bernmart

Sounds like a great century, but the website for it doesn't give a lot of info about the route. Has anyone done this? How much climbing is there? Anyone planning on going?

https://tailwindsofsantamariabc.org/windmill.htm

DanteB

I did it last year and ended the 3,800' of climbing. There was some strong winds on the course at times. The route courses through nice areas of the Santa Maria Valley. I don't know if I'm doing it this year yet.

grrlyrida

Windmills???

Looks like Santa Maria is trying to pretend they're like Solvang. I looked on the website and all the communities named are not very attractive, plus one is a dump site for the military base. And Santa Maria is a poorly planned sprawl.

If you're looking for windmills there aren't any in Santa Maria. And it isn't as bucolic as Santa Ynez Valley. Just my $.02. This is coming from someone who grew up in the area.

DanteB

Boy you're kind of hard on them. The windmills are 2 water windmills on Foxen Canyon Road. I grew up in the area also and I didn't think the areas the ride went through was that bad, I guess I have rose colored glasses. The club uses the profits from the ride to help buy bikes for kids, not a bad thing.

grrlyrida

Well I guess if it's for a good cause. Maybe they should move it north or south and call it North SB County Windmill Century. Might make for a prettier route. Just saying.

umd

Much of the route is similar to the Solvang Century. The ride on Foxen, Alisos, Los Alamos, etc. is all very scenic.

grrlyrida

Yes Foxen and Drum Cyn are nice.

bernmart

They are indeed. IIRC, Foxen comes at the end of the Solvang century? After headwinds and a cold early morning start, climbing up Foxen damn near killed me on that century.

One of the irritants of the website for the Windmill is that they don't publish the route. Those of you who've done it, can you describe the route? The total amount of climbing sounds OK, but I'm 71 and not in the best of shape after teaching all year. For reference, though, I've done the Cool Breeze four straight years w/o much trouble.

Thanks for all your replies.

bernmart

They are indeed. IIRC, Foxen comes at the end of the Solvang century? After headwinds and a cold early morning start, climbing up Foxen damn near killed me on that century.

One of the irritants of the website for the Windmill is that they don't publish the route. Those of you who've done it, can you describe the route? The total amount of climbing sounds OK, but I'm 71 and not in the best of shape after teaching all year. For reference, though, I've done the Cool Breeze four straight years w/o much trouble.

Thanks for all your replies.