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Salisbury MD Seagull Century this weekend
Anyone else doing the flat, flat, flat Seagull Century this weekend?
I've done it 5 or 6 times over the past 30 years, but not in the last 9 or 10 years. My wife's friend and her husband have never done it and wanted to try it, so we are all going. Neither of the wives has put in a lot of biking mileage this year, they are runners - they will do the metric century. The other husband does triathlons, has a time trail bike and bikes to work most days - he and I will do the full century. I told him to do his own pace and not worry if I became a small dot in his rear view mirror... Chance of showers/drizzle starting to show up in the forecast for Saturday - the last time I did this ride I think the first 50 miles or so were in fog/drizzle. Other than having to activate the finger-power windshield wipers for my glasses, actually nicer weather for a long ride than constant blazing sun. |
I am wondering when it's going to feel like Fall? Anybody? I have had it with summer!!!
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85 and humid in Philly today.
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Forecast for Saturday in Salisbury is high 74 - 76F, mostly cloudy, only 10% chance of precip.
Cold front came through here (midway between DC and Baltimore) last night with a few gully washer storms, high supposed to be only 70 today - but back in the 80s next week. I think this is just the new normal. |
Big cool down after Thursday. It will be below normal. Nearly ten degrees below normal.
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A great time was had by all The last time we did this was 11 years ago. We had dinner the night before at the phenomenal Cactus Taverna restaurant and later met up with Shana and Perry at our kinda dumpy Sleep Inn motel.
Saturday morning Carole and Shana did the 63 mile metric century while Perry and I did the 103 mile Century ride. We hit a bit of drizzle and light rain but all in all just perfect conditions for a long ride. Perry is a triathlete and was riding his new aero bike - he kicked my butt. First time I've finished a century in under 6 hours. The route has changed a bit since we last did the ride, mostly for the better. Very nice to have our own lanes and even our own bridge coming into the 62 mile rest stop at Assateague National Park - didn't see any ponies this year.Carole and Shana did great for not having put in very many biking miles this year, and we all enjoyed the pie and ice cream at the finish line. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...23bcc1ec0a.jpg The 103 mile route, the route went counter-clockwise - the 62 mile rest stop is at Assateague beach on the far right. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b1f3321e2e.jpg Perry, John (me), Shana and Carole at the start. |
Originally Posted by jpescatore
(Post 20595822)
Anyone else doing the flat, flat, flat Seagull Century this weekend?....
The other husband does triathlons, has a time trail bike and bikes to work most days - he and I will do the full century. I told him to do his own pace and not worry if I became a small dot in his rear view mirror... You may recall we corresponded recently about your planned trip to Michigan, a well-known cycling haunt for me. I especially noted the above comment about riding together:
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 18962525)
I have ridden as a solo rider on a few charity centuries, and a few self-supported ones...A basic advice I keep in mind during the century is “Ride my own pace,” in particular not too fast at the beginning, and ride the entire route at a pace comfortable for me.
Even when I pick up with another rider, I make it clear that’s my rule if our paces are not compatible. Another strategy on charity rides done by myself, is to start early and perhaps be picked up by a group riding at a suitable pace and ask to draft with them. That adds a kick to my pace, but quite often I fall slightly behind at turning a corner, and its amazing how a slight drop behind can be impossible to catch-up, attesting to the value of drafting. Also, you might catch-up to a slightly slower rider and draft him/her, and they could reciprocate, synergizing both of you. But always, “Ride your own pace.” |
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 20605458)
I have cycled in the mid-Atlantic states only once, a self-guided tour of the DelMarVa peninsula, and I would like to explore further, especially on an organized ride.
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Jim from Boston: I'm very leery of group riding with people I don't know, especially on large rides like this one (the highest bib number I saw was something like 4300) and especially when the roads are a bit wet. Perry (the triathlete guy I rode with) was much more willing, even though drafting is not allow in tri races - he doesn't do much group riding, either.
There were several wipeouts in the first 40 miles or so, when the roads were the most wet and when the clumping of riders was still pretty high. Perry was very easy to ride with but he was so skinny and his Kestrel aero bike was so slippery that I told him he was pretty useless for me to draft behind. Conversely, he could ride behind me and hardly had to pedal, but while he'd save some watts, he'd be lowering his average speed! |
Originally Posted by jpescatore
(Post 20595822)
Anyone else doing the flat, flat, flat Seagull Century this weekend?...
The other husband does triathlons, has a time trail bike and bikes to work most days - he and I will do the full century. I told him to do his own pace and not worry if I became a small dot in his rear view mirror...
Originally Posted by jpescatore
(Post 20605408)
A great time was had by all
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 20605458)
Nice ride report…I especially noted the above comment about riding together
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 18962525)
I have ridden as a solo rider on a few charity centuries, and a few self-supported ones...A basic advice I keep in mind during the century is “Ride my own pace,” in particular not too fast at the beginning, and ride the entire route at a pace comfortable for me.
Even when I pick up with another rider, I make it clear that’s my rule if our paces are not compatible. Another strategy on charity rides done by myself, is to start early and perhaps be picked up by a group riding at a suitable pace and ask to draft with them. That adds a kick to my pace, but quite often I fall slightly behind at turning a corner, and its amazing how a slight drop behind can be impossible to catch-up, attesting to the value of drafting…
Originally Posted by jpescatore
(Post 20606081)
Jim from Boston: I'm very leery of group riding with people I don't know, especially on large rides like this one (the highest bib number I saw was something like 4300) and especially when the roads are a bit wet.
Perry (the triathlete guy I rode with) was much more willing, even though drafting is not allow in tri races - he doesn't do much group riding, either. There were several wipeouts in the first 40 miles or so, when the roads were the most wet and when the clumping of riders was still pretty high. Even the century has staggered starts of about five minutes, for groups of about 20 riders. I try to get in line early to go with the first group, as described. |
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 20605458)
… I have cycled in the mid-Atlantic states only once, a self-guided tour of the DelMarVa peninsula, and I would like to explore further, especially on an organized ride.
On that trip (by car to the venue) we did stop at Assateague and Ocean City…
Originally Posted by indyfabz
(Post 20605468)
Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, DE is worth a visit. There are cycling trails inside the park, and the military history and displays, including artillery, are cool.
The place used to be a base that was established to protect the bay and river from Nazi invasion. No shots were ever fired in defense, but after Germany surrendered a sub did surrender there. You can still go up to the top of at least one watch tower. You can also ride to Rehoboth virtually all on trails and bike lanes.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 7055901)
… I really realized the utility of bicycles for commuting, and began touring on a five-speed Schwinn Suburban, but soon bought a Mercier as did my girlfriend, later my wife. We toured in Michigan and Ontario.
In 1977 we moved to Boston on our bikes, as a bicycling honeymoon from Los Angeles to Washington, DC and then took the train up to Boston. We have toured in New England and the Maritime Provinces, and one trip to the DelMarVa peninsula.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 18550944)
I just finished replying to this post on the Touring Forum "Where to cycle from Chicago" with this comment...
So I’m starting a thread to catalog cycling possibilities in various cities. If there is enough interest… FYA, @jpescatore, @indyfabz, and other Bike Forum subscribers,
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 17884654)
… I really enjoy showing visitors around Boston on informal walking tours [or bike rides], and I would offer that to a fellow BF subscriber, but I'm a pretty busy person, and would need a heads up to see if I'm available at a mutually agreeable time.
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