Ride of the Century

At the first rest stop of the Amtrak Century, about 27 miles into last Saturday’s bicycle ride from Irvine to San Diego, two friends had a brief exchange about how fast they were riding.

“You know we’re never going to be able to keep up this pace,” said one.

“I know,” said the other. “That’s why we have to do it while we can.”

Not the best strategy, but it illustrates the beauty of the Amtrak Century: It’s a ride almost anyone, no matter how inexperienced at long-distance cycling, can tackle.

For 25 years, the Orange County Wheelmen have sponsored the ride from Orange County to the train station in downtown San Diego. The event has steadily grown in popularity, and Saturday more than 800 riders finished and rode the chartered train back to Irvine. Average 12 mph for eight hours and you’ll make the train with plenty of time to spare.

“I can’t believe I did it,” Christina McGrath said from the comfort of her seat on the train. “I didn’t train at all, just one 40-mile ride three or four weeks ago.”

McGrath, who lives in Anaheim Hills, convinced two co-workers at their Orange financial services company to ride their first century together. Mike Scott of Corona and Tony Reeves of Redondo Beach didn’t train much either, and Reeves had torn his hamstring while wind surfing in Maui several weeks before.

All three are in good physical shape, but McGrath said finishing the ride is a mostly mental task.

“It’s all up here,” she said, tapping her head. “My biggest challenge was getting here. I’m not a morning person. I figured if I could get there at 6 in the morning, I could do anything.”

There is no mass start for the Amtrak Century. Riders leave Irvine between 6 and 7 a.m. and head north, winding through South Orange County to boost mileage and make it a 97.6-mile ride.

Once the route turns south, it quickly shifts from agricultural to suburban--numerous traffic signals slow down momentum in Mission Viejo--and hits the coast in Dana Point.

About every 20 miles there is a rest stop, for replenishing water and sports drink supplies and for feasting on cantaloupe, bananas, watermelon, muffins, bagels, cookies, etc. The bounty is even greater at the lunch stop in Oceanside, 61 miles into the ride.

No one goes hungry; some have called the ride a buffet on wheels.

Some riders stop only briefly--or not at all--putting their heads down and grinding toward San Diego. Others linger and make new friends.

“I came alone,” Jan Behrenhoff said, “and met some nice folks and pretty much did the whole ride with them.”

Behrenhoff, a doctor from Ventura, started riding a year ago and is hooked. She rides a century almost every month and said the Amtrak, with its pleasant tail winds and modest hills, is the easiest she has attempted.

The scenery is nice, too. The route hugs the coast through San Onofre State Beach and then turns slightly inland at the Camp Pendleton Marine base.

After lunch in Oceanside, there are nearly 20 miles of ocean views, riding past prime surf spots and through quaint seaside towns.

Which takes you to “The Hill” at Torrey Pines, about 80 miles into the ride. It’s two miles of climbing, the only lengthy uphill grade on the route, but this year the Wheelmen tried to take riders’ minds off the chore with Burma-Shave style signs.

“To Quit Right Now”

“Would Be a Sin”

“In the Words of Fred”

“Let the Fun Begin”

The verse was written by Sylvia Pohlmeyer, the volunteer public relations person for the Wheelmen, as a tribute to her late husband.

Fred Pohlmeyer died at 61 of cardiac failure during a club ride last January. He had taken up cycling at 58 and finished the 1997 and ’98 Amtrak rides. After having to walk up Torrey Pines the first time, he proudly rode to the top the next year.

The hill is the toughest part of the ride, but the reward at the top this year was as many ice cream bars as you could eat. After that final rest stop, it’s a 16-mile cruise to the train station, past UC San Diego and shimmering Mission Bay.

Waiting at the station are trucks, which will take the bicycles back to Irvine, and riders’ ice chests filled with food and party supplies for the train ride.

It’s a festive trip back as riders share food, drink and stories. The camaraderie is part of what keeps bringing people back. That and the Orange County Wheelmen, who try to make sure the ride is a pleasant experience for all, smoothly running the well-stocked food stops and hanging back in the pack to fix flat tires or encourage slower riders.

Charlie Irwin, the Wheelmen’s webmaster, said he fixed about four flats on this ride. He said receiving a thank-you e-mail from one of those he helped made his year.

“The ride generates so much enthusiasm from so many new people that it’s just amazing to me,” Irwin said. “I’m on a high for several weeks after the ride because everybody is so happy.”

There are many organized bicycle rides in Southern California most weekends. For a list that includes most of them, go to https://www.bbcnet.com/RideCalendar/RideListDate.asp