Today’s ride: The Back Roads Century is held at the end of September in Berryville Virginia. The century course has two loops; 50 miles north through West Virginia, and another 50 miles south through Virginia. The metric course uses the south loop, and both loops give you great views of the Blue Ridge mountains.  The course is rolling, and the century has approximately 4000 feet of climbing, with more climbing on the south loop than the north. Starting early is a good idea for this century, and the morning is typically cool, but the course loops back to the start, so any jackets or warmers you take on the north loop you can remove before the south loop. The roads are mostly rural, and there is seldom traffic to worry about apart from the times when he ride crosses local highways. The rest stops are well done, with special treats like salted baked potatoes and tomato and cucumber sandwiches.  Potomac Pedalers Touring Club holds this ride, and the volunteers do a good job for the riders. 

The Experience: I arrived before dawn, having gotten up early and driven for an hour and a half to arrive at the start before many of the volunteers. I prepared to go in the early light, and rolled out with Carol, Eric, john and Carol’s friend Johanna.  The morning was cool, and I wore arm warmers for the first loop.  The local authorities chose to crack down on the cyclists on the ride, and some riders were ticketed, but it seemed to me that they were being antagonistic.  John got going quickly with other riders, but the rest of us stayed together. We rolled into West Virginia and made it into the first rest stop at a good pace. The day was starting to warm up, and we headed back toward Berryville with the mountains around us lighting up as the sun rose higher overhead.  We finished the first loop easily, with Eric and I getting out ahead of Carol and Johanna on the climbs.  We joined up again for the start of the second loop, and John stayed with our group, but Johanna began to feel ill and abandoned. The rest of us collected ourselves at the 62 mile rest stop. Once again, Eric and I stayed together, with Carol and John pacing each other behind us. With the heat building and the road rolling, Eric began to slow. He had been on vacation and had been off of the bike for a few weeks, so as the road rolled, I stayed with him as much as possible to keep the team together.  We got a break at mile 79, as well as some fabulous tomato sandwiches, and attacked the next set of rollers.  We were past tired as we made it to mile 92 and the final rest stop, and had some shaved ice to cool down. John and Carol found us before we left, but we set back out and rode strongly for the final 8 miles.  The rolling terrain was a challenge in the last 35 miles, but the views of the Blue Ridge were spectacular, and the weather favored us to help make this year’s Back Roads Century another memorable ride. 

Selections from my mental iPod during the ride: “If I Didn’t Love You” by Squeeze,  “What Difference Does It Make” by The Smiths, and “Obscurity Knocks” by the Trashcan Sinatras. 

Stats: 100.54 Miles ridden.  The day showed us the best of the Blue Ridge.     

A scene from the rest stop at Mile 62.

The crew that rode the Back Roads: Carol Linden, John Koehnlein, Eric Sanne, and myself.

Today’s ride: The Indian Head 100 out of Indian Head Maryland is a century for riders that is organized by riders, and it shows. The Oxon Hill Bike Club, which sponsors the event, has made this ride a good experience for the participants. The course is rolling, and the rests stops are scenic, with river views at the rest stops and excellent food. This is a Sunday ride on the first weekend in September, and it can be hot, but the course is well shaded with plenty of scenery to look at.  

The Experience: This was my second century on consecutive days. 200 Miles in a weekend is difficult, but many of my friends and I ride back to back centuries as a challenge.  The night before Indian Head, a front swept through the area, cooling the temperature and pulling the humidity out of the air. Despite having to cope with tired legs, a large group of friends got together to roll out early from the community center at Indian Head. Not all of us were on the Century course, and one was coming back from cancer treatments, but Indian Head is a classic ride, and the conditions couldn’t have been better.  We got right to the climbing and negotiated the first section in good form. Yellow wildflowers were growing thick on the roadsides, and we all got to the first rest stop together while riding strong, We had our fill of the famous egg, ham and cheese sandwiches on english muffins at the first stop. The century riders split with the riders on shorter distances and headed out to ride the rollers on Riverside Road, which is a classic stretch of road that puts riders on a shaded roller coaster for nearly 12 miles. The second rest stop came soon after, and Ron, Tony Lehr, Rita Spence and I kept up a good pace and came into the rest stop riding well. We refreshed ourselves and headed out on the long leg to St. Ignatius Church, and more wonderful views over the Potomac. The course led us to the Thomas Stone House rest stop after a climb up Rose Hill, and with 10 miles to go and the scenic Indian Head Rail trail ahead, we finished our back to back century weekend on the trail with views of the wetlands around Indan Head. One of my favorite rides came though for me again.

