The Flattest Century of the East
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The Flattest Century of the East
I'll be riding this year. If anyone in the area wants to assemble a group ride then let me know...
Sunday Sept. 9th will be Southern New England's annual century ride. Limit to 1,800 riders. Registration starts May 1st. Last year registration met full capacity on May 18th so sign up ASAP if you wish to ride. More details at https://www.nbwclub.org/
Sunday Sept. 9th will be Southern New England's annual century ride. Limit to 1,800 riders. Registration starts May 1st. Last year registration met full capacity on May 18th so sign up ASAP if you wish to ride. More details at https://www.nbwclub.org/
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Originally Posted by Ryleeryno
I'll be riding this year. If anyone in the area wants to assemble a group ride then let me know...
Sunday Sept. 9th will be Southern New England's annual century ride. Limit to 1,800 riders. Registration starts May 1st. Last year registration met full capacity on May 18th so sign up ASAP if you wish to ride. More details at https://www.nbwclub.org/
Sunday Sept. 9th will be Southern New England's annual century ride. Limit to 1,800 riders. Registration starts May 1st. Last year registration met full capacity on May 18th so sign up ASAP if you wish to ride. More details at https://www.nbwclub.org/
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The biggest "hill" on the Seagull is one bridge, so they sound quite similar.
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Originally Posted by DrPete
The biggest "hill" on the Seagull is one bridge, so they sound quite similar.
Two bridges... (Three if you do the 145 miles!)
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Originally Posted by DrPete
I don't know... I think the Seagull Century down here in MD might contest it for the title of flattest century...
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Originally Posted by Ryleeryno
I have no idea why my club calls it the Flattest Century of the East. I think its because of the route we take being mainly coastal with very little hills. Maybe they just named it "Flattest" to make it sound easier to ride.
It's not supposed to be the flattest. Just the flattest in the east. It certainly is in New England.
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Originally Posted by chipcom
Hancock Horizontal Hundred in Findlay, Ohio - the closest thing to a hill is a freeway overpass.
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climbing is for wussy
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
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Originally Posted by chipcom
climbing is for wussy
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Originally Posted by DrPete
The biggest "hill" on the Seagull is one bridge, so they sound quite similar.
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Originally Posted by robtown
Seagull is extremely flat but usually very windy and wet. I walked my bike over that bridge during the 2006 ride and had to hold on as the wind tried to pick it up.
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Originally Posted by Ryleeryno
I have no idea why my club calls it the Flattest Century of the East. I think its because of the route we take being mainly coastal with very little hills. Maybe they just named it "Flattest" to make it sound easier to ride.
Originally Posted by 2manybikes
It's not supposed to be the flattest. Just the flattest in the east. It certainly is in New England.
But yeah, neither of those rides comes close to the epic flatness of the Seagull Century. But as others have said, the Seagull can be an absolute suffer-fest if the wind picks up.
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Originally Posted by KevinF
They called it the "Flattest Century in the East" because when they first started doing the ride, it was the flattest century in the east.
I'm not sure if TFCE is the flattest New England century anymore. The Tri-State Seacoast Century (out of Hampton Beach, NH) would have my vote for the flattest in New England.
But yeah, neither of those rides comes close to the epic flatness of the Seagull Century. But as others have said, the Seagull can be an absolute suffer-fest if the wind picks up.
I'm not sure if TFCE is the flattest New England century anymore. The Tri-State Seacoast Century (out of Hampton Beach, NH) would have my vote for the flattest in New England.
But yeah, neither of those rides comes close to the epic flatness of the Seagull Century. But as others have said, the Seagull can be an absolute suffer-fest if the wind picks up.
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Lets get off the "flattest" issue. They know its not anymore and kept the name. Get over it.
I did it last year for the first time, and the last. Here is my assessment, although some things would likely be different from year to year.
-$30?? Way to expensive for crappy food at the rest stops. Well at least there's the crappy T-shirt.
-I knew the roads in the area, and they were as I expected. Lot of very rough asphalt made with shells or tar and gravel reseal. Even with a great vibration absorbing frame it got a little too much, and felt very slow in sections.
-So many people. I thought this would be great. There were 6 times more than the other century I did last year, and still it was the loneliest ride I've done. About 60 miles were spent riding alone. I passed lots and lots, and was passed a few times, but couldn't find anyone going about the same pace but for those 40 miles. Everytime a good group would form they would have yet another mandatory rest stop and break it up (this is likely to change from year to year depending on when you start). Rides when 500 people start at once are never lonely and always a group to be found. TFCE has 1800 people starting over 3 hours and it was slim pickings. They would be better off releasing packs every 15 minutes allowing groups to form better.
