So.. What did you folks think of the Montauk century? Do you feel you got your 62, or 72 dollars worth?
Montauk Century...
Mon, 05/19/2003 - 6:38am
Mon, 05/19/2003 - 8:58am
#1
special thanks to
I thought it was much tougher this year. The headwind was the stiffest I've ever encountered in my two years of riding it.
Special thanks to the 5 other riders from my C-sig who finished the 100 mile route with me: Lori, Tracy, Mark, Ronald, and David. We hung together really well as a group - it wouldn't have been any fun without you.
Mon, 05/19/2003 - 9:13am
#2
I did the Penn Station -> Montauk option. For the money
you get five rest stations with portosans and food and
drink. One had ice cream (what a mistake!). You also get
a zillion (but still not enough) pointers painted on the
road. At the finish was a pasta meal and a shower, though
trickle is a better word for what they had. Finally, you
get train transportation for you and truck transportation
for your bike back. Given that whatever profit they make
supports the 5bbc, the price seemed reasonable.
The ride was urban grunge for the first 30 miles, then
suburban stop lights for the next 30, then clear sailing
the rest of the way. After mile 90, someone turned on the
headwind that reduced this powerful A rider to a sub
15 mi/h and slower. It could have been nature's way of
getting me to enjoy the scenery a bit longer.
I would definitely do it next year.
Mon, 05/19/2003 - 1:34pm
#3
"""The easiest century"""
Yeah right!
I would take hills any day over that headwind!
Mon, 05/19/2003 - 1:55pm
#4
East wind...
...extremly rare on a sunny day. East wind with clouds is a little more common, but not much. Prevailing winds in our area are all out of the west - SW, NW, etc. It may not make you feel any better about yesterday but the likelihood of it happening again next year is slim.
Mon, 05/19/2003 - 5:25pm
#5
Not so sure!
Two years ago there were headwinds for the whole ride. Last year there was a tailwind. In 2000 and 2001 it was sunny with clear skies and temperatures were on the low side, but the wind direction was opposite each year. But I've not lived here for that long, so I have to take your word that last year's conditions were, perhaps, more normal.
Mon, 05/19/2003 - 6:10pm
#6
Guaranteed head wind
As I understand it, a head wind on the Montauk Century is one of the few things in life you can count on.
The only time I have heard of that there wasn't a head wind, or rain, or both was in 2002. That was when I was cycling on the west coast of Ireland, in winds ranging from 15-60 mph. I'm sure there's a connection.
Mon, 05/19/2003 - 6:49pm
#7
Yup, it's you ;^/
I have fond memories of screaming easterlies - 30 minute roundtrip sailboard crossings of Great South Bay including 4 - 6 foot swells, insane airtime, and similarly insane wipeouts. Westerlies are the general rule, though, except perhaps on Montauk Century Days when Carol Wood is riding.
Tue, 05/20/2003 - 3:02pm
#8
Always a headwind in Ireland
When riding in Ireland, you are always into a headwind, no matter which way it's blowing and which direction you're riding in. And, if you're really lucky, it will be accompanied by horizontal rain - guaranteed in Conomara.
And, if you want real confusion, Ireland is the place to be. On road signs, distances are in kilometres and speed limit signs are in miles an hour. But, despite all that the EU has tried to do, and despite all the grants made to the Emerald Isle, Ireland still sells Guinness by the pint. Thank God! If it's a really good pint, you need to order the next one as soon as you get to the half way mark on the first. That way, by the time you finish the pint, the next one will be ready.
And if this isn't way off subject, I don't know what is.
Cheers!
Tue, 05/20/2003 - 6:28pm
#9
All headwinds, all the time...
... Central Park.
Tue, 05/20/2003 - 10:05am
#10
All wind is headwind....almost
Actually, the wind needs to be directly behind you, or within 15 degrees to the left or right of that, in order to be of any benefit. Anything else, and you're working against it. This is because of the vector between the wind you generate by riding and the natural wind. (Someone who actually passed HS physics - I didn't - could probably explain it better).
So, out of a possible 360 degrees of wind direction, you're fighting it for 330. Yep, life isn't fair.
Mon, 05/19/2003 - 8:13pm
#11
MONTALK
I have done the Montalk 4 times. Only one time out of four were the winds blowing out of the west.Last year was the first year I had a tailwind. When a storm is approaching on Long Island, the wind usually shifts out of the east. Three out of four times it was raining or about to rain when we had winds out of the east. Also, during the late spring and summer months the wind shift out of the south east. Years ago I had a small sail boat and I remember letting my sail out to grab the southeastern winds.
Harvey
Tue, 05/20/2003 - 8:49pm
#12
Montauk
It was a great ride. Lots of smooth riding and a bit challenging at the end. It was my first Century, so the sense of accomplishment was worth the cost.
Lori
