On Saturday March 4 I rode a century hosted by the organizers of the McLane-Pacific Cycling Classic in Merced.  After the better part of a week of rain, and a forecast for more the following week, we were blessed with a break in the weather.  The day was never warm, but at least it was dry.
  At the registration desk a gentleman who looked to be about my age asked me how fast I normally ride.   His two sons (Kyle Gritters of Health-Net and Brandon, an Elite 2 rider) were racing that afternoon in the downtown criterium and he wanted to get back quickly.   I told him I also wanted to get back in time to watch so I would try to keep up with him and help pull from time to time.
  We left precisely at 7:00 AM and set a fast pace for the first two hours, arriving at the second and third rest stops while they were still setting up.  The route works its way northward and slightly west from Merced, following the largely rectangular grid of roads in the area that course through seemingly endless almond orchards.  The almond trees are in bloom, and many of the white petals have already fallen, leaving blankets of white under the trees and along the ditches that looked like snow.
  Eventually the flat orchards gave way to rolling hills of vineyards as we turned east to Turlock Lake and then north toward Don Pedro reservoir.  We crossed Don Pedro dam in rising winds, finally arriving at Merced Falls road where we turned south to begin the return to Merced.
  Merced Falls Road is a lovely rolling low traffic foothills road, much like the ones we are used to here.  Between the fast pace of the morning and the headwinds we both slowed considerably but it was still all I could do to keep up with Greg on his carbon fiber Fuji.  We were still on track to get back in time so he stayed with me though.
  At the little town of Snelling and the final rest stop the 100 mile and 100k routes rejoin.  After a morning of the two of us riding alone we were suddenly mixed in with dozens of 100k riders.  Greg hooked up with a fast moving 100k rider and disappeared over the hills.  Dropped again.
  I finished the century in 6 and a half hours and stuck around to watch the races.  Riders from Toyota-United and Health-Net were there, fresh off the 6 day Tour of California, as well as many other teams.
  I'd have to give this century ride 3 stars (out of 5).  According to them you will encounter 3500 feet of elevation gain on the century route, most of which is in the last 50 miles.  The route through the orchards I found kind of monotonous, and the road surfaces there are poor.  This early in the season there is a good chance that the ride will be a wet one.  The support was typical in terms of food, though I have to give them kudos for having those little Mother's pink and white iced animal cookies at the rest stops.  Gatorade, water and sodas were the liquids they offered.  The after-ride meal is a meal ticket for the Firehouse Brew Pub and Restaurant concession stand set up in the park for the McLane-Pacific Cycling Classic.  They offered cheeseburgers or Cajun chicken but no vegetarian offerings.
  One nice thing about the ride is that if you get back quickly enough you can watch the Elite and Pro racers battle it out in downtown Merced.