TFCE 2014. A Great Day and a Great 102 mile Ride

It could have been hot, humid, or rainy, but it wasn't. The weather was absolutely perfect for the 2014 " The Flattest Century in the East " ride, out of Dartmouth, Massachusetts. The day before, Helen and I took the Cross Sound Ferry from Orient Point on Long Island to New London, Connecticut. We then drove to Dartmouth Massachusetts, the home of UMASS Dartmouth, where we stayed overnight. The trip through the North Fork of Long Island was scenic, with flowers in abundance.

Our friends from Boston, Ron and Phyllis, met us at the starting area. From there, the girls went to Newport, Rhode Island for the day, and Ron and I tackled the Century with 2,000 of our closest friends. I have to let everybody know that this century is flattish to rolling, but NOT FLAT! There is about 2,800 feet of vertical climbing overall. Lots of it was long and gentle, with no serious steep climbs. 

Ron was riding his new Trek Domaine 2, and I was riding my trusty 12 year old LOOK KG 381i. The coastal scenery was often spectacular. We had lunch at the 50 mile mark at a local deli/bakery, and the sandwiches were delicious, lots better than the general century PB&J. 

One problem that I had was that all along the route, there were lots of great beaches and swimming opportunities. It took a great amount of concentration to keep on the route at times.

At the end of the day, Ron and I got our commerative T shirts, and drove to Newport, Rhode Island, where we met the girls for a terrific seafood dinner at The Moorings. The Newport Storm Amber Ale was quite tasty, and went well with local clams on the half shell.  All in all, the day was perfect.