Fifty Plus (50+) - I did it! My first (and last) century!

Well, I made it. I did the Santa Fe Century, finished, didn't quit, didn't wreck, had a pretty good time. I had never ridden anywhere near that far before, so it was a bit of an accomplishment for me. Two miles in, we've barely started, and this distinguished older fellow rides by and says, "Are you (my name here)?" I thought, wow, and said yes, and he'd read my posts on this very forum and recognized me and my bike! We rode together for a few minutes, and it really boosted my morale. Hey, Anapolis, hope you made it, too!

I was such a newbie I pinned my ride number to the front of my jersey not knowing that every single person pins it to the back. I also carried enough food to feed an army, aware of the "food stops" but afraid they wouldn't have enough or anything I would eat. Wrong on both counts. I still ate a bunch of my own food. Mostly to lighten my load!

I met many friendly people, including Lee from Santa Fe, a lady of graying hair and billowing pink shirt and long years of wisdom, who kept "leapfrogging" me and we'd talk and ride awhile each time. She was a Santa Fe Century veteran and helped me through the tough spots.

Speaking of tough spots, I rode up Heartbreak Hill, didn't walk it, for you SF riders. I refused to get off the bike. So there.

Mile 60: Breezin'. Mile 70: Both my knees started to hurt. Mile 80: Everything below the waist is hurting, my calves, knees, butt, hamstrings. Mile 100: Who cares, I made it. Fell into my husband's arms and cried.

Two Advil, a shower, a hot tub, a great Santa Fe meal and one beer, fell asleep by 9:30.

Why my last century? It could be my still-tweaking hams and calves, but I know in my heart I have more fun riding for 1-2 hours. This is a treasured memory. I'll always have...Santa Fe!

And a BIG Congratulations are due !!!!!!! Way to GO!!!!!!

A very pround moment!!!!!!!

That's fantastic, congratulations!! It won't be your last Century, when the next opportunity comes along you'll forget all about your aches and pains believe me!!

Tip: Take a couple of Advil BEFORE you ride next time....;)

Woohoo!!!! You're inspiring! :)

Wow!

Get back to us in a few days about that "my last century" crap.

I agree. They get easier with experience. Now get back out there!!! :D

This thread has been memorialized in the Rogue's Gallery

You're an inspiration to those of us who have not yet made a century, congratulations.

I agree with Big Paulie, you'll be back doing another one sooner than you think.

Congratulations :beer:

cheers

Why my last century? It could be my still-tweaking hams and calves, but I know in my heart I have more fun riding for 1-2 hours.

My wife said the same thing after her first century. We just did one on Saturday and she'll do another one in two weeks, can't remember how many in between...

I'll let you know, but you guys gotta be kidding....

Get back to us in a few days about that "my last century" crap.

+1 Yeah, right. We'll see. You paid your dues, now you get to ride for free. Never say never. It would be fun to be the wise experienced rider helping out some newbie wouldn't it. And one reason for long hours in the saddle is because it feels so good when you get off...not to mention that warm shower after.

Someone said (P8Rider?) that once you ride a century, you have to ride another, just to be sure the first one wasn't a fluke. You don't want to go on forever wondering, do you?

(Like I have anything to say on this subject, having never ridden a century!)

Great Job Blue!! I looked for a blue Bike Friday, but never saw one. Congratulations on finishing the ride, and also on making it up Hearbreak Hill.

Nick

Why my last century? It could be my still-tweaking hams and calves, but I know in my heart I have more fun riding for 1-2 hours.

1-2 hours starts to get easier. 2 becomes 3 and 3 becomes a leasurely 4. 12 months later, the 40 miles you did seem like a warm-up and a century becomes fun.

Big Paulie is right "Get back to us in a few days about that "my last century" crap." And if not in a few days, then in a few months of riding 1-2 hours a ride.

It's in our blood.

1-2 hours starts to get easier. 2 becomes 3 and 3 becomes a leasurely 4. 12 months later, the 40 miles you did seem like a warm-up and a century becomes fun.

Big Paulie is right "Get back to us in a few days about that "my last century" crap." And if not in a few days, then in a few months of riding 1-2 hours a ride.

It's in our blood.

Not only is Big Paulie right, So is everyone else. You have just done a century, and with that amount of pain it is a real achievement. Last Saturday I did a long ride and at 7pm there was no way I was attempting it again. Sunday morning and we were discussing doing it again in the Summer when the weather will be a bit kinder.

Way to go! I'm sure you'll change your mind about this being the last one.

Welcome to the club! I'm guessing that you haven't done your last one either. Nice going either way! :)

Great job Blue!! I knew you could do it!! You pointed out some great things about cycling....meeting folks along the way, meeting the challenges and certainly the beer afterwards!!

Seriously, congratulations on completing an extremely challenging event. I really enjoyed your comments on getting up Heartbreak Hill and succumbing to the desire to walk!! That shows a heck of a lot of fortitude!!!

