The Lighthouse Century...

Hiya all! OK- so Sat I rode the Lighthouse Century. This was a VERY well organized ride... there are other local organizers who should take some lessons from the San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club!!! I can't say enough about the set-up, the route, the SAG support, and the well run rest stops with the most cheerful people working them... it made the day an even greater pleasure... anyway, thought I'd take ya along for the ride...

this would be a GREAT beginner century as it's only got 2000ft climbing... pretty darn flat! :)

Here's the sunset the night before

the coastline near Cambria

a red tailed hawk... there were about 50 of them circling one of the plains at one point... amazing to see...

Piedras Blancas "white rocks"

the Lighthouse the ride is named for

Cappucino Cove at the 58 mile sag... manned by dancing pirates and rock and roll... they had celery with peanut butter... I could've cried I was so happy... :p

Pirates Up!

elephant seals basking in the beautiful sunshiney day

Zebras at Hearst Castle...

I LOOOOVE downhill!!!! (notice the big grin? :D )

Oh, that looks marvelous!!

Hey bikerchick68 - great photos. Does this ride fill up quick?
Looks like a good one to mark the calendar for next year. Im assuming its down San Diego way (sorry for being an ignorant Aussie)?

Im hoping to do my first century next year but around Feb - May. Maybe I will be able to do a few next year. I was really interested in the Death Valley century ride but it is full already (bummer).

If you have any other good rides to recommend between Feb-May of next year that would be great. I have left my window pretty big timing wise for my first century as my husband goes away alot and this will be another consideration when choosing my first century - that and well making sure its not too hard a ride.
:)

trekhawk... in February there is the Tour de Palm Springs... another GREAT beginner ride! The first 50 miles has some rollers and the last 50 is flat... table top, pancake, like a board flat!!! Also well run, and well marked. TdePS was my first century this Feb and it was a perfect starter ride!

here's a link with the whole list so you can choose... I've done 6 this year (so far :D ) so if ya see one ask and if I know anything about it I'll fill ya in!

http://bbcnet.com/RideCalendar/RideListDate.asp

as to Lighthouse... yeah, since it is such a well done ride it fills quickly. I signed up 3 months ago for it... it's actually 6 hours north of San Diego by Hearst Castle and the Madonna Inn...

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Originally Posted by bikerchick68

this would be a GREAT beginner century as it's only got 2000ft climbing... pretty darn flat! :)

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Was that a typo or you actually consider 2000 feet of climbing to be flat??? You clearly have a different definition of "beginner" than I do. ;-)

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Originally Posted by Trekhawk

If you have any other good rides to recommend between Feb-May of next year that would be great. :)

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Check out Jo's adventures at Bike Around the Buttes. Also, consider the Mildflower (Flatflower?) by Chico Velo, same day as their Wildflower Century.

Rakekay - actually 2,000 ft of climbing can be "refreshing" during a century. Having done the Delta Century out of Stockton which has maybe 10 ft of climbing, I can vouch for the necessity some gradient changes. You end up using the same muscles and the same gears and just grinding away with no variety or relief. If you think you have crotch problems now, try 100 flat miles. Ask yellow and BikerZ what it is like to sit just 40-some miles with no hills. 2,000 sounds like a great first time century.

BikerChick - you're giving Jobob and Veronica stiff competition for the best photojournalism award. Nice!

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Originally Posted by Trekhawk

I was really interested in the Death Valley century ride but it is full already (bummer).

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We love Death Valley.
http://www.tandemhearts.com/death-va...ist-pallet.jpg

But the century is not so much fun. We've done it twice. I was looking for our write up on the second one, but it doesn't seem to be on our website. But there is a thread about our experience here on TE. Death Valley

V.

The Lighthouse Century is actually in Central California - quite a ways up from San Diego. Starting point is San Luis Obispo. You travel up north past Santa Maria, Cambria and just South of Big Sur. Very scenic ride. There are actually two centuries offered - a flat, coastline century and the "hilly" century. The Hilly goes inland just before Cambria towards Paso Robles.

The Flat isn't all that easy. For the last 10 miles before the turn around, there is usually a ferocious headwind. I mean tough going. But then the turn around you sail. I remember one year being pushed up this one hill at 32 miles per hour. I have trouble doing that speed on the flats!

The Lighthouse is one of two Centuries sponsered by SLOBC - San Luis Obispo Bike Club (see slobc.org). Both rides - this and the Creston Wildflower fill up quickly. The Wildflower usually sells out the same morning registration is open. Lighthouse not much longer than that. Both rides worth putting on the calendar (the Wildflower is in April).

