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Anyone ride the North Shore Century? - Some thoughts

The Evanston Cycling Club held their North Shore Century this last weekend. I originally intended to go for the full 100 mile option, but essentially undertrained all summer long, so I instead opted for the 62 (metric) or 75 mile option. I ended going for the 75 mile option, feeling like I had a lot of gas left in the tank as I was coming up to the turn off for the 62 mile option. Overall I enjoyed the experience. It was somewhat tempered by the miserable rainy weather, but a lot of the scenery was nice. I did find fault with some of the aspects of the ride however. I think, and I heard this from other riders, that the 75 mile option was not laid out very well for those who were attempting to do that route. In many instances there were no route markers on the road to indicate the 75 mile option in the beginning. Once you reached a certain rest stop (might've been Bowen Park?), you were then able to follow the route markers for the 100 mile ride all the way back in to Evanston. There were a few stretches of road that had very high vehicular traffic traveling at high speeds which I felt should have been avoided. However, not being familiar with the area I can not say where those stretches of the route could have gone that would've been safer feeling. My only other gripe was a bit of a personal one. I've done group rides in the past, but always with people I know or with a mass start. In this case you registered for the ride and left when it was convenient for you. In my case I didn't ride with anyone so for much of the trip I found myself catching up and trying to ride with either people who were A: too fast, or (more often) B: too slow. I feel like the ride would've been much more enjoyable riding with some other people who were similarly matched in skill and stamina, but that's just a case of me not really knowing any other cyclists. Overall, I had a good time and for the most part I enjoyed the course. I also feel like I mostly supported myself on this ride. I brought my own energy drink mix and some of my own food, not being sure what to expect at the rest stops. Given that the price of registration did not include a T-shirt (included in all other group rides I'd done in the past), and that the support was only evident at the rest stops (only saw the sag wagon once the whole day), I'm left wondering what I got for my money. I probably could've laid out a similar route using other folks directions from Map My Ride, and just done this solo and not wasted any money. Still, I enjoyed the experience and the knowledge that I can ride these kinds of distances with little trouble and only moderate effort. In the future though, I think I'll do a bit more research and try to find out just what a specific ride is like and maybe in the interim try to find some other people to get out and ride with.

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on September 20, 2011 at 1:29pm

Thanks for the report, Matt. I'm sure this discussion will be useful for those who are also new to invitational rides.

What time did you get rolling? 

Permalink Reply by Billy Poore on September 20, 2011 at 1:54pm
Nice trail.
Permalink Reply by Jared on September 20, 2011 at 1:54pm
I'm guessing its  a fundraiser and most of your money goes to directly to the host organization.
Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on September 20, 2011 at 2:13pm

I don't think that's quite what he's asking.

Typically you do participate in an invitational ride because you want to support the host organization to some extent, but there are also things you expect to get out of it, including:

-well-marked route, offering well-chosen roads

-opportunity to put in miles on a course with others, potential for "protection" of riding in a group

-route support so you don't get stranded in unfamiliar territory

-maybe something fun or interesting along the way to break up the monotony and help the miles go by

-rest stops featuring things you need/want, pleasant volunteers, maybe some entertainment

(all I have time for)

Jared said:

I'm guessing its  a fundraiser and most of your money goes to directly to the host organization.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 20, 2011 at 2:18pm

That's correct.  And after expenses, EBC (host organization) makes significant donations to bike-related non-profits from what they get.

 

I've done the ride several times in the past, but not this year.  The southbound return routes for all distances merge together at various points.  That's how they've done it for years. There are portions of the routes (especially on the return) where higher speed higher traffic roads are the most workable options for longer distance riders.

 

Food is usually excellent, and they typically have live entertainment at the post-ride festival and at least one rest stop.  How were those aspects of this year's ride?

 

FYI - I was talking to one of the sag drivers last night.  He said that there were a few crashes or other problems where riders needed to be picked up, or have their bikes transported.  The sag drivers were out there, but they were very busy on a few sections of the routes, from what I heard.

 

It sounded like weather-related issues (flat tires and crashes) kept the support volunteers very busy throughout the ride.  In better, more typical weather, I've usually seen plenty of support out on the roads.  My impression is that this wasn't exactly a typical year for the event.


Jared said:

I'm guessing its  a fundraiser and most of your money goes to directly to the host organization.
Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on September 20, 2011 at 2:25pm

Oops-- we were typing at the same time . . .

Good assessment-- I'd say the biggest by far: Get started early.

I saw so many instances of newbies starting at the tail end (or even after the cutoff time) over the years I rode these things, and always wondered if it would be their last invitational since they missed pretty much the whole experience, and probably encountered cranky people on the route and at the rest stops trying to pack up and get home.

Matt Campbell said:

I think I was rolling by 9:30/9:45 or so? My bike computer tells me I spent 5:22 actually riding. I stopped at three of the rest stops but I think I only spent at most about 15 minutes or so at those. I think I rolled in to the finish around 5:20 or so. If I had to give some advice to riders new to the whole organized club ride thing, I give these bits of advice:

1. Ride with friends, it will make it more fun

2. Do pack your own food in case you don't like what is being served at the rest stops. Bananas may be a staple of these kinds of rides but ugh... I know now that my gut will only tolerate one or two, not the three or four I ate over the course of the day.