Congrats on a great accomplishment. You made it sound like a fun ride, meeting people etc. Despite what you stated, here's to a few more!!

Yes, congrats indeed! Ditto to what everyone else has so eloquently stated!

JiO

I was such a newbie I pinned my ride number to the front of my jersey not knowing that every single person pins it to the back.

Yeah, I had trouble with that, too! I couldn't decide which side to put it on -- I finally put it on the back since I thought it would bother me on the front, and I hoped I wouldn't see everyone wearing it on the front :o



Speaking of tough spots, I rode up Heartbreak Hill, didn't walk it, for you SF riders. I refused to get off the bike. So there.

That was steep. Does it count if I stopped but didn't get off my bike?


Who cares, I made it. Fell into my husband's arms and cried.

While my wife was thrilled that I made it back in one piece, she wouldn't give me a hug until AFTER I took a shower :(



Two Advil, a shower, a hot tub, a great Santa Fe meal and one beer, fell asleep by 9:30.

An aspirin, a shower, dinner at the Georgia O'Keefe cafe, a glass of wine, and asleep by 8:30 :)

Congrats on your first century! I was in the same frame of mind when I finished my first century last fall - in a few weeks I will ride it again and can't wait to do so.
Yes the butt gets sore and the legs want to quit but the feeling of accomplishment when you cross the finish line makes it all worth while. You'll be back!

OK. Somebody maybe oughta say: If you don't want to ride another century, then that's cool. I went 20 years between century rides, and life was just fine. Just throwing in an alternative viewpoint.

Well, I made it. I did the Santa Fe Century, finished, didn't quit, didn't wreck, had a pretty good time.

<snip>

Why my last century? It could be my still-tweaking hams and calves, but I know in my heart I have more fun riding for 1-2 hours. This is a treasured memory. I'll always have...Santa Fe!

Congratulations. I rode a grand total of 9 SF centuries during my 10 years in NM - you can be proud of your accomplishment.

I can totally understand your reasoning for not doing it or another century again. Riding isn't about organized rides, the distance you ride, how fast you ride, who you ride with or what bike you ride - it's about having fun and enjoying yourself. I still ride centuries and charity rides now and then, but more for the change of pace, seeing old friends and meeting new ones, compared to the 'regular' riding I do with my GF that can be anywhere from 20-150 miles round trip, sometimes with lunch, dinner or an overnight at a BB involved. Again, the point of the thing is to have fun and enjoy yourself...and I wish you lots of fun and enjoyment for years to come!

OK. Somebody maybe oughta say: If you don't want to ride another century, then that's cool. I went 20 years between century rides, and life was just fine. Just throwing in an alternative viewpoint.

+1

Get back to us in a few days about that "my last century" crap.

Yeah, in a year she'll be recruiting other riders to join her.

Pain only lasts a few days, but good memories go on and on.

Why my last century? It could be my still-tweaking hams and calves, but I know in my heart I have more fun riding for 1-2 hours. This is a treasured memory. I'll always have...Santa Fe!

I am jealous. Sounds like an accomplishment you should be proud of!

Steve

Well, I made it. I did the Santa Fe Century, finished, didn't quit, didn't wreck, had a pretty good time...

Absolutely AWESOME! Congratulations! :beer:

My "LAST" century was.........
Every ride becomes your "last" upon completion.....especially during post ride conversation/discussion.
Congratulations you SF "veteran" ......relish/savor the sense of accomplishment and bragging rights :>)

[QUOTE=Hwy 40 Blue]Well, I made it. I did the Santa Fe Century, finished, didn't quit, didn't wreck, had a pretty good time. I had never ridden anywhere near that far before, so it was a bit of an accomplishment for me. Two miles in, we've barely started, and this distinguished older fellow rides by and says, "Are you (my name here)?" I thought, wow, and said yes, and he'd read my posts on this very forum and recognized me and my bike! We rode together for a few minutes, and it really boosted my morale. Hey, Anapolis, hope you made it, too!



Hi 40:

yes , I did make it, but for this sea level rider it turned out to be quite a workout. Heartbreak Hill and the climb out of Madrid took its toll. I finished in around 7 hours saddle time because everytime the road turned upward, I COULDNT FIND any oxygen!! For those who say that there is very little difference in breathing at 7200' as opposed to 70' or so, I beg to differ.
I stuck the bike in a box and sent it home right after the ride and the wife and I went on over to the Grand Canyon and to Sedona, Az for a few days. For you folks who live out that way let me say that you live in some beautiful country.

The last time I swore I had done my "last" century was in Springfield, IL a couple of years ago. I've ridden a lot of centuries, some well and some not so well, but this one really went sour. First, I got off the route and ended up doing about 120 miles. Second, In my haste to return to the route after being lost, I must have burned all of my reserves and I suffered like never before over the last 25 miles.

