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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

1371.0. "NC Solstice Century Series 1989" by SHALOT::ELLIS (John Lee Ellis - assembly required) Fri Nov 17 1989 19:27

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1371.1Count me inBALMER::MUDGETTdid you say FREE food?Fri Nov 17 1989 23:1617
    OOOOOOOh boy does this sound like fun. Count me in and I'm going
    to try to nag my 11 year old son into coming along for a portion
    of it. We will just be able to go on the saturday rides. 
    
    1. What is the terain like down there? 
                                           
    2. Is it warmer than...say....Baltimore Md.?
                                           
    3. How many miles in a century? (only kidding)
                                           
    4. Is this like a club ride?           
                                           
    I tried to send you mail but SHALOT isn't reachable.
                                           
    Fred Mudgett                           
                                           
                                           
1371.2info for Balmorians :-)SHALOT::ELLISJohn Lee Ellis - assembly requiredMon Nov 20 1989 10:5725
    Fred,
    
    This is sanctioned by the Tarheels (the Charlotte club),
    in that it appears in the club newsletter ... but it is
    essentially one of those fun-but-eccentric events I put on,
    rather than a mass event.
    
    Terrain around Charlotte is reasonably smooth rolling hills,
    not flat, but not choppy or mountainous.  It is the Piedmont.
    Good for cycling.  (There are choppier hills west of Catonsville,
    if that gives you any indication.)
    
    Climate is measurably warmer than Baltimore, I've found, but
    not by much - 5 to 7 degrees, say, and of course a bit more
    inland, so not as sea-affected (or bay affected).  Charlotte
    gets much less snow (a trace) and cold weather than Annapolis, etc.
    But as to whether any particular weekend will be balmy, we'll
    just have see.  I'll post the forecast.
    
    I'll also try to indicate shorter loops from the century route,
    for your son.  (This is an English century, of course.)
    
    Hope you can make it!
    
    -john (who's just been snowed upon walking into ZK)
1371.3Yup it's snow alright.BANZAI::FISHERPat PendingMon Nov 20 1989 11:067
    "-john (who's just been snowed upon walking into ZK)"
    
    We want you to remember what it's like up here!!
    
    ed
    (take me back with you.)
    
1371.4Solstice Century #1 - 3-Dec-1989SHALOT::ELLISJohn Lee Ellis - assembly requiredMon Dec 04 1989 00:3233
    
    Solstics Century #1 - 3-December-1989 - "Catawba/Nitrolee"
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Under brilliant blue skies, at 8:15am and 40 degrees (and falling
    all day!), and with wind chill of 15 degrees Kelvin, I believe, 
    we headed out, south down the Lancaster highway at a 22mph average,
    buoyed by a 25mph NNW wind... which didn't drop one iota all day,
    especially on the way back.
    
    Since one forecast had predicted snow flurries, with 28-39 degrees
    temp-range, we felt pretty lucky.
    
    The roads were quiet and clear all over, with much of the route
    over backroads such as SC99 and SC97 and US21, through small 
    SC hamlets, and past wide places in the Catawba River, shimmering
    in the relentless sun.
    
    Riders were heard to mutter "I've never been this cold," and the like.
    Speeds of up to 10mph were reached on the open flats battling headwinds
    on the way back.  I emphasize that this was rather an unusual cold snap, 
    for those of you who may be contemplating coming down for the series.
    
    The ridership included an ultramarathoner from out-of-county
    (a UMCA member from Gastonia), and the whole ridership (aforesaid
    Gastonian) completed the 105 miles of the century.
    
                             *   *   *
    
    For the next ride I've already arranged a Secret Check Point,
    which will, I hope, attract still more riders.
    
    -john
1371.5Sorry, that's classifiedBOOKS::MULDOONI'll be right back - GodotMon Dec 04 1989 12:2514
    
    RE: .4
    
    >> For the next ride I've already arranged a Secret Check Point,
    >> which will, I hope, attract still more riders.
    
    
       But John,
    
          How will you attract riders if you keep the
       checkpoint a secret? 
                              :^)
    
                                                   Steve
1371.6theories of checkpointingSHALOT::ELLISJohn Lee Ellis - assembly requiredMon Dec 04 1989 13:0610
    
    Haha... actually, only the location of the checkpoint is secret
    (and what will happen to you when you get there!).
    
