Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.Robert C Wells
09-09-07, 10:34 PM
I just did my first century ride this past Saturday with the Birmingham Bicycle Club on their 34th Annual Century/Double Century! It was tough, very hilly, very hot, and of course very long, but I/we made it. I met Scott here on the forums and we met up before the ride, along with his friend Bo. We had a blast riding together, suffering together, and finishing together. There were times I did want to quit, but even still I'm already looking forward to doing another one, and looking forward to next year's BBC century too.
It really was a great ride, very well organized, very well supported, and overall, I loved it. I did find the mental aspect of the ride far less challenging than I had expected (riding with buddies is much better than riding solo), but the physical was much worse than I had expected based on the information posted on the ride beforehand. The BBC said there were no big hills, but that is without a doubt a terribly subjective statement!!
My stats are:
Dist: 104.3
Avg speed: 17.8mph
Max speed: 46.8mph (never pedaled a lick - I TOLD you they were big hills!)
Ride time: 05:50:25 (not sure of total time, but maybe somewhere around 7hrs total?)
Est. calories burned: 5838
Anyway, here's a few pics from the ride:
Feelin' fresh and ready for my first century:
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/742/img0224largeyy3.jpg
Giving the wife a wink as we started off:
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/6060/img0228largeqv7.jpg
Scott and me (post-ride):
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5255/img0242largebi2.jpg
At mile 80 rest stop:
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/450/img0230largerj3.jpg
Bo, me, and Scott:
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/8521/img0236largeqg4.jpg
Post-ride hydration, ahhh:
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1761/img0243largebp3.jpg
Not a flattering pic, but it's how I REALLY felt at mile 80:
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5130/img0235largeer7.jpg
Mile 90 rest stop with a cold, wet absorber on my head (OR, "I have no idea what you're saying so here's a pic of me with an absorber on my head"):
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/4774/img0238largeqe7.jpg
It really was a great ride, very well organized, very well supported, and overall, I loved it. I did find the mental aspect of the ride far less challenging than I had expected (riding with buddies is much better than riding solo), but the physical was much worse than I had expected based on the information posted on the ride beforehand. The BBC said there were no big hills, but that is without a doubt a terribly subjective statement!!
My stats are:
Dist: 104.3
Avg speed: 17.8mph
Max speed: 46.8mph (never pedaled a lick - I TOLD you they were big hills!)
Ride time: 05:50:25 (not sure of total time, but maybe somewhere around 7hrs total?)
Est. calories burned: 5838
Anyway, here's a few pics from the ride:
Feelin' fresh and ready for my first century:
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/742/img0224largeyy3.jpg
Giving the wife a wink as we started off:
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/6060/img0228largeqv7.jpg
Scott and me (post-ride):
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5255/img0242largebi2.jpg
At mile 80 rest stop:
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/450/img0230largerj3.jpg
Bo, me, and Scott:
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/8521/img0236largeqg4.jpg
Post-ride hydration, ahhh:
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1761/img0243largebp3.jpg
Not a flattering pic, but it's how I REALLY felt at mile 80:
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5130/img0235largeer7.jpg
Mile 90 rest stop with a cold, wet absorber on my head (OR, "I have no idea what you're saying so here's a pic of me with an absorber on my head"):
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/4774/img0238largeqe7.jpg