Selections from my mental iPod during the ride: “The Perfect Girl” by The Cure,  “Cliffs of Dover” by Eric Johnson, and “I Saw Her Standing There” by the Beatles. 

Stats: 100.22 Miles ridden.  A perfect weather day.  

Our group the first Rest Stop. Left to right – Tony Lehr, Russ Altemose, Myself, John Koehnlein, Ron Tripp and Rita Spence

The long view from St. Ignatius Church over the cemetery. The rest stops have views of the river.

Today’s ride: The Amish Country Bike Tour starts in Dover DE, at the town square. The ride rolls out of town and through Delaware’s Amish country. This is a relatively flat ride along country roads, and because it is held the first weekend in September, it’s often hot.  Since the country you’ll ride through is open, you have to cope with winds as you ride. Among the attractions are homemade pies served at the second rest stop. The riders get a barbecue meal after the ride.

The Experience: Once again, I rode with my friend Ron Tripp, and Rita Bell. Unlike our experience with the ShoreFire Century, we ride with three of Rita’s friends from Sussex County Cyclists in Southern Delaware, where the pace of life is slow, but the pace of riding is very fast. We rolled out well before the mass start that was scheduled for 8am, but we had quite a bit of company on the roads as we made the most of the cool morning. At the first rest stop Michelle, her friend Jay and her other friend Jay joined us, after which the pace increased. I can’t be too upset by that, despite the fact that Ron and I would ride another century the following day (more on that in another post) we all felt good that early in the ride before the heat built up. We all enjoyed a slice of homemade pie at the second stop (I had the peach pie – it was heavenly) and rode away as the heat of the day began to build.  By this time pace became both friend and foe; the motion cooled us, but when the wind wasn’t with us, we were using a lot of energy.  When we got to the third stop in Felton, DE the heat was getting oppressive. When there is little shade and the heat and humidity is high, the pavement is the sun’s anvil, and cooling off is important. We set off on a short loop that would take us back to Felton, and we were drinking often, but on that section, young Jay from Sussex fell prey to the heat, and his teammates looked after him while Ron, Rita and I rode back to Felton.  Some of those at the stop had begun their ride with the mass start, and still had to ride the short loop back to Felton in the high heat. I poured water over myself to cool down while I silently praised our decision to leave earlier.  I was drinking a lot, but it felt like I was barely staying cool enough to avoid a bonk myself. The ride back into Dover was a straight road with a tailwind, and despite the heat we managed to ride strong all the way back to the square in Dover.  Our friends all made it back, after Jay recovered from his difficulties, and our Amish Tour was complete.

Selections from my mental iPod during the ride: “Just Play Music” by Big Audio Dynamite,  “Til I Hear it From You” by The Gin Blossoms, and “I Have the Touch” by Peter Gabriel. 

Stats: 100 Miles ridden.  The heat and humidity made it impossible to drink enough, but we managed to stay cool enough to finish comfortably.  

A Selection of homemade pies at the second rest stop.

Holding up a wall in Felton, DE.

