Apple Century

[MM_QFC!]

I've done this ride several times too and agree that it's a beautiful route, well-supported and a lot of fun. They used to have a VIP registration, with discounted room rates at the hotel (Coast hotel, I think) at the previous start location, which was the convention center parking lot. It made it an easy commute when a group of us got to the hotel the night before, could have a good breakfast, roll out, and enjoy the "recovery" drinks in the beer garden when we got back, before showering and going to dinner!
It made it lots easier to not drive over from Seattle the morning of, or have to pack up and drive right back after the ride either.
I did the century each time and remember well those afternoon head and crosswinds coming back into town - whew!
One caveat: one friend suffered multiple flats well before we even reached the fish hatchery rest stop one year, as she was plagued by goat heads repeatedly attacking her tires , so keep an eye out for them...
Have fun!

[Biciclista]

i've done this ride too. I thought it was an easy century (if there could be such a thing) I'll never forget the utter peacefulness up on that mountain road. the only noise was the birds and our breathing.

[ttaylor508]

I just email my friend and I think she is going to do the ride. I have been trying to encourage her to take on a century for years and I think this is the perfect one. She is married to one of our riding buddies who is an ironman and I think she feels she is always being left in the dust. She has already done a section of the ride from our cabin to Silver Falls last summer and loved it. I really want her to do this just to build her riding confidence. I think I will have kids make some signs to cheer her on when she rides past the cabin.

Thanks everyone for your input! Hope to see some of you on the ride!