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ok.... i started a cool breeze thread so those going can talk about it (seems we have conversation going on in various different threads about it right now!)
i know a lot of us seem to be going... and some are doing the metric... some the century... some the double metric... but one thing seems that ALL of us LOVE the jersey (and socks!)
info
http://www.cibike.org/2006-poster-legal-COLOR.gif
Ok Ok Ok just because of the jersey, I signed up. It's not like I regret signing up cause this is my favorite ride its just 1) I had planned to just recovery this year and do no organized rides and 2) I need another jersey like I need to have surgery again - no way!
Well it looks like I need to step up my training. I know I can do the metric no problem but would like to do the Century. We will see.
Another option and alot of friends do it this way is to do the "back half" metric. Park at Bates Road and do the Century route around and back to Bates. Get to see the beautiful Century route but lose the 40 miles of flat riding. This route is all hills!!!!:eek:
Cali,
You are too cute! I'm definately in and I am DEFINATELY doing the 100! So, if I start an hour before you, maybe we'll finish at the same time! :p
I sure wish you guys could drive up the night before so we could have a before ride dinner! ... hey, maybe we could have a dennys breakfast!!!
I still haven't gone online and bought the jersey yet.... gotta do that NOW!!!
I can't wait for this ride, its gonna be so purdy!
Tracy
I'm in too. I'm planning to drive up the morning of...unless of course, Tracy has room for me in her hotel ;) I can't wait!!! Oh...and I'm planning to ride the century and I'd like to start as early as possible so I have enough time to finish!
Okay I was starting to get worried with Pam's comments on climbing HOWEVER, I did the 68 mile route of Cruisin' the Conejo and that had 3000 feet of climbing (Cali, please correct me if I am wrong 100mile = 6,000+ climbing, 62 miler = 4500 of climbing and the 68 had 3000 feet... is that right? They took it off the website so I can't check it???)
Anyway, if I can do 3000 in 68 then 3500 over 100 isn't much different... right :confused: ??? Someone please pipe up and sooth my nerves! :eek:
But, I did just buy my jersey and socks! :p hee hee hee, they are SO cool!
Trac'
sounds right to me! and an additional 500 feet over an additional 32 miles should be a little "easier" i would think! but then... that's all relative to the steepness of the climbs! i think you will do fine on cool breeze! when bc68 signs on... she can give you some input for the century route... since she did that one.... i know a LOT of the two routes overlapped (actually i guess a lot of all four overlapped in some ways)... but i don't know which parts (with the exeption of knowing about the GAWDAWFUL HILL! and ya... i'm still griping about it almost a year later... and once i have to climb it again... i'll gripe about it for another year!)Quote:
Originally Posted by tprevost
Here's the thing about climbing - take two rides with the same mileage - say 100 miles and same elevation gain say 3000'. Are the rides the exact same? Well no. One ride can be tougher than the other. The Conejo ride also has alot of climbing and is on par with the Cool Breeze but most of the Cool Breeze's elevation is gained in the middle 60 miles. The front and back 20 is flat, flat, flat. There are a couple of tough hills- the one through Summerland comes to mind, but you and Brandy are stronger climbers than I I can do the climbs just slow. I'm much faster through the flats and descents. So basically you guys will beat me up hill but I'll catch you on the down.
brought this over from the other thread!Quote:
"It's okay Pam...you can just say my name! My name is Brandy and I am afraid of descending. I'm part of the white knuckle club "
My husband just came in the room to ask what on earth I was laughing at! That is SO funny!!!! Brandy, by then, you will be much more comfortable AND, you can always walk down the hills as well. I'm part of the white knuckle club too but mine aren't quite as white as Brandy's! As long as there's nothing like Potero, I'll be fine... slow, but fine
Pam, I would love it if you and Brandy and I could ride together but if so, I'd want to start the second they let us! Did you talk Wayne into coming too??? For some reason I find his presence comforting!
This will be a great ride, Pam, I am really glad you broke down and decided to do this ride!
for starting.... there is no mass start... you register and can go as soon as you are ready! they give you your jersey at registration... so you'll need to go back to your car to put it away! they had a gizzilion porta porties by the parking lot (with hand washing stations!)
the meal at the end was good too! catered!
