Self Supported Centuries

Self Supported Centuries
Ride in the winter? Rides-Self supported Centuries Beyond Commuting Equipment/Accesories Repairs/Maintenance Helpful Links My Bicycles My Fixed Gear Bicycles Still to come Bicycling Safety What About Weather? Equipment/Reviews Home	What is a "century?" Good question, a century is a 100 of whatever one is counting. In this case it is 100 miles, or better. A metric century is a 100 KM. It is a test of endurance and stamina. Often centuries are supported by cycling clubs, or are a part of a "ride." What I share here are my own centuries, after being challenged on the WWW, through Bicycling Magazine's forums. The challenge was to do a century a month, so by the end of the year one would have 1200 plus miles. It's been an interesting challenge. 4/15/03 Saint Paul to Rochester Via Red Wing The ride started mid morning, I had to make some stops before heading out for this ride. I had packed my panniers the night before, and had done a quick look over on the bike that night as well. The weather was to hold out for the weekend, although the forecast was calling for rain Sunday. I packed my rain gear just in case. I looked at the maps Rochester; in southern MN was 83 miles from the Twin Cities, down a major highway, where traffic would be traveling in excess of 65 miles an hour. I decided against this route, and looked for alternatives. One that presented itself was to follow highway 50, which would turn into highway 61/63 and ran through Red Wing along the southeastern border of the State. Red Wing is famous for Crockery, and of course Red Wing Boots, it lies along the Mississippi across from Wisconsin. 61 turns south to Lake City and becomes highway 63. Lake City lies on the shores of Lake Pepin. The highway then turns southwesterly to Rochester. Total miles would be 105 miles. The preceding week had been one of getting up the miles to be able to make the trip where the wind blew most everyday. I was hoping to get a break from the wind for the trip. And it turned out to be the case. I rolled out of Saint Paul at 9:36 am and headed across the High Bridge out of Saint Paul where I turned south on Blaine road. My maps show Blaine road as a regular road, a gray line amongst reds, blues and yellows. It is a road, but it also turns into a crushed limestone rutted beast of a path before it gets better. I couldn't imagine anyone but tractors driving such a road. The "road" heads through an old arsenal testing ground, I'd heard there was loads of arsenic in the soil there. The land along the road was also held by the University of Minnesota, which leased the land out. There were also landfills and sod farms in abundance. Finally reaching highway 50 I turned east and headed towards Red Wing. The terrain turned hilly, and the shoulder I was left to ride became a foot wide strip. Behind me 18-wheelers speed up to pass me on the hills, which was a help with the wind coming out of the northeast. I climbed the last of the hills and came down the other side to a tangle where highways 61, 63, and 52 come together. Keeping my bearings I continued east. I'd never been in this part of my State, so the newness of the landscape and terrain held my interest. One of the many sights I enjoyed were bluffs, from which a number of hawks and eagles were soaring on updrafts. I'd heard the bald eagle population was on the increase in the area, nesting along Lake Pepin, so I had hopes of seeing one or two. These eagles tended to be brown and golden. In Cannon Falls there was a rails to trails bike path (Cannon river valley trail) that runs 17 miles to Red Wing. My maps did not offer a succinct description of how to find this trail, so I continued on the highway. The shoulder had become a nice roomy 4 feet wide with a warning track to my left and the going was easier. Red Wing lies in a valley and highway 61 brings you down a nice long hill with a huge curve in it. I hit 35 mph the decent, and flew into Red Wing, where, after being on the bike for 5 hours it was time for a respite. I found a convenience store where I purchased fuel and liquids for the road ahead. With a half-hour for munching and resting I was ready for heading on the next leg of the journey, promising myself no long stops before Rochester. My odometer read 57 miles leaving Red Wing. With the journey thus far I made a note that for a century in the future a run to Red Wing would be suitable. Onto Lake City, but first more bluffs and eagles. The way was beautiful with the sun out and the day warmed up nicely, I had to pull off my windshirt, hat, and gloves. The wind was at my back now, and I was in great spirits, the wide shoulder kept me free to observe the surroundings. On the north side of Lake City is a rest area, and I took a much needed bathroom break, having not counted on bringing TP with me, a banana and a Powerbar and I was off again. As I traveled along Lake Pepin's shore I felt it was more a very wide section of the Mississippi and not necessarily a "lake," my suspicions were confirmed with the barge traffic down the middle of the lake. With nothing more to see and the day growing longer I trudged on, turning southwest and up some long hills. I could only imagine what the mountains would be like. Finally topping out only to find more a few more cranks of the pedal away. At least I wasn't into the wind. About