Finally going back to California and I want to do a century.
 

I have been in Mexico going through the immigration process and I'm done. I should be getting my visa in about a week. When I get back home I want to do my second century. I did the Tour de Foothills last year. I haven't riden a road bike in a little under 9 months so I will probably adopt a 3 month training plan to prepare. My question is what centuries are available in November? I found a web site before I left for Mexico that had a list of centuries in Cali. but I can't seem to find it now. Thanks for any help.

try www.bikelink.com or active.com.

Tour de Foothills and Tour of Palm Springs are both on 11/10/12.

LA Wheelmen has a non-supported century of the month ride on which non-members are welcome.

http://www.cibike.org/charity-rides.html has a bunch listed: November seems to be a slow month for some reason.

1. Nov. 6: Tour de Julian-Julian
2. Nov. 6: Solvang Prelude Rides-Solvang
3. Nov. 6: Borrego Double Ordeal- Borrego Springs
4. Nov. 10: PCH 200K - Ventura County
5. Nov. 13: Solvang's Finest Century-Solvang
6. Nov. 13: Tour de Foothills-Upland

I just got an email today stating that early registration for the Tour de Palm Springs is now open.

Thanks all for all the links. I think that I will end up doing the "ride the coast taste the coast" century. It claims to be mostly flat and I think that that is a good idea considering how long I've been away. Has anyone had a similar experience? Being away and coming back and trying a cent?

I was planning on this being my first full C. An issue that some people have with it is that the Century ride is just two laps of the half C. I did the 1/2 C last November (my first at that dist). This is not a problem with me. I am local, and have done dozens of laps of the route and it does not get boring. The route mostly follows the coast, and where it crosses several lagoon inlets there are dips that you will then climb out of. These bothered me when I was really Clyde, but for young, fit roadies it's "functionaly" flat.

There are two real climbs. One is just past the halfway SAG and is pretty short. the second is only a half mile past that and takes you up about 450' in a little over a mile.

And nothing personal, but in over fifty five years here, I have never called it "cali", and never will, considering the first place I encountered it was in Florida about twelve years ago, used by a lot of people who had never been here.

I was planing on doing the taste the coast ride with my wife, so easy is ok. I may do the first 50 with her and then go on to finish the last 100 or maybe just the 50 and enjoy the rest of the day with my wife and her sisters.

Fair enough on the Cali remark but it's quicker than typing California and cal doesn't work. CA from now on I guess haha.

That ride looks straightforward enough... how's the wind?

I will say that I detest riding laps though.

And I completely agree with the Cali comment. Seems like it's common in Arizona amongst ASU grads.

Solvang's Finest Century
http://planetultra.com/portfolio/sol...inest-century/

That's a very easy route and I'm old and fat. I wouldn't waste money paying for it; there are lots of stores, restaurants and restrooms along the route.

Well I'm finally in the U.S.!!! I arrived on tue. at around 11p.m. I am so glad to be back home. However I guess the century will have to wait for another time. My wife's cousins's baby shower is on Nov. 3 so I will not be able to make the Bike the Coast ride. I would consider the Tour de Foothills but I've already rode it. Solvang's Finest Century looks like fun. I will definitely keep it in mind. However I was reminded on Wed. when I went for a 25 mi. ride that I need to train quite a bit before I take on a long challange like a cent. or even a metric cent.