Originally Posted by bcipam
Cali:
I agree not really any scary hills at least for me. But some of the TE gals are new riders and there are hills (like through Summerland) which are steep and winding and of course, there is the descent off the back side of the Century. A hell of a fun ride down but can be intimidating for a newbie. For me the only reason to climb is to take the downhills!!!
Cali - how long will it take you to do the double metric? Last time I did the Century it took me (including stops and lunch) 8 hours. I'm fast on the flats but very slow on all those hills.
http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/147.gif ok.... naughty me..... i forgot... i thought you were referring to tracy... and potrero being a scary descent! (and i'm the one over at bikejournal "yelling" at the guys not to scare of the newbie that's asking questions! and here i'm doing at the forum i'm telling her to come to! BAD, cali!!!!!!!!!!)
ok... don't laugh at me... i've NEVER claimed i have SPEED! and always admit that i'm a slow rider!!!!!!!!!!!!! it took me 9:23 ride time! (i post ride time in my bikejournal... so don't know stop time.. i do try to keep stops brief though! cuz i know i'm slow on the road!)
128 miles.... 4863 calories and 7230 feet of elevation gain according to my polar! oh... foggy and misty in the morning... cool... then sunny and nice... with a ride average of 73 degrees... low 57.... high 88.... average speed was 13.7.... i WISH i had hit a lap on that hill so i had known how steep it was! the closest hills i've done since that one (in steepness) was at the redlands savage hill climb.... not sure which ones were worse... cuz the cool breeze one was at 100ish mile mark.. and the redlands ones had 7 steep climbs encompassed in a metric (or just shy of a metric) (and AGAIN... anyone not doing the metric will NOT have to climb that hill... ALL other rides go a different route! so don't be scared off!)
now that i think back.... i do remember one section they had marked with temporary signs about SLOW... cuz it was steep! but not sure which routes would have that descent! (it was after the steep climb for me... but may have met back up with the century route by then!)
nope, not me... I'll be riding right along with you Pam! Brandy will be up at the top pickin' her nose, waiting for us! Then, you'll be down at the bottom waiting! :p I'll hold the spot in the middle... I've definately got some hill work to do, that is for SURE!
Although, I do like that the hills are in the middle of the ride, late enough to get warmed and get into a rhythm up but early enough not to be exhausted. Now I just need to be able to do 100 miles :rolleyes: ...ahem!
Trac'
you'll do fine, tracy! and so will brandy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! everyone will do GREAT! why? cuz i said so! lol!
does anyone happen to have a route slip from Cool Breeze? Maybe it would be wise to preview some of these hills!
Trac'
Thanks Cali! I'll take all the encouragement I can get!
:D
T~
well.... i always INTEND to keep my route slips.... always INTENDED to make a file for them..... but alas.. the only ones i know where i could my hands on right now are BA and heartbreak (only cuz the heartbreak one is in the garage and i see it every time i get ready for a ride! and the BA one is in a pile of bills i have to file! :rolleyes: )Quote:
Originally Posted by tprevost
So Pam, when are you going to start our hill training? I get back from camping on the 18th, if I recall correctly. After that...I'm yours! I drove Newport Coast Drive today and I want to try it as soon as I get back. Was Ridge Park the other hill that you were talking about?
I just e-mailed the powers that be at Cool Breeze to get info in specific roads; I'm thinking I may try to drive 101 one direction and preview the hills so I know exactly what the deal is!
T~
HEY! make sure you all add cool breeze to your rides list at bikejournal!!!!!!!!!
OH! just looked! and i see that brandy and tracy already have! YAY!
Hey girls, I'd sure like to do the Cool Breeze too, but I would probably be limited to the metric. What's that route like for hills (I thought I saw a post on that but I can't find it now).
Nina
It has long been my belief "ignorance is bliss..." Just better to hit the hills head on and not know about them. Just trust me - do hills during your training.Quote:
Originally Posted by tprevost
Last year they changed the route alot due to construction so who knows what the route will be like this year. Just plan on riding, enjoying the scenary, sag stops, lunch and dinner and oh yeah, our company.
