they might be beyond reconciliation....

Stacy

Since they're both scheduled for the same day, and for the same route, I thought about asking Glen if he would transfer my registration if they make up beforehand. I just don't see how they can both hold separate rides.

slvoid

Am I wrong or is one of the rides 160 miles and the other one only 100? The email I got earlier led me to believe one of them was 160 miles and the other was only 100.

Frankly last year's route kinda sucked, esp. that patch through the dirt trail where one rider next to me went into this puddle that ended up being a giant water filled chasm. (Yes, that was amusing). Plus all the little turns and everything really brakes up the pace line. I'd rather have 1 straight ride haul ass out there.

Bacciagalupe

Looks like the "new" one (the "Ride") is up to 145 miles.

I was also thinking about doing the 100, but I think I'll wait until the dust settles, or just pick my own route out there and ride it on some OTHER day...

Hambone

I posted the route on gmaps.

I have a couple of friends who ride and we were talking about trying to get in 10 centuries this summer. Then I pointed out we were looking at close to a grand in entry fees just to have a crapper and some water. So, we are each going to organize our own.

Rules are: easy drive from NYC, map it, plan a few rests, pre ride it/pre drive it to check for hazzards.

If anybody wants, I'll post the maps.

**************

"The Ride" from NYC is 145 miles. (Penn Station to end point.)
"The Ride" from Babylon is 100 miles. (LIRR Station to end point.)
"The Ride" from ??? is 66 miles. (LIRR to end point.)

Last year, the 145 joined the 100 at Babylon train station. Then those two joined the 66 riders around the ??? train station. Everyone rode the last 66 together.

Hambone

was there banjo music in the distance?

Do you mean the part of the trip along the ocean where the road had flooded? That sucked but I liked being along the ocean. That seems like the kind of thing that the recon team should hae caught.

I liked the route though. (Having played with trying to map an interesting cent. I can atest, it is a lot harder than it seems.)

Lucky07

I didn't mind that section. I went into R600 mode & pretended I was doing cyclocross and jogged through the grass carrying my bike... But yeah, it sucked if you were dumb enough to ride through the water with everyone shouting "THERE'S A HUGE HOLE IN THERE! WATCH OUT!!!!"

One genius waved off the warning and blasted right into the foot deep puddle (with a road bike, no less...) and took a spill. He was fine. But he & his bike were covered with sand and mud. Not good.

oboeguy

Dune Road gets flooded, that's life. I rode through VERY carefully and was none the worse for wear. I am quite fond of last year's route, despite my wrong turn in Queens which I and my buddy didn't notice for several miles (trying to catch slvoid... never happened after all those "bonus miles"). Anyway it was a very scenic route at times, especially at the end.

Stacy

I also enjoyed Dune Road. Those of us who were subscribed to the MOntauk email list knew it was likely there's be some flooding so I was flad we were able to do it at all.

slvoid

Hehe, there wasn't a warning though. Just woosh!

I wonder how this is gonna work, same exact 2 rides going on at the same time. Imagine the confusion. "Ooooh you were on the montauk ride and you put the bike on our mountauk century truck back to the city? Hahaha.... f**k you! It's our bike now!"

Stacy

One thing is different. The Price. One is $52 the other is $55. I think there's a slight difference in t-shirts and other extras too.