this time, as it usually does on these trips, my butt was complaining about the seat. My wrists and arms were joining in with their own gripes. I listened and did the best I could; offering a couple breaks from the bike along the way as well as sucking down fluids, as well as Cliff gels. I took my last convenience store break at what I thought was the 10-mile mark from Rochester, but back on the road I discovered I was 20 miles away. This was a little disheartening. My body was showing the effects of the ride, as well as developed a nice sheen of salt that bit into the sunburn, did I mention I'd completely spaced bringing any sort of sunscreen? I didn't even think of sunscreen on a day like that. I don't know why, it just didn't cross my mind, and I was beginning to suffer. I finally rolled into Rochester about 10 hours from my start: 7:32. My odometer read 110.82 miles. The time I'd been riding was 8:02:11, and the fastest I'd hit on the hill dropping into Red Wing was 32 mph. I had the telltale signs of riding in the sun. My legs had the strange biker tan lines, and my sunglasses had left white circles around my eyes with bright red across the rest of my face. In a day I would be ready to go home. For the moment it was time to enjoy being with friends, and rest up from the journey, and for the journey. -fin- Bald Eagle Century Rochester back to Saint Paul Now in Rochester I needed to make it home. Several friends had offered to sag me, but I declined. There were reasons for this: one, if I want to do a tour across the States, I wanted to know I could do it, not just physically but mentally as well. Two, I didn't feel that it was "right" to ride 110 miles one way and not ride it back. Three, I'm a nut and I love riding, so making the ride reality was within my power. I started out early 7:42 heading out of Rochester in a northeastern direction back to Lake City and Red Wing. I had heard from friends of the bike trail between Red Wing and Cannon Falls. I purchased a map and found where it began, and where it ended, it was a paved 17+ mile rails to trails path. I had missed it on the way down, and now had a map to find it on the way back. I was also told of a road that would take me almost the whole way home. I never found it on the map but I managed to get home any way. The wind would again be a factor, fortunately for the climbs out of Rochester the wind was out of the south, so while the wind could push me at times, it would also be a cross wind and being gusty that day the wind promised to be tricky. Even with a day off between the two centuries, my sit bones still wanted to balk. I had also taken the time to reset my handlebars, rapid shifters and adjusted my rear deraillure, as the handle bar bag was pressing against the cables and I couldn't get some of the higher gears on the way down. I wanted to make great time so I really pushed it and found my way to Red Wing. In Red Wing it was just noon so I stopped for a meal at Subway. While inside a fellow cyclist came in asking if I knew of a bike shop close. I wasn't from Red Wing so I had no clue. I paid for my sandwiches and met the fellow and his partner outside, where they showed me their problem. A small screw had fallen out of their STI shifter, so the rider was pretty much handicapped to riding in one gear. As I rode off I half wished I had a toolset and all the screws. I was lucky to have what I did, I can't imagine a traveling shop. I was able to find the Cannon River Valley Trail, running into a couple of surprises, I'd never had to pay a fee to ride a path, but for use of the trail for the day it was $3.00. The other surprise came a couple miles from the trail head, a nesting bald eagle. I'd seen them in the past when camping in the northern woods of Minnesota, the BWCA, and had heard they were on the up swing in the Lake Peppin area, and there for all the travelers of the path to see, was at least one eagle on a nest in the high trees. In Cannon Falls I joined the pavement of rural routes, now heading west the southern wind with nothing to stop it was menacing. I was applying sun blocker for the sun and the wind, not wanting to continue to burn my face and legs. I tired of riding with the cross wind and at first chance to get it behind me I took it. I headed north and then west and then north, until I found Blaine Rd. My nemesis on the way to Rochester, it is a gray line on my maps and in reality it isn't really a road, it is a dusty crushed limestone road that dissolves into a rutted sandy path. Once on it I knew I was on my way home, and could make it. Finally on the familiar roads of home I came across a lady on her bicycle, she was pushing it and met me at a stop light. Her chain had come off to her frustration, so as a final gesture to the bicycle gods I helped a fellow cyclist out. She was amazed at my skill, and offered a wet nap to wash up with. I declined stating I'd already ridden 100 miles, I was on my way home so I'd be cleaning up soon. She thanked me and called me an angel. I guess my inability to help the road riders in Red Wing was turned into something I could do when I got home. Finally off the bike and all told I'd spent 8 hours riding gone 115 miles, and over the whole just under 10 hours total time for the ride. It was a huge change from the early centuries this year, fighting my head, the wind and the cold. -fin-