I figure a first time Century for you guys - will take 8 maybe 9 hours. So if we leave by 7:30 - 8 and we don't dalley at the sag stops (my philsophy - "get in get out") you should be done in time for dinner by 4:30 - 5. If worse comes to worse and Wayne is with us, we can send him ahead to get the truck and come pick us up. I don't call him "Lassie" for nothing!
PS:
Tracey and Nina: The hills are all mostly inland off of 101. We start climbing inland from Bates Road and go through alot of orchards and stuff before coming into Santa Barbara. Once in SB we go inland again and start climbing, alot. You climb into the hills just before Goleta. It's beautiful up there!!! Yu basically go through a forest area. Then there is a long downhill into Santa Barbara where you have to ride along the beach area (yes, Caligurl, I hated this part the most) and then you go back inland (and yes climb again) for awhile before coming back out to the Beach and flats again.
Just train for hills and distance and the rest will come easy. Try and find a nice long hill in your area and do some repeats (ie climb it a few times). You need to practice the downs as much as the ups. You should be comfortable doing 65 - 70 miles before you are ready for the Century.
I have a nice hilly route out here that I train on. You are welcome to come out and ride it with me.
Newport Coast is one hill worth trying. The other is Ridgeline in Turtle Rock. My hill route involves Lemon Heights, Skyline Drive, Cannon, Santiago Canyon, Amapola, Jamboree or Skyline to Newport Beach to Santiago to Jamboree. Not long rides (about 30 miles) just hilly. Just let me know when you have some time. But you have to promise to wait for me. I am way slower on the hills!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandy
Last post for me...Quote:
Originally Posted by caligurl
OK I never keep route slips either - and personally I seldom if ever follow a route slip. Most of the event rides, this one included, are very well marked so I just follow the street markings. The route slip is kept, usually in my back pocket, just in case I get lost.
Would you mind posting one of your hilly route slips? I'd like to have it in case I can sneak a ride before/after we get together.Quote:
Originally Posted by bcipam
i have to agree with pam as far as "ignorance is bliss".... i remember when i was a newbie rider (not that long ago.... almost two year then end of this month i got my dolce!) anyways.... if you are familiar with/or have heard of oak glen.... hubby wanted to take me to climb that.... i had just been riding for 5 weeks.... we got there and i had told him to drive me up the hill first... so i could preview it.... well... when we got there.. he said he didn't think that was such a good idea... cuz he didn't think i'd want to climb it after seeing it in the car (and hills DO look different in the car than they do on a bike!) after doing the ride... i told him he was right... i would have gotten it into my head that i couldn't do it..... had i previewed it!!
cool breeze is a VERY popular FIRST CENTURY ride! they ring a cowbell and last year you even got a separate "my first century was a breeze" patch! so i don't think ANY of you have to worry about it!
take your time... PACE yourself! don't try to keep up with faster riders... ride YOUR ride!
ride (or train... i don't train... i ride! lol! hubby "yells" at me all the time cuz i "ride" i don't "train"!) ride up hills! ride for longer distances if you can... but MOST importantly.. RIDE! then come august... you'll ALL do just FINE on this ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh... as for route slips... i do follow them... even if the road is marked! (and yes... cool breeze is one that is! however NONE of the KOM ones were! they feel more people get lost trying to follow arrows than following a route slip! i keep mine clipped on my little cue clip on my stem... plus... my interim goals are the rest stops! i try not to think of the 100... or 128 miles... i think XX miles til the next rest stop! but i know everyone is different.. .and everyone has different motivators! i like to know when my next JUNK FOOD stop is!
tracy... don't be surprised if they won't send you a route slip ahead of time... MOST rides won't unless they are already published (i.e. alpine)!
yes... there were changes last year... one point near the end... ended up being marked differently than the route slip even because of construction (the route into the popsicle stop!!)
anyways... all that is to tell you all.. DO NOT BE NERVOUS OF THE CLIMBS! (there was even a one legged rider doing cool breeze last year! YES... ONE LEG!) and lots of the team in training or whateve they are called!
again... a POPULAR first century ride!
ok... i'm done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(does everyone feel better now?)
