Fifty Plus (50+) - Failed Century Attempt

My friend Tim and I drove down together to the Bicycle Club of Philadelphia's Scenic Schuylkill Century on Saturday, September 8. At 8:00 AM the peleton of several hundred left Lloyd Hall in Fairmount Park, rounded the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and headed west along Kelly Drive to the suburbs. The century route ran into the farm country of Chester County, not far from my home, and back through Valley Forge onto the Schuylkill River Trail, ending at Lloyd Hall.

Through the BCP email list I arranged to have an informal escort for the ride. Phil is a seasoned bike commuter, and, by his own admission, "can pedal all day at 10MPH." So we left together as Tim 'dropped' us - by design, since he's a much faster rider and I'd never ask him to stay with me.

I had no difficulty with the flat course along the river, and even the hills in Manayunk weren't a problem, although they weren't pleasant, and I did walk one of them. However, once we left the river and began to enter Montgomery county, the climbs became more and more bothersome. My ambition and determination kept bumping into the fact that I am a novice rider with scoliosis and seriously knocked knees. I was fine at the Cedar Grove rest stop (15 or so miles). However, I decided to bail on the 106 mile century route by the Evansburg Park rest stop (36 miles), and rode the metric century alternate instead. I was hot, tired from riding as long and as hard as I had ever ridden, and my back was beginning to bother me. The metric route cut 40 miles of mostly climbing from the ride, although it did send us up the 9 percent quarter mile grade in Mill Grove. Yes, I did walk this hill, one of only three I walked on the route.

My back pain was so severe by the time I reached Betzwood (48 miles) I had to spend a few minutes lying on the ground to 'realign' - it's amazing how much better I feel once my structure has had a couple of minutes without bearing weight. I few miles past Betzwood I asked Phil to carry my hydration pack. I had to lie down again to 'realign' past Spring Mill. By now I was stopping every few miles on the Schuylkill River Trail to get off the bike, so that Betzwood to the finish for Phil and I was nearly 2.5 hours, an hour longer than normal. It took me nearly nine hours to slog through the metric. Fortunately Phil and I reached the finish just in time to join in the traditional pizza party finish.

This ride was a mixed result for me. I didn't ride a century, but I rode a metric that was far hillier than any long ride I'd done before. However, I may need to rethink my crazy desire to ride 100 miles, and indeed endurance riding in general. I might have hit my physical limits. Being stubborn, I might need more convincing.

The back pain was partly due to my using a 2 liter hydration backpack. It was my first time with it, and it probably wasn't the best choice of hydration for me. (Steve, you were right that I shouldn't have used it.) I began to have back problems about 30 miles into the ride. I still don't know how much of the back pain was the hydration pack, the scoliosis, or my inexperience - this was my third metric ever, and only my fifth ride of more than 50 miles.

There's nothing shabby about completing a metric century. Congratulations!

Completing imperial centuries is partly about being able to endure that long of a time in the saddle. This is something that gets easier the more experience that you (and your butt) gain. Eating and drinking well is also really critical. Also, the more you do it, the greater your confidence becomes.

Just keep going!

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I had no difficulty with the flat course along the river, and even the hills in Manayunk weren't a problem, although they weren't pleasant, and I did walk one of them. However, once we left the river and began to enter Montgomery county, the climbs became more and more bothersome. \.

Montgomery county has some nasty hills:eek: This was the route for the Livestrong ride and I only did 44.7 miles of them. Those were the toughest miles I've encountered. There are a few posts in the Charity ride forum describing the ride through Montgomery county....I belive one of them said it was F* brutal and I agree 100%.

Congrats on the metric century!

Don't feel you have to do a century. I think I ride quite a bit, 5,500 miles last year and I have 3,400 miles to date this year. However, I have yet to do a century and based on how I feel after metrics, I don't see one in my future. I don't really feel the need to push my body or adapt the riding style I would need to accomplish this. Long distance riding is just a weakness of mine and not one I am really looking to improve on. I am quite happy at keeping my long rides to 3 hours, it just suites the way I ride better.

Congratulations Neil. FWIW, I also think your friend who advised against the hydration pack is correct, especially since you already have back issues.

Montgomery county has some nasty hills:eek: This was the route for the Livestrong ride and I only did 44.7 miles of them. Those were the toughest miles I've encountered. There are a few posts in the Charity ride forum describing the ride through Montgomery county....I belive one of them said it was F* brutal and I agree 100%.


http://historian2wheels.blogspot.com/2007/05/climb-every-mountain.html

Congratulations Neil.

Thank you. I felt the need to post something 'heroic', and this ride qualified.

I rode this century too. It's not an easy one for your first century, and it was hot and humid. Cudos for finishing the metric version and even making the attempt. Most folks wouldn't even try. P.S. I suspect many others walked the 9% grade in Mill Grove & I think they've got it wrong. It's closer to 12% (I train on that hill weekly).

