cool breeze - august 19th

oh pam... double METRICS! i don't do double centuries! nope! not me! too long in the saddle!

i'm with you on the SAG stops... i do NOT like to stop for long periods of time! heck... i even get irritated when i have to wait too long for a porta potty! i eat some at the stops (i.e. orange slices)... but usually.. if they have portable food (rice krispie treats.. muffins... crackers.. cookies... etc) ... i'll take it with me and eat while riding! i've never understood the people that literally lay around at rest stops! :eek: not me! i get too stiff and don't want to get back on the bike!

hmmmmm i have a different, maybe take on centuries.... i agree... i'm not out racing! not fast enough for that! but i, personally, think i go a tad bit slower... especially in the beginning... cuz i don't want to tire myself out too soon!! (there are some "hot shot racer types" that go balls to the wall.. and then can't even finish the whole 100! even palm springs! and i'm not talking crashing... i mean this guy didn't finish cuz it appears he burnt himself out too soon!) i've always "taken my time" to a point.... i don't ride along and chat (99% of my riding is done alone).... but i don't push my limits either!

i'll have to go back and look at some of my other century times... (i keep trying to tell you gals i'm NOT fast but no one wants to believe me!)

i'm still in awe of the 55! the fastes i ever recall going... and that wasn't 55! it was somewhere in the 40's and FREAKED me out.. was at the top of GMR... descending into the village! EGADS! ya... you get some "thoughts" eh????

hmmmmmm i now know you you remind me of!

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Think about pedal stroke, cadance, breathing, nutrition etc.

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my hubby! he never just lets me ride! lol! he is always "coaching" me! (not saying that's bad! cuz he's like you... trying to helpful and teach me!)

i think a century can be fun... especially a first century! in fact... i think is very important that a first century be fun so you'll want to do more! but i'm a fun rider and not a "racer" rider!

i agree that adreneline or happiness at doing a first century... or whatever.... will be high and help! i remember after doing my first... i wasn't even tired at the end!! i coulda kept riding on more cuz i was so excited at having completed a century!!

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Originally Posted by caligurl

so do we have a list?

me (and hubby) errrrrr.... caligurl!
tprevost
brandy
bcipam
honorary TE member: wayne!
nina r messina
redhot3368
tiffanie
green machine

who else?

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I'm pretty new around here, but I'm going to be doing the Cool Breeze. I'd love to hook up with ya'll. I'll be making the trek south from Sacramento!

me (and hubby) errrrrr.... caligurl!
tprevost
brandy
bcipam
honorary TE member: wayne!
nina r messina
redhot3368
tiffanie
green machine
IndyGal

who else?

(getting to be quite the large group!)

As the date grows closer we will have to come up with some plan of meeting up with everyone before and after.

For the century riders I suggest we plan on meeting around 6:45 - 7a and push off shortly thereafter. For Cali - the doublemetric superbiker and everyone doing the regular metric we need to meet up after. Probably best way is to plan on checking in with each other via cell phones around 3pm. Us century and metric rider might still be riding so if you metric folks need to go we'll catch up with you on the next ride.

Okay, okay, I've gotta make a disclaimer here... there is NO way I'm committing to an average 15mph pace for 100 miles. I don't want the pressure of holding anyone up on the ride, it will completely ruin my first century. I may decide to keep w/my plan to leave as early as possible and let everyone catch up to me and perhaps then, after I'm warmed up, I'll try to keep up.

We'll see though, depending on how things go between now and then! AND, Pam, see... I knew you could go really slow with those grannies you have! ;) AND, 55mph is just plain crazy woman! I would be scared outa my mind!!! 'specially since I'm part of the white knuckle club! ;)

T~

ps. and IndyGal! Glad you're coming, looking forward to meeting you!

tracy.... ride YOUR ride! that's the best advice i can give you! my first century was tour de palm springs... so relatively flat..... i rode it by myself (hubby did his own ride!)

i just peddled along... at MY pace! every once in a while i'd try to keep up with someone.... and if they dropped me... i'd just keep peddling!

i did come across a couple on a tandem after the first rest stop after lunch.... i tried my BEST to keep up with them.... i'd do pretty good... they'd drop me (not obnoxiously... just they were faster)... then they'd catch a light and i'd catch up! this helped me got faster then i would have on my own.... but i still didn't over-exert....

i had been riding 7 months at the time... so i was NOT fast....

but... in pam's defense... i did just go back and look... and i did ride that century at 15.7 mph average! i've got 3215 elevation listed..... i don't know cool breeze's elevation for the century.... but if it's around 3000-3500... 15 is doable...

