Archive for May, 2010
5BBC Montauk Century/Metric Century Report
I ended up doing the shorter version of this ride on May 16th which with the previous amount of riding I’ve gotten in this season was plenty for me. I rode with pals Karen Cohn and Maureen Davis. The three of us volunteered at the registration table which went very smoothly. We got to Babylon about 5:30. There was a table of coffee and breakfast bagels, bars, fruit, hummus and drinks setup also. By 8 we checked our bags on to one truck with the supplied number tag and our bikes onto another also tagged. The century riders left from Babylon while the shorter route took a train to Mastic/Shirley. There were also folks who rode all the way from NYC, I think that was 135?
By 8:30 we were on the train, by 9:30 we were on the road. The ride was not overly crowded and almost all the riders were cognizant of how to ride in large groups. Of course there are always a few but for the most part people called out on your left and only one single guy passed me on the right.
The first water stop was I believe at 15 miles for us, obviously longer for the other routes and the second was around 42. The usual stuff, cookies, granola bars, peanut butter, jelly, Nutella which was a nice addition, bananas, apples, oranges, water and Heed or Gatorade. Volunteers were friendly and porta potties were stocked with toilet paper. There were bike stores running repair tents at the rest stops and the start.
I thought the roads were well marked, however there are so many markings on the roads from various rides (including TOH) that you really need to pay attention to which markings you are following. The three of us missed a marker, our own fault. We realized our mistake when we were faced with 3 ways to go none of them marked in the middle of Southampton town. No biggie, we backtracked less then a mile and were back on the route. There was one other spot that was NOT marked with the dark pink M’s however it was marked with nearly every other club marking. A lot of folks turned off there, I don’t think it took them too far out of the way. It was Georgica Rd. in East Hampton, our route did not go that way but it just avoids Montauk Highway in a large loop.
The weather was absolutely perfect, wind at our backs and never too hot. We flew the 5+ mile stretch before Montauk, then one last hill and all down to the train station where we again loaded our bikes on the proper trucks for the destination. There was a shower truck, hot food (burgers, pasta, pasta salad, salad and veggie burgers) cookies and rugelach, a Mr Softie truck, drinks and the bar that was there allowed us to use their patio and sold beer or wine or alcoholic drinks. We were amazed at how fast we got our drop bags, a volunteer asked us our armband numbers and grabbed them right away. We made the 5:30 train, I can’t vouch for how the late folks made out. I heard the 3:30 train people got massages too.
On the way home on the train it was interesting to hear people’s opinions of the ride while I waited in line for the rest room. They complained a little about the road markings and said they wished there had been people at several points telling them which way to go. And someone wondered why they didn’t see a SAG wagon. Not really sure why you’d want to see one, I am sure if you called they would have shown up quickly.They seemed really surprised when I said that it was really a lot of work to run a ride like this. I guess they think the roads paint themselves and the volunteers just materialize! We got back and had our bikes off the trucks and were headed home in short order.
All in all it was a really well organized ride. We were very impressed with the whole truck loading/bag drop/bike transport which went very smoothly. I think were I to do it again though, I’d stay overnight out there. We never really spent anytime at all in Montauk, bypassing town to get to the finish and get changed etc. Shame to get all the way out east and not experience any of the charm of Montauk.
Don’t forget our club Montauk Century, the Ancient Mariner on June 12th!
Barb K
Leading Rides Part 2
This past Saturday was a totally different experience for me, makes me not mind leading.
Small group, no yahoos that have been known to ride with the AA’s. We went to Bayville via Locust Valley and Larry D took plenty of turns out front in the wind pulling. Nobody went the wrong way and we only lost one rider at the end (he lives in Plainview and rides to the lot, drops off on the way home.
Roadwork alert FYI: The Birchwood neighborhood off Robbins Lane is being repaved and there was no blacktop. If you don’t want to ride on Jericho choose a different route till they get that done.
Also, Bayville Rd heading north is being worked on. There are metal plates and it looks like they are going to be putting pipes in.
Barb K
Leading Rides (or why I don’t want to)
I know my way around the north shore pretty well, can estimate mileage on the fly and would love to lead more rides but….
Two weeks ago, parking lot full of “B” riders and none of the regular leaders. There were some new faces, at least they were new to me. So I conferred with my pal John and we offered to lead and sweep to Locust Valley. I said it would be about 35 miles, an approximate idea of where we were going and “if you pass me and miss a turn I am not changing the route to find you” Off we go. Not too bad, we made it to Piping Rock Rd as a group mostly, regrouped at the light on Chicken Valley and had a nice break at the Gazebo.
Several people approached me about adding on some extra miles. It was a group of 12, I could have easily added another 5 or so by doing Stillwell/Washington Ave but there were a few that wanted to get back and I didn’t think it would be too nice to change routes without everyone in agreement. Someone else said if I got them almost to Stillwell they could find the way from there. This would all be well and good…….if everyone but two riders hadn’t gotten ahead of me and missed the turn on School House including a new member whose bike and tires weren’t really up to the task. True to my word, the 3 of us took the School House-Renee-past the high school route. Lo and behold as we are passing the light before the golf course I see most of the group coming. Of course it’s too late for them to go down Stillwell. All but 3 were with them and I know they know how to get back. Happily the new guy was also there, the 3 of us kept the pace down to his level while the rest of them went back at their own pace (with no concern whatsoever for keeping the group together)
Would it be so horrible for someone to have said on Split Rock, where is the next turn? We will meet you there. Or on Kristi, we know the way back from here and we have somewhere to be, we are going to go on ahead. You are supposed to follow the ride leader, not the lead rider people!
So the next time y’all are looking for someone to lead, and I don’t offer don’t be surprised.
Barb K