Three centuries in 3 weeks!

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07-27-2009, 07:54 AM
beccaB

Three centuries in 3 weeks!

DH and I have spent the last 3 weeks doing centuries. First was One Helluva Ride, then Holland Hundred and yesterday the Coast Guard festival bike tour. We both felt pretty good after the first two, but yesterday with strong northwest winds, that one kicked our butts! The coast guard ride was pretty fast paced and we finished almost dead last, but we did finish. The pace of most of the riders was 20mph average or faster, and we kept thinking while we were facing northwest winds on Lakeshore drive, how most of the riders were already enjoying the post-ride pizza, or were long gone already, enjoying a fine microbrew somewhere while we struggled! I think I will ride for fun for a while, and wait until September to do any more centuries!
07-27-2009, 08:25 AM
arielmoon

Crikey! I am tired just thinking about 3 centuries in 3 weeks. At this rate I will be doing one a year!! LOL

Good for you! I hope you take a well deserves break!
07-27-2009, 10:45 AM
Number 7

congrats on 3 centuries! i'm planning the 'middle of the mitten' ride as my first century ever.
07-27-2009, 11:57 AM
Tri Girl

Yowzer! :eek: I don't know if you're awesome or crazy (or awesomely crazy?).:p
Congrats on 3 weeks of 3 centuries. That's very impressive!!!:)
07-27-2009, 02:24 PM
beccaB

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number 7

congrats on 3 centuries! i'm planning the 'middle of the mitten' ride as my first century ever.

I was thinking about that one too. My daughter is in school nearby, which would make for a nice weekend. I'm not sure, but I think the date is on the same weekend as the Apple cider tour, which would be farther away for us, so we might as well do the Midland one.
07-27-2009, 02:40 PM
jesvetmed

WOW... simply put, that's all I have to say. Great work!
07-27-2009, 02:46 PM
pfunk12

Wow! That's really impressive.
07-27-2009, 03:26 PM
kenyonchris

Quote:

Originally Posted by beccaB

DH and I have spent the last 3 weeks doing centuries. First was One Helluva Ride, then Holland Hundred and yesterday the Coast Guard festival bike tour. We both felt pretty good after the first two, but yesterday with strong northwest winds, that one kicked our butts! The coast guard ride was pretty fast paced and we finished almost dead last, but we did finish. The pace of most of the riders was 20mph average or faster, and we kept thinking while we were facing northwest winds on Lakeshore drive, how most of the riders were already enjoying the post-ride pizza, or were long gone already, enjoying a fine microbrew somewhere while we struggled! I think I will ride for fun for a while, and wait until September to do any more centuries!

Ya'll rock.
07-27-2009, 03:33 PM
jobob

Goodness! :cool:
07-27-2009, 03:43 PM
TrekTheKaty

YOW! After our first century, BIL decided it should be a yearly tradition. I said, "give me a few days." Of course, I was on board by the next day--but still............
07-30-2009, 06:52 AM
MALcontent

Ouch! I'm impressed!
07-30-2009, 11:58 AM
Number 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by beccaB

I was thinking about that one too. My daughter is in school nearby, which would make for a nice weekend. I'm not sure, but I think the date is on the same weekend as the Apple cider tour, which would be farther away for us, so we might as well do the Midland one.

i had a friend ride the apple cider tour a few years back and said the roads were in terrible condition. no idea if that is still the case, though. of course, in michigan, it's likely the roads are beat up regardless of where you are :rolleyes:
07-30-2009, 03:58 PM
beccaB

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number 7

i had a friend ride the apple cider tour a few years back and said the roads were in terrible condition. no idea if that is still the case, though. of course, in michigan, it's likely the roads are beat up regardless of where you are :rolleyes:

Michigan does have a reputation for having the worst roads in the country. However, I've found that the middle part of the west side can have miles and miles of smooth heavenly silky feeling roads. While that may sound like a stretch , I just got back from a 25 mile ride in Jackson county, which is in the middle of the southern part of the state. I think the lake effect snow closer to Lake Michigan causes a reduction in the freezing and thawing that causes our roads to buckle. The cider tour is in the southwest, near the Indiana line. I'm sure they might be better that where I live, but maybe not as nice as Holland or Grand Haven. It might also have something to do with county budgets.
07-31-2009, 12:16 PM
Number 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by beccaB

Michigan does have a reputation for having the worst roads in the country. However, I've found that the middle part of the west side can have miles and miles of smooth heavenly silky feeling roads. While that may sound like a stretch , I just got back from a 25 mile ride in Jackson county, which is in the middle of the southern part of the state. I think the lake effect snow closer to Lake Michigan causes a reduction in the freezing and thawing that causes our roads to buckle. The cider tour is in the southwest, near the Indiana line. I'm sure they might be better that where I live, but maybe not as nice as Holland or Grand Haven. It might also have something to do with county budgets.

i'm in lansing, and some of our roads are awful. if you like riding around jackson, there's a ride tomorrow put on by one of the local bike shops (friend of mine) raising money for relay for life.
http://www.pandtfitness.com/micksmemorialride.htm
07-31-2009, 02:51 PM
beccaB

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number 7

i'm in lansing, and some of our roads are awful. if you like riding around jackson, there's a ride tomorrow put on by one of the local bike shops (friend of mine) raising money for relay for life.
http://www.pandtfitness.com/micksmemorialride.htm

I might consider doing that, I'll see how I feel in the morning. For some reason I didn't know about that one. My riding partner won't be with me, and that's my only hangup really. I've never changed a bike tire, even though I always carry most of the parts. It's not like I would get lost or anything!
08-01-2009, 03:00 AM
Number 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by beccaB

I might consider doing that, I'll see how I feel in the morning. For some reason I didn't know about that one. My riding partner won't be with me, and that's my only hangup really. I've never changed a bike tire, even though I always carry most of the parts. It's not like I would get lost or anything!

there are sag vehicles and lots of nice people. :cool:
08-01-2009, 06:27 AM
beccaB

I wasn't able to go, and I feel bad, but the two 20 milers I did this week let me know I should back off a little. And I was a little intimidated by the same kind of start as the last one I did,where everyone starts at the same time, with police escort, and that crowd was very fast paced. I ended up trying to keep up with the crowd and it was too fast for me. I've also never ridden that far without my husband, so that was a little off-putting. If they have that one again next year I'll plan for it.
08-01-2009, 12:17 PM
Number 7

that's cool. i wouldn't do a ride without my husband either, honestly. this was the first year for this ride. the bike shop owner put it together very recently, but i believe he has plans to make it a yearly thing. he's going to plan next year's in advance and get it in the league of michigan bicyclist's ride list so more people will hear about it.