Collin Classic - anyone?
 

http://www.collinclassic.org/home.html

I'm not able to this year, but last year it was a pretty good ride! I like to think of it as my first ride of summer since the temps usually are up there and it lets me get a feel for my heat tolerance.

My memories from last year, the last few rest stops running out of water (bring a camel back!) and crashes crashes crashes. This was probably the bloodiest ride i've done. I'm guessing because there were a lot of families and people weren't prepared for the heat so they got fatigued and crashed. Anyone notice a lot of crashes too?

Anyone doing it? If you did it how does this one compare to other rides?

Would love to ride it but I leave for vacation the day before. :(

I'm registered for the 65 mile route. ;)

My girlfriend and I may ride the Collin Classic; we're also considering the Mesquite Rodeo this coming Saturday...

I'll be out of town for the Rodeo Ride but hear good things about it. I'm doing the Collin classic 60 mile route this year but haven't done this ride before so can't comment on the crashes : (

I think all of my riding friends are wussing out LOL

Question I have is why are there no century rides in North Texas? Planning on doing both Collin and Rodeo

I'm number 243 on the 60....hope to see some of yall there?...Shelley?

I answered this in another thread:
"I find the following 100-mile rides:
Cow Creek Classic, June 26 in Waxahachie
Quartz Mountain Diamondback 100, Altus, OK, August 7
Red River Bike Rally, Sherman, TX, August 14
Wild West Waco Century, Sept. 25, Waco
Also one in San Angelo. I think the Space Race in Houston has a 100-mile route, and there may be some others around the state as well."

If you like 100 mile rides, consider taking up randonneuring, with fairly frequent 200k rides (125 miles or so).

I hadn't planned to do this ride, but may reconsider. But my Sojourn is in the shop right now, so if I do, it'll be on the Worksman cruiser complete with baskets. Which means I can sure tote all the stuff I need, only at 13 mph.

I'll be working the rest stop at Blue Ridge HS (BP 3). I'm riding my bike 47 miles to be up there before the first riders come through. I haven't decided if I'm riding home afterward or just riding into Garland or Plano to catch the bus.

And mark your calendars for the 2nd annual Wish 100. It will be October 9th and benefits the North Texas chapter of the Make-a-Wish foundation. There will be 10-mile, 30-mile, 45-mile and 100-kilometer (~62 miles) routes.

You guys also come out Friday night to watch the Bike the Bricks criterium races. It's a fist year event but the City is behind it and it's looking to be first-class, downtown twilight racing.

Beer garden, live music.

www.bikethebricks.com

I saw the flyer for the Wish 100 in the Collin Classic Package...That's definitly one I'm not gonna miss!!

Hopefully I'll see some of you there! I should be easy to spot, please find me! I'll be outside the HS registration area with a largish group of Lifetime cycle clubs from the North Texas Region. LT will be conspicuous and I plan to hang out on the fringe to avoid being photographed. Last regional rally someone took my photo and subsequently used on flyers to promote the Collin Classic. Seeing my smiling face taped to the cycle studio door when I arrive for my 6am classes is disconcerting. No preride photos.

I'll be easy to spot as I am currently sporting an acid green fizik test saddle which matches absolutely nothing on my blue and white Specialized Roubaix. Just look for the saddle. It's bright, you can't miss it. I'm actually kinda fond of the green but it I am certain that it's so bright it can be seen from space. Seriously. Bright green.

I think I'm dragging the kids up to McKinney tonight after their swim lessons - it sounds like fun!!

Looks like I'll be working tomorrow. Y'all have fun!

Wow! Now that was one HELL of a ride!!

Some of the numbers I pulled off of my computer:
57.60 Miles/Average Speed:18.1 mph/ Max Speed: 34.7 mph/ Ride Time: 03:10:54

I made 3 quick pit-stops for water and snacks. Once at 30 miles, 40 miles and 50 miles. The rest-stops were loaded up plentiful, the markings were easy to read, and the police and volunteers all did an excellent job keeping the riders safe.

