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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Nov 30, 2021 21:12:37 GMT
I am too old for century rides; there may be one exception. This may be the fastest century ever; Tehachapi to Yermo. Tehachapi is at 4000 feet, Yermo at 1940 feet. If you pick the right day you can have a 60+ (miles per hour ) wind at your back. After descending from Tehachapi the road is nearly flat, with only one 70 foot mild climb the entire way to Yermo. The Interstate allows bike traffic as there is no feasible alternate route. It might be fun, if the trucks don't kill you.
The Route
The Road
Cheers Jim
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Post by wheelson on Nov 30, 2021 22:24:03 GMT
I am too old for century rides; there may be one exception. This may be the fastest century ever; Tehachapi to Yermo. Tehachapi is at 4000 feet, Yermo at 1940 feet. If you pick the right day you can have a 60+ (miles per hour ) wind at your back. After descending from Tehachapi the road is nearly flat, with only one 70 foot mild climb the entire way to Yermo. The Interstate allows bike traffic as there is no feasible alternate route. It might be fun, if the trucks don't kill you.
The Route
The Road
Cheers Jim
Thanks for that, Jim. That century might work for me! I’d like to get one in during 2022. One of our local rail trails is a likely candidate as most of these have a relatively flat grade or at worst, I can pick the direction of grade. Now I just have to decide which one of my bikes is the most comfortable. Best, John “wheelson” |
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Post by brianbutler on Nov 30, 2021 23:16:06 GMT
Yes, good one Jim. As Wheelson said, a century ride next year might be a good idea. At least the planning would be fun but I'm not sure I have the stamina for that amount of time in the saddle.
Brian
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Post by wheelson on Dec 1, 2021 0:42:39 GMT
Yes, good one Jim. As Wheelson said, a century ride next year might be a good idea. At least the planning would be fun but I'm not sure I have the stamina for that amount of time in the saddle. Brian If I get one in it will probably be later next year. My longest was a few years back at 85 miles on the Great Allegheny Passage rail trail. Not easy then but at 73 years old, I’d better get busy! Good thing I have a good selection of bikes ready for an indoor wind trainer. Snow and 30 degF outside, not quite the UK conditions from what I understand. Best, John “wheelson” |
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Dec 1, 2021 1:20:36 GMT
A more feasible plan for me is to again ride the length of the Kern River Parkway and back (about 60 miles). A plus is the many restaurants and two bike shops that are located at the trails access points. It is on a levee so is nice and flat! Cheers Jim |
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Post by triitout on Dec 1, 2021 1:49:52 GMT
The fascination of centuries/long distance cycling has always been a love/hate thing for me. Jim's route looks like a love event for the tail wind and altitude drop but I'm sure I'd lose it mentally if it's anything like the screen shot. I usually don't have the patience or endurance to tackle that many hours in the saddle, but every once in a while after triathlon season is finished, I go bike centric. In Sept 2016 and Oct 2021, the moon and the stars aligned perfectly, and they just happened pretty much unplanned. I'm especially proud of the 102 mile 2016 ride as it was done on my Viscount Pro, half on the hilly north shore and half on the windy south shore. The last one in 2021 was 112 miles also on the hilly north shore on my Trek Madone which is carbon and light, a big help at this point. I was chasing my first ever 10,000 mile season and that was the ride that gave me the confidence I'd make it which I did. After the soreness and fatigue fade away, the sense of accomplishment really kicks in. Go for it next year!
Cheers,
Michael
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Dec 1, 2021 6:23:51 GMT
Yep, that is the road and so how it looks. If you were to lose it mentally you might walk into the desert and disappear; so don't. I worked out there for 37 years. Sand, sun, wind, scrub brush, Joshua trees, Jumping Cholla cactus, snakes, lizards, scorpions, rabbits, Kangaroo Rats, tortoises; not much else. It actually is somewhat pretty in a thirsty sort of way. Did I mention the ubiquitous and scary semi trucks cruising along at 80 MPH? The plus side is very few flying insects; they just dry up. In summer, you most likely would need about a gallon of water per hour. I have seen 117F in summer; very toasty! Fortunately, the best winds are in spring so a ride in that season would bring mild (85-90F) temperatures. In winter, I have seen that road closed for snow. Every few years we have a great contrast; an amazing wildflower bloom accompanied by millions of insects. The desert is a place of extremes and not forgiving.
