The first 100 mile rides listed in the GPP newsletter included a local 100 from San Leandro with the Sierra Club in 6-69. The first Marin Century in 8-71 had riders divided into two groups based on speed. Upon completion of the course riders were given ribbons. In 9-71 the Marin Twin Century of 125 miles a day for two days went from Healdsburg to Pt. Arena.
The 1st GPP ride of at least 100 miles that I could find was in 11-71, and it was 110 miles up Spruce, out Bear Creek and Happy Valley to Marsh Creek, and back along Tassajara to Tunnel. It was led by Jerry Schmitz. In 4-72 Richard Dixon (GPP president '71) led the 2nd GPP 100 miler, "the ultimate goal of all cyclists." It was a mysterious route (riders not told beforehand) with 23 riders.
George Hayler (Berkeley Wheelmen president) led a 105 miler in 8-72 from Sproul Plaza to SF and across the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin Co. and Marshall on the coast. The ride came back via the Cheese Factory and Lucas Valley.
The Berkeley Wheelmen had a 130 mi training ride most years that started in Guerneville and went on Stewarts Point-Skaggs Springs Rd to Jenner. I'm sure some GPPers rode it, but I never did it because it was too fast and long for me at that time. In 5-73 Richard Dixon led another GPP century from Sproul to Marsh Creek and over Morgan Territory.
The first (and only) invitational century for GPP was in October of 1974 and was called the Super Century, I think because it was 108 miles. The course went to Lake Del Valle past Livermore via Sproul Plaza, Tunnel, Pinehurst, St Mary's, Danville Blvd, Tassajara, Highland, and Mines Road. We came back via Crow Canyon and Oakland. There were "A" and "B" rides, 6 ride leaders, and it was organized by Bob Jew and Ken Louis. Most of the 50 riders were GPP members. Riders supplied their own food for the sag wagon to take to lunch. I got a GPP Supercentury patch, even though I sagged in on the way back because I had stomach pains from the heat, not enough water, and ate high-fat peanut butter sandwiches.
When we merged GPP with LOBC in '75 and changed our name to GPC, we started work on the 1st GPC Century to be held in the fall, Sept 27, 1975. I was head of the century committee. Several of us, including Carole & Roger Dwinell, Pete Jansen, and myself rode many centuries that year, such as the Sierra, Davis DC, Santa Rosa, Pajaro, Marin, San Andreas, and the Hekaton. On most centuries (in '75) we were offered bologna and processed cheese on white bread and given water out of trash cans. Frequently there were no restrooms available and the maps were poor. We set put to everythihg first rate.
We planned to entice riders (I remember sending flyers to about 30 bike clubs in the bay area) to the GPC Century and show them what was possible. We already rode to Martinez, and Lake Chabot, but never to both in the same day! I measured the course and helped plan the route. Marvin Roberts (GPC president and century chair for the 1st 3 months of '77) measured 9250 feet in major climbs over the course, so we figured with little bumps or riding up Spruce to the start would get you 10,000 feet. Carole Dwinell drew the fantastic maps.
The century would start at Island Picnic Area in Tilden and go out Wildcat to Grizzly Peak, along Skyline, through Knowland Park, where the Dwinells (and others) would offer home-made breads, around Lake Chabot, up Redwood and Pinehurst and Grizzly Peak again (whew), and down South Park to Island Picnic Area, where we would have a BBQ of Saag's sausages. On the 2nd loop, century riders would go down Wildcat, along San Pablo Dam Rd, Castro Ranch, Pinole Valley, San Pablo Ave to Crockett. Cyclists would go along Carquinez Scenic Drive, where we would have cookies at a rest stop, to Martinez (before the rains washed away part of the road in the early 80's). The John Muir house was used for water and restrooms. Then the riders would have the challenge of ascending Pig Farm Hill (which really smelled because there were pigs back then), Mama Bear (where we would give the riders Coke and It's Its) & Papa Bear, and finally up Wildcat.
In August, a month before the century, a group of animals, including myself, Bill Wong (Davis DC), Monte Lee, Sarah Brann, and Tom Petrie, set out to try the course. We had cycled most northern CA centuries in about 6 hours, so when it took us 9 hours for the GPC course we got a little worried. It was 100°, and I remember stopping 3 times to rest just in the city of Martinez! (I don't believe this, but the newsletter says 3 of us rode the Marin Century the next day!) Roger Dwinell and Alain Newman rode the GPC century course by themselves in August and September.
