Early season centuries

In my winter funk, I'm looking for somethinganything to motivate me and look forward to. I had planned to do a metric century at the end of October, but it didn't work out. Since then, I've been doing a fitness boot camp and plan on doing it all the way through March, adding in cycling as soon as the daffodils pop up in February. I haven't been riding, but I am definitely more fit than I was when I stopped riding.

Since I live in NW Arkansas, there should be plenty of flat metric or imperial centuries going on early-ish (April, May) in the season within an 8 hour drive of here, shouldn't there? Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma? I'm very near Kansas which is pretty flat, but they still get snow in April. Anything north of me is pretty much out. I think it'd have to be anything south of Oklahoma City. You see my dilemma of posting this in the state folders. :)

Is there a ride calendar anywhere?

Karen

Karen,

www.nashvillecyclist.com has a calendar which usually shows rides over significant portions of the southeast. He hasn't updated to a 2008 calendar yet, but the 07 one should give some ideas.

Last year's showed rides as early as March. Lots for April and May which is prime charity ride season before the weather gets so hot.

Hey, that's great. The Tour De Stooges in Highland, IL looks like just what I was looking for! And they're one of the few locations who have their website current!

Thanks,
Karen

SB- thanks for posting that link to Nashville's cycling club. That's a great list. I've been salivating at the thought of riding in Tennessee again, although I likely won't make it there again until BRAT 2008.

ok, i want to ride in the tour de stooges just because of the name, and the t-shirt. how fun is that? :)

And they have a Three Stooges film festival after the ride! :)

Karen

How about one for early fall?

http://www.crcc.net/Misaligned%20Minds.htm

Karen,
Here's a partial calendar. Scroll down to the near bottom of the page. Most all of these are Tulsa or north of OKC.
http://www.okfreewheel.com/


Here's another site that lists some rides. Doesn't seem to be many early season in our area (OK), but I think more will come up in the next month or so. There's a search option at the top. Under sport just go to cycling tours and some will come up.
http://www.insidetexasrunning.com/calendar/smu.html

I wish I could find our local OK schedule of rides. I know there are more around, just can't find them right now. I'll do some digging for you. Of course, if you come to OKC (or near here) to ride, I'd love to join you. I'll be IM training next year, so long rides will be a normal occurance for me. I'll come along if you'd like some company.

You wouldn't get much training riding with a slow-poke like me! :) I would love to have someone to stick with me, though.

I'll check those links out! Thanks :D

Karen

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tuckervill

You wouldn't get much training riding with a slow-poke like me! :) I would love to have someone to stick with me, though.

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Oh stop! You're not a slow poke, and if you are then I am too. Long, slow miles are a part of long distance training. It's what I'm conditioned to do. :p

The first ride I'm aware of is Ride the Rez offering a metric Memorial Day weekend in Jackson, Ms. The Magnolia State Randonneurs have a 200k Jan. 12, and a 300k March 29. You may want to keep a check on the Memphis Hightailers sight as well, although nothing is posted yet.

Hey Tuckerville...........was just looking at the Nashville site and found the Natchez Trace Century. 2007 was in mid April. Temps are usually fairly moderate at this time of the year. I'll ride with you!!!!! I'm slow, but determined.

Also check out search.active.com, lots of stuff.

Another one in Middle Tennessee that y'all might like is here:

http://www.bikethecram.com/

Starts in TN, goes up into KY through Mennonite country. Very flat, very pretty. This is the one I picked for my first century. It was well-supported and hit a couple of spots that were pretty nifty. I didn't know there was a Jefferson Davis Memorial Park in KY. :eek: Goes thru tiny little towns.

Since when is Natchez Trace and Middle Tennessee FLAT?

:)
Karen

The Trace is definitely not flat!! But CRAM has a very flat route. Runs out of Clarksville, up into KY.

The Natchez Trace is kinda flat. The particular section where this ride starts is relatively flat. There are some inclines, but no sharp hills to speak of. As far as I know this ride heads north on the Trace, which is flatter than going south. I assume it's an out and back route. I routinely go out 20 miles and back, it's really no too bad. The sharper inclines are fairly short in distance. Let's put it this way........I haven't found anything like the BDB. More frequent small inclines, but nothing big. I did my first metric on the south Trace last fall.

Cindy

I'm not horribly experienced with the Trace, except driving across it a few thousand times in different parts of MS. I did stay in a lodge on the Trace somewhere in TN once.

Yeah, I want a FLAT ride because I know if it's flat I'll do the whole thing if nothing stands in my way. If it's hilly--early in the season I would be tempted to quit on the first hill! lol. :)

Karen