Cumberland Valley Century Ride 8/8

An updated link, since the one above doesn't seem to work:
http://www.bikecvcc.com/cvcc_century.html

would love to but I'll be out of town that week

closer to the day now, anyone still planning on going?

Weather forecast looks good, sounds like a good ride, and... no idea if the route crosses south mountain, but I have a score to settle with that hill.

ras26 (Becky) and I are going.  No idea what the route is, but it should be fun.

cool, hopefully see you there.

For those of you who did the century - how was it?  I plan to do it next year - it seems like a challenging century

I was doubting myself at about the halfway point, if that's any indication. I looked at both the cue sheets, and concluded that there wasn't a significant short cut back, so I toughed it out. The second half seemed easier than the first, but that may have been because I wasn't trying to keep up with jcnipper at that point.

Ended up taking just over 6 hours, which is faster than I expected, so it couldn't have been that hard.

I'm still sorry I dropped you - I just looked back and you were gone!  I'm glad you finished though, and it was good meeting you. 

All in all, the ride was good.  It was a challenging course.  There were no major climbs, but there were constant rolling hills.  Up and down, up and down.  The course was scenic and pretty.  The roads left something to be desired, as several were rough, and there was a fair amount of loose gravel / sand (always at the bottom of hills, killing any momentum you'd get).  This was my first century, and I finished in 5:57 (my goal was sub 6), which wasn't too bad.  I probably could have gone a little faster, but I had a 20 mile run planned for Sunday so wanted to save a little leg strength.  There was plenty of fluids at the rest stops and finish, but the food was only so-so (the peach cobbler at the finish was good!). 

For 20 bucks, I'd do it again.  I'd just be prepared for the hills this time.

Christy, you are undoubtedly a better cyclist than I am, but I really underestimated the course.  As J said, the none of the climbs were bad in and of themselves, but it was a pretty constant up and down.  You've done the Westminster metric ride, right?  It was definitely harder than that because it seemed like there was never a break.  I mashed early, which was a big mistake.  In an attempt to preserve my sunday long run, I did get to experience the SAG van at mile 75.  The guy was really friendly!  Overall though, it was well marked and well run.  Some of the rough roads were enough to rattle your fillings loose, but I can imagine it's not easy to find 100 miles worth of light traffic roads with no major mountain climbs in Western Maryland.  I think it was actually apple cobbler at the end, but it was still tasty!!  I'd do it again, if only for revenge.  :-)

ETA:  Did I mention the first 75 miles included over 5000 ft of climbing??

Edited by ras26 2009-08-11 12:20 PM

Awesome!  Thanks for the feedback guys.  It sounds like a challenging century but you fun none the less   I live for those hilly long bike rides.  I got out and did 56 miles with just under 5000 ft of climbing Saturday so nothing like the whole 100 but a small taste before I had to head out of town.

Becky - I'll join you next year when you seek revenge on the course   Did you sign up to do EagleMan again next year?

I was trying to decide if I should do Eagleman or try something different, but time was running out, so I signed up for Eagleman.  I liked the race and think I can do better, so why not?