Anyone doing...?

[pll]

Is anyone doing any of the following rides:

• Wright Stuff Century (September 5)
• Apple Cider Century (September 26)
• Hilly Hundred (October 9-10)

I think I may do all three -- definitely the Apple Cider and Hilly Hundred. It would be my first time in any of these events.

[Thorn]

We've signed up for the Wright Stuff. It will be our first year doing it. The area is beautiful and the hills more than challenging.

We've done several organized rides in the area (Quadrupedal, Dairyland Dare, Autism Ride), but never a full century. Oh, we've done oodles of centuries elsewhere but never a full 100 with Iowa County hills.

The ride is supposed to be really well run and we've been told that unlike the Dairyland Dare, Horribly Hilly, and Insane Terrain, that the route has healthy stretches of flattish so you can catch your breath. Guess we'll find out on the 5th!

[Trek-chick]

I am doing the Apple Cider Century but may just turn it into a metric century for myself and DH since it's kind of a long drive for us. We are staying at Warren Dunes State Park in our RV all weekend. It seems like a neat place to check out. Should be a fun weekend

[Cait]

I'm riding the Hilly if my school schedule allows. It will be my first year also.

[Bike Chick]

Not doing the Hilly this year but it's a great ride. One note to remember: The food is great but they feed you this wonderful fried chicken, ice cream lunch RIGHT BEFORE A KILLER CLIMB! Ugggghhhh

[pll]

I signed up for the three rides and have duly noted the perils of eating fried chicken and ice cream during the Hilly Hundred.

[pll]

Rode the 64 mile route in the Wright Stuff Century yesterday. It's a beautiful ride, definitely worth the visit to Madison. My lower back was hurting and that, plus the prospect of driving 2.5 hours home, made me decide quickly to ride 64 miles. I definitely need more practice riding hills!

Below are a few snapshots I took:

[Thorn]

Hey! Those pictures just did *not* capture the wind!

I am proud to say I finished the 100...after 4 tries of doing rides in Iowa county, I finally finished a century. My GPS claims 5600' of climbing which makes it "flatter" than the Quadrupedal (a must-do ride, btw), but I don't care. I've conquered my dragon and finished an Iowa County century!

I drove DH bonkers early on in the ride..."No, dear, I can't go faster. I must spin up these early hills. No, I cannot turn on my 'engine' yet--we have too many miles to go!"

When the head wind started up as we headed south for the second time out of the Unity Chapel rest stop I was glad I was keeping an early reserve. Then, as we headed south on the extra loop back to Barneveld, I gave myself a scolding for not doing the 64. I could barely zombie my way back to the hotel and into the shower; if I had been in your shoes---no way would I have tolerated that ride home. You were the wiser.

But, I agree. Good ride. But tough. Iowa county is lovely, but has some amazingly mean hills. Congrats!

[pll]

Hey! Those pictures just did *not* capture the wind!

I am proud to say I finished the 100...after 4 tries of doing rides in Iowa county, I finally finished a century. My GPS claims 5600' of climbing which makes it "flatter" than the Quadrupedal (a must-do ride, btw), but I don't care. I've conquered my dragon and finished an Iowa County century!

Congratulations!! That's major. As I rode, I was thinking I was glad I had no GPS telling me how much climbing I had done and especially not the grade of a climb at any point. Given that information, I might fall off my bike. The wind was evil, so I'm glad you mentioned it. I'm a whimp when it comes to wind.

[Bike Chick]

Great job, ladies! We do a week long ride every summer in Wisconsin with the exception of this year and your pictures make me wish I had made the drive north for the ride. The countryside is very beautiful and hilly!!

[Thorn]

Congratulations!! That's major. As I rode, I was thinking I was glad I had no GPS telling me how much climbing I had done and especially not the grade of a climb at any point. Given that information, I might fall off my bike. The wind was evil, so I'm glad you mentioned it. I'm a whimp when it comes to wind.

Thanks.....btw, the GPS didn't help. At the beginning, I would be spinning up the hill and be thrilled to see that it was running 9-11%. Woohoo! What amazing shape I'm in!

By the end, I'd be pushing the limit of my lowest gear, look down and see......7....4.....7.....5....arggggh....what horrible shape I'm in!

I'm pretty much convinced that someone changed the laws of physics somewhere around mile 50.

[Thorn]

Great job, ladies! We do a week long ride every summer in Wisconsin with the exception of this year and your pictures make me wish I had made the drive north for the ride. The countryside is very beautiful and hilly!!

"Little Egypt" as in southern Illinois? We're considering doing a century down ther in October -- Tour de Sawnee (http://www.tourdeshawnee.org/). So, we won't be finding hills?

[Bike Chick]

Little Egypt is indeed beautiful southern Illinois! Glad you are coming down. Let me know if you are coming for sure and I will make it a point to do the ride. I don't know if I would be ready for a century by then but would definitely do the 62 mile route and meet you. This is the second year for this ride--we didn't make it last year, but several friends did and I heard great things about it. We've ridden that course on another century ride and parts are flat (the bottom ground along the Mississippi and Ohio) and parts are rolling hills (the County Line and Grapevine Trail area). It's a good combination and some beautiful scenery. Keep me posted!

[pll]

The Tour De Shawnee sounds tempting. Can it be almost a 7 hour drive from Evanston? Chili, soups, zucchini bread and green pickled tomatoes at the rest stops? May have to drive.

[Bike Chick]

Come on down! It would be almost 7 hours from you. Olive Branch is an hour south of me and we are 5 1/2 hours from the Chicago area. Please IM me before making any hotel reservations though.