Apple Century

[ttaylor508]

Has anyone done this ride http://www.applebikeride.com/?It goes right past our cabin in Entiat. We have ridden the course from our cabin up to Silver Falls before and it is absolutely beautiful. Would be interested hearing from anyone who has done the ride before. One of my friends wants to do her first century this year and I am thinking this might be a good one for her to try.

[malaholic]

DH and I did the Apple Century last year, though last year they did a different route, more of a loop. It went from Wenatchee out to Chelan - had an absolutely GORGEOUS stretch along Lake Chelan, out to Entiat, and back. The support was great and I really enjoyed the ride (with the exception of really wicked headwinds & sidewinds the last 30 miles or so). That was the first century I'd ever done and it was just right, so if this year's route is comparable I bet your friend would have a good ride. We had so much fun I think we're going to do it again this year.

[lauraelmore1033]

Dh and I did that one two years ago. It was my first century I thought it was just perfect for a newbie; if you can finish the climb up to silver falls (50 mile point), the second half is just a matter of turning around and rolling back down the hill. That's if the course is the same this year. I also thought the support was excellent and it was a pretty ride. Be prepaired for extremes in temperature. When we did it, it was sunny and 70s at the start, but it started raining around mile 40 and it got really cold. A lot of people had to sag out due to hypothermia since they were dressed for a nice sunny ride.

[LilBolt]

I did it 2 years ago, too. The weather did end up being a surprise, and the wet descent wasn't much fun for me. The nice thing about this route is that the first 50 miles are as hard as it gets...and the last 50 miles is mostly downhill, so like others said, it is a good one as a first century. Sunrise Rotary does a really good job with the ride...well organized & supported.

[MM_QFC!]

I've done this ride several times too and agree that it's a beautiful route, well-supported and a lot of fun. They used to have a VIP registration, with discounted room rates at the hotel (Coast hotel, I think) at the previous start location, which was the convention center parking lot. It made it an easy commute when a group of us got to the hotel the night before, could have a good breakfast, roll out, and enjoy the "recovery" drinks in the beer garden when we got back, before showering and going to dinner!
It made it lots easier to not drive over from Seattle the morning of, or have to pack up and drive right back after the ride either.
I did the century each time and remember well those afternoon head and crosswinds coming back into town - whew!
One caveat: one friend suffered multiple flats well before we even reached the fish hatchery rest stop one year, as she was plagued by goat heads repeatedly attacking her tires:eek: , so keep an eye out for them...
Have fun!

[Biciclista]

i've done this ride too. I thought it was an easy century (if there could be such a thing) I'll never forget the utter peacefulness up on that mountain road. the only noise was the birds and our breathing.

[ttaylor508]

I just email my friend and I think she is going to do the ride. I have been trying to encourage her to take on a century for years and I think this is the perfect one. She is married to one of our riding buddies who is an ironman and I think she feels she is always being left in the dust. She has already done a section of the ride from our cabin to Silver Falls last summer and loved it. I really want her to do this just to build her riding confidence. I think I will have kids make some signs to cheer her on when she rides past the cabin.

Thanks everyone for your input! Hope to see some of you on the ride!

[bikerHen]

A few of us from Spokane are talking about doing this ride. Anyone know of a nice campground near the start? bikerHen

[MM_QFC!]

I know of a few friends who always stay at Lincoln Rock State Park:
http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Lincoln%20Rock, so that might be a viable option for you. Also, check the state park and campground site for places that might be East of Wenatchee, on your way into town.
http://www.parks.wa.gov/default.aspx?404;http://www.parks.wa.gov/parkpage.asp

Have fun!
Mary

[ttaylor508]

We have stayed at Confluence State park right in the heart of Wenatchee before. Very nice state Park with clean bathrooms/showers. I think it is within a few miles of start line.

[bikerHen]

I need some more information from those of you who have ridden this century. I've got a couple of women from my riding group who are signed up and going and a couple more who are on the fence about it. So, it was said it's a good first century. Why? I need to do some fast talking to the fence sitters. :D For my information, so I can decide which bike to bring, is that first fifty miles of uphill a steady, < 5% grade type climb? Or are we talking steep mountain pass? Or maybe some of both?

I am looking foward to going. I have a camping spot at Lincoln Rock SP, I think I got the last two night spot. My sister is coming and this will be her first century. She wants to have one under her belt before we do STP.

Any information you have will be greatly appreciated. bikerHen

[ttaylor508]

I have not done the ride (yet), but since our cabin is located just miles away from the Silver Falls turn around point, we drive the route all the time. From Wenatchee, you travel along Hwy 97 for approx. 14 miles, all flat. You then turn on to Entiat River Road which will have a gradual elevation gain, so slight it appears flat until you get to mile marker 26 or so. The climb to Silver Falls is not bad at all (I have ridden this part several times), it is the prettiest part of the ride and you will not have any problem at all climbing it. Then the fun part, the downhill. I think I was doing 42 at my top speed, but I was having to pedal to reach that speed as the decent is not steep at all. I am really looking forward to the ride. My girlfriend has committed to make this her first century (YAH!) Here are some photos to encourage those still on the fence.
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[Biciclista]

wow, it's still snowy??

[Eden]

I did this ride long ago, when the course was different... so the only word of advice I can offer is that the ride back along the river will likely be quite windy.

Oh and if you don't want to camp - we waited until waaaaay to late to find a hotel last weekend (I was at a race in Wenatchee this past weekend), but found a rather quirky little motel on the outskirts of town called the Moonlight Motor Court. It's just been totally redone and reopened. It is kitschy (we had the Marilyn Monroe room...)relatively inexpensive and very clean. The only disappointment was that the magic fingers machine didn't work :rolleyes:

[ttaylor508]

wow, it's still snowy??

