2026 Ride the Rivers Century on October 3.
Two years ago, I knocked out the beginning of the route very easily because I got into a fast moving peloton. Getting started on time is critical for that. I want to do it again, if I can.
4:00 Shower, Shave, Dress 5:00 Leave House, Get Breakfast at McDonald's Tesson Ferry 6:00 Plan to Arrive 6:45 On-site Registration Ends 7:00 Rolling Start
The Castelli Endurance 3 Bibshort includes their best chamois, their Progetto X2 Air Seamless seat pad. These are still my best long-ride shorts.
I will have ridden 1800 miles this year prior to the Century. That's better than last year, but I also sluffed off riding this past winter. Fitness-wise, I think I'm in good shape. Endurance-wise, I guess we'll see.
I have lately become capable of producing and maintaining more power, but it hasn't been consistent or predictable, and not for anything like 100 miles.
Again, I am planning to ingest a ton of energy gels. Unlike last year, I will eschew the provided lunch. I will plan for one GU gel every 30 minutes, starting 60 minutes into the ride. My longest elapsed time was 9½ hours, so that's 18 GU gels. Let's call it 20.
Plus 2 pickle juice shots, it pretty well fills up my handlebar bag. Of course, I can transfer a bunch of gels to my jersey pockets.
Route (prelimnary): Ride with GPS: 2026 Ride the Rivers Century
This year's route is completely new. It is super flat. That's ironic, because I am much better prepared for climbs this year. Whatever.
Ride with GPS calls it 97.5 miles. I'm not going to stop until I have ridden 100 miles.
Stops en-Route:
Mile 15.4: McKinley Bridge Roadside Park
Mile 32.2: SIUE Trailside Parking Lot
Mile 46.9: Goshen Trailhead (just before Hwy 162 bridge)
Mile 67.3: Cahokia Mounts
Mile 82.1: McKinley Bridge Roadside Park (again)
Mile 97.5: Finish (Spanish Lake Park)