Leelanau Century (and saddles)

This week I rode my first century (that is, 100 miles, not km) since I was a boy. North from Empire (MI) to Leland, around Lake Leelanau, south to Interlochen, then back to Empire. This was done on my new Rivendell Rambouillet (I got the floor model for a good price, since they've put the Rambouillet to sleep for a while), with a Brooks B.17 saddle. (See my most recent post, below. I seem to be vacillating between the saddles of true believers--tensioned leather--and those of apostates--foam- and gel-filled. I must say, it was mostly comfortable, until the last 20 miles or so. That's not a bad ratio: 80:20, comfortable:uncomfortable.

More gear:
Shoes: New Balance running shoes. (No toe clips.)
Shorts: Well, I used biking shorts, although I should have just gone with baggy shorts. I developed some powerful saddle rash.
Bag: I know I should use a Carradice Nelson Longflap, but they cost $140 and they hang off the saddle and flop around (unless you use a rack). So I used a seatpost rack with a large rack trunk (both cheapies). Worked great! Perhaps not stylish, but inexpensive and effective.

The route was gorgeous, but it had very few towns. I had a hankering for a milkshake, but I never got one. My favorite pizza/sub shop in Interlochen was closed, so I ate lunch at Wendy's. Ick.

I had several Pepsis. Tasted good, but eventually made me sick. I had only four miles to go, but I had to lie down on the gravel beside the road to keep from vomiting. Next time, more water, more orange juice, less Pepsi.