Covington Century 2007- Southern riders

[skibum]

Great job, denny! Sounds like you encountered a few challenges along the way but still managed to achieve your goal.

I was out there too. I am training for a half ironman so I let the masses go ahead of me at the start so I could focus on riding in an aero position without drafting. It was a bit of a mental exercise for me because I'm used to riding with a group. It's a little tougher when you don't have someone to chat with along the way. I ended up doing the 80-mile option and was thrilled to see my husband waiting at the end with a diet coke in his hand. That's become one of our rituals on this kind of ride. He's much faster than me (he rode with that fast group you saw until the 80/100 route split) and we've realized over time that it works best for us to each ride at our own pace. While he's waiting around for me to finish, he tracks down a diet coke since by that point, I'm ready to have something other than water or gatorade to drink.

I agree that the kids are great and make the ride worthwhile. I think that's why so many people come out and do this ride. Next up on my ride calendar is the Wilson 100 (although I probably won't do the full century). It's another great ride if you're looking for a new challenge.

[Pedal Wench]

I ended up doing the 80-mile option and was thrilled to see my husband waiting at the end with a diet coke in his hand.

Congrats!!!!!

(I agree about the Diet Coke. I need the bubbles to cut through the muck left from the Gatorade.)

I'm gonna miss the Wilson this year - I love that route and have done it unsupported because it's nice, but I'll be doing the Denver Breast Cancer walk that weekend. Looking for a few rides over Labor Day though. (MACC One Love and Share The Road, most likely)

[geekgirl]

Hey, I was out there, too, and in a fit of insanity opted for the full 100 (it's bad that the decision point came at about 45 miles -- I hadn't thought about it yet!). It was actually really nice weather, at least for August in GA. Sun didn't peek through until about 11:00 or so. Great support and a beautiful route -- lots of little rolling hills to keep things interesting.

My first organized ride, my first completed century! Pretty much rode it solo, did it in about 6.5 hours of saddle time, not bad considering I hadn't been on the bike in about three weeks, and I didn't exactly "train" for this. I was supposed to ride this with a buddy who just got diagnosed with leukemia 2 weeks ago, so he was on my mind quite a bit during the lonely period (miles 60-80) when I felt like I was the only one out there on the road...

Anyway, so now I'm hooked! Thinking about trying some other centuries this fall -- maybe Beautiful Backroads or Camp Twin Lakes Spin For Kids? We'll see if with a little actual training I can get a more respectable finishing time...

[Pedal Wench]

Thinking about trying some other centuries this fall -- maybe Beautiful Backroads or Camp Twin Lakes Spin For Kids? We'll see if with a little actual training I can get a more respectable finishing time...

Both of those are really nice centuries - nice routes, great support.

[brodymom]

And congrats to all of you who did the ride also. Perfect weather, perfect route and great stops along the way. It was my first 80 and now I am looking forward to a real century. I am signed up for Twin Lakes and might consider one earlier if the weather was not too hot.

[denny]

Hey, I was out there, too, and in a fit of insanity opted for the full 100 (it's bad that the decision point came at about 45 miles -- I hadn't thought about it yet!). It was actually really nice weather, at least for August in GA. Sun didn't peek through until about 11:00 or so. Great support and a beautiful route -- lots of little rolling hills to keep things interesting.

My first organized ride, my first completed century! Pretty much rode it solo, did it in about 6.5 hours of saddle time, not bad considering I hadn't been on the bike in about three weeks, and I didn't exactly "train" for this. I was supposed to ride this with a buddy who just got diagnosed with leukemia 2 weeks ago, so he was on my mind quite a bit during the lonely period (miles 60-80) when I felt like I was the only one out there on the road...

Anyway, so now I'm hooked! Thinking about trying some other centuries this fall -- maybe Beautiful Backroads or Camp Twin Lakes Spin For Kids? We'll see if with a little actual training I can get a more respectable finishing time...

Awesome!!! Congrats for finishing! So sorry to hear about your friend..out there alone it's just you and your thoughts which can be a good and bad thing sometimes.

I'm going to step up my mileage with a ride at the Comet on Saturday. I'm going to have to practice on keeping a good pace consistenly, 19 and above.
Argghhhh! More pain!

[denny]

.

I ended up doing the 80-mile option and was thrilled to see my husband waiting at the end with a diet coke in his hand. That's become one of our rituals on this kind of ride. .

What is it about the very idea of a Coke or Pepsi that keeps us going? Hmmm..

[/QUOTE]
I agree that the kids are great and make the ride worthwhile. I think that's why so many people come out and do this ride. Next up on my ride calendar is the Wilson 100 (although I probably won't do the full century). It's another great ride if you're looking for a new challenge.[/QUOTE]

I think I'll do the Beautiful back roads ride next. I'm still miffed at my 30 mile Cartersville ride and getting lost out there so I've come prepared with..... tada... My Garmin Edge 705, which I haven't figured out how to use yet, but it's ok cause I'll figure it all out before Sept and I now have a riding partner (even if it's virtual) if nobody else shows up to my party.