| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
111.74 miles
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Altitude Gain:
7,244 ft
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Avg Speed:
15.90 mph
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Route:
Lock Haveb Century
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Avg Grade: 0 %
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Max Grade: 0 %
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Max HR: 0 bpm
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Avg HR: 0 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Hills
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Bike: Look 585 Carbon Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: HeavyFog\Sun 62 F S wind # 4 mph |
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Today's ride was in Lock Haven, Pa. Had to get up at 04:30 to make the two hour drive to get registered for the eight o'clock start. Ran into the first problem when the address I had for the start was different then the one that the guy I rode down with had. Mapquest didn't help much and ended up driving around until we saw some locals with bikes on thier cars. Second problem of the day was the start was in the center of the city and at the local YMCA that unfortunately was not open yet. So no bathrooms were available before the ride. Did get recognized by the promoter though which is kind of nice when you're a hundred miles from home. Turns out the promoter was the Cat I that won the race at Milton last month. Third problem of the day was the weather. We had driven down with great anticipation for a warm ride with the forecast calling for eighty degree weather. Reality at eight o'clock though was upper forties and heavy fog. Another issue was a light turnout as there were less than twenty people at the start. Three of us of the total of eleven riders in the century rolled out of town into the fog a little after eight. The pace was near twenty for a couple of miles and I hung on the back of our small group for awhile but still was not in the go fast mode. We passed a slower rider who had started earlier and I dropped off the back of the fast guys as I felt poorly and didn't want to push myself in the damp and cold. Tried to spin easily but could hardly make my legs go round by the ten mile mark. Course was pretty flat but just couldn't generate any speed. Got caught and passed by the slower guy we had passed earlier and tried to keep pace with him. I continually lagged but would catch up on the small climbs. Kept up to the first real climb at the twenty mile mark where we caught and passed by a group of four riders halfway up the climb. Noticed that my rear brake was rubbing and got off and adjusted it. Felt much better after that and got back on and caught all but the one of the riders on the remainder of the climb. Rode with those guys until the first rest stop where I spent some quality time in the restroom. The reststop treats were pretzels, tootsie rolls and P&J sandwiches. Had a couple of tootsie rolls and rolled out on my own as the other guys were stripping their cold weather gear and leaving it for the sag. Still was foggy and damp so I kept my stuff on. Really didn't see any of the course for the first thirty five miles because of the heavy fog. Climbed out of a river valley along a spectacular river rapidly coming down the mountain as I was slowly going up. Near the top finally encountered the sun and most but not all of my misery was over. Temperature rose rapidly and it became a really fun ride. Was touring comfortably and enjoying the view when the four guys I rode with earlier flew by me. Chased them for a couple of miles and finally caught on to the draft. Didn't ride with them long before the group broke apart on a moderate climb. I kept pace with the front guy and he waited at the top for his crew while I kept going. Saw them at the next couple of rest stops but I was usually leaving as they were coming in. Hit another good climb after the fifty mile mark and figured that would be it as I was nearing the total elevation gain for the course. Was surprised that the seventy mile rest stop was at sixty five miles and after chatting with promoter decided that one bottle would be enough to finish the last flattish thirty miles of the ride. Wasn't the best decision as I soon found myself climbing a rather long hill and thought the promoter must have been joking about being flattish. Enjoyed the climb and the long downhill afterward but soon encountered civilization and heavy traffic and knew I had missed a turn. I was supposed to be in Jersey Shore and instead found myself in South Williamsburg. Checked my map and figured it would be easier to go back to Jersey Shore on the four lane rather than backtrack over the hill and try to get back on the course. My mistake garnered me fifteen bonus miles before I got back on the course. Had some good Kodak moments in the last twenty five miles as I passed through the pillars of pines and other oddities. Was running a quart low by the time I got to the finish as I had just one bottle for the last fifty miles of the ride. Got to do almost 6000 ft of climbing rather than the 3700 ft advertised. Felt really really wasted as I rolled into town but recovered with a quart of chocolate milk and a large bag of peanut M&Ms. Overall a pretty nice course except for the first thirty five miles in the fog. Talked with the promoter about the poor turnout for the first running and suggested he move the start back an hour if he was going to have it in October. Early starts are okay in July when the heat becomes of factor but really lose any advantage in the fall. He said he would try again next year and had got a few good suggestions from the riders. Centuries back in the eighties used to pull in two hundred plus riders in NY & PA and centuries in the South often have to set limits on the maximum number of riders now. Can't comprehend why organized centuries have fallen out of favor in the North.
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