BUT.... if you don't want to commit to 15 mph... then again... ride YOUR ride! your first century will always be your first... you will ALWAYS rememer it... and i want it to be FUN FUN FUN for you! so if you think you need to go at a slower pace... by all means... do so! cuz on your first.. there are NO TIME LIMITS! the IMPORTANT thing is to FINISH! if you need to rest... rest... the important thing is to FINISH!

once you do a century and realize you CAN do it... then you can put more goals... but for your first... the goal is to finish! no matter how slow and how long you rest...

(and i have NO DOUBT you WILL finish!) (and i'll bet you end up doing 15 mph after all!)

Thanks Caligurl!

You are so awesome! That rides doesn't seem to have so much elevation gain but since I don't know the route, I'll want to be conservative in my pace.

I have no doubt that I'll finish; of course, it might not be pretty! ;) I just don't want to be miserable, plain and simple! Maybe I will do better than I expect as far as pace is concerned but I don't want to commit when I don't know the route.

I will be there the night before so I'll be well rested and up bright and early! Maybe I'll even get another dinner out of my old broker up there! ;) (you know Cali, the one who refuses to wear a helmet :eek: )

Again, thank you for your encouragement! You have no idea how much I appreciate it!!! :D

Trac'

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Originally Posted by tprevost

Thanks Caligurl!

You are so awesome! That rides doesn't seem to have so much elevation gain but since I don't know the route, I'll want to be conservative in my pace.

I have no doubt that I'll finish; of course, it might not be pretty! ;) I just don't want to be miserable, plain and simple! Maybe I will do better than I expect as far as pace is concerned but I don't want to commit when I don't know the route.

I will be there the night before so I'll be well rested and up bright and early! Maybe I'll even get another dinner out of my old broker up there! ;) (you know Cali, the one who refuses to wear a helmet :eek: )

Again, thank you for your encouragement! You have no idea how much I appreciate it!!! :D

Trac'

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ahhhhhh! you have an advantage over me then! i don't think i've even done a century (or organized metric) on a really good night's sleep! lol! but that's cuz we have to get up in the middle of the night to get there! (for cool breeze i think we have to get up at 12:30! yes... that's 30 min after midnight! GASP! i hope brie appreciates that i refuse to kennel her! :cool:

I'm sure she does.... as she's eating her birthday steak and cake! :D

Plus, I need all the advantages I can get!!! ;) A good nights sleep is one that is probably a little helpful, just tell DH to drive by himself and you come w/me the night before!!! I'm sure he would appreciate that!!! hee hee hee!

T~

I'm signed up for the Cool Breeze century too.

It'll be my second century - my first was Cruisin the Conejo. I was so uncertain that I was going to be able to finish that ride that I didn't really tell anyone about it. My longest ride before that one was 70 miles, so I tried to keep it at a pretty easy pace in order to get through. I ended up with a 15.1 mph average.

Sometimes I'm guilty of going out too fast, but as I am doing longer events now, I'm getting better at pacing.

Hey Vicvroom!

Glad you'll be coming along too!!!! Congrats on your first Century at CTC, that was a tough one too! Great Job!!!

We'll look forward to meeting you!

Tracy

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Originally Posted by tprevost

Okay, okay, I've gotta make a disclaimer here... there is NO way I'm committing to an average 15mph pace for 100 miles. I don't want the pressure of holding anyone up on the ride, it will completely ruin my first century. I may decide to keep w/my plan to leave as early as possible and let everyone catch up to me and perhaps then, after I'm warmed up, I'll try to keep up.

We'll see though, depending on how things go between now and then! AND, Pam, see... I knew you could go really slow with those grannies you have! ;) AND, 55mph is just plain crazy woman! I would be scared outa my mind!!! 'specially since I'm part of the white knuckle club! ;)

T~

ps. and IndyGal! Glad you're coming, looking forward to meeting you!

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Tracy:

Stop stressing. Let's just start out all together. Just trust this seasoned veteran - you will easily do about 15/mph on the ride (no one is asking for a commitment) but its not a question of anyone holding up anyone. We ride together but that doesn't mean we stay in a little group all the time. You and Brandy are going rush pass me on hills but I'll catch you going down (might even pass you!). We can regroup at the sag stops if someone gets out ahead or lags back. We can talk more about this on July 1st.

