Fifty Plus (50+) - Attempted first century today

I've been waiting weeks to ride this century. Up early this morning, prepared everything last night and out the door at 5:30am. Everything went well until 10:00 when the wind picked up. Stopped to have lunch at 67 mile, checked in with timer and decided I"d had enough.
I felt bad for not going on, until I talked to many others who had also given up. Some of the others were hardcore cyclist, triathletes and racers. I at least rode my age+ (60), next time all the way!

Mud:D

Congratulations on the 67 mile ride on a windy day. The century will come.

Way to go Mud. Welcome to 60+.

You did a century. It may be a metric, but it's still a century.

I've always considered the wind to be less friendlier than hills. Your day will come so it was an excellent call to wait until the conditions are more conducive to a successful completion. 67 miles is a fur piece anyway.

I've said it many times, but when you do ride your first century, (and it will be sooner than you think), be mentally prepared for the last 20-25 miles. For whatever reason around 80 miles a lot of times the ride loses it's appeal. If that happens, just focus on some short term goals-something like getting to the next rest stop or celebrating every time you roll past a 5 mile point. It is certainly okay to talk to yourself and cheer yourself on!!! Laughing helps as much as anything I've found. Refocus on something other than the odometer as well-avoid looking at it as it just has a way of stopping or at least seems to!! Or if you can change the display to cadence or something else to concentrate on try that.

Once you get past 90 the adrenaline kicks back in realizing that you can do it and you're not far away but there's something in that 75-90 mile window that is a real mental battle.

When it's your time your going to do just fine.

You did a century. It may be a metric, but it's still a century.

+1. Tell some non-cycling friends how far you went. They'll fall out of their chairs, and, either secretly or openly think you ought to have your head examined.

I've been waiting weeks to ride this century. Up early this morning, prepared everything last night and out the door at 5:30am. Everything went well until 10:00 when the wind picked up. Stopped to have lunch at 67 mile, checked in with timer and decided I"d had enough.
I felt bad for not going on, until I talked to many others who had also given up. Some of the others were hardcore cyclist, triathletes and racers. I at least rode my age+ (60), next time all the way!

Mud:D

Congratulations Mud! A metric century is just as good:)

The wind has caused many cyclist to call it a day. I often find it tougher than climbing hills. At least you can see the top of that hill and the wind never seems to end:(

You did a century. It may be a metric, but it's still a century.

WillisB beat me to it! Congratulations.

Wow, nice ride. The first century I ever did was in Faro, ND where the only hills are the approaches over the interstate. And there was absolutely no wind that day, almost unheard of for Fargo!
If I would have had much wind I'd have been proud to just break the 50 mile market, much less 67!
Congratulations!

Sweet ride....67 Miles is not nothing to sneeze at....:)

Good going mud. On a windy day a metric is as tough as a full century on a calm day.

Next time, you'd better complete the full century, or your name is mud.:D

Well done, mud! You got the metric + some. Wind... a four-letter word!

PRIDE was what I felt on my first metric century. Especially with Wind!!! Ya done Good!!!

I hate the wind worse than anything. Hills are temporary, and don't move around and come at you again and again. You did good. Wind will beat me before hills every time.

You tried and came short but there's always another day. Congratulations, you made the metric century.

A century is such an arbitrary thing anyway. We happen to measure distance in miles and people attach significance to the number 100.

Look at how many "centuries" you did today:

Kilometers (Metric)
furlongs
rods (many times over)
hectometers
stadia (ancient Greek measurement, approx 370 meters)

And so on and so forth.

If we all decided to measure our rides in "the speed of light over 1 second" units, then none of our rides would look very impressive.

What the heck is wrong with you, a man your age riding that far on a bike?
Shouldn't you be playing golf?
I haven't done a century for a long time.........must confess it was metric, too.

I've ridden just one metric century in my pro cycling career, which goes back nearly two years now. Be proud. Be very proud.

Thanks to ALL for your support!:D I've had a nap, dinner, shower:rolleyes: and feel a whole lot better about today!
Mud

Frickin WIND anyway!

Good job Mud.

Cycling is supposed to be FUN. I believe you did the right thing. It sounds as if you enjoyed your ride and you stopped when it got to be overly onerous. There will be other days to try 100 miles.

Pat

It will happen...the wind can really be a killer...

Once you get one under you belt you'll be wondering what the big deal was..lol

<< For whatever reason around 80 miles a lot of times the ride loses its appeal.>>

+1

You did a century. It may be a metric, but it's still a century.