    The BANC 600km qualifier in June had a secret checkpoint - the
    brevet organizer was reading the Sunday paper in a lawn chair
    under an awning by a chilled spring (of drinkable water), as
    we sweated by ... it was easy to persuade us to stop.
    
    -john
1371.7checkpointsBALMER::MUDGETTdid you say FREE food?Wed Dec 06 1989 01:3511
   Hey John,
    
    I've got some ideas for secret checkpoints if you're interested.
    We can have everyone (even the most hardened riders) stopping
    dead in their tracks!
                
    Speaking of temp. I swear this last weekend has been like Alaska
    here in Maryland. Hopefully this weekend will be warmer.
    
    
    Fred Mudgett
1371.8"in their tracks"? I'm curious now!SHALOT::ELLISJohn Lee Ellis - assembly requiredWed Dec 06 1989 09:5414
    Hi Fred,
    
    Hmmm... my imagination runs wild.  I'd like to hear your ideas!
    
    As you can see from the write-up of last Sunday's ride, it was
    cheerful but mighty breezy and crisp.  FYI, the other Tarheels
    ride for that day did approximately 1.5 of their 30 mile route,
    and then the ride (with its leader and one other rider) was
    adjourned to a nearby cafe, after the wind blew the leader into
    a parked van ... well, almost.
    
    But I had a good time on mine.  Gore-Tex does a good job.
    
    -john
1371.9[sound of locked brakes]SKETCH::PAULHUSChris @ MLO6B-2/T13 dtn 223-6871Wed Dec 06 1989 14:034
    re. checkpoints:  I remember reading about a car rally where one
    checkpoint was run by female employees from the local Playboy club, in
    costume. Variation on the theme, I admit, could be traffic stoppers.
    	- Chris
1371.10An awfully cold waitBANZAI::FISHERPat PendingWed Dec 06 1989 17:513
    re:.9: they'd freeze their tails off waiting at the halfway point.
    
    ed
1371.11June 21st... Druids or beach attire?KUDZU::ELLISJohn Lee Ellis - assembly requiredWed Dec 06 1989 22:5511
    
    RE: .-1 and .-2
    
    Of course Ed is right, but definitely something to remember
    for my next Solstice Century Series (June?)... or should that
    be double-c's?   :-)
    
    -john
    
    PS: The Secret Check Point has offered to make hot cider, but
    of course that is a secret.
1371.12Century #2 - neither ice, nor ice, ...SHALOT::ELLISJohn Lee Ellis - assembly requiredMon Dec 11 1989 11:5129
1371.13#3 - 16-Dec-1989SHALOT::ELLISJohn Lee Ellis - assembly requiredSat Dec 16 1989 21:0327
    ---   Solstice Century #3  --  16-Dec-1989  --  "Beethoven's Birthday"  ---
    
    Amidst prospects that this would be the best attended ride in the series,
    with up to eight riders from at least four counties (one in MD) ... the 
    weather, not satisfied with ice last weekend, returned with a "chilly"
    temperature range of 22 - 32 degrees, and a brisk northerly wind.
    
    Still, the ride organizer stood ready to ride if any one showed up,
    and, since no one did, couldn't think of anything better to do ...
    and, besides, wanted to give the Secret Checkpoint some practice.
    
    The ride religiously followed the Sharon SC - Smyrna - Kings Creek
    route, and reached the Secret Checkpoint whilst he was feeding the
    farm animals.  However, the Checkpoint had replenished the Fig Newtons
    he'd eaten when last week's riders didn't show up, and the peloton
    had a good feed before heading back into the cheerful breeze.
    
    A mile from the destination, the entire peloton, enthused by their
    success thusfar, decided to make it an even 200km for the day ...
    thereby working up a good appetite for the evening's Tarheel Bicyclists
    Christmas Party ... where Queen City bikers can relax in an atmosphere
    of crankshafts and Christmas Cookies.
    
    The series takes a rest next weekend from the frantic pace so far,
    but let's cross our fingers for the 30th!
    
    -john
1371.14#4 & #5 - Polar BearSHALOT::ELLISJohn Lee Ellis - assembly requiredTue Jan 02 1990 11:4922