Today’s ride: The Shorefire Century starts in Middleton DE, and is held by the White Clay Bicycle Club. White Clay puts on a good event – being recreational cyclists themselves, they do an excellent job of supporting riders at their events. The Shorefire is a flat ride that gets it’s name from the experience. The ride is held in mid August, and the weather tends to be HOT. The ride heads south into farmland in the middle of the state, then loops through Dover DE and along the shore into the marshes before returning to Middleton

The Experience: 2014 has been an unusual year – the summer has been cooler than usual, and we had the benefit of that cool summer on this normally hot ride.  Ron, Rita and I got started as early as we could. Even though the day started cool and the temperature didn’t get into the 90’s, we paid attention to hydration, knowing that the heat was the challenge on this ride in any case. When the sun is out, the pavement can be the sun’s anvil. You feel the sun above and the reflected heat from the pavement. This time the cloud cover and cooler temperatures helped us. We set out at an easy pace to start, and as we warmed up we found a good pace and held on to it, riding about 18-19 mph. The roads weren’t busy except for those around Dover and Middleton, and we moved through the landscape with a quiet efficiency. Keeping a steady pace and sharing pulls at the front of the line was a good strategy. We didn’t get carried away with sprints or uneven efforts, and that consistency kept us comfortable. A fast ride pace, particularly if you get caught up in the moment and jump into a line of riders moving faster than your normal training pace, can leave you exhausted by the end of the ride. We weren’t racing, we were just holding our pace, and we had a strong ride from start to finish. We saw military cargo planes around Dover Air Force Base, and the little towns and fields and rivers and marshes slid by gracefully. The rest stops were well stocked with fruit – oranges, bananas and watermelon, as well as salty snacks – on a hot ride these things are important, and  we took advantage. 

Selections from my mental iPod during the ride: “Jessica” by The Allman Brothers Band,  “Strange Attraction” by The Cure, and “Fall at Your Feet” by Crowded House. 

Stats: 101.79 Miles ridden.  The pace was consistent, and we ticked off the miles with our legs tapping out the beat like a metronome.  

My teammates on this ride – Rita Bell and Ron Tripp.

Ron & I. This was taken at the third rest stop, in Dover DE.

Today’s ride: The Ride to See is a charity event that benefits vision research and programs for the blind. The rides start from Galena Maryland on the Eastern Shore.  The ride is held on the second saturday in August. This can be a hot ride, so hydration is vital. While the Eastern Shore is generally flat, the Ride to See is not a flat ride. It rolls through farmland, past the Chesapeake bay, by creeks and rivers, and through the scenic towns of Rock Hall and Chestertown.  Rides range from 15 miles to a full century. The shorter rides would be good training rides for longer rides later in the year.

The Experience: We started out just before 7am, and the day started out cool. This was the coolest day I’ve experienced in the half dozen times I’ve ridden the Ride to See.  Six of us rode together. We set a good pace. The roads were good and before the day heated up we were well on our way. The first two rest stops were a riverside park and a school, and we shared the pace well among ourselves. The third rest stop was in Rock Hall, and every year the ride coincides with a festival in Rock Hall where the people dress as pirates and wenches. We rode through town past people dressed as pirates, and paused to watch a gymnast giving an aerial show from a ring suspended several feet above the ground. It was a colorful and enjoyable experience. The locals really put on a show, and many were very convincing pirates.  We left Rock Hall as the day began to heat up. Our next stop was in Chestertown, and by the time we reached it, the heat of the day was upon us. The final 30 miles were hot, but we were well hydrated and we kept up a good pace. In the end we rode strong to the finish, but just as I entered the parking lot I slid out on some gravel and crashed! The result was a few scrapes and a sprained finger, but more embarrassment than pain! Over all, it was a great ride. Conditions were very good this year, and with the exception of the crash, it was one of the best summer rides I’ve had!

Selections from my mental iPod during the ride: “Happy Hour” by The Housemartins, and “Ticket to Ride” by the Beatles. 

Stats: 100 Miles ridden, and a few scrapes at the finish, but a strong ride and a good experience.    

At the rest stop by the Marina in Rock Hall

Our team for Ride to See: from left to right: Ron Tripp, myself, Rita Spence, Carol Linden, John Koehnlein, and Tony Lehr.