Self Supported Centuries

Ride in the winter?

Rides-Self supported Centuries

Beyond Commuting

Equipment/Accesories

Repairs/Maintenance

Helpful Links

My Bicycles

My Fixed Gear Bicycles

Still to come

Bicycling Safety

What About Weather?

Equipment/Reviews

Home

What is a "century?"

Good question, a century is a 100 of whatever one is counting. In this case it is 100 miles, or better. A metric century is a 100 KM. It is a test of endurance and stamina. Often centuries are supported by cycling clubs, or are a part of a "ride."
What I share here are my own centuries, after being challenged on the WWW, through Bicycling Magazine's forums. The challenge was to do a century a month, so by the end of the year one would have 1200 plus miles. It's been an interesting challenge.

4/15/03
Saint Paul to Rochester
Via Red Wing

The ride started mid morning, I had to make some stops before heading out for this ride. I had packed my panniers the night before, and had done a quick look over on the bike that night as well. The weather was to hold out for the weekend, although the forecast was calling for rain Sunday. I packed my rain gear just in case.
I looked at the maps Rochester; in southern MN was 83 miles from the Twin Cities, down a major highway, where traffic would be traveling in excess of 65 miles an hour. I decided against this route, and looked for alternatives. One that presented itself was to follow highway 50, which would turn into highway 61/63 and ran through Red Wing along the southeastern border of the State. Red Wing is famous for Crockery, and of course Red Wing Boots, it lies along the Mississippi across from Wisconsin. 61 turns south to Lake City and becomes highway 63. Lake City lies on the shores of Lake Pepin. The highway then turns southwesterly to Rochester. Total miles would be 105 miles. The preceding week had been one of getting up the miles to be able to make the trip where the wind blew most everyday. I was hoping to get a break from the wind for the trip. And it turned out to be the case. I rolled out of Saint Paul at 9:36 am and headed across the High Bridge out of Saint Paul where I turned south on Blaine road. My maps show Blaine road as a regular road, a gray line amongst reds, blues and yellows. It is a road, but it also turns into a crushed limestone rutted beast of a path before it gets better. I couldn't imagine anyone but tractors driving such a road. The "road" heads through an old arsenal testing ground, I'd heard there was loads of arsenic in the soil there. The land along the road was also held by the University of Minnesota, which leased the land out. There were also landfills and sod farms in abundance.
Finally reaching highway 50 I turned east and headed towards Red Wing. The terrain turned hilly, and the shoulder I was left to ride became a foot wide strip. Behind me 18-wheelers speed up to pass me on the hills, which was a help with the wind coming out of the northeast. I climbed the last of the hills and came down the other side to a tangle where highways 61, 63, and 52 come together. Keeping my bearings I continued east.
I'd never been in this part of my State, so the newness of the landscape and terrain held my interest. One of the many sights I enjoyed were bluffs, from which a number of hawks and eagles were soaring on updrafts. I'd heard the bald eagle population was on the increase in the area, nesting along Lake Pepin, so I had hopes of seeing one or two. These eagles tended to be brown and golden. In Cannon Falls there was a rails to trails bike path (Cannon river valley trail) that runs 17 miles to Red Wing. My maps did not offer a succinct description of how to find this trail, so I continued on the highway. The shoulder had become a nice roomy 4 feet wide with a warning track to my left and the going was easier.
Red Wing lies in a valley and highway 61 brings you down a nice long hill with a huge curve in it. I hit 35 mph the decent, and flew into Red Wing, where, after being on the bike for 5 hours it was time for a respite. I found a convenience store where I purchased fuel and liquids for the road ahead. With a half-hour for munching and resting I was ready for heading on the next leg of the journey, promising myself no long stops before Rochester. My odometer read 57 miles leaving Red Wing. With the journey thus far I made a note that for a century in the future a run to Red Wing would be suitable.
Onto Lake City, but first more bluffs and eagles. The way was beautiful with the sun out and the day warmed up nicely, I had to pull off my windshirt, hat, and gloves. The wind was at my back now, and I was in great spirits, the wide shoulder kept me free to observe the surroundings.
On the north side of Lake City is a rest area, and I took a much needed bathroom break, having not counted on bringing TP with me, a banana and a Powerbar and I was off again. As I traveled along Lake Pepin's shore I felt it was more a very wide section of the Mississippi and not necessarily a "lake," my suspicions were confirmed with the barge traffic down the middle of the lake. With nothing more to see and the day growing longer I trudged on, turning southwest and up some long hills. I could only imagine what the mountains would be like. Finally topping out only to find more a few more cranks of the pedal away. At least I wasn't into the wind.
About this time, as it usually does on these trips, my butt was complaining about the seat. My wrists and arms were joining in with their own gripes. I listened and did the best I could; offering a couple breaks from the bike along the way as well as sucking down fluids, as well as Cliff gels. I took my last convenience store break at what I thought was the 10-mile mark from Rochester, but back on the road I discovered I was 20 miles away. This was a little disheartening. My body was showing the effects of the ride, as well as developed a nice sheen of salt that bit into the sunburn, did I mention I'd completely spaced bringing any sort of sunscreen? I didn't even think of sunscreen on a day like that. I don't know why, it just didn't cross my mind, and I was beginning to suffer.
I finally rolled into Rochester about 10 hours from my start: 7:32. My odometer read 110.82 miles. The time I'd been riding was 8:02:11, and the fastest I'd hit on the hill dropping into Red Wing was 32 mph. I had the telltale signs of riding in the sun. My legs had the strange biker tan lines, and my sunglasses had left white circles around my eyes with bright red across the rest of my face. In a day I would be ready to go home. For the moment it was time to enjoy being with friends, and rest up from the journey, and for the journey.
-fin-