There is still snow in some of the higher hills. We had snow on the property until about mid April.

[MM_QFC!]

I need some more information from those of you who have ridden this century. I've got a couple of women from my riding group who are signed up and going and a couple more who are on the fence about it. So, it was said it's a good first century. Why? I need to do some fast talking to the fence sitters. :D For my information, so I can decide which bike to bring, is that first fifty miles of uphill a steady, < 5% grade type climb? Or are we talking steep mountain pass? Or maybe some of both?

I am looking foward to going. I have a camping spot at Lincoln Rock SP, I think I got the last two night spot. My sister is coming and this will be her first century. She wants to have one under her belt before we do STP.

Any information you have will be greatly appreciated. bikerHen

Yes, it'd be good for a first century; I had done a few before this one, but had several friends who used this as their 1st century before riding the STP. As ttaylor said, it's a mild grade for the 1st 50 or so - and you'll get to the Fish Hatchery rest stop, which is the turnaround point for the 50 mile route. Then it's a pretty steady grade up to the century turnaround near Silver Falls but, no, it's not a steep mountain pass at all. The return is grand as others have noted, many lovely downhill glides, then back out on hwy 97 and you'll more than likely meet the renowned wind - hopefully a tailwind, but I've experienced more head and crosswinds on that afternoon return.
There are a lot of pacelines early on, so you'll have a bit of a pre-STP experience in the early hours of the ride, so you can practice keeping your line, talking to each other and riding safely together. Also, I think I mentioned it before, but this is 'goat head' country, so don't ride all the way to the right, as a friend of mine did and had 2 flats from them in the first 25 miles of the ride (on Entiat River Rd). It may be a nice cool morning to start, but it'll probably warm up quickly. There are plenty of trees for cover on Entiat up to Silver Falls, but it's pretty exposed on hwy 97, in the heat of the afternoon, so slather on the sunscreen and load up on your liquids too. They have usually parked vehicle for a water stop on the early part of Entiat River rd, between hwy 97 and the fish hatchery stop, so I'd recommend looking for it, to mark it on your outbound ride, assuming that you won't need it then, but it'll be good to keep in mind - and use - later on.
Have a great time!
Mary

[lauraelmore1033]

I just looked at the course map and it looks like the same course we did. It's mostly flat for the first 25 miles, and since it's an out and back, the last 25 (when you're getting good and pooped). the climbing starts just before the 25 mile rest stop and it's about 1700 feet in 28 miles or so. then you're done with climbing; really not too bad.

[bikerHen]

Thanks everyone for the information. I'll start working on the fence sitters. I know about that wind. :eek: We've been having more than our fair share of it lately. I must say wind sucks! Or blows! Or both, at the same time! My nimble road bike likes the wind even less than I do. My Surly however, will plod along through just about anything. Oh decisions, decisions! bikerHen

[ttaylor508]

Heads up for those participating this weekend, I just spoke to our neighbor who lives across the street from out cabin and he said there is an abundance of deer dashing across the road (like 6 or more at a time). He thinks this is due to the river being especially high for this time of year and they can't cross. So keep eyes open as you get further up into the forest.

[bikerHen]

WOW, was that an interesting ride! Four of us made a camping weekend of it and really had a good time. Two gals did the 50 and my sister and I did the 100. Took me four hours to do the 50 miles out and 2.75 hours to come back. We of course had a headwind going most of the way UP the canyon and part of the way back down. Didn't see any deer. But I must say those last few miles up to the turn around were brutal. It's just beautiful up there and I was going slow enough to enjoy the views.

I was very lucky on my return. When I got back to the highway there was a VERY strong tailwind that pushed me back into town. I don't think my speed dropped below 20MPH. This was by far my strongest finish. :D My friends who did the 50 weren't so lucky. They had a headwind along that stretch and had to fight their way back into town.

I must say the wind is very interesting in Wenatchee! It blows hard and every which way in those canyons. One minute the wind is howling and next it's perfectly calm. It definitely added a little spice to the weekend

One Sunday we did a couple of lap around their river loop trail. It is a super nice trail to ride. Another great weekend of riding. Now I'm staying home and riding lots of miles to get ready for my next adventure, STP! :eek: bikerHen

[ttaylor508]

Boy, you aren't kidding about the weird winds! We started at about 7:45am and had a nice tail wind out of town on Hwy 97. Wind died down once we turned onto the Entiat river road which I really enjoyed since you miss so much when you are driving it. We stopped at our cabin on the way up to let the dog out and grab a bite to eat and then got back on course. We made excellent time on the way back down the river as we had an awesome tail wind and hooked up with a couple of pretty strong riders for the entire way down river. By the time we turned onto Hwy 97 back towards Wenatchee, the wind was brutally in our face. That last 18 miles was tough with the wind. We finished at about 1:20pm so total ride time was 5:11 with about a 15 minute stop at the cabin. Beer tasted really good in beer garden, but the band was a bit loud for me, guess I am showing my age. I am very proud to say that my buddy finished her first century, YAH! She road with her husband and finished around 3:45p. I was so proud of her and she even had a smile on her face at the end.

Sunday we took a hike up to the waterfall behind our property. I have never been up that far before, pretty cool views. Here is some photos from our hike.
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[bikerHen]

I kept hearing those waterfalls, but could only spot one up in the cliffs. Such a pretty canyon! Quite the contrast to the stark Columbia River Valley.

Great ride time! You must have been one of those smiling, happy rider blowing down the road as we were struggling uphill into the headwind. :D Sounds like you caught the same headwind my friends did on the hwy. For what it's worth, they said the band was a bit loud too and not that good. Maybe we're all showing our age. :rolleyes: The band was packing up when I got back so I was able to eat in peace. bikerHen