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Hey all you who have done the Cinderella Century... what is the course like? I would like to train for this event and want to know what to expect. I know it's a metric century... are there shorter routes, and does the ride benefit any charities?
Thanks!!
Shannon
Click your magic wand here for a link to the Cinderalla website.
I did the ride in 2004. I thought the course was not that tough. In fact I think it was probably the easiest metric century I did last year. There wasn't much climbing. I heard that the wind can be a little problem later in the day, but I started early to avoid that.
How much do you ride now? If you can ride 65 miles, you can do this one without much training at all.
There are 2,200 women doing this ride. There is a wide variety of skills. I was lucky that I got an early start last year because I was ahead of most of the people who lacked that group-riding ability!
I basically suck and can't ride 65 miles yet, but I hope to get enough training in to be able to by April. We'll see how the weather and our kids do. I feel guilty leaving them with Daddy too much. ;)
Only the one route. Pretty flat except for some minor hills in the middle, but nothing that you would call a mountain. Same hill section can be windy but has the least traffic. End of the course bottlenecks back into traffic and narrow lanes, including a bike path. Train more for distance than climbing, though the latter is always good. Lots of social riding going on (4 abreast sometimes!) so be prepared to smile brightly and say "on your left!"
Grab food and eat while standing in line for the loo.
Excellent advice for this ride. As I recall there were only 2 or 3 climbs (I'd call them "moderate" or less).Quote:
Originally posted by SadieKate
Train more for distance than climbing, though the latter is always good.
There is a training ride series that a few women from TE did last year. I think they said that the last ride of the series was actually harder than the Cinderella.
Here's a link to a thread that discusses the training series.
If you're not up to riding 65 miles right now, this ride would be a good goal for you!
Thanks! My rule is that if your goal is a long, flat ride (such as the Cinderella), train your butt. If the ride has climbing, train your legs.
what the always tactfull Adventure Girl sez "There is a wide variety of skills."
lots of riders without group riding skills, first day clipless etc.
start early, don't dilly dally at the stops. Not saying "don't have a casual ride", don't rush, enjoy it, just if you hang back you ride with them and it can get dicey. Other than that great ride, fun scene.
Well, I'm willing to give it a shot. It requires that I fly across the country, but hey! To finally meet some of you TE grrls how can I resist.
I have to do my training in the gym though... snow and ice are here to stay for the next couple of months.
See y'all on Apr 2 at the start line.
I guess I'm going to invest in a trainer so I can train every day... I'm mainly concerned about my butt/privates as they are not used to long distances yet! My hubby has really narrow rollers from his track racing days, but I can't do those... my pedal stroke isn't good enough yet.
Spazzdog, are you really going to come! I can't wait to meet all of you. Oh, and not that I'm planning on it, but is there sag support at this ride?
Yup! I'm coming...
There's more SAG support on Cinderella than any other ride I've done. A few years ago I got a flat during the ride, and as soon as I'd gotten the wheel off a SAG pulled up to do the rest. So, there's plenty of SAG for mechanicals, and to take you back if you can't finish. But... it's not a race, the hills are not difficult, and there are several well-stocked rest stops, including a lunch stop, all making 65 miles very doable.
Yup, fully-supported ride. Even a Lemon Drop Prince at the top of one of the little hills.Quote:
Originally posted by slinkedog
but is there sag support at this ride?
Sag support was very good last year. I rode the first half alone. I'm not that great about following a route map, and since I was near the front of the pack, I couldn't just follow the long line of bikes. But every time I thought I might be lost, I would see a SAG wagon to reassure me that I was on course.Quote:
Originally posted by slinkedog
Oh, and not that I'm planning on it, but is there sag support at this ride?
Watch out grrl-ies... it's official. I have booked my flight (note: great rates on Travelocity.com for any other CA "foreigners").
You can all thank Trek420 for providing a crash pad for me and Epesi.
Now, lets all pray to the sun goddesses for warm weather on Apr 2, so little Spazz can be warm and toasty ;)
See you at the ball... er, ride.
de nada. spazz.
also I'm sacrificing to the registration goddess that we all get in!:D :p ;) :cool:
Hey, one more question for all of you... how much was the registration fee last year?
Thanks again for all your helpful info!
Shannon
That would be good... however, if we are ignored by the registration gods, perhaps all the TE-ers that are ignored can get together for a "Cinderella Step-sisters" ride... we can yell at each other, dress badly, and jeer at those who make it to the ball. Darn! I mean the ride.
Sounds like a great idea, Spazz. Can't wait to meet you all!!
I spent about 50 minutes on my friend's trainer this morning, so I'm officially training now. My 18 month old is quite perplexed by all the new activity in the house. (We watched Noggin while I rode.) My three and four year old both walked by and told me I was doing great and going really fast.
slinkedog;
I think the registration fee was $25.00 last year. If everyone planning to ride Cinderella remembers to sign up on Feb 1, we should all make it. (Reg. opens February 1st)
Any more thoughts on a TE girls party? Ladies?
carbo load before? recovery beverage after?
A TE party sounds like fun! Thanks for the registration fee info, snapdragen!
Wow, Yes! If there is a cinderella party I would LOVE to participate! I'm planning on doing the ride again this year. It was my first century of any kind last year (and the 1st time I'd gone more than 42 miles in a day) and ended up being the first of five events I participated in in 2004. I had no problem with the course, but you know, I wish there was a lemon drop man on the top of Every Hill, Everywhere! I love him.