Today’s ride: The Delaware Double Cross starts in Middleton DE and crosses the state of Delaware twice. It’s a Metric Century held by the White Clay Bicycle Club which does a fantastic job organizing it, and it’s a flat ride that tends to be hot. There are two thirty mile loops to make up the Metric Century Distance, with a rest stop in the middle of each loop and a stop at the starting point midway through the ride. The ride crosses through the north end of Delaware, and the marshes near the Delaware Bay, and most of the course is open and easy to ride, but that means that much of the ride is not shaded. 

The Experience: Today the weather was on our side. This can be a very hot ride, but there wasn’t the heat of previous years. We had wind to contend with, but that is expected on the eastern shore, and sometimes it will work with you. Ron Tripp, Rita Spence and I headed out of Middleton in the cool of the morning. We rode up behind a large slow pack of riders as we waited at a light to cross a highway. It turned green as we arrived, and Ron decided to sprint around the pack. I took his wheel and Rita took mine. Though we were on open road, some other riders had sprinted around them as well, and they locked on to our wheels and started talking loudly among themselves. I reacted in the only way I could – I lifted the pace. The point was either to make them think about breathing instead of talking, or we would drop them, which would have the same effect. With a favorable wind, we moved smoothly down the road into Port Penn and the first rest stop, while enjoying the relative quiet. We set off to cross Delaware again and made it back to Middleton in good form. Ron and I took turns at the front pedaling into the wind – and today the wind was strong enough to make us work hard. It wasn’t bad as a crosswind, but riding into it was tough. The lack of heat was a blessing however, and we rode strong Our pace was very steady, and the scenery at the north end of Delaware was very pleasant. After the ride we headed for the Bay Bridge hoping to beat the traffic coming back from the beaches. We had no trouble, and we stopped at the Crab Deck on Kent island for lunch. It was a great end to a nice day of riding. 

Selections from my mental iPod during the ride: “Once Upon A Time” by The Pogues, and “Soho Square” by Kirsty MacColl. 

Stats: 60.35 Miles ridden.  Despite the wind, we rode well. The lack of heat made this metric century easier than in previous years. 

Augustine Beach on the Delaware River, with a Nuclear Power Plant as a backdrop.

Rita and Ron, with the same backdrop!

Lunchtime. Riders in repose…

Today’s ride: Two Rivers is a relatively new ride, starting and finishing in Centreville on the Eastern Shore. The two rivers are the Chester River and the Corsica River. The ride crosses them, and gives beautiful views of the water and farmland surrounding Centreville and the Tuckahoe State Park. This is a fairly flat ride but there is a lot of variation, shaded areas, and quite a bit to see. The roads are good and in places the roadsides are taken over by colorful patches of wild day lilies. The ride support is good, and the rest stops are placed closer near the end of the ride.  The road is well marked, and every turn has a sign! This is the kind of century that is pleasant to spin through, and since Centreville isn’t very far from the Bay Bridge, the Metric Century Option would be attractive for people who are training for a full century in the fall. 

The Experience: Today my usual riding companions split into two groups, with Bill Harback, Denise Teeling and Tom Roman in the “fast” group, and Ron Tripp, Eric Sanne and I riding a little slower. We rolled out about 7AM and while the morning was still cool we crossed over the Chester River and headed out toward Betterton Beach. Our pace was very consistent, and we found ourselves heading through the Eastern Shore countryside, talking and enjoying the morning. By the time we had gone 60 miles, the morning was heating up, and hydration was important. We had been good about drinking though and we found ourselves working together well. At the 75 mile rest stop we filled our bottles with ice and added water. When the temperature tops 90 degrees, ICE IS NICE! The cold water kept me from overheating.  The rest stop in Tuckahoe State Park was beautiful, and though this was the first time I’ve ridden this century, I was very impressed by the ride. It was one of the best Eastern Shore Centuries that I’ve ridden. After the ride – lemon ice at the finish, and M&Ms out of the ice chest!  The experience was topped off by a great post-ride meal at the Fisherman’s Crab Deck on Kent Island, where we had a toast to those who couldn’t join us!

