Saturday (08/30) Century - 6:00 AM

[Mark Longwell]

Welling- I am interested. Might you want to do a 50 mile loop from Acton - flat, fast and scenic. Acton, Maynard, Sudbury, Weston, Lincoln, Bedofrd, Concord, Carlisle. We can do it two times. We can meet in Acton like we did two weeks ago.....

[Red]

I might be interested in meeting you guys somewhere on that loop. I plan on sleeping in a little though and could meet you for loop two? Would be riding out from Watertown.

[Mark Longwell]

Welling- see you then- directions below:

As for the start- the AB High School complex is massive. The best place to meet there is come in via the entrance on Rte 111 (about 400 yards from the intersection of 27 and 111)

Turn in by the tennis courts that are right on 111- just behind the tennis courts is a parking lot that is attached to the junior high ( part of the same HS complex) Park there. You will know you are in the right spot- because across the street in the complex is a carnival set up in another parking lot.

[Pattie]

Didn't we meet at 6:30 last time? Mark, Where is 25 miles so Della can meet us?

Pattie

[Mark Longwell]

25 miles is right around Lincoln Center +/- The Lincoln Library in Lincoln Center on Trapelo Road would be a good meeting place- 7:15 AM or so...... we actually go right behind the library- but if we know Della is coing we can make the 300 yard detour to pick her up- right before the biggest hill on the loop:)

[Mark Longwell]

Pattie- when you go to Kona- you willbe up at 5 AM- so this is good training for you:) Se you at 6 on Saturday.......

[Mark Longwell]

25 miles is right around Lincoln Center +/- The Lincoln Library in Lincoln Center on Trapelo Road would be a good meeting place- 7:15 AM or so...... we actually go right behind the library- but if we know Della is coming we can make the 300 yard detour to pick her up- right before the biggest hill on the loop:)

[rusto]

If I can drag my bones out of bed Saturday morning, I'll join you all at ABHS. Question: will there be any planned water stops along the way or should I plan to carry all needed water?

[Mark Longwell]

Rusto- the loop is 50 miles- we can fill back up in Acton when we start the second loop- so two bottles should do it. It is a relatively easy 50 mile loop- one tough hill in Lincoln Center.. but other than that- flat to rolling.. a fun ride.......

[Mark Longwell]

The map is in my head:) It is actually The Lions Club 50 miler that they ride in June as a fund raiser. Fello MRC'er Brian Lentrichia has market out a nice course- we will be following white "L's" on the road. Only one real hill in Lincoln, a few rollers, generally a nice course. I picked this for tomorrow as I am having some knee troubles- and getting out of the saddle on hills has not been friendly to me......

[Pattie]

Della is in for the full century. Lynn and Crystal will join us for the second 50.

Pattie

[BLentrichia]

I delayed going out becasue of the hard drizzle at 5:30, not so much due to the wimp factor (which I AM often guilty of these days) but I just went through my third bottom bracket from corrosion - someting about titanium and aluminum contact with water. I was thinking the Peperell loop but since I road it last weekend I'll try to catch you all at the Lincoln library. Radar says this is local. Hope you had fun!

[rusto]

Such a bummer about your wheel, Welling... be sure and give me some feedback on that Kyserium, I'm considering getting a pair next year.

Here's what happened after we reluctantly left you:

Made pretty good time into Weston. The one big hill in Lincoln, for all it's billing beforehand, isn't that much to tackle as you can carry alot of speed from the preceding descent into it. There is a moderate climb just before that. We wound our way up through Hanscom and into Concord, missing a few L's painted on the road and so had to pedal back and get back on the route again. The roads seemed to be drying out a bit as we got into Carlisle.

Matt, I hope you found your way back to your car without incident!

We clipped off one corner of the route to get back to Rte. 27 a bit quicker so we could return to ABHS sooner for the riders who were to join us for the second loop. We must have got there at about 9:30. John, Lynn and Crystal were suited up and ready to go, so after a quick drink and bottle refill we were off again, less Mark who wanted to take it easy on his knee.

So the six of us made the second loop in much better weather: bright overcast, some clear sky, little wind. Our little group rubber-banded here and there but mostly we stayed together most of the way around. We missed some of the same turns in Concord and Carlisle that we missed the first time, hehe. I think Pattie, Della and I have it down pretty well now. My body was definitely starting to rebel during the last 10 miles or so.

Got back to the start in 5' 22" or so with mileage at 98 miles and change, according to my numbers. Great ride everyone!

[Mark Longwell]

Events of the day:

* I got there late as I left my water bottles in the house
* Welling flats after 1/2 mile
* BTW- its raining............
* Patti has trouble seeing the "L's" on the road:)
* Welling almost joins the Weston woods mano a mano- but avoids it (see his post and the consequences)
* Matt mentons to me that "its OK if you drop me, I can follow the L's". Hmm.... Matt- hope all was well after Hanscom Air Force Base. We really aren't bad people- we just like to go fast:)
* Two dropped chains....
* The people who went ahead of me missed a few "L's" and I had to yell at them from behind:) (Local knowledge is good!!)
* We get back to the partking lot and squirted by ABHS car wash going on next to our cars

And that was just the drama after the first 50 miles. My knee was OK- but discretion is the better part of valor. It will be fine.........

Pattie (you are looking strong for Kona- just mind the plate glass walls) - and Welling- next week I am in for 100+

Enjoy Labor Day........

[rusto]