3. Bring a rack bag or panniers to cart along extra gear you might need. I certainly needed my rain jacket which I was able to pack along.

4. You'll also need your own tubes and patches and pump. The organizers of this ride wanted everyone to be this prepared, but be aware that if you have some mechanical beyond a flat tire, you're on your own. As I said, I only saw the sag wagon once the whole day. Mechanical support doesn't do you any good if you can't get to a rest stop so you better be somewhat self-sufficient on longer rides.

5. Dress for the weather - look at your forecast beforehand. I thought it'd be nice enough for a jersey only. It was a good thing for me that I wore a long sleeve base layer.


Bikewinter-kickoff-Thursday! said:

Thanks for the report, Matt. I'm sure this discussion will be useful for those who are also new to invitational rides.

What time did you get rolling? 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 20, 2011 at 3:15pm

In a more typical year, there's a fun band playing at the finish area, and many folks stick around to socialize.

 

I can understand why riding all that time in the rain (especially without fenders) would put a damper on things.

Permalink Reply by Bob on September 20, 2011 at 4:12pm
I actually had a great ride this year. I've done this ride at least six times or so,,and eventhough the weather wasn't the greatest, I did luck out by jumping with a great group. I believe most of them were from Evanston. As for the rest stop food, I thought it was quite appropriate fuel for rideing. The soup at mile 50 was pretty awsome too! Everybody is going to take something different from any ride they do, but personally I enjoyed all of the 120 miles I rode that day!...the extra twenty was getting to and from the start.
Permalink Reply by Randall J. Van Vynckt on September 20, 2011 at 4:15pm
Rode the NSC for the fourth time since 2006. You can't beat the sunrise over the lake, and I like the t-shirt. Couple of negatives: Some stretches of road make me think they didn't even drive the route let alone bike it (and this isn't the first year for it). Bad pavement, no shoulders, intimidating speed limits (for a slowpoke anyway). Last year or year before they had nothing but water at the last rest stop, so if you really rely on them to keep you stoked... don't. This year they were out of Gatorade at the second rest stop at 10:30 a.m. I had my own juice, but not everyone does. I assume they restocked, but still. I'm sure they try, but a little more coordination might help.
Permalink Reply by Dave Jacque on September 20, 2011 at 4:21pm

Hmm. I did the 100 (my first!) and was pretty impressed by the spread at the rest stops: yeah, bananas, but there was watermelon, grapes, bagels and homemade brownies & other stuff. Especially appreciated the potato soup at Kenosha. I started early - at 7:05 a.m. - so maybe you were getting the leftovers. 

 

I found that small groups of riders with approximately the same speed self-organized into small groups of 5-7 over time. It was a pretty interesting dynamic.

Aside from the incredibly crummy weather (worst in at least 14 years, according to one of the bike club members I talked to), my only complaint was that some of the roads were pretty darn rough.

(Longer report at my blog, Mr. Pither.)

Permalink Reply by Randall J. Van Vynckt on September 20, 2011 at 4:46pm

I agree--when they're stocked, the spread is very nice! That potato soup was awesome! The staff is always great. (Confession: This year I only made it to Kenosha because I pulled a hamstring or some such thing, so I don't know how conditions were at the subsequent rest stops.) Another thing in NSC's favor: If you live in the city or northern suburbs, you don't have to drive for two hours to the starting point like some of the other centuries. 


Dave Jacque said:

Hmm. I did the 100 (my first!) and was pretty impressed by the spread at the rest stops: yeah, bananas, but there was watermelon, grapes, bagels and homemade brownies & other stuff. Especially appreciated the potato soup at Kenosha. I started early - at 7:05 a.m. - so maybe you were getting the leftovers. 

 

I found that small groups of riders with approximately the same speed self-organized into small groups of 5-7 over time. It was a pretty interesting dynamic.

Aside from the incredibly crummy weather (worst in at least 14 years, according to one of the bike club members I talked to), my only complaint was that some of the roads were pretty darn rough.

(Longer report at my blog, Mr. Pither.)

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on September 20, 2011 at 8:24pm

That's the main reason I used to do this ride.


Matt alluded to one of the ride's negatives; over the years I used to grind out a groove in the North Shore's asphalt on long rides, you could see traffic getting heavier and heavier year by year, until there were few 'pleasant' options left.  It's not really the EBC's fault but at  this point in time it's just not possible to lay out a 60+ course around the north suburbs without including some busy roads.

To EBC's credit it hasn't just up and moved the ride to a more rural start location like Harmon Hundred did, but I wouldn't be surprised if the idea came up every year in internal planning.

Randall J. Van Vynckt said:

Another thing in NSC's favor: If you live in the city or northern suburbs, you don't have to drive for two hours to the starting point like some of the other centuries. 

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