Then on 9-24-75, five more riders, Susan La Plant, Carole Dwinell, Marvin Roberts, Dave Raleigh, and myself attempted the course. Between warm weather, many flats, and darkness, 4 of the 5 sagged in and only Susan finished. Right after the ride Dave went to sleep under the dining table in the Dwinells' house on Colusa.
Lots of people have helped put on the GPC century over the years (1994 was the 20th!). The volunteers who headed committees in '75 for the first century were: Marvin Roberts for Maps and Route Marking; Susan La Plant, Sarah Brann, and Francis St. Amant for Food; Ken Louis for Patches; Carl Petrofsky (GPC treasurer '75) for Registration; Me, Susan, Francis, and Pete Jansen at Island; Roger and Carole Dwinell at Knowland; Gail Nichols (GPC secretary '75) and Hal Foster on Pinehurst; Ken Louis and Dave Raleigh along Carquinez; Charles Larribeau, Bill Wong, and Sarah Brann at Briones. Charles Seeley (LOBC president '74) and Alain Newman drove sag.
I bought many food items at the Co-op warehouse, Coke at the Oakland bottling plant, Saag's sausages and produce (bananas, oranges, cantaloup) at the Oakland Farmer's Market, and It's Its in Fremont. Many club members made fresh bread for the rest stop in Knowland Park. Along with a BBQ we served vegetarian spaghetti made from scratch.
Ninety-nine people rode the 100-miler and 15 rode the 50-miler on 9-27-75. Don Patterson wrote in the Valley Spokesmen Newsletter in 11-75, "This ride lived up to all rumors about its difficulty. ... An enjoyable route and good food - fresh bread ... Good support." Other comments from riders were: on the arrows on the road, "best ever"; on the map, "Wow! How did you do it?"; on the food, "excellent", "hot soup and coffee hit the spot after the ride"; and on the blankets provided at Island, "nice". The Skyline Cycling Club of Sunnyvale wrote in 9-76 that the GPC Century was the "toughest 100 miles around ... great scenery ... best lunch stop of any century."
was on 9-18-76, and Al Forkosh, Wyatt Wood, Alex Zuckerman, and Roger and Carole Dwinell were among the helpers. Al Reichmuth wrote in the Valley Spokesmen Newsletter in 10-76, "... wrong arrows on the course. ... GPC was sabotaged even more viciously than the Hekaton...The first food stop was very good ...lunch was equally well prepared...very nice ride..." Someone had changed the arrows on the course, making riders go up McEwen, which was NOT part of the route in those days.
In '77 Marvin Roberts took over as president and new chair of the century until he was sent to Spain in March by Bechtel. Patti Posner (VP '77 and secretary '78) took over as president and I took over the century again. We organized the food at the Dwinells' house and Marvin instituted short-lived 15- and 25-mile rides in addition to the usual 50 and 100. That year we had 278 riders for the April 17 event. Among the many helpers were Wyatt and Roger Wood at Briones, Al Forkosh at Carquinez, Alex at Pinehurst, Carole and Toni Atases at Knowland, and Pete Jansen and Lynn Stevenson at the registration.
Jane Kendrick (chair of the '78 Davis DC food committee) wrote to GPC, "I rode your club's century in '77 ... I was very impressed with your organization. Your menu was excellent, and there were never any shortages ... Does your club have records ...?"
in '78 was on April 16 and it hailed two inches on Wildcat! There were 85 riders and 65 no-shows. We gave about 40 refunds and almost ran out of money. Tim Specht was club president and I headed the century again. That year Toni Atases helped me make spaghetti sauce in my house on Hearst Ave in Berkeley.
was held on April 22, '79 starting at Blue Gum (I think Anza had been already reserved) in Tilden and it rained hard. 110 signed up, but only 7 finished the 100. Tim Specht and myself were co-chairs while Roger Wood was club president. This was my last year as Century Chair as I got involved in bike racing, triathlons, and a new sport - mountain biking.
was moved to May 11, '80 to avoid the rain. Toni Atases, who was to attend a culinary academy in SF, took over the food preparation. Greg Lutz was century chair, and Tim Specht was club president. We had 151 riders with 82 completing the 100. The food on the century got steadily better under Toni's direction, with marinated chicken, mesquite charcoal, Chez Pannise help, many salads, home-made cookies and sauces. In the '80s Toni was given gifts from the club for her work on the food, culminating with a lifetime membership in GPC.
Pierre La Plant, GPC Historian