Amtrak Signups Open This Sunday! 6/15, ride is 9/6

[back of the pack]

Originally Posted by bvader

I am in with my wife (Tandem), chose to pay by check cause got burned one year with the CC reg not working. It will be fun.

I did too, "checks in the mail", or at least it will be soon.

[bvader]

Originally Posted by back of the pack

I did too, "checks in the mail", or at least it will be soon.

Just mailed in on the breakfast run.

[Pugz]

I registered, now it's time to train.

[dirtmistress]

Originally Posted by Pugz

I registered, now it's time to train.

Have you ever done a century? This will be a great one!! And how fun to come back on the train. wooo-wooo!!
Bicycling Mag has century training schedules and I'm sure People here can help out!! Do you own a road bike?
If I decide to do this, I'll have to wait till it gets closer and maybe snag a ticket someone is trying to sell.

[Pugz]

I just got a road bike the other day (Wednesday). I did a century a long time ago (in a galaxy far far away), but what better way to get back then to just jump in and this way I'll get to meet some other STR Riders I don't normally get to ride with.

[Letyrides]

Ok I know I said I didn't want to do this again but I just signed up. I have a road bike I haven't touched since my triathlon and it needs to be dusted off. Plus the cross training would be good. And who can refust an ice cream stop?! YUM! I'll be taking the train back on my own again but I won't be losing my money or credit card this time!

[Jordansrealm]

damn no bike

[bvader]

For the folks that signed up for this, it is a really great ride. Well supported and all about fun. You can bring an extra bag (clothes to change into) and a cooler which they truck down to SD and you can pick up after the ride. Needless to say the train ride back is errrr...fun and a bit rowdy...and yes you can put good things to drink in your cooler.

Oh and for anyone interested...we have ridden this ride so many times we actually don't do the whole 100 becuase the first 12-15 miles is just a loop around Irvine, we take the direct route to SD which is ~85... so we can start the fun as soon as possible

EDIT: Translated to readable english

[CC]

Bummer...the train ride back is sold out?? Hmmm, what other options are there?

[dirtmistress]

Originally Posted by CC

Bummer...the train ride back is sold out?? Hmmm, what other options are there?

Ride back or catch a later train or a train the next day.

[Pain Freak]

CC, I was told a friend signed me up, but if he didn't we can put something together for some of the folks who want to drive back. Or I heard from somebody last year they just went to the train station and bought a ticket for 15 dollars and left right then, no waiting around. I'll look into it. This really is such a fun ride.

[dirtmistress]

Mike, I'm really interested in doing this but didn't score a ticket.
Tickets can come up as people cancel later on.
I may do the High Siera century near Mammoth on that same date. Catch a bit of mountain biking and do the century.
I am also tempted to do this so I'm in wait and see mode at this time.
We used to ride from Long Beach down to SD and then ride back the next day. It was about 103 miles. I don't know the route though. I was a follower. Don't count me out though as I am tempted to do this!

[Wrecker]

I'll be 36 on Sept 6th; John and I are signed up--no ticket back. We'll have to find something else to do

[2wheel_lee]

Time for me to start training on the road again. My road bike still has the bike check tag on it from last year's Amtrak Century! No, I haven't ridden it since. Ko will also have to start training. The most she's done is about 40 miles...about a year ago.

Taking the normal (non-event) train back is actually a pretty good deal (I think it was $16 when I did that a couple years ago). The normal Amtrak even gets back to Irvine a bit quicker too, and you usually don't have to fight for a seat. Note that they limit the entries for the return train to 700? I think there are only 700 seats, so it can take some wheeling and dealing (or throwing elbows upon entry) to sit with your group.

Jordan...what do you mean you don't have a bike? There are lots of people who do this ride on mountain bikes...and many of them with full knobbies! Throw some slicks on that new Ellsworth, and you're good to fly. BTW, remember that Roubaix Expert Triple I told you about a while back? He still has it, and he wants to sell it for an even lower price (and it still hasn't been ridden).

[Letyrides]

I don't have a ticket back either. Same as last year. After getting my gear I walked over to Amtrak bought my ticket, I was lucky enough to get there about 10 mins. before a train was scheduled to depart so I walked right on and off home I went.

I registered for myself and Gabe hoping I could convince him but so far he doesn't really care to. If anyone is interested in his spot let me know within the next day or two before I send a check.

[bvader]

Hey we could always have a "pre-ride". Pick a Saturday and Ride from Irvine to SD or Solana beach and take the train back. I know the route by heart, would people be interested?

[Wrecker]

Originally Posted by Letyrides

I registered for myself and Gabe hoping I could convince him but so far he doesn't really care to. If anyone is interested in his spot let me know within the next day or two before I send a check.

Would peer pressure help?

If we all ride as a group down there, we can all hop on another train together--possibly sitting next to each other without the thrown elbows that Lee described.

And Jordan, please, no bike is no excuse. We all know you have a bike, just de-virginize the asphalt trail exposure and you're fine! I've seen plenty of people ride centuries on other than road bikes, and most have less skill than you!

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by Wrecker

If we all ride as a group down there, we can all hop on another train together--possibly sitting next to each other without the thrown elbows that Lee described.

You haven't seen how the train is boarded, have you? They call everyone to the loading area in advance, making everyone wait until they open the door, then when they open the doors, it's a mad rush getting inside as everyone is scampering to find a seat, let alone save seats for their friends. You have a better chance of getting a group seating if you wait at the train for a while in front of the mob.

I think Gabe is scared that he may not be able to finish.

[Wrecker]

I haven't seen the way they board the train, but based on your description, I thought that another train (ie, not the one that everyone from the Amtrack Century with train tix is going on) would be better. Do they board all trains like that? Will it be a mad dash afterwards no matter what? Or, like I said, can we avoid the elbows on another train?

[ohyeah89]

Originally Posted by Wrecker

I haven't seen the way they board the train, but based on your description, I thought that another train (ie, not the one that everyone from the Amtrack Century with train tix is going on) would be better. Do they board all trains like that? Will it be a mad dash afterwards no matter what? Or, like I said, can we avoid the elbows on another train?

Amtrak does board all trains like that (you wait along the track until the train pulls up), it's much like waiting for a bus and boarding like that except with multiple doors/cars. The mad dash only occurs when there are a lot of people waiting. I don't know which amtrak station you all will be boarding at but if you ride back up to the Solana Beach one, Pizza Port is right accross the street and a GREAT place to wait for a train.