Bottom line it is so much better to do a century (especially a first time one) with a group. I did my first alone (no friends - just all the other riders I didn't know) and that sucked. Start with us (at least Wayne and I) at 7. Trust me the extra 1/2 hour is not going to make up that much difference. The encouragement we are all going to give us other is going to be worth it. Basically Wayne and I signed up for the ride to help you all through it. Plus I need some encouragement as well as this will be my first big ride after my surgery.

and to everyone - I know how scary a first time century can be - been there done that - I know. In fact I stress about most centuries. Until you start riding you have no clue what's going to happen. There is a plus on this ride. The first 20 miles all the rides go together to the Bates Rd. sag stop. If at that point you are feeling poorly, can't warm up, just chicken out, you can elect to do the metric or turn back and do 40.

Another plus with riding in a small group - along the coast you will encounter headwinds. pacelining will help conserve energy against the wind. We can talk about pacelining on the 1st as well.

Okay...I'm trying to put together a rough training schedule and I was wondering what I should shoot for as a longest ride before Cool Breeze. Any ideas? So far my longest ride has been 42.5 miles.

Brandy,

Given the shape you are already in... I'd say if you can ride 40-50 miles a couple of times in the same week that'll give you a good base. I'd be doing at least 80-100 miles a week with one long ride for at least several weeks ahead of the ride and you'll be just fine!!! Plus a few hilly rides just so you get the hang of the granny gear (cause you can't power up the hills that are several miles long all the time! ;) )

I'm working on base still but will be doing mostly 25-50 milers with a metric and a 70 miler thown in. I'm still slow as molasses though!!!

Trac'

ps. You'll probably get some better advise from some of the riders that have more experience but you are already really strong and probably just need to learn how to pace yourself for that distance!

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Originally Posted by Brandy

Okay...I'm trying to put together a rough training schedule and I was wondering what I should shoot for as a longest ride before Cool Breeze. Any ideas? So far my longest ride has been 42.5 miles.

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A metric to 75 miles is good. Just work on a good base. Remember a week or two before the ride you need to tamper off. I would not ride after the weekend or Monday before the Ccentury. Just stretch or go on slow, short rides. Definitely nothing after Wed. Two weekends before is a good time to do your longest ride. I always figure if I can do a metric without problem I can struggle through a century.

Thanks for the advice ladies!

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Originally Posted by bcipam

A metric to 75 miles is good. Just work on a good base. Remember a week or two before the ride you need to tamper off. I would not ride after the weekend or Monday before the Ccentury. Just stretch or go on slow, short rides. Definitely nothing after Wed. Two weekends before is a good time to do your longest ride. I always figure if I can do a metric without problem I can struggle through a century.

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Should we plan a group metric century to 75 miles with hills for August 5th then? That would put us two weeks prior to Cool Breeze.

Any chance of moving that metric ride up a weekend (we're camping on the 4th-6th)???

T~

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Originally Posted by tprevost

Any chance of moving that metric ride up a weekend (we're camping on the 4th-6th)???

T~

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That's fine with me.

Can we do it on a Sunday so I can join you???

maybe July 30th???

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Originally Posted by tprevost

maybe July 30th???

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Sounds good to me, I'll save the date in my calendar.

You would have been so proud of me. No white knuckling it down the hills today!

Whooo Hooo!!!! Great Job Brandy!!! Was it a good ride? I haven't been on my bike since Saturday and it doesn't look like I'm going to get on it until this coming saturday :eek: I've just got to stop eating! ;) UGH!

T~

It was a good ride! Tiff and I got over lots of fears this morning...hills, traffic, riding with no bike lanes, taking the left turn lane and riding on PCH!

We're doing 50 miles tomorrow...I can't wait!

http://www.routeslip.com/map.php?map=2087

ETA: If you click on the link and zoom in, you'll see that we're riding right through houses...lol. There is a bike path, but unfortunately it doesn't show up on the map, so I had to improvise and guess where it ran...lol ;)

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Originally Posted by Brandy

We're doing 50 miles tomorrow...I can't wait!

http://www.routeslip.com/map.php?map=2087

ETA: If you click on the link and zoom in, you'll see that we're riding right through houses...lol. There is a bike path, but unfortunately it doesn't show up on the map, so I had to improvise and guess where it ran...lol ;)

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So we're not doing Newport Coast Drive??

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Originally Posted by Tiffanie

So we're not doing Newport Coast Drive??

