I did my 1st metric century ride yesterday, and a bit more. The local bike club had their "Spring Warm-up" ride Saturday (http://www.fccycleclub.org/newsandevents.htm). I rode 7 miles to the start, did the 60 mile ride, and rode the 7 miles back home for a total of 74 miles. Since I'd never done more than 45 miles before, this was a pretty big jump, but I felt fine today -- albeit after getting over 9 hours of sleep last night! Bike time was just about 5 hours, so about 15mph average.
The ride itself was great -- cool in the morning but warming up to about 80 during the day. It was a fairly flat course but with some beautiful views along the foothills north of Ft. Collins. This was also the first organized event I've gone on and I found out a couple things: (1) I met another rider who was stronger than me, but nice enough to ride along with me for about 20 miles. It's nice to have someone to chat with in the middle of the ride, when you know you've got another 15 miles into the wind to go before the next aid station. (2) Aid stations are great to give you a goal along the way. I didn't have to think about getting to the end of the ride, just to the next aid station. I was feeling a bit fatigued after more than 50 miles of riding, but the last aid station was at the local Budweiser plant, which you can see from at least 5 miles down the road, so I could tell how far I had to go. (And yes, they had beer at this aid station, but I skipped it.)
The local club did a nice job running things, and they had an enormous amount of food at the end the ride. I ate a lot! And then I regretted that a bit, since I still had to ride the 7 miles back home :o But overall, a really fine day, and with 4 weeks to go before the Santa Fe Century, I'm feeling more optimistic that I can do it.
Nick
Mr. Fierte
04-24-06, 06:03 AM
Congradulations! That's a great accomplishment and I'm sure that great feeling that comes form doing something like that tends to make you forget a little soreness :) A metric century is my next goal. A week ago I rode the Easter Hill Country Tour in Kerrville, Texas. They had a 55 mile route and my goal was to ride my age (54) which I'd never done. I'd also never ridden hills. What a difference that makes :eek: But, I made it and was very happy about it. Because we rode from the motel to the start, and back, the total miles on the computer ended up at 61 miles. I started to ride around the motel parking lot to get that extra mile, but then remembered how dead tired I was and thought that would be cheating. So I still have that 100K as my next goal.
Dakota
04-24-06, 12:39 PM
Wow, that's great. Most I've ever done is 56 (my age) so I'm a bit envious. I think I would have had one beer though, just to celebrate.
I bet you feel good.
jazzy_cyclist
04-24-06, 01:29 PM
Great effort! I'm not a big Budweiser fan, but I think I might have stopped for a quick one ;)
stapfam
04-24-06, 02:25 PM
I but the last aid station was at the local Budweiser plant, which you can see from at least 5 miles down the road, so I could tell how far I had to go. (And yes, they had beer at this aid station, but I skipped it.)
The local club did a nice job running things, and they had an enormous amount of food at the end the ride. I ate a lot! And then I regretted that a bit, since I still had to ride the 7 miles back home :o But overall, a really fine day, and with 4 weeks to go before the Santa Fe Century, I'm feeling more optimistic that I can do it.
Nick
Besides your own personal achievement, which is fantastic-even for us accomplished riders this early in the year, You have found one of the great points about these organised rides.There is always someone to ride with. If you had not met the rider for 20 miles or so- it would have been someone else.
Glad you managed to stay off the Budweiser by the way- but the organisors boobed on that one. That stop should have been the finish. Very disapointed though that you could not manage the food at the end- even if you did have a few more miles to go. Bit more training to do on that aspect of your ride required. The Century will not be a problem provided you get those food stops mastered.
webist
04-24-06, 03:19 PM
Wow. Super! As my little grandbaby would say, "Again! Again!"
jppe
04-24-06, 05:18 PM
Terrific!! Great ride and you're right on track for Santa Fe. I have no doubt you'll do great.
By the way, it's normal to start feeling puny some time after you exceed the miles you normally do. Somehow you're body knows what you're normally accustomed to riding and just starts to let you know your doing more than normal.
I found that to be true even as I've increased my mileages. The bar moves up but there is still a bar!!
cyclintom
04-24-06, 05:48 PM
Don't try to progress too fast. Do a couple of metrics more before trying the 100 miler. Not because you probably can't do it now, but because you feel a lot easier doing a real century after metrics bore you.
By the way, if you drink a beer before the end of the ride it turns your legs off.
nmichell
04-24-06, 08:35 PM
Very disapointed though that you could not manage the food at the end- even if you did have a few more miles to go. Bit more training to do on that aspect of your ride required. The Century will not be a problem provided you get those food stops mastered.
Yeah, I didn't manage that quite right. I think I'll do better next time if I eat often, but don't eat much.
sdr
04-24-06, 11:50 PM
congratulations!
i rode my first metric only last monday - it felt great! i was so pumped, i rode 25 the following day.
the sense of personal satisfaction and accomplishment made every mile worth the effort.
prior to doing the metric my longest ride was 35 miles, so, in my case, to almost double that with ease has served to instill a new sense of confidence in my ability to grind out those miles once i have set my sights on a goal.
today i did a meager 32 miles (by comparison, at least), but they were 32 very enjoyable miles spent in the company of a good friend.
i have only been riding, again, since july of last year and have learned to appreciate that it's not how far i ride but rather how much fun i have that really counts.
thanks for sharing this accomplishment with us and, again, congrats!
sdr
04-25-06, 12:03 AM
One of the neatest things about working up to longer rides is that afterwards, you can go for rides that take 3-4 hours and they seem relaxed and enjoyable.