2012 Covered Bridge Bicycle Tour. Sunday August 12th

[Brian C]

Albany, Oregon just off the I5 freeway at the Linn County Fairgrounds on the East side of the freeway

Sunday August 12th

Covered Bridge Bicycle Tour

http://www.mvbc.com/event-CBBT.html

We'll be there for our 11th CBBT.

This is a nice ride that takes in 5 covered bridges in 101 miles. Shorter options of 40, 68 and and 85 miles are available with less covered bridges. About 3800 feet of elevation gain for the century but you truly don’t feel it. 5 rest stops with tons of food. Sandwiches at rest stop #3 in Roaring River Park, which is a nice change from typical rest stop food.

The vast majority of this course is basically flat and easy and takes in numerous roads used in other centuries such as the Strawberry Century earlier this year and the Peach of a Century in September.

Climbing occurs between rest stop #1 and 2, about 2-miles of climbing at 4 percent with flat sections along the way. Nothing super hard. Then there is a short killer climb of 13+ percent just before rest stop #2. This is a grunt of a climb.

After rest stop #3 (lunch at Roaring River) you have back to back (stair step) 11 percent climbs right out of the park but they are short. Total length for the two climbs is 1.9 miles including the false flat between the two climbs. Continue to Bellinger Scale Road, and then head into Lebanon by taking Mt Hope/Golden Valley Drive and its 1-mile climb at 9 percent prior to coming in to rest stop #4 in Lebanon.

After rest stop #4 you are really done with the climbs as you begin your journey back to Albany on a few of the roads used in the Strawberry Century. There are some rollers but nothing really hard and of little significance. All of these roads are very quiet with mostly limited traffic, and offer up wonderful views of nice farmlands and the surrounding rolling hills.

The last 13 or so miles after rest stop #5 is usually into headwinds. Last year the winds were managable and not the hard hot winds that can sometimes come along.

This is a very nice century on quiet roads. If you enjoy the Strawberry Century you should enjoy this one as well.

[Brian C]

Finished up a somewhat hot at the finish 12th CBBT on Sunday.

The day started off fine but by rides end the temps topped out at 94 degrees. I saw several riders sitting in the shade of trees along the final 13 miles trying to cool down.

As always the sandwiches made up by the volunteers at the 51 mile rest stop were good, to go along with tons of other food here.

Ice at the 69 mile rest stop to put in your water bottles was also a nice touch.

Yours truly took advantage of the mist sprayer at the 88 mile rest stop to stand in it and cool down along with watermelon and cantaloupe to get the fluids back up.

600 riders enjoyed the day along with the great volunteers and sag support along the course.

Up next, the countless hills of the Portland Century. Lets hope for a cooler day.