CAli...Well I wish I did (feel better).... can I hitch a tow line to your bike?????
Honestly kindof wondered what I am doing. I have all year just rode arond casually and now darn it I actually have to get serious and do some real riding. Next week is messed up as I am travelling for business but after that, no excuse, ride on the weekend and hopefully several nights during the week. Guess I'll have to stop doing some of the longer club rides.
Tracy - I'll and pick up a route slip for you for my hilly ride but basically I just go out and do it. If you go to the BCI website (bikeirvine.org)- check Sunday rides - you will no doubt find lots of hilly rides - BCI likes hilly!
For instance check out June 11 Long or Long Plus. Or July 30. In fact, Santiago Canyon (i.e. The Loop) is a good hill training ride. I suggest you start from the shopping center at Jamboree and Chapman, take the Canyon out (east) and then just turn around once you reach Cook's Corner and come right back to the shopping Center. The actual Loop takes you down to El Toro to Glenn Ranch to Bake to Irvine Blvd, West to Jamboree but Irvine is under heavy construction right now. The ultimate icky hilly ride is on Aug. 20. Live Oak is a ***** to climb (but the downhill to O'Neill Park is an "e" ticket!)
pam..... i'm NOT fast! i keep saying that! i've NEVER said i'm fast! as a matter of fact... i'll go one further! where you say you are slower on hills but faster on flats.. well.. i'm slower on BOTH! (hell... i'm even slow on descents... and not that much from being afraid of them... just cuz i can't get going! i pedal and pedal and i still get passed! ugh!) the majority of people PASS me on rides!! there are a few... VERY few that i pass.... (usually they are older.. but not always... there are oldsters out there that can fly past me!) all you have to do is look at the KOM stats... i'm THREE from the bottom of women! yes... i was third slowest of the women! but i finished! THAT is what was important to me! heck.. i cried when i checked in i was so proud i had finished all three rides! i didn't care what my overall time was! my forte is endurance..... (and stubborness!)
hubby "yells" at me constantly cuz he says if i would "train" i would probably be faster.. but dagnabit...i want to have FUn when i ride! sure.. it would be fun to be faster.. finish faster... but that would mean hurting during all my other rides! *gasp* i do think that those of you that belong to a club may have an advantage too, though... i ride by myself 95% of the time! even on organized rides... i pretty much ride by myself unless i can convince hubby to ride slowly with me! with club members to ride with.. you have the motivation... and friendly competition to keep up.... but i'm getting sidetracked!
now you want a completely opposite take on this ride!? nesdog over at bikeforums called it relatively flat! now THAT i would say is a wrong assessment! i don't consider it a flat century! lol!
i just don't want to scare off anyone.... cuz i truly think it's a doable ride! (and i'll bet some of these other new would probably even beat my time if i were doing the century! but alas.. i'm a glutton for punishment!)
again.. i'm NOT trying to come off as an elitest... but i'm NOT! i ride for fun.... i ride to see what i can do.... but i'm NOT fast about it!
so are we friends again?????? :confused:
I've driven that many times. James used to work for the Orange County Probation Department at one of the juvenile detention camps in Trabuco Canyon. I hate that road in a car...I'd be very nervous to try to go down it!Quote:
Originally Posted by bcipam
Quote:
Originally Posted by caligurl
I saw that! :confused:
Well, I've decided that I'm just going to go for it and not worry! I can't get over to Irvine that often but there are hills everywhere where I am; heck, you can't even get around our lake without going up several pretty good hills! So I'l probably stick around here to train unless I'm riding with someone!
They do post the route on the Cool Breeze website, however, its just not zoomed in enough to be able to see the actual road names so I think they will probably give me the name of the larger hills; it doesn't appear they are one of those rides that don't give the route until that day.
