Sunday, August 03, 2008

SCU's - Lake Nockamixon Century
















On Sunday, August 24, ride the SCU Lake Nockamixon Century, starting from Central Bucks South High School, 1100 Folly Road, Warrington, PA 18976 4 Miles from the SEPTA R5 Del Val College Station. Ride scenic routes in Bucks County of 25, 50, 75, or 100 miles over rolling terrain with a few hills. A hilly 107-mile Intensive Climbing Unit century route is also being offered. All riders will visit picturesque Lake Galena in Peace Valley Park. 50-to-107-mile riders will also visit our well-stocked rest stop at scenic Lake Nockamixon.

Registration: $20 (SCU members), $25 (non-members) by August 22. Registration on the day of the event will be available for $20 (SCU members) or $30 (non-members)

Children under 12 ride for free. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Register online at:
http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=6795
or download the brochure from:
http://www.suburbancyclists.org/documents/30253_SCU.pdf

If you have a slow Internet connection or just need a mail-in registration form, download the one-page flyer:
http://www.suburbancyclists.org/documents/2008_Nock_Flyer.pdf


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Given all the hype for this ride, I was very disappointed. The century route doubled back on itself, for starters, seemingly just to make up miles. Although the food at the rest stops was quite plentiful and included the requisite bananas and fruits, the bulk included processed and home baked goods, supplying ineffective nutrition. A better use of the effort for food could have been to provide more water stations and additional toilets, especially at the Nockamixon stop, with one toilet for men and the wait for water being over 5 minutes. The excessive waits lengthened the day, which required volunteers to keep subsequent rest stops open late, making some irritable. Most of the volunteers were extremely friendly and helpful, but, of course, there were a few with attitude about how long it was taking riders to complete the course. Some of the short-comings could have been corrected by opening registration 15 before the start time and adjusting the close time of some of the rest stops. The cue sheet was good, with just a few changes in road names not noted. "Early warning" road markings in advance of intersections often came too late. (-A 30-year rider)

Anonymous said...

It seems you can't please everyone. The ride this year was great, my first time. It went off smoothly and the food was good and abundant. The markings were fine as well. A big "thank you" to the volunteers and organizers for putting on a fine event.

JM - thanks for adding the # of years of riding. I didn't think it was credible post until I saw that... quit whining

Anonymous said...

JM - Thanks for your feedback on SCU's ride this past weekend. I have been the route coordinator for the Nock Century for the past 8 years and except for high speed decents leading into a turn I prefer to put markings closer to a stop sign to encourage riders to slow and not Blow said traffic control devices. The century does not double back to make up miles but to utilize the same beautiful rest stop at Nockamixon twice. There are 2 urinals there in addition to the pooper but I guess those home baked good made you do #2. If you want to pick up the pace next year you can grab my wheel - I did the 107 at an Ave. of 19.9 with the help of my Guys Racing teammates. It was only 6000+ feet of climbing but with your 30yrs riding experience that pace should be fine. Hope to see you in 2009! - Ed Hein

Anonymous said...

More with the hype, Ed? Let me offer a word of advice: When someone writes you a comment, accept it, consider it and move on. There is no need to defend yourself. And there is certainly no need for sarcasm and insult.

But since you went there, let me be perfectly clear and blunt. Your road markings came too late. Being a participant in countless rides in countless states over the years, I and others like me have come to enjoy and expect a certain standard to road markings, which yours did not meet. You were creating more of the hazards that you intended to prevent. But I am sure you spend most of your time racing at the velodrome and don’t get out much to experience great rides worthy of hype. I understand that you wanted to slow down the other racers who were engaging in pacelines and speeding through the course. And I am sure that you and your team were not among them, knowing how dangerous a paceline is on the open road and how inappropriate they are in a public ride.

But I digress. Back to the hype. If a ride is called the “Lake Nockamixon Century,” one would anticipate that the ride takes advantage of Lake Nockamixon. One would expect more than a rest stop in the parking lot of a boat launch with vehicles and trailers trying to enter and exit through a sea of bikes. It would have been nice if a rest stop were actually at a lake-side location on Lake Nockamixon and not at one with the lake 100 yards away. It also would have been nice if the route incorporated vistas of Lake Nockamixon. It is a beautiful lake; it was a disappointment others on the “Lake Nockamixon Century” could not appreciate Lake Nockamixon for the beauty that it is.

I believe the hype also mentioned visiting “picturesque” Lake Galena, which, again, we saw in the distance through the trees from another parking lot.

It would have been nice if the ride were presented more accurately and with less hype. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it; I was just disappointed. My expectations were higher of a group that has produced the same ride for 30 years.

Oh, by the way, don’t worry, Ed. I do not eat processed food, nor did I have any of the baked goods, laden with shortening and white flour. I did, however, enjoy a hearty, whole grain breakfast at 5:00, which, as you can expect, brought on the need for a toilet by 10:30. But if you are eating junk food, I can see how your intestines are so clogged up that you may only process food once a day.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I know the effort required, the restrictions encountered and the logistics involved to produce a ride and I commend your club. The first half of the route was very scenic and enjoyable, passing though Stover Park, around Upper Black Eddy and through Haycock Township. I guess you found a need, though, to get in some open road training since you are on the track all day, which is why the route trekked through suburbia into Montgomery County and up Dietz Hills and back rather than enjoy more of scenic Upper Bucks County. But maybe that would be too challenging for you. Personally, I get in my 40-mile training rides with 3100 feet of climbs during the week. So, do the math - the 6000-foot century was a walk in the park, not that I find any need to quote stats.

Nor do I find any need to pick up my pace, if I choose to do the ride next year. You are assuming I had difficulty on the course, which is anything but the truth. But it is nice to be able to enjoy these rides, not to be delayed at the rest stops, to socialize a little, to express appreciation to the volunteers and to enjoy the view. After all, it’s not a race, right? So feel free to ride with me next year. I certainly don’t need to grab anyone else’ wheel to finish. Maybe you will learn a little about group riding, trail blazing and nutrition.

Please accept these comments, consider them and move on. They include plenty enough sarcasm for both of us.

Oh, by the way, to “Anonymous #1:” You might consider raising your expectations in life; and of yourself and the respect you show others.

Anonymous said...

Haaa, gotta love it. JM, how about manning up and organizing a ride. While you're at it how about posting your documented cycling accomplishments.

As always the posers run their mouths and the performers let their actions speak for them.

My guess, base on your poor tact and negative disposition, it any atitude from voluteers was a reflection of you.

Anonymous said...

You have got to be kidding me!
So, who are you posing for??
While I choose to maintain my privacy, suffice to say that I have earned my stripes as a ride leader and organizer. Currently, I am offering my services to a non-profit group for their young ride.