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

Check out Jo's adventures at Bike Around the Buttes. Also, consider the Mildflower (Flatflower?) by Chico Velo, same day as their Wildflower Century.

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SadieKate - I have thought about the buttes ride as next to Tahoe its probably the closest to us here but I was a bit worried about the time limit.
I think they start packing up at about 3.30 and Im pretty slow. I know by then I will be a bit quicker but it still makes me a bit nervous.

Veronica - Thanks for the info about the Death Valley ride it makes me feel better about missing out. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bikerchick68

trekhawk... in February there is the Tour de Palm Springs... another GREAT beginner ride! The first 50 miles has some rollers and the last 50 is flat... table top, pancake, like a board flat!!! Also well run, and well marked. TdePS was my first century this Feb and it was a perfect starter ride!
.

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bikerchick68 - thanks for this info. I have not been to Palm Springs so this could be a good way to get in a century and sight see as well. :)

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Originally Posted by Trekhawk

bikerchick68 - thanks for this info. I have not been to Palm Springs so this could be a good way to get in a century and sight see as well. :)

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i hope you mean sight seeing AFTER the ride and not during! although this is a nice riding century... you don't see the best of palm springs, indio and palm desert on the ride! :D

p.s. TdePS was my first century too! i just finished my 10th century of the year last weekend!

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Originally Posted by Rakekay

Was that a typo or you actually consider 2000 feet of climbing to be flat??? You clearly have a different definition of "beginner" than I do. ;-)

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lol! i'm with bc that 2000 is flat! most of the centuries i've been to have 5000 or more climbing it seems! california is not as flat as people think!

gorgeous pics, bc! i managed to take a few at GT lite but haven't downloaded them yet.... but i already know they aren't nearly as gorgous as yours! (i actually took a couple of the ocean while riding! :rolleyes: )

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Originally Posted by caligurl

i hope you mean sight seeing AFTER the ride and not during! although this is a nice riding century... you don't see the best of palm springs, indio and palm desert on the ride! :D
p.s. TdePS was my first century too! i just finished my 10th century of the year last weekend!

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caligurl - lol I imagine I will be too tired to take in any awesome scenery anyway. So if I do plan to ride this one I will make sure we have time after to take in the sights.

Thanks Trekhawk
:)

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Originally Posted by Trekhawk

Veronica - Thanks for the info about the Death Valley ride it makes me feel better about missing out. :)

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They also do a Spring Century that runs through the northern half of the park. We haven't done that one, but have driven the roads. The pavement is much better there. We've thought about doing that one on our own as there are stores at Stovepipe Wells and Scotty's Castle.


V.

PS The Lighthouse Century does sound nice.

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Originally Posted by Trekhawk

SadieKate - I have thought about the buttes ride as next to Tahoe its probably the closest to us here but I was a bit worried about the time limit.

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But you can do a test ride in February. The Rice Valley Tandem Rally has lots of single riders and takes day-of registration. There is a 40 mile and a 65 mile loop that is much the same as the Bike Around the Buttes. Perfect schedule to test your fitness and ability make the cut offs for a century later in the spring. We rode in 2004 and saw an entire field of Sandhill cranes having a dance party. Pretty spectacular.

http://www.chicovelo.org/ricevalley.html

SadieKate - thanks I will check it out.

Forgot to add that the Chico Velo does scrumptious food. They have a caterer they use. Yummmmm!

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Originally Posted by Trekhawk

SadieKate - I have thought about the buttes ride as next to Tahoe its probably the closest to us here but I was a bit worried about the time limit.
I think they start packing up at about 3.30 and Im pretty slow. I know by then I will be a bit quicker but it still makes me a bit nervous.

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The Buttes has a time limit? That's news to me ! I really don't remember a time limit - and I don't think it ended at 3:30, I must have staggered in well after that :p

Maybe you're confusing it with some other ride? It's a really good first century, it has about oh, 50 feet of climbing :D ... except it does have some fuuuun headwinds for the last 20 miles or so, just when you need them the most :rolleyes:

SK, thanks for posting the link to that thread, I forgot how hilarous it was - "the look", snot rocket do's & don'ts ... ah, memories.

- Jo.

BC, forgot to ask, how did your Bro do?

Did he get his Triple Crown*?

* Granted, it's not a She-Ra Princess of Power Tiara, but one must make do sometimes.

