Starter century recommendations

[j_mii]

I'm trying to do some planning ahead -- way ahead -- and one of my goals for next year is to do an English century. I've ridden up to 88 miles in a day but I haven't crack the 100 mile day mark yet. Can some of you recommend a few good "starter" centuries that I should look for in 2008?

Thanks in advance!

[RickF]

For a starter century, look for centuries on the coast. My first century was the Sea Gull Century on the Maryland Eastern Shore. I highly recommend it. The route is not too difficult, and the ride onto Assateague Island is spectacular. It is held on the first Saturday of October each year. There were 5300 riders this year, 75% of whom did the 100 mile ride and the rest did the 100 K ride. It is a well organized and well supported ride, but not nearly as well supported as the MS 150.

http://www.seagullcentury.org/

Also, see my thread about the 2007 ride:
http://www.trianglecycling.com/showthread.php?t=23649

Another good starter century is either of the two century options on the Eastern North Carolina MS 150. Of course, to participate in the MS 150 requires an obligation to raise $200 in addition to the $35 registration fee, but the ride is one of the best supported rides you can find anywhere. The MS 150 begins on the first Saturday in September from New Bern, NC. There are 30, 75, and 100 mile options on Saturday and on Sunday.

http://bikenct.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BIKE_NCT_homepage

[robbielink]

I second Rick's recommendation that you do the MS150 ride. I did it this year and it was my first "long" ride (I signed up for the 75 mile route but at the end of it I felt sure I could have easily completed the century). There are so many organized training rides in the Triangle area leading up to the MS150 that you could probably do a group ride every day of the week if you wanted to. All of the folks I met at training rides and at the MS150 were great people. New Bern is FLAT. It's incredibly well supported though you will find yourself spoiled by it and wondering why all other "supported" rides pale by comparison. And it's a great cause. I wanted to do it because I've lost a couple of friends to MS and know several others living with it. But never having done any fund raising before I was certain I would be paying the $200 minimum donation out of my own pocket. It turns out that almost everyone I wrote to requesting money had someone in their life with MS or had lost someone to it and people were writing back thanking me for doing this and with almost no effort at all I raised nearly $2000.
That said, I hope to follow Rick's suggestion and do the Seagull Century next year and, of course, I'll be signing up for the century at next year's MS150. I'm hooked.

And here's a link to the NC Bike Club's list of annual centuries:
http://ncbikeclub.org/calendar/century.htm

[RickF]

Be careful about the routes on many of the centuries on the NCBC list. I would not consider anything in or west of the Triangle as a good first century. Most of those on that list are extremely challenging.

[j_mii]

Thanks! I did see your post about the Sea Gull Century. I was thinking of something earlier in the year though -- maybe Knotts Island Century which I think is in June?

I hear you on heading east of here for a starter century :-)

[Jsoles]

If you don't mind driving a bit (20 mins N of Charlotte), I'd recommend the Lake Norman Excursion (104 miles actual). I'm a little biased because those are my old stomping grounds, but it's a very well-supported and organized ride. I looked at the stats and the climbing was only 1700 ft for the century. I met 4 random guys down there this past year and had absolutely no trouble finishing (it was my first century) at a relatively quick pace (I'm not normally overwhelmingly fast).
I'm planning on gathering a few friends from Hickory, and hopefully meet some people from the triangle this year and drag them down there. Look for updates in late June/early July!

[NealH]

If I can build up the confidence and stamina, I just might join you on one of these rides. But first, I need to conquer the metric century - and that'll hopefully come to pass on the Frostbite Tour.

[esther-l]

Tarwheel century is April 26 in Elizabeth City.
Cycle North Carolina spring ride is in Oriental April 11-13.

Both of those are coastal areas. I don't know if there will be a century route in Oriental.

The Down East Cyclists club does a metric or english century ride about 4 times per year. Joe Miller wrote a column about joining one of their long rides a couple of years ago. They are friendly to newcomers - if the date for one of their planned long rides works for you, Joe reported that they are happy to welcome a newcomer. The club is in the Jacksonville, NC area.

I have only done a small number of rides that were 50-60 miles, and those were on a tandem.

[JayC]

Ive heard the TarWheel ride is the flattest ride in the state. I also heard it gets windy. Either way, I'll probably do it.

I did two centuries last year almost back to back weekends.. the MS150 and the Cotton Country.

The Cotton Country was extremely flat during the metric but got a bit more challenging the last 35 miles.

[skiffrun]

Was the 88 a chore or a pleasure?

If the latter, when you are in shape this spring / early summer, put your water bottle and sports drink bottle on the bike, put a couple of bananas in your back pocket, and maybe some fig newtons. Eat something wholesome, then get on the bike and ride 100 miles on a route you have planned and scouted. If you have a couple friends that can ride long without turning the ride into a race, get them to come along. If not, do it anyway. Ride at a sensible pace. Take 3 or 4 short breaks, a couple @ convenience stores to restock water / sports drink.

When finished, get off the bike, eat something wholesome. Go home and shower, sure that 100 miles is no barrier.

Then someone will suggest you do the Ironman distance (112 m), or a double metric (125 m). Then someone will suggest a double English, prob on the summer solctace.

Then someone will suggest the randonneering thing (200k, 300k, 400k, 600k).

Then someone will suggest P-B-P or B-M-B (1200k).

Wait a minute. This might never end. Better not to start down this path. :rolleyes: