Go Extra Mile (or 100) in Wheelmen Events

Orange County Wheelmen, the county’s biggest cycling club, has two events planned in the next month that require an extra measure of commitment, as well as advance registration.

The first is the Amtrak Century, a 100-mile ride along the coast from the Irvine Multimodal Transportation Center (the bus and train station, in layman’s terms) to the Amtrak station in San Diego. Organizers describe it as a great first-time century for regular riders. Participants should be able to average 12 m.p.h. for eight hours.

On the way back, cyclists will celebrate their feat with a Western-style party in their own private train. Included in the $53 registration fee is train fare, truck transportation for the bikes on the way back (take a blanket or other padding) and refreshments on the ride down, including lunch in Carlsbad. On the ride south, a roving vehicle will offer mechanical support to cyclists.

More than 600 riders have taken part in past years, including Steve Nelson, a Wheelmen member who has taken part for more than 10 years. The large turnout is one factor that led Amtrak to offer the riders a train of their own (or maybe, as Nelson quipped, “the other passengers got tired of smelly cyclists”).

Nelson reminds first-time riders that even though the ride is a lot of fun and generally hugs a rolling coast, there are a few killer hills--notably at Torrey Pines, in northern San Diego.

The good news is that, this time of year, riders should have a gentle tail wind helping push them along. Registration deadline is Sept. 10.

Nelson, also a licensed U.S. Cycling Federation coach, is one of the forces behind another event: a four-part cycling clinic for women riders, to be held on four consecutive Saturdays beginning Sept. 24. Nelson is one of several coaches who will teach.

The series is sponsored by Paramount Racing (a club within the Orange County Wheelmen) but designed for novice riders rather than racers. (A racing clinic for women may be held early next year.)

“If you’re a beginning cyclist, we’re too advanced for you,” Nelson said, referring to the clinic. “We’re not geared to the racer; we’re not geared to the beginner. We’re geared to recreational riders.”

The clinic debuted last year, with about 20 participants. The four-hour sessions are about 40% classroom, 60% on the road, Nelson said. “We like the hands-on approach.”

Topics include pace-line riding, cornering, nutrition, sprinting--and how to fall down.

* What: Amtrak Century.

* When: Saturday, Sept. 17, riders start anytime between 6 and 8 a.m. (advance registration is required).

* Where: Begins at the Irvine Multimodal Transportation Center.

* Whereabouts: From the Santa Ana (5) Freeway, exit east on Alton Parkway and head about one-half mile to Ada. Cross Barranca Parkway and enter the center’s parking lot.

* Wherewithal: $53.

* Where to call: (714) 956-2453.

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* What: Women Specific Training Clinic.

* When: Saturdays (Sept. 24, Oct. 1, 8 and 15) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

* Where: Food Park, MacArthur Boulevard and Main Street, Irvine.

* Whereabouts: From the San Diego (405) Freeway, exit north on MacArthur; go just beyond Main and turn left into the Food Park parking lot.

* Wherewithal: $50. Advance registration recommended.

* Where to call: (714) 892-6545.