Selections from my mental iPod during the ride: This ride was dominated by “Rain in the Summertime” by The Alarm, but also: “Caribbean Blue” by Enya, and “The Ghost in You” by The Psychedelic Furs. 

Stats: 101.79 Miles ridden.  A lively ride with good friends and some great views. 

Sunrise – on the way to the ride start with Ron.

At Betterton Beach with Bill Harback, Denise Teeling, and Tom Roman.  I need a bike…

The scenery was great, and some of the roadsides had run riot with orange day lilies.

At the Fisherman’s Crab Deck on Kent Island. Eric Sanne, me, Tom Roman and Ron Tripp. Note the empty pitchers…

Today’s ride: Bay to Bay runs from Betterton on the Chesapeake, to the Delaware Bay. The ride runs west to east and back, and the prevailing wind can work with you and against you on the same ride. This is a flat ride, but what hills there are are near the start and finish, and some long grades and climbs that fall between miles 60 and 80.  Two miles from the Delaware Bay the route enters a salt marsh, and there are biting flies to deal with. They’re an annoyance more than a hindrance, but it isn’t unusual to be bitten. The ride organizers picked up on this and use a fly in the ride logo!

The Experience: I haven’t ridden a century solo in a long time. Since I knew that I’d be riding alone I arrived early and rolled out just before 7am. With very little wind and patchy cloud cover the morning was cool and I began to roll well. By the first stop I was in a good rhythm and since the morning was still cool I made it a short stop and pushed on into Delaware and toward the Delaware Bay.  Since I’d started early there weren’t too many riders ahead, and while I would normally see groups of riders heading back from the Delaware Bay during the 8 mile run to the rest stop,  This time there were very few. Coming back out I began to see riders coming in the opposite direction, but I was riding well by the time I left the marshes and I moved inland at a good clip. I got to the 60 mile rest stop and took my time, knowing that the flat sections were done. The next two stops were close together, one at mile 73 and another at mile 84. The short distance between them helped me adjust to the rolling terrain that greeted me after the 60 mile stop. While I was able to maintain my pace, by the time I reached the last rest stop I was feeling the difference between riding solo and riding in a group. In a group you can draft and save energy.  Riding in a line can make a big difference in your pacing as well. A group of riders will even out the pace somewhat. The distance from the last stop to the finish was just about 20 miles, and they were hard miles. While I tried to maintain my fast pace, I didn’t have the energy and I had to sit up and spin more. Even so, I didn’t lose too much pace, and I finished well. I was very pleased with the way I rode Bay to Bay, because I’m not used to riding alone and I held my pace well. 

Selections from my mental iPod during the ride: “Hatful of Rain” by Del Amitri, “Obscurity Knocks” by the Trashcan Sinatras, and “High” by The Cure. 

Stats: 103.50 Miles ridden.  A strong solo effort.  With other riders helping, this ride might have been even better. 

Ride Swag. Sadly, coffee was not included with the cup.

Prior to the ride, nearly ready to set off!

Long shot of the Delaware Bay from the second rest stop.

Today’s ride: The SMECO 75 is a unique ride. The distance is unusual, since it falls between a Metric Century and and English Century. This is a very well supported ride. The countryside in St. Mary’s and Charles Counties is very scenic, and the ride is in Amish Country, so riders will occasionally share their route with horse-drawn carriages. The rest stops are frequent and relatively close together. 