There's a guy at that century that runs a gas-powered marguerita mixer at the finish. He had cleaned his blender and was packing it up when I rolled in but one look at my sorry butt and he quickly unpacked and mixed me a couple frosty ones. Nice man. :)

Dennis

P.S. I've done several "last" centuries since.

Congratulations Hwy40Blue on that century:beer: I did my first century as part of the Rideau Lakes Tour organized by the Ottawa Bicycling Club. I had intended it to be a statement when I turned 50, but, procrastination resulted in it being my statement on turning 51:rolleyes: .

Anyway, the ride is between Ottawa and Kingston, Ontario, a distance of some 165 beautiful kilometres. The neat trick is that you stay over Saturday night in the residences of Queens University and get back on your bike Sunday and ride back to Ottawa! And that Sunday ride was my last century. I did it, I got the T-shirt (really, it was the 25th running of the event) and I never felt the need to do it again.

That was 10 years ago and I have covered a lot of miles since, but always less than a 60 miles in a day. I never regretted doing the back to back centuries, as a matter of fact, I am proud to have done it, but, like you, that was it.

Ride on:D

I was biking in Golden when Portia Masterson still ran the Self-Propulsion bike shop in town. Consider riding part(all) of the Front Range Century put on by the Denver Bicycle Touring Club. One of the flattest rides around.

There are few things better than riding a bike for 100 miles, for all the reason mentioned above. For me, riding with friends (new and old) makes it even more special. We did a century last year that was cold, drizzly and ended in a hail storm. But the four of us had a ball just talking and riding. The two of us met up with the other two at the first rest stop. And often centuries are over roads not ridden every day.

Nice write-up, Blue. You'll be back. I can hear it between the lines.

Congratulations on your 1st century, Blue! Os the SF Century a yearly event? Sounds like more fun down there than up here in -15! Will have to look at going down for it next year!
And I'd bet you'll do some more! I doubted if I'd ever do another one after my first century but then did 75 the next day and another century a couple of weeks later. You are hooked!
Riding a bent, I pinned my number on the front - maybe I should have pinned it on the back of the seat!?! Oh well, who cares???

Excellent !!! Ride to have fun. If a century is fun, do it. If a 10 miler is fun, do it. Just don't forget to stop and taste the pies.

Well, I made it. I did the Santa Fe Century, finished, didn't quit ...
That is an awesome feat, and congratulations. I don't think I've ever ridden more than 20 miles in one trip.

If I may ask, what were you riding, and are there any special features or modifications about your bike that helped you make the 100 miles?

Y'all realize this thread started last May, right?

Y'all realize this thread started last May, right?

It was a lot warmer last May. Don't you love resurrected threads!

It was a lot warmer last May. Don't you love resurrected threads!

My family says I won't have to worry about it being cold anymore after I die.

Like Blue, I prefer shorter rides. But that hasn't stopped me from doing 6-8 centuries every summer. Don't push it, but I'm pretty sure you'll be back for another one sooner or later. They may make your legs quiver, but the feeling of accomplishment is great, isn't it?

Well done Hwy40! It's agreat feeling of achievement, isn't it! I'm sure you will do more!

Hwy 40, now that eight months have passed do you still feel that you'll never do another century? I guess if I ever did one I wouldn't do another for the same reasons that you described.
But congratulations, although belatedly, on your great accomplishment.

outstanding.
but never your last, I said the same thing 29 years ago,and have ridden many since

It sure was a lot warmer last May. It's about, I dunno, 19 outside right now. Funny this old thread got resurrected. Well, I haven't decided yet on this year, put it that way. Hmmmmm......

Why my last century? It could be my still-tweaking hams and calves, but I know in my heart I have more fun riding for 1-2 hours. This is a treasured memory. I'll always have...Santa Fe!

I'm with you. I would never ride one on purpose. Maybe some day touring out of necessity, but for fun. Can't see myself ever doing that. I do work one every year though.

It sure was a lot warmer last May. It's about, I dunno, 19 outside right now. Funny this old thread got resurrected. Well, I haven't decided yet on this year, put it that way. Hmmmmm......

You did your ride and completed it a week after I failed on My yearly big ride. Like you- I am wondering about my big ride for this year. It was hard last year and I am looking for a change + the fact that I will be on holiday around the time of this years ride. Instead I have decided that I will do a ride- but on my holiday. I am going to France and near a hill called Mt. Ventoux that features in the TDF. It will require a different form of training for a different type of ride on on a different bike. So I will do a big hill on a road bike this year and train up for the big ride next year when I get back. I have to do it next year- just to see if I am getting too old for 12 hour rides or That I still have it in me.

Reason it got ressurected is that the ride you did- is a challenge- it is hard and takes a lot of guts to attempt- let alone do. You showed the rest of us that it can be done- even if you are not the fittest around and don't have the best bike. All it takes is guts-determination and will power. And you have that.

I agree with Big Paulie, you'll be back doing another one sooner than you think.

Congratulations :beer:

I give it a month and the planning will start!!!!!!!! Congrats and a beer in your honor!!!!!!