Josh and Kate, Thanks for the input. Someone else responded about the
looping idea:
"the need for support goes way down and confidence up". But your points are
valid.
The EPIC nature of the Purchase-Great Barrington ride is part of the
satisfaction of
accomplishing it. (We are EPIC ADVENTURE Lovers!) Plus we don't have to
drive far after
the finish. And I think that most of the traditional route isn't overlapping,
just some parts
are.

As Kate suggested, I'm already thinking about long training rides. I'd actually
like to train
part of the time ON the club's route, so that I know all the roads in advance.
But I'd also
enjoy using the suggested Alice/Wassaic loop as a 100 mi training ride in the
Spring.

I'm also thinking that as we train, we should probably work up to rides of 150
miles or
more, to get our tendons and muscles prepared. I'm slowly reading the
material that Lisa
Baker sent, and would like your thoughts on what the longest training rides
should be?

It's fun to look forward to this. Though as I finished the 66 mile ride last
week I was
thinking....man, ......200 miles is far!

Ave




--- In NYDoubleCentury@yahoogroups.com, "Katie Marshall" <kttrue@...> wrote:
>
> I agree with Josh. How about we do the century (adding the Wassaic loop)
> for practice?
>
> On Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 3:25 PM, Josh Salit <jsalit@...> wrote:
>
> > I prefer the route from SUNY, for a few reasons -
> >
> > 1) It's more "epic"...it just seems more fun and interesting to ride from
> > Purchase to MA and back.
> > 2) Even if there are 60 miles of other roads inbetween, I get somewhat
> > bored of riding the same roads 3x.
> > 3) When I'm done, I don't want to have to drive another 90-100 minutes to
> > get home. :)
> >
> > just my 2 cents..
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 2:30 PM, Avram Karel <avram53@...>wrote:
> >
> >> Last Sunday, I did 66 mile Alice's Restaurant loop from Salisbury, CT
> >> to Stockbridge, MA
> >> and back. The ride goes through Great Barrington on the way back to
> >> Salisbury.
> >> Victor Urvantsev and Katie Marshall did an additional loop down to Wassaic
> >> train station
> >> and back to Salisbury. Victor has suggested that a combination of these
> >> nice loops equals
> >> about 100 miles. Or the Alice route times 3 equals a Double Century.
> >>
> >> The Alice 66 mi. loop had 3123 of elevation, or about 47.3 feet of
> >> climbing per mile.
> >> I think the traditional Double Century is 200 miles with about 8000 feet
> >> of climbing, or 40
> >> feet per mile, a little less than the Alice ride.
> >>
> >> Clearly, it's best if we use the flattest route with the least amt. of
> >> elevation in order to
> >> manage a full 200 miles.
> >>
> >> Doing the traditional route spreads us out over a long distance, whereas
> >> doing a loop such
> >> as Alice ride keeps us in a certain region (for spouses or friends who
> >> sag.....they could
> >> spend the day enjoying the area as a possibility)
> >>
> >> Doing the traditional route allows us to start locally in Purchase.
> >>
> >> The traditional route will have more traffic on Rt. 22 but does offer some
> >> very nice sections
> >> above Pawling.
> >>
> >> What's the opinion of other B Pace riders? Would you vote to keep the
> >> original route from
> >> Purchase to Great Barrington or consider an alternative route for our
> >> Double Century?
> >>
> >> I also welcome thoughts and suggestions from A paced riders or others.
> >>
> >> Best, Ave
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>