The Experience: Today we started early again, and while getting up in the dark of early morning can be tough, the early start has advantages. June can get very hot and humid, and starting early meant we got moving and rode a few hours before the heat of the day set in.  We set out with our minds on our good friend and riding companion Russ Altemose, who has been unable to share our rides while he battles cancer.  John Koehnlein, Carol Linden, Ron Tripp, Eric Sanne and I set out in the early morning chill, but the cool temperature didn’t last long as the sun angle changed. The roads were often shaded, and we held together at a comfortable pace. With the rest stops close together and good conversation, the ride seemed to speed by. This ride is in rolling terrain, and as usual, John was strong in the climbs. I felt good as well, and before the day got hot, our group found ourselves past the midway point of the ride. Ron spent a lot of time setting the pace on this ride. We held together for most of the ride, with the exception of the hilly sections that stretched us out, but we collected ourselves and rode together for most of the ride. We were all feeling good at the last rest stop, and with ten miles to go, we decided to finish strong.  John jumped out of the pack first, and while I went with him, I found his climbing style hard to follow. Caught between john’s power and the rest of the group, I set a strong pace of my own and concentrated on overtaking other riders. I finished just after John, followed a little later by Eric, who started in pursuit of John and I, but gave us too much of a lead to make the catch. Ron and Carol both rode home strong in due course, and another successful ride entered the books. This year’s ride wasn’t as hot as the year before, and we were all glad of it.  Tom Roman, who had come to ride with another friend, was waiting for us with a smile, a little good natured teasing and a beer. A toast to Russ called the ride to a successful close. 

Selections from my mental iPod during the ride: “Soothe Me” by Sam & Dave, “Manhattan” by Eric Johnson and “Please Don’t Tell Her” by Big Head Todd and the Monsters.

Statistics: 75.05 Miles ridden at a steady pace, on a nearly perfect day in June. This year’s string of weekend events with good weather continues!

Carol at the first rest stop.

Not John, Paul, George and Ringo, but John, Ron, Tom and Eric.

Ron and I at the rest stop at Colton Point.

Today’s ride: The Patuxent Rural Legacy Ride is a Metric Century starting in Croom Maryland.  This is a rolling course that parallels the Patuxent River. The rest stops are scenic, most of them with views of the river, and the roads don’t have much traffic.  The ride is very well supported and the course is clearly marked. It ends with a picnic at the ride start. 

The Experience: Two of our group needed to leave early to attend a wedding, so we all got to the ride start in time to set out at 7 am. The weather was cool, clear and still when we set out. I’m of the opinion that you should dress for mile 5, not the start. Once you’re warmed up you don’t need the extra clothing, and I don’t like to carry things I don’t need. We rode easily to the first rest stop, with the group staying together. This time it was Myself, John Koehnlein, Carol Linden, Ron Tripp, Eric Sanne and Tony Lehr.  A rider we knew named David was with us as well. I love riding in rolling terrain. The constant changes mean you must react to quick climbs and descents. They provide a variety that makes a ride seem more interesting. As we began the second leg, I lifted the pace a little. We built up some momentum, and arrived at the second rest stop, where we posed with a friend – a skeleton wired to a bike. This was a popular activity with the riders at the stop!  Before we left, we were caught by Carmen Legato and another rider he’d been riding with, Christy.  Our growing group rolled out and lifted the pace again, passing other riders and moving along smoothly. The last rest stop was at the Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary,  which in previous years had been the start/end point. I saw more friends on the way out.  We finished strong in the final 8 miles, one of the rare rides where we built the pace from start to finish. By the end, the music I was thinking of was working with our pace – particularly the last selection below!  Eric, Ron and Tony all rode well.  On a ride where the pressure kept building, they all held on and handled the pace with ease.

After the ride, we got together for beer and laughter. We also got lunch courtesy of the Oxon Hill Bicycle Club, who sponsored the ride. My friends Judy and Dave and their son Rad joined us for a while, and fellow PPTC member Deb Reynolds visited us too. It’s good to take some time to be social and enjoy the company of friends after we’ve shared a ride.

Selections from my mental iPod during the ride: “E=MC2” by Big Audio Dynamite, “Circus” by Spirit of the West, and “She Sells Sanctuary” by the Cult. 

Stats: 64.02 Miles ridden.  When you find another gear, both for power when you climb and speed on the flat, whenever you want one, you know it’s a good day! 

With John at the ride start.                                         With a friend at the second rest stop!