W.C.Handy 100 Century Ride

I rode the Quest in the WC Handy 100 century ride last Saturday. This century ride starts in Florence AL, and includes a section of the wonderful Natchez Trace parkway, riding first to the Mississippi border and then to the Tennessee border before returning to Florence.

It was quite an experience - longest ride on the Quest by far. It did help that I'd ridden this century ride twice in previous years.

Overall the Quest worked even better than I expected. I completed the 107-mile route without incident despite the 92-degree heat. I took it easy so it took me about 6.5 hours which I think is better than my previous attempt with a Challenge Fujin-SL lowracer.

It was interesting to note that I tended to pass road bikes on slight uphills. The mass and aerodynamics of the Quest carries me up small uphill sections very efficiently. It also helps that I can rest my legs on even the slightest downhills, and I have plenty of energy for the next uphill section.



Here's the mass start. I was at the tail end of the start (I barely made it in time) but I only saw two other recumbent bikes.


This is a typical section of the road from Florence to Natchez Trace. Lots of private homes and churches.


...and corn fields.

The view changes dramaticaly once we're on the Natchez Trace Parkway. There are no businesses or residences, and commercial vehicles are not allowed. Which means it's mostly tourist traffic.

Here's the Mississippi border.

Some nice open roads on the Parkway.


Very nice rest stop. I ended up stopping at every rest stop to refill my bottle with Gatorade.

Tennessee border!
Back at the starting point, McFarland Park at Florence, AL.
And here's the Quest loaded again on our (actually my wife's) pickup truck.