Three Harbors Ride?

[tprevost]

Has anyone done this ride? I'm going to try to do my first full 100 on the 22nd at the Windmill Century (since I won't make LRRH ) but want to use the metric on this one as a training ride.... any input on difficulty. It says the century is difficult and the metric is moderate-difficult but they don't show a route...

Any info would be appreciated!

Tracy

ps. okay, it does give a brief description of route but I'm not seein' where the difficult (seems mostly coastal) part comes in so I'm guessing I am missing something!

[caligurl]

i'm doing it.. but it's almost my first time... so i have nothing to offer as far as the course!!!!!!!!!!

i know for the mardi gras ride.. they emailed a few days ahead of time asking which food we want.. and this ride says we get to help pick food again!

we're already registered for this cuz we ended up with a raincheck (a real yes it was raining and COLD) for mardi gras....

i'm looking forward to it since the rides have thinned out by that time!

[tprevost]

almost your first time???? is that like being sorta pregnant? You are too cute! I think I may do this one as a day trip, it sure seems like it might be a nice ride! I guess it'll depend on how long its going to take me to get up there! I hadn't even thought about the rides thinning out by that time; is it just kinda like a new year's resolution thing... start out doing lots then stop doing so many after spring?

I have used up my july favors w/dh though because I like to drive up the night before and that means he's on his own w/the kids and if its a sunday, he misses his golf game too tragedy that it is!!!

Oh well, I'm sure I can figure some way to get this ride in

I'm going to go hunt down some more rides!!!

Trac'

[caligurl]

lol... typo! (i make a lot of those!) should be ALSO my first time! tee hee!

[redhot3368]

Tracy!
I am doing the metric on this one too....!
We can do it together, another friend of mine is also doing the metric.

Hopefully I will be able to make the TE SO cal ride on July 1st to meet you!!

Thanks
Karen

redhot3368@yahoo.com

[tprevost]

Okay, Now I'm switching! I decided not to do the Windmill ride and do the 3 harbors metric instead... lots less driving and I don't have to be gone the night before... that helps keep hubby happy!

So I will be there for the metric! YEAHHHHH!!!!

Trac'

[caligurl]

tracy....

i think you're ready for a full century!!!!!!!!!

[tprevost]

Hey Caligurl!

I could probably do it but I don't know if I'd be too tired to drive home too! So I think CB will end up being my first century... especially since I'm staying the night before and won't have to get up at 3 to get there!

Trac'

[caligurl]

hmmmmm ya... i ALWAYS fall asleep on the way home! poor hubby gets stuck driving (however i have taken to driving part way at the beginning of the ride... before it gets dark!) but ya... i see your point!

[redhot3368]

Hi all!!!
The three harbors is coming up right around the corner!!!
Tracy, Caligurl, are you guys still planning on doing it??
Anyone else?

Let's plan on meeting at the registration booth before the start!
Should we meet as soon as registration opens? I think 7 am?

Let me know!
Thanks
Karen

[tprevost]

Hey Karen,

I'm still planning on doing the metric; probably pretty slowly so I plan to start as early as I can!

I was planning on driving up the same day but there's still a possibility that I may go the night before.

7am at registration is great w/me! We'll fine tune it as it gets a tad closer! I'm looking forward to meeting you

Trac'

[tprevost]

Hey Ladies,

I just got here and it is absolutely beautiful over here! Although, I am freezing (it's probably 70) but breezy.

I got turned around finding the start so I'll just tell ya how I got here...

took the Victoria exit off of 101N and turned Left (west). Turn right just over the bridge/overpass (okay, I'm really helpful, I can't remember the name ) anyway, you'll go a ways on that street and you'll then come to Harbor, go across harbor and it turns into spinnaker. You'll follow spinnaker around to the other side of the harbor and as you are passing the ventura harbor shops you'll see a gazebo on the right with a yellow banner... I'm guessing they will have more banners etc. tomorrow though.

Well, I'm gonna go check out my hotel room! See you tomorrow Cali and 3368!!!

Trac'

[Brandy]

I'm impatiently waiting for a ride report ladies!

[tprevost]

I'll post more pictures tomorrow but basically it was a perfect day for riding. I met Redhot3368 at the registration line in the morning; she drove with her DH who rode the 100 miler (very quickly, I might add!).

Karen and Tony

Also, her friend Kim came too... these two ladies are SO pretty and really cool to ride with!!! We saw Caligurl at the start and along the road, then at the first rest stop.... then she off and left us in the dust! I had to leave before Cali returned so she's gonna have to give ya all the details of the 100 miler.

Anyway, as usual, I was plugging along trying to keep up with Redhot and Kim when I tried to get them to go ahead since I knew I'd never make it at that pace! They slowed down to where I could keep up and we proceeded to make our way through Ventura.
Karen (Redhot3368) and Kim at rest stop #1

En route to our first rest stop, we met another woman (Kay) who was riding alone and we invited her to ride w/us... of course she also was faster than me (but only on the flats). Once past the first rest stop, we started towards Ojai on the bikepath.

It was a really nice path and a lot of it was shaded and very scenic. The 2nd rest stop (also the lunch stop 20+miles later) was at a really pretty park in the oak trees... the food wasn't that great but it was a nice place to stop and regroup. Once we left that rest stop there was an uphill grade up into Ojai... that's when I found out that I was actually faster than someone up hills (Kay was slower than me I know, what a meanie... but I am always last, so it was nice not to be the very last one for one ride!)... it was actually a pretty gentle grade and still lots of shade and really pretty. Once we got to Ojai, we actually went down on the "other" side of the triangle (casitas pass side).

Lake Casitas

We turned again just east of Lake Casitas so we didn't actually go over the pass and there were a few rollers until we got past the lake... but once we got past the lake, there were a few really nice downhills (unfortunately there were also some headwinds) and a nice gentle ride back to the lunch stop.

We hung out at the rest stop for a little while and then finally got going for the final 15+/- miles back to the Harbor. It was slightly downhill but the headwinds pretty much negated the benefit so we plugged along at what was a decent clip for me until we got into Ventura where a hill slowed Kay down to where I had to stop and wait for her.... Redhot and Kim went on ahead and Kay and I finished shortly thereafter. It was about 55 miles and the weather was perfect. It was warm enough not to wear any jackets or anything when we started and it didn't get too hot mid-day either... and the sky was perfectly clear.

Me (could my face be any more red?) Redhot and Kim after the ride

There ya go... sorry, I'm not a writer... but I did have a great time today! Thank you Redhot (tell Kim, thank you again too please) and Caligurl for making it a great day!!!

Trac'

[Brandy]

Great pics! It sounds like it was a neat ride, I wish that I could have been there with you.

Is Redhot going to ride the century at Cool Breeze?