Anyone do the North Shore Century yesterday?

It was my longest single-day ride to date, 131 miles from home to the starting point in Evanston, then to Kenosha, back to Evanston, and then back home. 8 stops (5 actually on the ride + 1 "unauthorized ice cream stop"), 12 hours. I was unprepared, my longest ride this year was 40 miles, and I was on a brand new saddle (ouch!), and I just barely managed to tune up my road bike the day before, with help from a friend.

My body was upset with me last night, I couldn't get my core temp down, and was hurting in places I don't care to specify. I also neglected to use sunblock. Today I feel much better, but didn't exactly feel like getting on my bike and riding to work. I did anyway.

I witnessed a couple of cyclists on the century pulled over by a police officer in Zion. As I passed I wasn't sure they were part of the century (I thought they didn't have helmets) but I heard later they were part of the ride. Apparently they were pulled over in a residential area for blowing through a stop sign. Mostly people didn't stop at stop signs if there was no traffic, as you'd expect.

I was honked at angrily by a couple of motorists, once for just being on the road, and another for taking too long to get through an intersection. I hate to admit it, but I was not at my friendliest when riding 131 miles. I flipped both of them off.

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Permalink Reply by Brandon Bernier on September 14, 2010 at 9:19am
This was my first official century ride, while I've done a few 100+ mile days in the past. I decided to be a total lunatic and take my fixed gear bike out as opposed to the touring steed, and was very pleased with the results. I had anticipated struggling in the last 25mi significantly, but ended up pushing myself through the whole ride in just under 6 hours.

May favorite part of the ride was taking a lap on the velodrome. The 312 team pleaded with the track boys to let us take a lap, and I was finally able to use my bike in the manner to which it was *designed*. Only to be questioned by one of the track guys in the manner of "are you seriously doing the century on that thing"...to which I replied "well, we're only 60mi in...guess we'll see" :)

Nevertheless, it was a great time, and I'd love to find another hill-less (for obvious reasons) century to attend this season to try and improve on my time.

Thanks for the great times, Evanston Bike Club!!

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