All in all - big dissappointment. Your results may obviously vary. If the winds aren't bad and you can find a group for a good portion of it then sub 5-hour ride times are easily in reach.
Much better centuries - Climb to the Clouds and Kings Tour of Quabbin.
I did it last year for the first time, and the last. Here is my assessment, although some things would likely be different from year to year.
-$30?? Way to expensive for crappy food at the rest stops. Well at least there's the crappy T-shirt.
-I knew the roads in the area, and they were as I expected. Lot of very rough asphalt made with shells or tar and gravel reseal. Even with a great vibration absorbing frame it got a little too much, and felt very slow in sections.
-So many people. I thought this would be great. There were 6 times more than the other century I did last year, and still it was the loneliest ride I've done. About 60 miles were spent riding alone. I passed lots and lots, and was passed a few times, but couldn't find anyone going about the same pace but for those 40 miles. Everytime a good group would form they would have yet another mandatory rest stop and break it up (this is likely to change from year to year depending on when you start). Rides when 500 people start at once are never lonely and always a group to be found. TFCE has 1800 people starting over 3 hours and it was slim pickings. They would be better off releasing packs every 15 minutes allowing groups to form better.
All in all - big dissappointment. Your results may obviously vary. If the winds aren't bad and you can find a group for a good portion of it then sub 5-hour ride times are easily in reach.
Much better centuries - Climb to the Clouds and Kings Tour of Quabbin.
Last edited by teterider; 04-21-07 at 09:49 PM.
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Originally Posted by teterider
$30?? Way to expensive for crappy food at the rest stops. Well at least there's the crappy T-shirt. <snip>
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Originally Posted by KevinF
They called it the "Flattest Century in the East" because when they first started doing the ride, it was the flattest century in the east.
I'm not sure if TFCE is the flattest New England century anymore. The Tri-State Seacoast Century (out of Hampton Beach, NH) would have my vote for the flattest in New England.
But yeah, neither of those rides comes close to the epic flatness of the Seagull Century. But as others have said, the Seagull can be an absolute suffer-fest if the wind picks up.
I'm not sure if TFCE is the flattest New England century anymore. The Tri-State Seacoast Century (out of Hampton Beach, NH) would have my vote for the flattest in New England.
But yeah, neither of those rides comes close to the epic flatness of the Seagull Century. But as others have said, the Seagull can be an absolute suffer-fest if the wind picks up.
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Originally Posted by Hambone
is it a fundraiser? I dont' mind paying an entry fee for a fundraiser.
No, not a fundraiser of any kind.
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Rode the Bay to Bay yesterday. Well, i got to Woodland Beach and had to get sagged because of broken wheel that couldnt be field repaired. Kind of a bummer, the weather was great, I was feeling good, riding solo with a nice 19 mph avg going at zone 3 HR pace, tunes playing on the Sansa. I may come out here by myself and take another stab at this century in a couple weeks.
Bay to Bay is flat, but the the Seagull Century is flatter.
Bay to Bay is flat, but the the Seagull Century is flatter.
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Last edited by FatguyRacer; 06-18-07 at 02:32 PM.
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Originally Posted by Hambone
so you may beat the Montauk Century.
Two bridges... (Three if you do the 145 miles!)
Two bridges... (Three if you do the 145 miles!)
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The Farmlands Century is an early season (May), flat ride in Monmouth County, NJ.
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Originally Posted by FatguyRacer
Rode the Bay to Bay yesterday. Well, i got to Woodland Beach and had to get sagged because of broken wheel that couldnt be field repaired. Kind of a bummer, the weather was great, I was feeling good, riding solo with a nice 19 mph avg going at zone 3 HR pace, tunes playing on the Sansa. I may come out here by myself and take another stab at this century in a couple weeks.
Bay to Bay is flat, but the the Seagull Century is flatter.
Bay to Bay is flat, but the the Seagull Century is flatter.
YES, the Seagull is flatter!! By the way,I rode the Bay to Bay yesterday too. 19.5 from Betterton to Woodland Beach .On the turnaround it became evident why the ride had been so effortless to that point. The breeze was on the nose all the way back and picked up as the day went on. The 19.5 dropped to 17.5 by the end of the day. While it was a beautiful day, my bike computer thermometer was indicating 95 degrees at around 1 pm. It may have been a little high. Nonetheless it was a delightful ride.