Marin Century
77 views
Skip to first unread message
John Murphy
Jul 31, 2023, 1:17:45 AM7/31/23
to sf...@googlegroups.com
Anyone doing this ride?
Russ
Jul 31, 2023, 11:09:36 AM7/31/23
to SF2G
Not this year. Have done it the past few and really like it. Great organization, beautiful route, ample food/supplies. Mostly, a really great day in the saddle. Few things to be ready for: the drive into the parking lot sometimes gets backed-up, there's a descent or two that is pretty steep with a few turns to make it tricky with various skill levels, it can get hot.
On Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 10:17:45 PM UTC-7 John Murphy wrote:
Anyone doing this ride?
djconnel
Jul 31, 2023, 7:08:28 PM7/31/23
to SF2G
I've not been on this group for a long time.... since I haven't commuted for a long time.
A few random comments:
1. the road bike market in the US seems to have absolutely tanked. There's less than half the number of bike shops there once were, and you're lucky to find any high-end road bikes in the shops that are left. The domestic road racing scene has really dropped off. I wonder how the century circuit is surviving.
2. I do see Marin Century has a new start location, and the Mt Tam Double has been discontinued, unfortunately.
Sadly virtually all of my riding has been on the trainer. My outdoor exercise is basically all running. The ongoing problem of rider safety doesn't help. Part of this was triggered by COVID19 which basically stopped all in-person group activities for a year, and part is probably just getting older.
A few random comments:
1. the road bike market in the US seems to have absolutely tanked. There's less than half the number of bike shops there once were, and you're lucky to find any high-end road bikes in the shops that are left. The domestic road racing scene has really dropped off. I wonder how the century circuit is surviving.
2. I do see Marin Century has a new start location, and the Mt Tam Double has been discontinued, unfortunately.
Sadly virtually all of my riding has been on the trainer. My outdoor exercise is basically all running. The ongoing problem of rider safety doesn't help. Part of this was triggered by COVID19 which basically stopped all in-person group activities for a year, and part is probably just getting older.
John Murphy
Jul 31, 2023, 7:23:39 PM7/31/23
to sf...@googlegroups.com
Mostly I was just trolling for carpool partner...
I did the 50M ride last year, and have done the Marin Century a great many times.
Stafford Lake was the start last year as well, I've started at 4 different locations over the years, Marin Civic, the school on Las Gallinas, and at least one more. The last ride before COVID we did their Gravel Grinder which had pretty good attendance, but that's gone, and last year there was a 50k and a 50M, now just a 100k and 2 century routes. Marin Cyclists is probably just chasing parking and permits.
It's definitely settled down from Levi's Gran Fondo selling out 7000 slots the first couple years.
Note the Sequoia Century was flat out cancelled this year, due to 84 being washed out just above Portola Road.
I did the Palo Alto Noon Ride about a Month ago, the size wasn't substantially bigger or smaller than I recalled but the average age has to be 15-20 years higher than when I did it 15-20 years ago - e.g. it's the exact same people who I rode with back then and no new younger folks. Basically seems that there was a boom in the Armstrong years concurrent with the boom in Triathlons, and those people are still doing it but the people who would be following them in age groups are out playing League of Legends.
Who knows. There's still a pretty solid critical mass.
Stafford Lake was the start last year as well, I've started at 4 different locations over the years, Marin Civic, the school on Las Gallinas, and at least one more. The last ride before COVID we did their Gravel Grinder which had pretty good attendance, but that's gone, and last year there was a 50k and a 50M, now just a 100k and 2 century routes. Marin Cyclists is probably just chasing parking and permits.
It's definitely settled down from Levi's Gran Fondo selling out 7000 slots the first couple years.
Note the Sequoia Century was flat out cancelled this year, due to 84 being washed out just above Portola Road.
I did the Palo Alto Noon Ride about a Month ago, the size wasn't substantially bigger or smaller than I recalled but the average age has to be 15-20 years higher than when I did it 15-20 years ago - e.g. it's the exact same people who I rode with back then and no new younger folks. Basically seems that there was a boom in the Armstrong years concurrent with the boom in Triathlons, and those people are still doing it but the people who would be following them in age groups are out playing League of Legends.
Who knows. There's still a pretty solid critical mass.
-----You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SF2G" group.To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to sf2g+uns...@googlegroups.com.To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sf2g/2626d2df-31db-45e7-b47c-1fe0a5a433e4n%40googlegroups.com.
djconnel
Aug 1, 2023, 12:45:12 PM8/1/23
to SF2G
Ironically I scheduled the final 20 km of the old Marin Century Vallecito Elementary School finish for the Wahoo/RGT virtual race series I organize into September.
The route starts near Nicasio and climbs Lucas Valley Road.
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages