General Cycling Discussion - Rode my first half century today!

Local bike club has a web page that provides mileage and directions for some of their group rides. I printed some out and took the 30 mile one today knowing I could handle it. Well 30 became 30+ after some roads were not marked properly if at all. When I got near my car, I looked at the computer and thought hmmm 16 more miles until 50. So I pushed my self that extra bit. Very proud of myself since this is the longest I ever had ridden, and I kept my average speed the same as my regular musch shorter rides. Did have very strong winds today, weather forecasted 10-20 MPH. Not sure if that mattered since it held me back in areas and helped push me along in others. This was also the first time I was on heavily traveled roads with very few traffic lights. I know most hate them, but the big trucks were all lined up in the right lane next to the shoulder I was in and gave me a great draft for awhile. Perfect timing too, because it was around the 40 mile mark and heading into the wind. I was pulling 23+ MPH in my middle front ring and 5th gear in the back. Once they had all passed, that speed changed significantly.

Congrats, the next milestone is a metric century (100km = 66 miles), after that a century is no big deal!

L8R

Con grads.

Where did you do the ride. Post a map would be neat for those of us that drive through Delaware.

Joe

Awesome man! Yeah, post a map if you can. I'm not far from DE.

Ah yes, the old, "I only have 16 more miles to go" motivator! I know that feeling. Congrats!

Bob

Good job.Someday i will be there.

Go to www.whiteclaybicycleclub.com and click on "Cue Sheets" on the left side. I did the Chesapeake CIty Delaware City Criss Cross and after finishing that loop I just rode down Rt. 40 to Elkton and back.

What pleases me the most that the only stops were red lights and to patch a flat. I took granola bars with me and ate one about every 30 minutes after getting to a red light.

congrats.. so far my longest ride has been about 47 miles.. although I am doing my first metric century tomorrow !!

Jeff

Congratulations! Looks like you've caught the distance bug.

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
after that a century is no big deal!

L8R 100 miles, no big deal...mmm...I bet you are into some kind of sales for a living:D

Congrats!! :beer:

Spouse & I just did our first 50 today. Don't ya just feel great!

kari

Ah yes, the old, "I only have 16 more miles to go" motivator! I know that feeling. Congrats!

Someone should warn us newbies about this. It has apparently caught several of us. :)

kari

Originally posted by mudmouse
Someone should warn us newbies about this. It has apparently caught several of us. :)

kari

It has caught me to. Today was only my third time on my bike for more than a few minutes and I ended up riding 26 miles, I ran out of trail or I would have gone more. I am already trying to plan a 50mile route and have a ~100 mile trip planned. I think I am insane...

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
Congrats, the next milestone is a metric century (100km = 66 miles)

100km = 62.5miles :)

Nice one Sebring, I hope its first of many!

Great going! I remember when I did my first half century. As soon as I did it, I wondered how long it would take to do my first century. I bet if you do it a few more times, you'll be looking to do your century by the end of the summer.

Keep on riding! :thumbup:


Koffee

I had a club ride the next day that turned out to be a 40 mile ride, then had to help do some trail marking for a MTB race with another club and I put in almost another 50. I'll definitely be hitting the century mark by end of summer. I just need to find someone to ride one with. I don't think I could all that saddle time alone.

I bumped up to my first century pretty quickly. Did a half in the mountains around Charlottesville, VA one weekend, then did a three-day ride from NYC to DC about 2-3 weeks later. 82 miles the first day, 127(!) the second and 69 the third. I survived it, but I don't know if I'd recommend your first metric century and real century on consecutive days! It took a while for my butt, neck and wrists to recover. Of course, I also did it on a mountain bike which is definitely not as comfortable for that kind of distance.

Looking forward to my first time reaching these milestones on my new road bike!

Originally posted by wza97
I bumped up to my first century pretty quickly. Did a half in the mountains around Charlottesville, VA one weekend, then did a three-day ride from NYC to DC about 2-3 weeks later. 82 miles the first day, 127(!) the second and 69 the third. I survived it, but I don't know if I'd recommend your first metric century and real century on consecutive days! It took a while for my butt, neck and wrists to recover. Of course, I also did it on a mountain bike which is definitely not as comfortable for that kind of distance.

Looking forward to my first time reaching these milestones on my new road bike!

How long were you training before you did your first half? I am hoping to ride a century on a friday and then again on a Sunday and I just started riding. I am wondering if I am being too optimistic.

:beer: :beer: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Originally posted by bg4533
How long were you training before you did your first half? I am hoping to ride a century on a friday and then again on a Sunday and I just started riding. I am wondering if I am being too optimistic.

Well, I'd been riding 2-3 days a week, usually anywhere from 25-35 miles, depending on how much time I had. I was doing that fairly consistently for about 3 months. I didn't feel like I had trained enough going in, but I was OK. I definitely could have done better, but I was able to finish, so I'm content with that.

Sorry I'm not much help:rolleyes:

Good luck!