I started pretty late and I was alone, but I made a lot of friends--so no one worry if you're going out there stag.
This year, I'm bringing five friends, hopefully so perhaps we'll see you out there or after or something.
WOO HOO!!!!
A.F.
THis trip is sounding funner and funner!
Who's the social director out there? Carb dinner perhaps on Fri night (Apr 1). Somebody take a count... make a reservation... book a band.
Definite beverage-meet after... where are the best margarita's in town? :D
Trek420 - who has a cyclists Foders for San Fran? :p
I'll have a back pocket full of lemon drops to sustain us before and after we meet up with Lemon Drop Guy. ;)
Whoa, got really excited there for a second. Thought you were talking about my favorite martini...........:D
snap"lemondrop martini with grey goose please"dragen
Quote:
Originally posted by slinkedog
I'll have a back pocket full of lemon drops to sustain us before and after we meet up with Lemon Drop Guy. ;)
Must have Cindy socks
I can't get the link to paste. But check out the new "Road Princess" socks on our sponsor's website. They're under the new for spring link.
(jobob's head pops up) Recovery beverage? Now we're talking.Quote:
Trek420 quips
carbo load before? recovery beverage after?
Just my $ 0.02, but based on last years' experience, it might be easier to get together after the ride rather than before - the early finishers could wander the booths, say Hi to Susan & the TE gang if they're there, or hang out at the bar*.
*IIRC, the Officer's club where registration and the after-ride chowfest took place had a cash bar w. beer - in the group I was with last year no one else wanted one, and I don't like to drink alone when I'm in a group (heh) - but if anyone is so inclined this year I'd be happy to partake in a carbohydrate-laden "recovery beverage" :D
- jobob
Maybe we could have a get together on Friday or Sunday, so us renegades who are doing Party Pardee can meet the out of towners.
Dogmama are you still thinking of coming to town?
V
Please, please let's have a Friday dinner meet so I know you gals standing still and face to face. Otherwise I won't know who I'm looking for as I pedal along.
Trek420, can you arrange this on the local front... somebody help Trek420 out purdy please. I wanna, I wanna, I wanna EAT!
And just so's ya know... (whining) I've never been to SF in my life.
spazz
Cindy's and Party Pardee ladies - dinner Friday sounds like a plan. Any restaurant suggestions? There are a bunch of italian style, if we want pasta carbo loading.
Bruno's
Romano's Macaroni Grill
Frankie, Johnnie & Luigi
Pasta Pomodoro
Bunches more. The only one I'm familiar with is Bruno's in Pleasanton.
where's everyone heading from? Spazz and I would be heading from Hayward in the East Bay. Maybe we can find somewhere mid point?
Pleasanton sounds like a good midpoint. Is Bruno's good? Can we make it a fairly early dinner? We gotta get up wicked early to drive to Ione (Party Pardee.)
V.
Last time I was at Bruno's it was very good. Family owned Italian restaurant, comfy atmosphere. Guess I should add, I was crazy in love at the time.....so mud pies would've been good!;)
I'm spending the night in Dublin, so distance isn't an issue with me.
Where is everybody else coming from?
Quick! Somebody make a reservation.
Who's comin? TE takes over Bruno's... news at eleven.
Friday night at Bruno's sounds like an excellent plan. An early night would not be a bad idea, I needs my beauty sleep. And we could always pick up where we left off after the ride. :cool:
A friend (she lurks here from time to time, hi A.!) & I are probably going to stay Friday night at the Holiday Inn Express in Dublin, which is only about a mile from the start. Hopefully we can leave our cars in the hotel lot and bike over to Camp Parks - it would sure beat waiting in a long line of cars to get past the security gate into the camp and then to the parking lot.
I have to tell you all, I am both excited and anxious about my upcoming visit. The excitement is a combination of participation in a fun event and traveling to a place I've never been.
The anxiety stems from my "stuff" of the past couple years (see depression topic)... I still don't leave the house much. The training for this ride has become a therapy assignment; go to the gym at least 3 times a week, get my diet back on an even keel (my drugs were killing my appitite, got 'em changed), even making the commitment and reservations for the trip.
I truly look forward to meeting you all in the real world... I may seem a bit tense sometimes, and stutter or seem a little "zoney" but it's just part of being a little scared. I am by no means asking for a bunch of care givers to show up... I just wanted to put it out there that my current "real life" self might not be the same wacko spazz you've all grown to love :p
Hugs in advance to all... now, let's eat! A toast to Bruno whomever he may be.
Don't sweat it - it's often the case that people are different in real life than their on-screen personas would lend one to believe :)Quote:
I just wanted to put it out there that my current "real life" self might not be the same wacko spazz you've all grown to love
from the wisdom of jobob "it's often the case that people are different in real life than their on-screen personas would lend one to believe :)"
yep, take me for example, I'm actualy an 82 year old Nascar fan from Georgia....just kidding ;) :cool:
And I'm actually a 20 year old Nascar driver. (Which might be an improvement over what I really am.)Quote:
yep, take me for example, I'm actualy an 82 year old Nascar fan from Georgia.
Yeah and I'm Queen of Da Nile. :D