Texas - First Century attempt tomorrow
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barlows
09-08-07, 11:06 AM
Well, I think I'm going to give it a shot tomorrow. I've only been riding for about 3 months now, but I did a metric last month and felt pretty good toward the end. I've been putting in ~150 miles a week and feeling progressively stronger, so it may be time.
I know that's not what people would call "normal" training for a century, but we'll just see how it goes. I'm trying to look at this more as a status check than anything else. More of a way of seeing how well I feel on the bike after a longer time. If I make it, great. If not, I'll see where the issues occur, and what I need to work on.
Steve
bikegummo
09-08-07, 11:16 AM
Good luck Steve! I'm doing my first one tomorrow also! Advice I've been given: drink loads of water, eat along the way, and get some rest tonight. Oh, and avoid 5-alarm chili tonight.
Again, best of luck!
barlows
09-09-07, 01:51 PM
Well, I'm back. I left this morning at 6 and returned just in time to ride the last 6 miles in rain....HARD rain. It was a great ride. Being my first attempt at a century, and not having prepared very far in advance for it, I was pleasantly surprised at how well it went. No flats, no bad traffic, didn't take any wrong turns, all in all pretty uneventful. I averaged 15.6 mph on the bike, and spent roughly 30 minutes off the bike (stops @ 50, 75 and 88 to refill bottles).
It wasn't without issues, however. Both feet went numb at once. This was about 65-ish miles in. I ended up having to unclip one foot at a time and pedal from a different contact point for a bit to get the numbness to go away. I'll have to see what's up with that. Also, I'm thinking my seat may need to come up just a smidge. I'm noticing that my knees only extend to about 30 degrees on the full extension of the stroke (if 0 degrees is locked). Toward the end of the ride, my knees were barking a little (even while spinning).
Anyway, all in all a great day. Time to go celebrate!!! :beer:
Steve
barlows
09-09-07, 01:51 PM
Man, I was so jazzed I forgot to ask. How did your ride go gummo?
Steve
Rosso Corsa
09-09-07, 01:56 PM
congrats!
lol a week ago I attempted a century, but didn't make it!
Mash Master
09-09-07, 07:49 PM
Congrats!
bikegummo
09-10-07, 08:26 AM
Mine went great as well. I'm in NYC, and my ride was 100 miles through 4 of the 5 boroughs here. Took lots of wrong turns, adding over 10 miles to the total (but I think lots of riders did that). My biggest complaint was my neck--really started aching about 70 miles in. But overall, it was really, really rewarding.
Anyhow, congrats, barlows!