Could have easily done without the few massive potholes which i believe claimed one poor cyclist but that was just a country road you have to be careful on.

The Fajita dinner at the end of the race was marvelous as well!!

My mileage was just under 60 too - and I could have sworn the announcer said something about adding an extra 5 miles to the routes...weird. I managed to eek out a 19.6 mph average but suffered the last 30 miles. My left calf was cramping so bad I'd find myself crying out loud without meaning to. I've never really had issues with cramps before - at least ones that weren't clearly due to hydration/nutrition fails. I had some scheduling conflicts this week and never made it back to the LBS to get properly fit on the bike after changing the saddle and my cleat alignment. My seat needed to be lowered but it didn't occur to me until I was loading my bike back on to the car rack.

Fortunately or unfortunately I was riding with a buddy whom I've given a few HTFU's to on group rides. He asked if I wanted to SAG it back and said it would be no big deal but I'm pretty sure I'd never have heard the end of that... I wound up stopping at 40 and 50 miles and I agree that the rest stops were well staffed and stocked. Ditto on the markings, protected intersections, and volunteers. The chip seal wasn't really that bad either. There was one short stretch that must have been relatively new because there were no tire grooves to ride in but in general the chip seal roadways were interspersed with a fair amount of smoothly paved roads.

Lunch in the cafeteria had a strange high school kind of feel - it was fun!

All in all, crippling pain in my leg aside, it was a good ride. Nice rollers - more than I expected.

I got a few cramps in my calf muscle as well Shelley...very painful...I learned that dousing my quads/calfs with ice water while riding helped ease some of the burn. I was basically a soaking mess at the finish line! LOL

thanks for the tip - hopefully I won't need to use it. I still haven't rescheduled the actual fitting but went in Saturday afternoon and Craig (at Bikes Plus) did a "quick" fitting when I told him about the cramping. WAY better now! I did my 60 mile club ride this morning with -0- cramps. My legs feel like lead and I wasn't so sure they'd keep turning over for me but no cramps.

I should go in and get fitted myself someday...

Armenian - damn, that's a pretty quick time for the CClassic route. Some of those back roads don't lend themselves to fast speeds. Especially when having to dodge slower riders. I opted to do my usual Saturday ride with the PBA instead - the 7am start time and thus finishing up before it got insanely hot was the deciding factor for me. That and I've grown to appreciate riding around riders who I know and trust to be able to handle a bike.

Man 7 am sounds REAL nice from now on...are you guys riding again this saturday? I'd like to join if thats cool...

I did the 60 miles in about 3 1/2 hours, this has been my fastest time so far. I stopped twice at 20 and 40, this was more a personal challenge than anything else. The two rest stops were great, everyone was really helpfull. Ice'd wett towel and food at the end was great, so many of these tshirt rides push you home after the finish..sometimes you just need to cool down before going anywhere.

I wish I had more opportunity to knock out 60+ miles, these rides just don't happen often enough.

7am start goes through probably Oct 1st or so before we start moving back to the winter schedule. Rides leave from the N.W. corner of Coit and Spring Creek. Easiest route from Allen is to take the 75 access road down to Spring Creek, go through the light at Coit and then take the 2nd right turn into the shopping center. There are rides ranging in speed from 13mph up to 20+, distances from the low 20s to upwards of 60 or more most weekends. Depending on the weather I'll either be riding DB2 or DB Lite - more information on the PBA website (planobicycle.org). Plan to get there at least 15mins ahead of ride time to get ready and sign the release wavier.

the PBA often has what we call a "DB Long" or even "DB X-Long" which often puts in 60+ miles every Saturday. They usually start with the DB2 group, splitting off at the first rest stop. Pace is typically 16.5 or so.

Wasn't there a group called the Sunday Slumbers or something that would meet at Stacy Furniture in Allen and do a 50 mile loop? I believe they used to ride in the afternoon like around 2. That might be suicide considering the weather right now lol!

Is the start near a dart stop?