Southern Ontario Century Ride

This weekend I participated in the “ Southern Ontario Century Ride “ put on by Cycle Canada. They have a few different ride options for the weekend I chose the 160 km ride from York University to Alliston, I wanted to test the legs and body to see if the spring training had worked , after all I only have 23 more days to get in shape if not !!!

Arrived early Saturday morning this year ( I had done this ride last year also but didn’t start till 9 ) signed in with Bud and collected my map and was on the road by 8.20. It was just a beautiful sunny morning, 25 degrees and a light breeze. Early in the ride I met up with some riders and was passed by others eventually I hooked up with Peter who was riding at my pace and we stayed together for the rest of the ride , near Kettleby Mike joined us making us a trio .

It wasn’t long into the ride that we realized that the pleasant breeze we started the morning with was in reality a good strong head wind coming right at us from the north, it was relentless and stayed with us the whole trip, and it didn’t mater if we were going east or west either it still was there impeding our progress, but we persisted and Peter who was only going to do the 100 ended up doing the 160 with Mike and I !!!, we felt especially good about this as some younger riders opted out of the long ride because of the wind and we persisted. 

It was a very social ride for the first 100 as we kept meeting fellow participants , stopping for snacks and a chat at the side of the road or at a great little pizzeria in Bradford were I think we all ended up stopping for lunch and eating on the out-door patio. The pizza slices were huge and one order was actually two slices , Peter had ordered 2 slices and ended up with half a pizza !!!!

It was hot , 30 degrees and we made a number of stops to top up our bottles with water and Gatorade or any available power drink . We went through Innisfill and were envious of all the people heading to the beach , the water looked very inviting !!!

Eventually at 5.13 we pulled into the campground  in Alliston after 170 km!!!! ( 7 hours 28 minutes in the saddle ), very satisfied and hungry, there were bananas and watermelon waiting and  dinner wasn't long in coming . Peter and Mike were staying but I was going home as I left it too late to arrange accommodations, so Evelyn came up to get me and had dinner with us .

I met a lot of fellow riders including Mark who will be doing the Tour with me this year , it’s actually going to be his second go at it !!!!

Sunday Evelyn dropped me at the Nottawasaga Inn ( our starting point ) were I met up with Peter and Mike and around 8 AM we headed out back down to the University. It was another bright sunny day , we all were covering ourselves in sun cream as we burnt the day before !!! 

No wind today ( to start ) but HOT !!! , my bike thermometer constantly read between 32 to 35 degrees !!!. We were all feeling good so we moved along at a good pace, but there was no escaping the heat and lots of water was purchased . As we came into Stroud looking for a store we heard the sound of bag-pipes and found the player at the local church which was celebrating it 101 anniversary, we stopped in the shade of an old maple to listen and take some pictures and then had a nice chat with the player. 

Lunch was again in Branford but this time indoors enjoying the air-conditioning !!!!, when we came back out to the bikes my thermometer read 43 degrees !!!! ( we had left them by the window in the full sun so we could watch them ) 

The last 20 km put us back together with a head wind but by then we were determined and just pushed hard to the University arriving at 4.16  after 160 km !!!! ( 6 hours 49 minutes in the saddle ) Bud and Margot were there waiting for us , we were the last in but I think the only ones to do the 160. And once again bananas and watermelon to snack on. 

(from left to right , Mike, Peter, myself.

It was a very enjoyable two days , we traveled some very scenic roads and through some very picturesque towns , saw lots of old cars and a line of very nicely restored model Ts that honked and waved at us as we crossed. My riding buddies were great company and I found that my legs were up to the challenge , the only part of me that ended up a bit sore was my bottom and now I’m going to go back to the Tour du Canada forums and read up on “bottom lubes” !!!!

330 kilometers was the weekend total !!!

A special thanks to Bud and Margot for putting on a great event, I really enjoyed this ride and am looking forward to the Tour !!!