All the Best Jim |
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Post by brianbutler on Dec 1, 2021 11:53:45 GMT
The fascination of centuries/long distance cycling has always been a love/hate thing for me. Jim's route looks like a love event for the tail wind and altitude drop but I'm sure I'd lose it mentally if it's anything like the screen shot. I usually don't have the patience or endurance to tackle that many hours in the saddle, but every once in a while after triathlon season is finished, I go bike centric. In Sept 2016 and Oct 2021, the moon and the stars aligned perfectly, and they just happened pretty much unplanned. I'm especially proud of the 102 mile 2016 ride as it was done on my Viscount Pro, half on the hilly north shore and half on the windy south shore. The last one in 2021 was 112 miles also on the hilly north shore on my Trek Madone which is carbon and light, a big help at this point. I was chasing my first ever 10,000 mile season and that was the ride that gave me the confidence I'd make it which I did. After the soreness and fatigue fade away, the sense of accomplishment really kicks in. Go for it next year! Cheers, Michael I've done two centuries, 1983 and 2003. Maybe I'll wait until 2023 and make it a 20-year thing. The first one was a planned 100 (turned out to be 108) through New Hampshire. Many brutal hills but I was only 29 years old. The second century was from my house to a friend's summer place on Cape Cod. There were five of us, two on a tandem but not me. The route was actually 96 miles from his house but I had ridden the 4 miles from my house to his to avoid taking the car. As we approached the summer place I had 99.8 miles so I took a spin around the block before docking to bring it up to 100.1. I've done quite a few 80- and 90-something rides but did not have the grit to make them centuries.
For me the key to long rides is to start SLOW. On the New Hampshire century we set a rule that we would not exceed 10 mph for the first 10 miles. It seemed excruciatingly slow but really stretched and warmed the legs before we got into the hills.
Brian
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Post by brianbutler on Dec 1, 2021 13:42:46 GMT
This talk of century rides has me dusting off old plans. Here is a ride I could convert to a century by adding 6.4 miles. I call it the "On The Road Off-Road Ride." It goes from my house along back roads and bike paths to Jack Kerouac's birthplace in Lowell, Massachusetts, then to his grave in the same city, then returning via Walden Pond to add another literary point of interest, then home. Both out and back include a stop at my daughter's house in Sudbury, Mass for rest and possible bail-out. I could probably make up the 6.4 miles by visiting other writerly sites near Walden Pond. Hawthorne and Alcott homesteads come to mind. Here's what it looks like on "paper."
Brian
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Post by wheelson on Dec 1, 2021 14:56:33 GMT
This talk of century rides has me dusting off old plans. Here is a ride I could convert to a century by adding 6.4 miles. I call it the "On The Road Off-Road Ride." It goes from my house along back roads and bike paths to Jack Kerouac's birthplace in Lowell, Massachusetts, then to his grave in the same city, then returning via Walden Pond to add another literary point of interest, then home. Both out and back include a stop at my daughter's house in Sudbury, Mass for rest and possible bail-out. I could probably make up the 6.4 miles by visiting other writerly sites near Walden Pond. Hawthorne and Alcott homesteads come to mind. Here's what it looks like on "paper."
Brian
Nice to see interest and possibilities for next year. My plan, contingent on health issues and age, is to get into riding shape on an indoor trainer over the Winter, early Spring rides, 20 mile modified commute to the shop three days a week, longer rail trail rides, a vacation week at the North Carolina Outer Banks late June (hot weather stress!), and a century attempt in early Fall (the season, not the other kind!). A rail trail century would most certainly be boring but probably the most doable for me. The GAP trail has an average grade of 1.5, a huge downhill going East into Cumberland, Maryland. Bailout points average 13 miles apart. There are several road metric centuries during the season around here that I have done multiple times. We shall see as time marches on! Best, John “wheelson” |
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Post by triitout on Dec 1, 2021 21:08:06 GMT
Lessons learned from my first century ride. Watch out for out and back routes starting with a tailwind. The return is a bitch! This was planned to be a nice "easy" first timer century on the pancake flat Montauk Highway back in Sept. 1990 on my new Vitus 979. The Vitus was quite an upgrade from from Viscount Gran Touring which was then 13 years old and fairly battered. My confidence was high with the new wheels and I made it to the turnaround in 2:36. Being 36 years old with a tailwind certainly helped! Coming back I was greeted with a nice unrelenting headwind but I still managed a fatiguing 2:52. Thanks goodness I've kept a journal from April 1977 so I can relive the glory days. Those bike split times seem surreal by todays standards of a 67 year old body. The experience drove me to a nice 26 year break until that 2nd one on the Viscount Pro.
Cheers,
Michael
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Post by triitout on Dec 1, 2021 21:25:22 GMT
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Post by triitout on Dec 1, 2021 21:35:44 GMT
Anyone up for a triple century? We have a local guy, who I believe is over 60, on one of my Strava groups who does monster mileage. This one around Long Island over the summer is epic! www.strava.com/activities/6109675200 |
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Post by wheelson on Dec 2, 2021 21:58:51 GMT
Anyone up for a triple century? We have a local guy, who I believe is over 60, on one of my Strava groups who does monster mileage. This one around Long Island over the summer is epic! www.strava.com/activities/6109675200Only in my dreams! This reminds me of some of the extreme “all road” rides or races you see these days. My last 300mi. ride was on the Great Allegheny Passage / C&O Towpath in 2009. Five days so not even close to a century in a given day. Good news, though, over dinner out last night, Mrs.W let my century plans known to my son who said “I’m in, think I’d let you do that alone?!”. We did a very hot 50miler together a few years back so we do have some good history together. This gives me prime motivation to get my act together. Best, John |
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ks1u
Viscount
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Post by ks1u on Dec 5, 2021 3:20:37 GMT
Anyone up for a triple century? We have a local guy, who I believe is over 60, on one of my Strava groups who does monster mileage. This one around Long Island over the summer is epic! www.strava.com/activities/6109675200Now that is a cool ride. If I hadn't seen it I wouldn't be tempetd to do it , but since I can't unsee it, it will always be in my mind. I'm too close in SE CT to ignore it either. |
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Post by whippet on Dec 5, 2021 12:47:49 GMT
18 hours is amazing for a ride that distance.