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If after all of that climbing, you feel like doing Newport Coast Drive we can throw it in somehow...lol.

Actually, Newport Coast from East to West isn't bad at all. I just got into my granny gear and plugged my way; its hardly a grade - just long and hot in that corridor. Now of course Mike (Pam's friend) and ACG were on hammocks with drinks by the time I got done, but I wasn't tired, not breathing hard and HR was very low.

You two can whip that right out!!!!

T~

ps. I am told that the road from West to East is much harder, so why don't you two do it that direction and let me know how it is????

I think Newport Coast will be on the menu for next week sometime. :D

Here's the thing about Newport Coast - the two sides are almost the same. I think the East/West route is about 1.3 miles and the W/E is 1.6 miles so not much difference in length and I've been told that the gradient is also not all that different (anywhere from 3 - 6 percent). I think what I hate about the Ocean side is that I usually don't do it until after I've put in some mileage, say 25 - 30 miles and am just tired. The E/W side (which I did last night) I usually do after a warm up of say 10 - 15 miles and am still fresh. Neither are particularly easy for me but the Ocean side just seems like it's 5 miles longer.

I may have told you this story... I have a friend training for the "The Bear" - she wanted to do the distance (100 miles) and the elevation (9000') before the ride. She rode the Ocean side of Newport Coast for 8 hours!!! Up and down, up and down, up and down... for 8 hours. OK personally I could never ever be that focused on one task for so long, second, after that, I would never ever again want to ride NC. It would be ruined for me.

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Originally Posted by bcipam

I may have told you this story... I have a friend training for the "The Bear" - she wanted to do the distance (100 miles) and the elevation (9000') before the ride. She rode the Ocean side of Newport Coast for 8 hours!!! Up and down, up and down, up and down... for 8 hours. OK personally I could never ever be that focused on one task for so long, second, after that, I would never ever again want to ride NC. It would be ruined for me.

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YIKES!!!!!!!!


http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/122.gif

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Originally Posted by bcipam

I may have told you this story... I have a friend training for the "The Bear" - she wanted to do the distance (100 miles) and the elevation (9000') before the ride. She rode the Ocean side of Newport Coast for 8 hours!!! Up and down, up and down, up and down... for 8 hours. OK personally I could never ever be that focused on one task for so long, second, after that, I would never ever again want to ride NC. It would be ruined for me.

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Pam,

I was just telling Tiff the other day that we should do hill repeats on NC and I thought of when you told me about your friend doing that. That's some serious dedication!

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Originally Posted by Brandy

If after all of that climbing, you feel like doing Newport Coast Drive we can throw it in somehow...lol.

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Eh. We can do it another time. http://www.tinklebelle.com/Smilies/i...ughinghard.gif

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Originally Posted by tprevost

ps. I am told that the road from West to East is much harder, so why don't you two do it that direction and let me know how it is????

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Sure Tracy... only for you. :p

Pam, your friend has some serious dedication. I couldn't imagine doing that over and over and over....

My friend (who btw happens to be a hand surgeon) told me after doing NC for 8 hours she could tell me every crack, bump, patch of dirt etc on the climb side. On the downhill side she would just almost close her eyes (it is a scary descent). She's an awesome rider and obviously very dedicated to her sport. Me? I avoid the hill at all cost!!! AND.. I have no desire, whatsoever, to ever do the Bear!

Pam - Is NC the one we didn't do? Alex and I have decided to "give in" and get triples on our bikes!!

Nina

nina... don't consider it "giving in".... consider it a move to allow you to do rides and climbs you want to accomplish.... and to do so comfortably!!!!!!!!

there is no shame in a triple!!!!!!! http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/119.gif

Cali - You're right. We had triples on our previous bikes, but we kinda got "talked into " getting compact doubles on our current bikes by the LBS guy (he is no longer there). You really do lose versatility though, both on the low end and the high end.

when i was still in the planning/looking process for my new bike.... hubby looked into a compact for me... did the calculations, etc... and determined that i would loose too much off both the top and bottom.... just like you said! i already "spin out" coming down hills... i would have started spinning out sooner on a compact! and for several of the climbs... i go to my very easiest gear.... i think they could have gotten me there.. but at the expense of my higher gears... so we decided on the triple.. then when i changed my mind from a custom to a ruby.... the bike shop tried to convince me i needed a compact... fortunately they weren't that pushy (not that i would have changed my mind! lol!) cuz i KNOW i woulda been uber disappointed with a compact!