Road Cycling - The century that just doesn't want to happen.

The continued saga of me trying to squeeze 100 miles out.

So the last time I was ready, it rained cats and dogs.

This time, I'm ready. Weather was nice, bike is ready. My century partner had bailed out (something about a newborn). And so I'm all alone, but undaunted. I cleaned up and lubed the bike Sunday. Pumped up the tires. Packed my camel back with food and fluid. Filled water bottles. Went to bed early after a hearty dinner. Woke at 630, had a big breakfast (grape nuts and soy milk, fruit, juice, water.. a little candy. Got on the road around 730. The first portion of my ride is down hill (I can reach 35 easy). I get to the bottom and the phone rings. Seems to be that the water heater pilot went out, and my significant other can't get it re lit.

So, back up the hill I go. Fwoomp. Restart the pilot light. Get a glass of water, and off I go again.

So, I'm back on the road. My plan was to head out HWY 94 (for any San Diego familiars) and ride out past Campo, CA, and then back. I've never been out there before, but I've ridden some of it before. It's nice, a little hilly to the point I've been before.
So, I'm cruising along. And at the point it becomes unfamiliar, the road is still climbing. And climbing. And climbing. But it's not a huge climb, and it's not to hot. (As it was cloudy in the 70's on sat and sunday).
So, I keep riding.. and riding. and climbing. I figure it will level out. But about 3 miles out side of Barret Junction, I hit a down hill. And with the brakes on, I'm trying to hold it at 45mph. I could see black on the rim from the brake pads kind of giving up.

So, I hit Barret Junction, making a mental note that there will be a horrible 3 mile climb.

Barret Junction is in a valley. With a climb on the other side. At barret junction it's in the 80's. And there's a this climb on the other side. But I"m only at 27 miles, and it's about 10 miles to Campo. So I start the climb.
And I climb and climb and climb and climb and climb and climb and climb... 7 miles later at a steady 6 mph pace up the hill, I'm still climbing. And it's hot on top of hot. I've gone through my water bottles, two energy bars, some dried fruit, and about 1/2 my camel back at this point. This hill is demoralizingly long and tall. I reached potrero, and the store there didn't take credit or debit cards.. So pushed on to Campo. A slight down hill and my mood improved, but just out side of Campo my legs locked up. Not really a cramp, as they didn't hurt, they just didn't move for a few minutes. I stopped and stretched out... licked some of the salt off my skin.. and got back on. I hit Campo. 40 miles in about 3 hours, 10 minutes. And I was done. There was no way to push on to the 50 mile mark. There was a store in Campo (full of local color) but I was done. I may have made the 50 mile push, and the climb to back up to Potrero, but would not have made it out of Barret Junction by any means. And likely, judging my level of pure exhaustion, I wouldn't have been able to handle the 9 miles of two lane road, fighting traffic, and downhill speeds of 45 + with the amount attention they warrented. Reluctant, I called my wife to come get me.

Sad sad day. But, as I loaded the bike in the trunk, my wife commented that it was a hell of a hill on the way up, and that she was gonna get on me about quiting until she drove the hill that "didn't seem to stop until I got here".

I looked my self over, and my arms and face were white with salt that had dried, and my fore arms now have a really gooood sunburn going for them.

What did I learn?
I should have driven it first to judge the hills.
I should have taken into account the temprature.
I should have taken cash to be able to get more fluids if I had too. (I would have).
That I may love climbing, but that doesn't mean I'm lance just yet.

So, I skipped my commute this week so far to recover (I had trouble walking up the stairs on Tuesday)... And have been thinking over that hill. I'm going to drive out there next weekend and use my GPS to get altitude gain and loss (cause I'm curious to see if it was mental or physical).

Also, has anyone experienced pure leg lock up like that?

No, but I guess that means that I just haven't pushed it that far. That's adventuresome to try an unsupported century along an unfamiliar route. I feel I can do unsupported metric centuries without too much trouble now, but to step it up to 100 miles, I'll be attempting it supported first, I believe. Best of luck on your next go at it.

well even tho you didn't complete the century it sounds like a pretty good ride to me.

My only advice would be to instead of just heading out in a dirrection on a century plan in a given direction of unknown terrain, you should gradually go out farther and farther. Around here that isn't as much as a concern because its fairly flat (very flat compared to what you went through!).

The key is to know the terrain ahead of time, perhaps purchase a topographical map?

Originally posted by Spire
The key is to know the terrain ahead of time, perhaps purchase a topographical map?

I have one.. and honestly, on a map it doesn't look that bad.

I'm gonna GPS it.

One climb was over 7 miles? That's quite a climb. Few hills around here are longer than part of a mile. I'm impressed (an organized century I'm considering riding this fall is named Flat as a Pancake).

It really doesn't look that far on a map. LOL. Sorry. I agree with SPIRE. Build your distance slowly on unfamiliar routes or you will be in for some surprises. I did this in ski country one day out here and by the time I realized that I had just gone down a huge gradient it was too late and I could not make it back up. It extended my ride by 35 mi because I had to ride the valley until I could find a reasonable hill to climb. Keep your chin up.

Bill: Don't be too hard on yourself because you didn't finish the very challenging century this time. Endorse yourself because you made the attempt -- you were in the arena. This sets you apart from the everyday world. Only one in a million would have even made the attempt. You'll conquer it next time. :beer:

Originally posted by trmcgeehan
Bill: Don't be too hard on yourself because you didn't finish the very challenging century this time. Endorse yourself because you made the attempt -- you were in the arena. This sets you apart from the everyday world. Only one in a million would have even made the attempt. You'll conquer it next time. :beer:
I would say it didn't bother me that much.. but it has. Not that I'm sad or down about it.. more mad that I'm not in better shape.
It's gonna get tackled. I'm going to throw in about 1 month of more intense bike riding with some hill repeats included.. and see how it goes.

I was going to find a more flat place to do a century, but I think I'll just mark this as mine.

I'm also going to drive it this weekend and take pictures to post here along with GPS out takes on elevation, so I can have others judge if it was bad or not.

I'll take the wimp label if I earned it.

Start out by doing several (separate) 50 milers...until they are nothing or feel easy...then do 75 and then 100. You definitely took on too much, too fast. Getting into shape is a slooow process. But, you'll do it. Just think of all your bike-forum brothers & sisters while on your next ride (if you need inspiration). We're rootin' for ya.:D

William....just a thought on choosing a likely century route.

Is it possible in your locality to find a circuit of road, lets say 10 miles, of less demanding terrain.

Then to complete the century all you have to do is ride the trip 10 times, "Criterium style".

I completed a couple of my centuries, last Summer in this fashion.

I know it can become rather boring as you approach the later circuits. But it is certainly an oppsion to keep in mind. With the added convienience of a close to home bail out, if thing do`nt work out.

We drove the road Saturday with GPS, I forgot the paper today with all the elevation gain and loss. But it was pretty intense.

One alternative: do a club event, to take advantage of the food/rest stops. And sag, just in case.

Another suggestion, whatever route you choose: ride with someone; even if you don't pace-line and save energy that way, the companionship can help you over the hurdles, just knowing that there's a buddy alongside you brings a physical and psychological comfort.

Originally posted by willic
William....just a thought on choosing a likely century route.

Is it possible in your locality to find a circuit of road, lets say 10 miles, of less demanding terrain.


This was my first consideration.. but now I have to finish this trip.
I HAVE too.

The GPS stuff is at home, but in short, it started at 500 feet, and then topped at 1700, dropped to 1200 (in 2 or so miles). At the 1200 bottom out it climbed to 2600 feet in 8 miles.