I haven’t done much long distance (e.g. over 50 miles/80 km) bicycle riding for the last two decades or so. But since January 2006 I’ve been making a concerted effort to ride my bike as much as possible, for commuting and errands as well as LD riding. I’d ridden in three organized rides already this year, but this past weekend I rode my old Takara Tribute in the Lodi Sunrise Century and completed my first 100-mile bike ride since c. 1986 (20 years ago)!
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Tag Archive for 'century'
25
May
Lodi Sunrise Century
19
May
Century checklist
I’ve used my century checklist for several rides since BAB, and it’s saved my butt more than once! Tomorrow morning I’m riding the Lodi Sunrise Century, assuming there are no thunderstorms or other hideous weather. Once again I’m heading out for a hundred mile ride on my 20-year-old bike. Speaking of which…
I was talking to the wrenches at Peak Adventures some more about my upgrade-or-replace quandary, and David was asking some very insightful questions. He wanted to know which bike I was thinking about getting. The Specialized Sequoia Elite is my top contender, but he thought my old bike was a better-built touring bike. I also mentioned that I’d like to get my wife to go out touring with me, when he suggested that I buy a tandem bike. Doh! Why didn’t I think of that?!? So for right now, by dilemma is solved–I’m saving up my money for a KHS Milano tandem bike.
My wife doesn’t want to start tandem riding until our remodeling project is done, and I’ll keep riding my old bike when I’m solo, so I’m going to go ahead and upgrade the rear wheel and cogs pretty soon. This is an excellent solution, since I get to have my cake and eat it too! I’ll fix up my Burgundy Beauty and get a new bike and (hopefully) get my wife to start riding with me. 
I haven’t ridden a century (100 mile bicycle ride) in quite a few years, but tomorrow morning I’ll try to complete Bike Around the Buttes on my recently-upgraded Takara Tribute. Since I haven’t done a ride like this in years (decades?), I thought I would make a pre-ride checklist. Then, after the ride (when I’ve figured out all the things I forgot), I’ll add comments to this post so that I’ll be better prepared next time. And perhaps some other intrepid rider will get some benefit out of this as well.
- Bike (duh!)
- Computer
- HRM
- Gatorade bottles, 2
- “Morning Rush” coffee cup
- Bento box: fig- and apple newtons
- Camelbak (w/ stuff I don’t want to leave unattended at rest stops)
- Bladder!
- Wallet, cash
- Cell phone
- Truck keys
- Swiss army knife
- Ipod, remote, ear buds
- Camera?
- Rack pack
- Spare tube
- Pump
- Patch kit
- Tire levers
- Hex wrenches
- Phillips screwdriver
- PB&J sandwiches, 2 (quartered)
- Food bars, 4
- Gatorade mix, 4 (scant ¼c for 24 oz bottle)
- Bananas, 2
- Extra zip-lock bags, 4
- Chamois Butt’r
- Lip balm
- Rain jacket (weather looks questionable tomorrow)
- Rain gloves (”)
- Ear/head warmer (”)
- Riding shorts, shirt
- Gloves
- Sunglasses
- Mirror
- Cleats
- Cleat covers
- Socks
- Sandals (for easier walking pre- and post-ride)
- Helmet
- Bandana/sweat band
- Floor pump
- Coffee
- Directions to ride location
Don’t forget to charge the cell phone and Ipod the night before! Also, wash out the Camelbak bladder and water bottles.