My hilly route over here consists of a 40 mile up and back with a couple 2-3 mile grades of 6% and another couple of 4+ mile grades at probably 3-4%. Its a pretty tough ride for me but is excellent hill/decent training with little traffic and a wide shoulder.... plus it has an am/pm at mile 10/30 and a park at the turnaround for water/bathroom etc. I'm traveling quite a bit over the next two weeks but the minute I get back, I'm going to schedule that ride; maybe the 19th. In the interim, I am scheduling rides as often as possible to get my base mileage up. Right now I can consistantly ride 40-50 comfortably but beyond that is a push... although I wasn't sore or hurting after the 68 miler 5/13.
So, I think the motto will be to prepare as well as we can, be encouraging and just do the best we all can!
So Pam, when I see you on the 10th, can we check calendars to see when I can ride that hilly loop w/you??? Brandy, you in???
Trac'
What's the plan for July 1st? Could we do it then?Quote:
Originally Posted by tprevost
that'd be fine w/me but we may lose others who are not into hills!
T~
Quote:
Originally Posted by tprevost
Good point.
Looks like the earliest that we can roll that day is 6:30 a.m. :cool:
Uh 6:30???? Well I may not be able to start with you guys but hopefully I'll catch you on the flats. Probably the earliest I can start is 7:30, 7 if I really try hard to get out of bed and there is no traffic up to Ventura. But as time draws near we can talk about it.
I realize I may be scaring everyone off with all the hill talk. Brandy I would bet you won't notice the hills so don't fret or worry. If I can recall there are only two fairly significant hills and again for Brandy she will fly right up and hardly notice then (Brandy your issue is going to be downhills so practice those). With my size (yes I admit I'm too "fluffy" and need to lose alot of weight) hills are a struggle although I don't hate them, physics just says I will be slow going up and fast going down.
I do want to keep things in perspective however. As a veteran I consider this ride to have some hills. But the ride also has alot of flats. It's pretty 50/50 hills vs. flats which for most centuries is pretty good. For a newbie, and I think I did way back when, this ride may be hilly and tough in spots. There are 3 maybe 4 long hills (the one into Summerland I recall seems to be the worse) but they are all doable. Just get out there and ride (and I need to take this advice as well) and you'll be fine. All you guys are in great shape. I'm the one that needs to worry!:(
Pam,
What are you talking about???? Worry Schmurry, you are in great shape! You didn't even blink at the 42 miler last week and there's 11 weeks between now and then..... just do what you're doing and add a few hills and you'll be just fine.... (see, now the tables are turned!)
Plus there is something to be said for all that experience ya know.... since it's all mental!!! (ducking) ;)
Tracy
ps. It sounds like you need us to give you a wake up call huh? Or, maybe we need to give you a reminder call the night before to go to sleep!!! :D
OK so let me tell you about today and you'll see why I am already whinny...
I rode over to the BCI Club ride start. I had planned on helping out with the Newbie ride. Well not really that many newbies and lots of other helpers so I got talked into doing the "blue" - long ride. It was 43 miles and flat. No problem like you said, I did 43 last week without a problem and felt good after.
Well here's the problem - a Club Ride is another animal. Since the ride was flat, it started out fast. The slow folks were averaging 18 - 20 mpg. I burnt out in less than 10 miles and had another 33 to go! I finally fell back into a slower group and another woman and I pretty much did the ride together. She was much slower than I but probably a good thing, it kept me from burning out even farther.
We made it to the coffee stop OK but I had a bad "stand in line" experience (remind me to tell you someday about the guy in line with the cell phone.... grrrr I wanted to kill him!). Most everyone left by the time I got and gulped my ice tea. So back to riding with the slow lady. Since we were on our own we modified the route a bit. Parts of this ride was gorgeous (alot of running along the cliffs above Newport Beach) other parts just miserable. We joked about the fact this was the "anti-newbie" ride. Lots of heavy, scary traffic. We finally made it into Back Bay and stayed on the San Diego Creek trail but the woman wanted to show me another trail and I took it but realize, oh wait... I'm riding away from the staging area not towards. "Oh" she said, "Yeah I rode from home and this path takes me close to my house..." Getting hungry, bonking and cranky, I took my leave of her nice little trail and started back in the direction I needed to go. Around 12:45 I finished my ride (but still had another 6 miles home) . Ended up doing just under 62. I finished absolutely wiped out and done. I'm thinking it was the heat more than anything. I just don't like hot weather. I rather have it in the 40's than the 80's.