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Post by wheelson on Dec 5, 2021 14:40:37 GMT
18 hours is amazing for a ride that distance. I’ve heard that a lady bike mechanic at one of our neighboring shops twice attempted the 330 mile Great Allegheny Passage / C&O Towpath, Pittsburgh, PA to Washington DC in a single ride. Considering the condition of the C&O at that time, exposed roots, coarse gravel, almost single track at times, that would have been an epic feat. Although I’ll bet it has been done. Best, John “wheelson” |
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Post by wheelson on Dec 5, 2021 15:05:18 GMT
18 hours is amazing for a ride that distance. I’ve heard that a lady bike mechanic at one of our neighboring shops twice attempted the 330 mile Great Allegheny Passage / C&O Towpath, Pittsburgh, PA to Washington DC in a single ride. Considering the condition of the C&O at that time, exposed roots, coarse gravel, almost single track at times, that would have been an epic feat. Although I’ll bet it has been done. Best, John “wheelson” In a quick search I find that on June 30, 2017 Sean Crandall rode from Pittsburgh to DC in 23:531. He was supported and paced (no drafting). He started 10 minutes east of the GAP’s terminus but evened that out as the Paw Paw Tunnel was closed and he had to hike up and over the the tunnel via a steep trail. Having ridden this route in 2009 in 5 1/2 days, bike fully loaded for camping, but paced by a Boy Scout troop, I am totally amazed at this insane feat. But I’m sure there are many epic adventures out there. Best, John “wheelson” |
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Jem
Viscount
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Post by Jem on Dec 5, 2021 16:11:31 GMT
Good news, though, over dinner out last night, Mrs.W let my century plans known to my son who said “I’m in, think I’d let you do that alone?!”. We did a very hot 50miler together a few years back so we do have some good history together. This gives me prime motivation to get my act together. Best, John A great motivator! If I were over there I'd love to do that. My concern would be how to carry enough water. What do you plan on doing? |
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Post by brianbutler on Dec 5, 2021 16:53:13 GMT
I read an article about a one-day ride that covered all six New England states - in order they were Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont. The total distance was about 250 miles. It was a solo ride that took place back in the 1930's on a single speed Iver Johnson bike. I forget the rider's name. He might have fallen 20 or 30 miles short I recall. I have not been able to find the article online. I believe I read it approximately 30 years ago in a magazine. I once considered attempting that ride but it was way outside my ability. Now I might try it in four or 5 days. It would make an interesting tour with my own house as a stop on day 2.
If anybody is up for some Viscount touring next summer, let me know. I would be interested in anything from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. I like camping as well as more "structured" accommodations. I really want to do Le P'tit Train du Nord trail in Quebec, maybe out and back for a total of 250 miles. Alas, Covid travel hassles made it all but impossible again this year.
Brian
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Post by wheelson on Dec 5, 2021 17:52:28 GMT
Good news, though, over dinner out last night, Mrs.W let my century plans known to my son who said “I’m in, think I’d let you do that alone?!”. We did a very hot 50miler together a few years back so we do have some good history together. This gives me prime motivation to get my act together. Best, John A great motivator! If I were over there I'd love to do that. My concern would be how to carry enough water. What do you plan on doing? Water always seems to be an issue with me. Some years back I was riding solo on the beach sand in Virginia and North Carolina and ran out of water on a scorcher and barely made it back. This past summer I was riding on the NC Outer Banks and my water supply was replenished by a kindly ferry operator. Unfortunately vintage bikes, Viscounts included, have few if any water bottle mounts. When I rode the GAP and C&O, I rode my touring bike with two 1 liter frame mounted, two handlebar mounted. The GAP has water available at some pavilions along the way as well as multiple stores and enterprising folks with coolers and a container to leave payments. The C&O has water pumps along the way with water tested weekly. I was alway hesitant to use those except one that seemed more like an artisanal flow. Of course when I did the ride in 2009, we stayed in commercial campgrounds and bought water in the company store. My current plan for a century when time might be critical would be two bottles in a tri-type behind the seat mount, one centered on the handlebar stem, and one or two on the frame. All depends on the weather, of course. I do have one of those backpack water things that I’m not particularly fond of. So there’s a lot possibilities. Whatever, I’ve taken a vow to never run dry again. Now if I can just resolve the bathroom breaks . . . Best, John “wheelson” |
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