Bald Eagle Century
Rochester back to Saint Paul

Now in Rochester I needed to make it home. Several friends had offered to sag me, but I declined. There were reasons for this: one, if I want to do a tour across the States, I wanted to know I could do it, not just physically but mentally as well. Two, I didn't feel that it was "right" to ride 110 miles one way and not ride it back. Three, I'm a nut and I love riding, so making the ride reality was within my power.
I started out early 7:42 heading out of Rochester in a northeastern direction back to Lake City and Red Wing. I had heard from friends of the bike trail between Red Wing and Cannon Falls. I purchased a map and found where it began, and where it ended, it was a paved 17+ mile rails to trails path. I had missed it on the way down, and now had a map to find it on the way back. I was also told of a road that would take me almost the whole way home. I never found it on the map but I managed to get home any way.
The wind would again be a factor, fortunately for the climbs out of Rochester the wind was out of the south, so while the wind could push me at times, it would also be a cross wind and being gusty that day the wind promised to be tricky.
Even with a day off between the two centuries, my sit bones still wanted to balk. I had also taken the time to reset my handlebars, rapid shifters and adjusted my rear deraillure, as the handle bar bag was pressing against the cables and I couldn't get some of the higher gears on the way down.
I wanted to make great time so I really pushed it and found my way to Red Wing. In Red Wing it was just noon so I stopped for a meal at Subway. While inside a fellow cyclist came in asking if I knew of a bike shop close. I wasn't from Red Wing so I had no clue. I paid for my sandwiches and met the fellow and his partner outside, where they showed me their problem. A small screw had fallen out of their STI shifter, so the rider was pretty much handicapped to riding in one gear. As I rode off I half wished I had a toolset and all the screws. I was lucky to have what I did, I can't imagine a traveling shop.
I was able to find the Cannon River Valley Trail, running into a couple of surprises, I'd never had to pay a fee to ride a path, but for use of the trail for the day it was $3.00. The other surprise came a couple miles from the trail head, a nesting bald eagle. I'd seen them in the past when camping in the northern woods of Minnesota, the BWCA, and had heard they were on the up swing in the Lake Peppin area, and there for all the travelers of the path to see, was at least one eagle on a nest in the high trees.
In Cannon Falls I joined the pavement of rural routes, now heading west the southern wind with nothing to stop it was menacing. I was applying sun blocker for the sun and the wind, not wanting to continue to burn my face and legs. I tired of riding with the cross wind and at first chance to get it behind me I took it. I headed north and then west and then north, until I found Blaine Rd. My nemesis on the way to Rochester, it is a gray line on my maps and in reality it isn't really a road, it is a dusty crushed limestone road that dissolves into a rutted sandy path. Once on it I knew I was on my way home, and could make it.
Finally on the familiar roads of home I came across a lady on her bicycle, she was pushing it and met me at a stop light. Her chain had come off to her frustration, so as a final gesture to the bicycle gods I helped a fellow cyclist out. She was amazed at my skill, and offered a wet nap to wash up with. I declined stating I'd already ridden 100 miles, I was on my way home so I'd be cleaning up soon. She thanked me and called me an angel. I guess my inability to help the road riders in Red Wing was turned into something I could do when I got home.
Finally off the bike and all told I'd spent 8 hours riding gone 115 miles, and over the whole just under 10 hours total time for the ride. It was a huge change from the early centuries this year, fighting my head, the wind and the cold.
-fin-