Anyone done Cool Breeze century before ... Anyone doing it this year? :D

[Jiffer]

Hey guys. My friend and I are embarking upon our first century on our singles, having both done one on a tandem with our husbands. We're doing Cool Breeze in Ventura. Totally not looking forward to 4,000 feet of climbing , but we're trying to psyche ourselves up for it! (And training for it.)

I've heard a little about the ride from my husband who has done it, as well as the friend I'm doing it with, who did the 60 mile version two years ago. I hear there's beautiful scenery, which is a must for me. If I'm going to put myself through that much potential pain and agony, I must have beautiful scenery to distract me.

I am really trying to train right so that I'm NOT in pain and agony, however. I felt good at the end of the Amtrak century I did on the tandem last year and at the end of the half century I did on my single last year. However, the 65 miles I did in Palm Springs in February were grueling and I don't want to ever go through that again if I can help it. I know I didn't train nearly enough for that. Just a few weeks after a long break from cycling. I was going to do 50 and dh convinced me to do 65. Big mistake!

Anyways, I love to hear from others who have been there and/or who will be there this year.

[Ninabike]

Hi Jiffer,

I've done the Palm Springs 65 and the 55 a few times, and the metric century at Cool Breeze. I can't comment on the Cool Breeze century, but I do know there is more climbing than the metric. The two rides are quite different in several respects. There are a lot more people in the Palm Springs ride, and the SAG stops aren't quite as nice as in the Cool Breeze. Cool Breeze is known for it's fantastic support and SAG stops. You do have to ride along Hwy 101 for a while with cars and trucks going by, but if you stick with other riders it is pretty safe. The downside of the Palm Springs ride is that on the return leg, you are "in town" and have to stop at all the traffic signals. I can't ride the Cool Breeze this year as I am nursing a wrist problem (getting cortizone injections and trying to avoid surgery). I'm sure others on this board can help you out more re: the Cool Breeze century. Good luck!!

[Sing&Ride]

Hi Jiffer,

I'm new here, but had to register to respond to your post - in part because I did Cool Breeze as my first century two years ago, but also because my childhood nickname was "Jiffer" and you're the only other Jiffer I've ever run across!

Anyway, Cool Breeze is the perfect first century in SoCal (in my humble opinion!). The first 15-18 miles are completely flat on the PCH, so you can warm up a little. Rest stop. Then there are about 15 miles of alternating flat and medium-ish hills. There's one tough climb at about mile 23, but it's only about 1/2 mile long, so it's completely doable. There's another rest stop, then you reach the hardest section - from about mile 32-36. It's essentially non-stop climbing for those 4 miles, just some areas are really steep and others not as steep. But here's the thing to keep in mind to get through it: after that, there's nothing really hard left in the whole ride!!! (This is not one of those routes that throws a killer hill at you at mile 90 when you're half-dead.) It's downhill or flat until lunch (at about mile 55), then it's 25 miles with some hills, but nothing too steep or long, or anywhere near as hard as what you've already done. Then the last 15-20 miles are the exact same completely flat miles that you started with along the PCH - and there's a tailwind! So really, if you get through the 4 miles of climbing at mile 32, you'll breeze (ahem!) through the rest, no problem! Now, granted, I had trained up my endurance pretty well, but I was also carrying a LOT of extra weight, so believe me, if I could do those climbs, so can you!

I had to skip it last summer because life was just crazy, but I'm riding it again this year, if that tells you anything ...

And the scenery IS beautiful!

Hope this helps ...

Jennifer (aka Jiffer)

[Fujichants]

I am doing the metric century! I'm really looking forward to it.

[Sevan]

I'm doing the cool breeze century this saturday! It's my first century and im kinda nervous..the longest ride ive done is a 68miler in May, but I have done many rides with LOTS of climbing since then. Im just scared for my tush to be honest...I hope it will be OK! Good luck! I'll be the slow poke in the black cat jersey on a black and white specialized!

[Sing&Ride]

Hi Sevan - don't worry, you're going to do great! As I described in my earlier post, the hardest parts of this ride are over by mile 36, so from what you said, I think you can do this century, no problem! Plus remember, the last 25 miles are flat, with a tailwind, and popsicle-fueled (have you heard about the popsicles at the last rest stop?!?! Yum! ).

As for your poor tushy ... to totally offer some un-asked-for advice ... for me, I've learned the trick is to take some ibuprofin BEFORE it starts to be a problem, so I'm not stuck riding along in pain, waiting for the meds to kick in. I take a preventive 3 at the start of the ride and then another 3 at the lunch break (of course, don't try this unless you already know that your body and tummy don't have issues with ibuprofin!).

I'm a slow poke too (not a super-slow poke, but compared to all those skinny hammerheads, yeah, slow ...). I haven't decided what jersey to wear, but I'll be the not-exactly-skinny gal riding a bare-Ti Litespeed ...

Have a great ride!

Jennifer

[metaphor]

I'll be riding the Cool Breeze for the 4th year in a row. Everyone else is right the climbing is pretty much all in one big lump and just after the second rest stop. I'm a climbing weenie and manage to shove my butt up the hills every year so you'll do fine!

The scenery once you crest the hills is very beautiful and the fog has been burning off here around 10:00am this week so hopefully you'll be able to see out to the islands on Saturday.