Anyway- have a way too go to be ready for Cool Breeze but I have time. I just need to get out and ride. And thankfully Cool Breeze is always, well, cool. Temperates usually no higher than 70.
Right now I'm trying to get all my housework done cause once I sit down... I ain't getting up!!!! Wayne is suppose to call me about doing a MTB ride rtonight and as much as I enjoy his company and like to ride with him, I will have to beg off. My legs are finite for the night!
BTW tomorrow I'm kayaking int he morning and then leading a cub scout troup on a hike int he afternoon. Doesn't that sound like fun????
bcipam... weird how going out hard has such an impact huh? And NOTHING worse than bonking... or even getting near it. :(
OK... as to Cool Breeze... here's my take on it. This was my 4th century ever last year. Yes, there is climbing. BUT, the climbing is do-able. The key is to pace yourself, NOT going out hard with the pack or trying to keep up with someone stronger (which as mentioned CAN burn you out... you definitely should ride with stronger people to get stronger but NOT on your first century ride!). Some of the climbs are steep. From what I recall the climb up San Marcos Pass I think it was called was the toughest section. That being said, I rode it with a double. If you have a triple and just spin your way up it slowly you'll be fine. I DO recall last year a whole group of women who were walking their bikes. They were complaining that they were told this was a relatively flat ride. Remember that climbing is all about what you're used to. If you climb regularly this is gonna be a breeze (yeah, pun intended) if you ride ONLY pancake flat stuff, it'll be a challenge. So yes, you should be doing some climbing. Hill repeats are great for building strength... But, if you climb and are able to ride at least 50-60 miles, I would say this is completely do-able. It IS mental. If you believe you can do it you will. Will you be tired when it's over? Yep. Will you be equally elated? Yep. Will you celebrate with a glass of wine, beer or mixed beverage of your choice? If not, pass me yours!:D
Okay, here's my training ride for Cool Breeze....
This is the main hill... note that it keeps going up past the bridge at the very tip top...
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...t/3f878020.jpg
here's another shot from the bottom - the road I ride on is the one that follows the freeway on the right side
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...t/e12846bf.jpg
and here's the back side coming home... the overpass you see is near the top of the 'return hill'
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...June3rd004.jpg
There are 40 miles of this stuff but this is the most difficult hill... anyone want to join me, I'm going to ride it on the 19th unless its still very very hot out!
Tracy
Hi Tracy, That's a pretty neat hill. Maybe even I could do it!!
Pam, at least you went riding today! I didn't even ride. I spent my day getting my computer up and running at home - had to go out to Staples to get "stuff", etc. That's the reason I can access the TE site today. Normally, I have problems getting on line on the weekends.
Pam, any ride, compared to last Monday, just doesn't "stack up". We had a great ride, great company, AND a great leader!! The heat is the great equilizer too. I am going to try and get some hill training in because I would really like to do the Cool Breeze. I do feel guilty that I didn't ride today though.
Have a good weekend,
Nina
Nina,
Of COURSE you could do that hill! Its a long slow one 2-3 miles at about 6% but it has a great shoulder and plenty of places to stop.
Pam, on my ride today I went a little bit faster than my normal pace (and I was still slowing bc68 etal down!) and I could tell that I wouldn't have been able to keep it up for 40 miles even though I can normally comfortably do 40+... so we ended up doing 26 and it was a great ride! I wanted to push a little so I could improve; I probably should've pushed more but it was starting to get pretty warm so I figured I'd err on the side of caution! So, if I were you on your ride today, I'd be whining too! Just think how comfortably you could've done that 60+ ride at your own pace! You're selling yourself short woman! ;)
Hills are my friends, hills are my friends, hills are my friends.... my new mantra :rolleyes:
Have a great evening everyone!
Tracy