Oh no it's not!! Ther is a VERY big diffrence between riding 64 miles and 100 miles, both in physical and mental terms. That's not to demean the OP's 67 mile ride, but I do think wind is just a part of cycling in the same way that hills are.

I've ridden just one metric century in my Pre cycling career, which goes back nearly two years now. Be proud. Be very proud.

Have corrected your post as with the new bike- it is only just starting.

Mud---With a name like that you must be from the offroading darkside. Nothing wrong with calling it a day if the conditions go against you- and that is from my own experience. Centuries are not the easiest distance to do in good weather but you now know what to expect. That 67 miles in those conditions is exceptional enough but at least you did a metric.

As others have said, 67 miles puts you in the very top segment of bicyle riders. And you're already thinking of next time. Very well done!

When I was a keen but mediocre runner, I found myself remembering a short piece about marathons ( which are in some ways similar in demands to a bike century) in Running magazine.

The article talked about what the writer thought about over that distance. First one-third, about eight miles, the writer had a self-view of an old heavyweight boxer doing road work. Slow, steady, just working out the kinks. Small steps, rolling the shoulders, breathing steady, enjoying gradually getting into a groove.

The writer's second section, to about 16 miles, the imaginary view, he thought about an Australian aboriginal hunter, loping along, lengthening a stride, eyes on the prey and the purpose.

The final third was, in the writer's view, all about going home. Feeling that each stride was closer, wanting to finish in shape to have a brew and a chat, nothing further to prove.

For what it's worth (which is, no doubt, two fifths of three quarters of nothing at all) I always sub-divide long runs and rides into different attitudes. Not one long scary endurance challenge, a number of quite different segments.

None of this, of course, diminishes the wind or the hills!

Have corrected your post as with the new bike- it is only just starting.
Appreciate the head's up, stap... :)

outstanding.




outstanding!
You accomplished quite alot, be proud of your ride today. Many cannot even fathom riding a bike around the block.
Great job!

Wind? You got stopped by the wind? I could see bailing on a ride for rain, heat, cramps, mechanicals, etc. But, wind? Hell, just get down in the drops and work on getting aero! Or, better yet, find some wheels to draft off of.

How windy was it? And, was that wind going to be in your face for the entire 33 miles remaining in the ride? Or, did the course have sections where it would be at your side or your back? And, did you have to sag back to the start? Enquiring minds....

Please note: none of this is meant to disparage your ride - 67 miles at 60 years old is still a very significant accomplishment. Like most riders, I've bailed out on centuries too. Plus, I have the luxury of living in an area that's not very windy (though nearly all of our riding does involve lots of climbing).

Anyway, here's hoping you're successful on your next attempt...and may the wind be at your back.

Wind? You got stopped by the wind? I could see bailing on a ride for rain, heat, cramps, mechanicals, etc. But, wind? Hell, just get down in the drops and work on getting aero!
Mostly flat open farm land, miles of corn fields and no trees to hide behind. 25-30 mph head winds and the last 33 miles of the century followed the same route.
I did not use SAG, there was a lunch stop following the metric. After lunch those wishing went on to finish the century.
Mud

Mostly flat open farm land, miles of corn fields and no trees to hide behind. 25-30 mph head winds and the last 33 miles of the century followed the same route.
I did not use SAG, there was a lunch stop following the metric. After lunch those wishing went on to finish the century.
Mud

I certainly understand WIND:) We have the flat open farm land in this area and I've seen headwinds so strong they'll stop you if you quit pedaling. I've been caught in a few crosswinds where you actually need to lean into the wind to keep from falling over:eek: What I really hate are the wind gusts. It's really tough to ride in them.

I certainly understand WIND:) We have the flat open farm land in this area and I've seen headwinds so strong they'll stop you if you quit pedaling. I've been caught in a few crosswinds where you actually need to lean into the wind to keep from falling over:eek: What I really hate are the wind gusts. It's really tough to ride in them.
Me too. I've done centuries in western Ohio that fit your description perfectly. HHH, Portage River Tour, the old WYCOHIBITO in Wyandott county, to name a few. One time the wind was actually blowing the corn stalks across the road.

Mostly flat open farm land, miles of corn fields and no trees to hide behind. 25-30 mph head winds and the last 33 miles of the century followed the same route.
I did not use SAG, there was a lunch stop following the metric. After lunch those wishing went on to finish the century.
Mud

Ahhh...thanks for putting it into perspective. That's some serious wind! I think I'd rather deal with 2000 foot climbs - at least at the top you usually get the reward of a great view and a downhill.

You'll get 'em next time.

I suspect I would not have gone 67 miles in those conditions!! Only if I could ride off someone else's wheels!!