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Originally Posted by jobob

The Buttes has a time limit? That's news to me ! I really don't remember a time limit - and I don't think it ended at 3:30, I must have staggered in well after that :p
Maybe you're confusing it with some other ride? It's a really good first century, it has about oh, 50 feet of climbing :D ... except it does have some fuuuun headwinds for the last 20 miles or so, just when you need them the most :rolleyes:

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jobob - not confused its definitely there on the website. It states that the ride starts at between 7.00 and 7.55 and the course closes between 3.30 and 4.30pm. Im sure by the time this ride comes around again I could finish in time but I would prefer to not have to worry too much about a time limit.

rakekay... LOL... yeah, that was NOT a typo... 2000ft of climbing is really not that much spread over 100 miles. Trust me... and the 2000 ft on this one is spread out... so NO big climbs at all...

veronica... that pic of death valley is outstanding!!! I'd frame that baby and have it hanging somewhere in my house!

trekhawk- cali is right about the scenery along the PS route... not thrilling, but there are enough people that do the ride that if you're even vaguely social you'll have lots of people to ride and chat with... and as to being slow... if you start at 7am and ride only 10 miles per hour you'll STILL be in before dinner stops being served! You don't have to be fast to ride a century... trust me! :D You'll be fine as long as you keep riding... if you do PS let me know... I will be there with another first time century rider (possibly 3) in February as well!!! If you go we'll swap cell numbers and meet up... :)

jobob- yep, my brother is a CA Triple Crown winner!!! He finished the Tour of Two Forests in just under 15 hours ride time... 197 miles with 13000+ ft climbing. He had FIVE flats and almost had to be sagged in as he was outta tubes, outta patches, outta CO2 and his pump broke. He pulled off and a SAG passed with another rider being sagged in... that man offered my bro the tube outta his seatbag since he was DNF'ing and my bro was on his way. Left at 6:15AM and rode in at 11PM. Spent more time than he wanted fixing flats but completed it and is thrilled! :D

FYI- Cali and I are both being pressured by the guys to ride doubles now... Cali might but me? HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAA! Yeah, I don't think so. :p

i'll second the... you can do a century even if you are slow! i'm am NOT a fast rider! and i've done 10 centuries this year so far! i pace myself (or, if you believe bc's brother... i sandbag! lol! :p :rolleyes: )

double century.... ya.... probably not! lol! but we'll let richard think i'm going to... then he'll stop harping! i do leave the option open though.... but it was bad enough doing the double metric on my own last sunday.... add 75 more miles to that? hmmmmmmm not right now! i need either a new seat (for some reason mine that had been wonderful for a year... had been bothering me at and since cool breeze??????) or new tights (different chamois)... i'm wearing shorts and leg warmers saturday and see of that makes a difference... i hate leg warmers for longer rides cuz they fall down and i have to keep pulling them up and tucking them under my shorts! oh... and if i were faster it would help to not be on the bike so many hours! lol! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

cali- I have a pair of unpadded tights that I can wear OVER my shorts... I hate the leg warmers too... but the tights protect my legs, and if I get hot I can stop and pull them off... since they're not padded they fold up just as small as leg warmers anyway... I just stuff 'em in my back pocket and keep moving... might be another option for you...

i have a pair of non-padded tights.. but they are actually kind of slippery.... (which suprises me cuz they are PI's) i'm not all that crazy about them... usually just ride with them around here when it's colder and i want two layers on my butt! :D

i have a pair of REALLY warm perfomance tights.. but the chamois isn't century stuff! lol! (although i believe they call it their century!)

i may look into getting a better/different pair of non padded tights????

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Originally Posted by bikerchick68

trekhawk- cali is right about the scenery along the PS route... not thrilling, but there are enough people that do the ride that if you're even vaguely social you'll have lots of people to ride and chat with... and as to being slow... if you start at 7am and ride only 10 miles per hour you'll STILL be in before dinner stops being served! You don't have to be fast to ride a century... trust me! :D You'll be fine as long as you keep riding... if you do PS let me know... I will be there with another first time century rider (possibly 3) in February as well!!! If you go we'll swap cell numbers and meet up... :)

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bikerchick68 - thanks for support. I will check out my husbands work trip time table and let you know. He is away at the moment but I will check it out when he gets back in a few weeks. I like the thought of there being plenty of riders. Years ago I did marathons and sometimes the only thing that got me thru was chatting to another runner along the way. It does take your mind off the pain and the time and miles seem to pass a little quicker. :)