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 Billy Poore on September 20, 2011 at 7:54am
Nice trail.
Permalink Reply by Jared on September 20, 2011 at 7:54am
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 8:18am

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 Anne Alt on September 20, 2011 at 9:15am

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 10:12am
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 10:15am
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 10:21am

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 10:46am

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 mike w. on September 20, 2011 at 2:52pm

A few thoughts:

The streets of Waukegan and North Chicago seem to be paved with glass... i've never seen so many punctures on a ride. However, i will say that many riders seemed woefully unprepared for tyre mishaps: no spare, patchkit, or pump.

Another thing folks had a problem with was snakebite flats from hitting holes. These seemed to particularly plague users of 19-23mm wide tyres.

 

The roads out of Gurnee up to the state line on the northbound leg were particularly rough and somewhat surprisingly heavily trafficked for a sunday -Church crowds? Folks speeding home from the liquor stores to catch the kickoff? Who knows? But for the most part, the auto traffic wasn't so bad- at least to me, when i compare it to what i face on my daily commute.

 

i don't know where you were, but i saw a LOT of sag wagons. Many of them were fully engaged in rescuing victims of flats, crashes, and rain chill.

 

A lot of folks would've done well  to have checked the weather forecast, which called for showers all afternoon. i saw a lot of riders who had no raingear.

 

The food at the stops was typical of most rides, and god has yet to grow a banana that i can eat, but the peanut butter and cream cheese and soup were fine. i was teasing that the Spider Monkeys descended like locusts on the vittles and left little for the slow folks like myself, but that was just joshing.

 

My only (minor) gripe is the zigzags the route takes through Zion and the northernmost towns. i got a hoot out of the Zion cop shadowing the route seeming to troll for stop sign violators (but maybe i was just  imagining things.)

 

And, BTW, i did see a pretty clear road mark where  the 100 & 70 mi routes split. One needs to keep careful watch for markings but also check the maps provided at the start and rest stops.

 

Altogether, it was a well-run show, and a big THANKS! to all the organisers and support people. i'm not sure some riders fully appreciate the hard work that goes into putting on such an event.

 

See you at the Apple Cider this coming weekend.

Permalink Reply by mike w. on September 20, 2011 at 3:12pm

An additional thought:

Some riders need to brush up on their etiquette. i get it that i'm a slowpoke, and there are people trying to do some serious speedwork, but it isn't a race, people. SO if you're about to overhaul a slower rider or two who just might be out for a leisurely cruise, would it KILL you to call an on-your-left, or grunt, or cough or something so you don't startle  the bejesus out of them? AND pass out of arm's length? You want cars to give you three feet, at least give another rider the same courtesy. i very nearly knocked more than one guy down as they passed practically on my shoulder because i never heard them (i am a just little deaf,) and i was in mid turn or evading a road hazard at the moment.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 20, 2011 at 7:15pm
A LOT of faster riders need to brush up on their etiquette when riding ANYWHERE.  It would be great if they would call out before passing, instead of nearly clipping the person they're passing without warning.

mike w. said:

An additional thought:

Some riders need to brush up on their etiquette. i get it that i'm a slowpoke, and there are people trying to do some serious speedwork, but it isn't a race, people. SO if you're about to overhaul a slower rider or two who just might be out for a leisurely cruise, would it KILL you to call an on-your-left, or grunt, or cough or something so you don't startle  the bejesus out of them? AND pass out of arm's length? You want cars to give you three feet, at least give another rider the same courtesy. i very nearly knocked more than one guy down as they passed practically on my shoulder because i never heard them (i am a just little deaf,) and i was in mid turn or evading a road hazard at the moment.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 20, 2011 at 7:20pm

I've planned routes for similar events.  You have no idea how challenging it is to find a route that will be suitable for various categories of riders AND reasonably smooth when you're planning months in advance for a big ride.  Sometimes construction (last minute or known in advance), a festival, or other obstacle may force a change from what might have been a better street.  I appreciate the effort that EBC has made over the years on this ride.

Matt Campbell said:
Lest anyone think I'm coming down on the whole thing, I did enjoy the ride overall. I think some of the roads were pretty rough as another poster mentioned, but as yet another person mentioned it's probably pretty hard to lay out a route that is going to be smooth sailing the whole way.

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