Was?.... (Oooooh, the truth really hurts)
I still have my bikes, just brushed the 1/2" layer of "shop build-up" off of them a couple of months ago.
My last century, Tour of the Unkown Coast, was in 1992... just over 6 hrs.
It's also refered to as "California's Toughest Century."
But I did talk to some guys just this past week about getting back in the saddle... someday soon, uh-huh.
Roy/Coutney... Bring the bikes for sure!
Hey, if you guys are serious cyclists.. why not drive to Ferndale one morning and do the Tour course?
It's a natural 100 mile loop, that is just breathtaking!!! (Starts in Ferndale, heads out Blue Slide to Rio Del/Scotia, winds down the Avenue of the Giants and heads out through the Rockefeller Forest/Bull Creek, then up and over Panther Gap and drops down into Honeydew, (Roy will really get a rush from that descent) then over to Petrolia, where the course meets the sea and heads North right along the Pacific Ocean and past Battleship Rock for 8 miles, then you hit "The Wall". (You won't ever encounter a steeper grade anywhere, but this hill is way overated, 'cause it's real short... BTW- You are now at the most Westward point of land in the continental US) After reaching the top of that steep, but short climb, you drop back down to sea level and cross the Bear River at Cape Town. Now comes what I'd call the hardest part of the ride... "Endless Hill". (You're somewhat spent at this point too as you're about 65 miles in) It's an easy riding windey, loopy climb up out of Bear River, but this hill never seems to end as you meander up into the clouds. You think you're almost to the top, just one more corner... Then when you get there, you see that you are far from it. (It's kinda cool looking back down to the bottom of the valley floor and seeing how all those cows you past near the bridge, now look like bugs)
Once you finally reach the top of the "Endless Hill", you seem to get a second wind, 'cause all that's left is the last leg of the Wildcat with a bitchen drop down into Ferndale!
You guys pumped up for it?
My advice, get an early AM start and try to beat the Northerly breeze that always seems to come up along the ocean... I've seen people give up at that stage of the race, when the wind comin' out of the North is blowing 25 or better. Wear long cycling pants, have a light parka... Even on a good day you will encounter a vast range of differnet weather patterns. Eyewear really adds to the comfort level too. Be sure to take your helmets also, 'cause some of the downhill areas are really fast!
If you do this course on a mountain bike, allow an extra 4 hours or so and be sure to have road slicks.
Some people get a rush just driving this loop in a car.
