Seagull Century

[madscot13]

Perhaps I will finally put the fenders on my bike? I thought I was going to strip my frame barebones for the century. haha I will be wet though anyways?

[ny biker]

From what I've heard, the weather for the Sea Gull is usually great, it just was not great the two times I rode it. But I'm not planning to ride it again, so it will probably be a beautiful weekend.

For me it works better to do the Cannonball Century that is sponsored by the Fredericksburg cycling club the weekend before the Sea Gull. It's closer to home and doesn't require a hotel stay. It's not as big a ride as the Sea Gull but it's still fun.

[juliemcd]

Hmmm...the Fredricksburg century would like be closer for me also. Maybe I'll check that out.
I did the Seagull years ago, 2001 or 2002 and got caught in a lightning storm...I didn't realize the weather was typically a factor.

[ny biker]

I think there's actually a fair number of people who ride the Cannonball as a warm-up to the Sea Gull.

Here's their website:

http://bikefred.com/CBC/cbc.html

The first time I did the Sea Gull the rain wasn't too bad because it was just rain. If you've got a good waterproof jacket, you'll be okay in those conditions. It was the nor'easter in 2006 that sucked - the combination of heavy rain and high winds were just no fun.

[7rider]

I did that '06 in the Nor'easter. I suppose it was only marginally worse than the '05 ride in the dying gasps of Tropical Storm Tammy (7" of steady rain that weekend and wind). At least in '06 we had less rain. But wind driven sand is always a joy for your drivetrain!
Ahhhh...the fond memories of the Seagull!!! If only it weren't such a darned good time!
The first time I did the ride in '00, it was sunny, mild, and calm. Last year was supposed to be good too (but foggy in the a.m.). So it can happen!
Yeah...weather is often a big part of the challenge. This year, they've moved the weekend. Perhaps too much juju associated with Columbus Day??
I'll be doing it (if we can get reservations squared away soon) with DH and the BPVC crew. My personal goal is to break a 5 hour ride time. I'll be sucking a lot of wheels to do that.

[Zen]

Mad, if they've scared you away from the Seagull there's always the Civil War Century.
I'll be there and I'm pretty sure DB and 7 will too

[HillSlugger]

I'm thinking about this, too, but not sure which route I'd do (probably the 50).

[7rider]

Mad, if they've scared you away from the Seagull there's always the Civil War Century.
I'll be there and I'm pretty sure DB and 7 will too

Arrrggghhh...
Just realized that the CWC is the weekend before my mom's 80th birthday, and the sibs up in CT are planning a big family bash for her .... likely that weekend. We may not be able to do the CWC.

[Kalidurga]

Mad, if they've scared you away from the Seagull there's always the Civil War Century.

Or, there's the Tour du Port up in Baltimore, which I'll be doing...

[madscot13]

Mad, if they've scared you away from the Seagull there's always the Civil War Century.
I'll be there and I'm pretty sure DB and 7 will too

I will have to work in getting a lot more miles in before I think of doing the Civil War Century. I will also have to work on my climbing from the looks of it. The metric looks like an option.

Is there a way I can train for hills without actually doing hills?

Also they can't scare me from Seagull. I've signed up for it as a Team in Training member!

[ny biker]

My personal goal is to break a 5 hour ride time. I'll be sucking a lot of wheels to do that.

I was thrilled to finish in 7 hours the first time I did it, so I bow to your five hours.

Re: the Civil War century, I've done that a couple of times (metric once and 50-miler once) so I was thinking of trying out the Indian Head century this year which takes place the same day. But I have a friend who's coming from Ireland to do the Civil War ride so it looks like I'll be up there after all. We'll be looking forward to those tomato sandwiches.

[KerryCrow]

DH and I are signed up for the Seagull. We did the metric back in....2004? Maybe? The following year there WAS as hurricane, so they sent us our t-shirt anyway because I think the thing was cancelled. We were living in DC at the time, now Charlotte so it is a bit more of a drive/committment.

I was thinking to do the full century, it was about the easiest metric I've ever done, so maybe? All I remember is the apple pie ala mode at one of the rest stops.

I couldn't believe it. Of course, DH ate ever bite as I tapped my foot and looked at my watch.

I'm losing my type A-ness as I approach 50.

[madscot13]

I'm with the Nation's Capital Area. It is a pretty good group. how is yoru fundraising rocking?

[7rider]

DH and I are signed up for the Seagull. We did the metric back in....2004? Maybe? The following year there WAS as hurricane, so they sent us our t-shirt anyway because I think the thing was cancelled.

It was a tropical storm, actually, by the time it hit the eastern shore in 2005. (I know...."details!" ) And the ride was not cancelled. DH and I rode it. Ugh. Actually, DH had knee issues that year, and we had to abort after 50 miles. But 50 miles in wind and 7" of rain....not too bad...but the bikes really suffered for it. There was water in places I didn't know there were places! You were wiser sitting that one out, I think.

2006 was a Nor'easter....less rain, but more wind. That time we did the full 100 miles and just had lots of wind-blown sand in all those places.

2007 we sat out. Family commitments. Of course it was sunny then.

This year, we're registered. We'll do the full 100. We're hoping for sunny and no wind. And, we're hoping to see lots of other TE'ers there!