Failures that day were sitting in recliners, watching TV, eating junk food and being lazy. Someone who struggled with severe back pain while completing a hilly metric century was a great achiever in comparison. Congratulations on your success!
:beer:

It sounds like it was a pretty ride and you did have some pain, but you can also look at what you've learned. Some days, I go out and just take it easy and I end up doing more miles than when I'm tring to break my neck. I guess you got to take it as it comes, congratulations on a job well done.

Congratulations on the metric century. Its quite an achievement.

When you decide to try again, you might want to look into a seatpost rack for drink bottles to suppliment the regular bottle cages. Profile design for example makes a unit that clamps on the seatpost just below the saddle and holds 2 water bottles upright just behind the saddle. If you carry 4 24oz bottles you can leave the hydration pack home.

Good job. You fought through a lot of pain to get the metric. I have never rode a century either but I enjoy what I can. Keep on pushing and finding what you can do.

I only wish I could do so well!

Try again without the Camel Back. I did a century a week the last few years. I have a bad back. It would be impossible for me to do one with that much weight on my back. Great try, and that's how we learn. As you keep riding you will learn all sorts of things like this. All you did was learn something about riding. That's how we learn about saddles, positions, types of bars, what to eat, etc. on a long ride.

Maybe stop and re align once in a while before you feel any problems. Change positions as much as you are able to. This works for lots of problems.

Historian:
Is that Trek bike in your blog the same one you rode on that century? With scoliosis, it's a wonder you didn't bail altogether. I've ridden centuries on a roadified old school MTB, converted for touring. It's definitely more work than on a road bike - as long as the road bike fits. It's possible to get a much lighter bike to use on supported century rides - or metrics. The Sequoia in my sig is a natural for long rides because it has a touring posture. I think they actually used people with crippled-up, over worked, aged backs - like mine - for the guinea pig when they designed it.

When you sit so upright with scoliosis, or compressed discs, the road shock runs straight up the spine because there isn't enough arc. Longer rides require a posture that will tolerate the length of time in the saddle. The longer the ride, the more small annoyances come to the fore. It almost always points to the type of bike, and what that bike allows. That Trek is a sweetie, for sure, but probably not the ideal for a long ride with a bad back.

Hats off to you for toughness.

That was not a failure on a century. That was a Bl**dy good attempt that just went a bit wrong. You still did a metric and that is an achievement for quite a few of us here. OK-You made a few mistakes but you have learnt from them.

Now to train for the next one--Attempt I mean-- Find a few hills and include them on your normal- 20 mile rides. If the hill defeats you- learn a lesson on climbing. Get into granny and a comfortable gear at the back. When it gets hard- change down- Hard again change down again and again till you run out of gears. When it gets hard again-Slow down. I know of peoplee that are completely unfit- Carry a lot of extra weight that can climb hills in this way. Once you have defeated the hill- Then try a bit more pace or a higher gear.

Most of us find hills a problem- they take some getting used to so give it time and the problem will be not enough of them.

Congrats on the metric - that's quite an achievement. Keep in mind that most folks our age are not doing anything close to this, maybe a round or two of golf before sitting in front of the TV. Saturday was a hot and humid day, on the ride I was on (Civil War), people were lying on the side of the road all over - under shade of a tree if they could find it.

Let me echo an earlier post - don't carry so much with you. If you are on an organized century (assuming it is well organized), they have multiple rest stops where you can load up on food and nutrition. On my first long organized ride, I over stocked on food and water, this time around I was 'lighter' and took advantage of the rest stops.

Failures that day were sitting in recliners, watching TV, eating junk food and being lazy. Someone who struggled with severe back pain while completing a hilly metric century was a great achiever in comparison. Congratulations on your success!
:beer:


I echo what bluesdawg said. A metric is a laudable distance, ESPECIALLY w/the kind of grades you are taking about. To do that in spite of severe back pain is a great accomplishment. There is no failure here. You did great!

Historian:
Is that Trek bike in your blog the same one you rode on that century? With scoliosis, it's a wonder you didn't bail altogether. I've ridden centuries on a roadified old school MTB, converted for touring. It's definitely more work than on a road bike - as long as the road bike fits. It's possible to get a much lighter bike to use on supported century rides - or metrics.

jcm makes several good points, of which I'm disputing none. Only wanted to point out that H's Trek weighs about 22 pounds, so it isn't too heavy.

You have nothing at all to feel bad about. You set out to ride 100+ miles and only did 60+ miles. That is nothing to sneer about. You did what so many people consider crazy and lived to tell about it. What a fantastic achievement for you. Feel proud of your effort, listen to all the good advice and congratulations from all your friends on this board and don't let a small alteration of your original goal frustrate you. The end result was you rode a lot of miles through pain and suffering and did not let it beat you.

The beauty of an organized ride is the support they provide. A couple of water bottles in cages and some snacks in your pocket will get you through to the next SAG stop where you can fill up for the next 20 miles. So many people head out on a century ride and their goal is to fly to the end. Others will take their time and enjoy the scenery.

Here's to your success and to all your future successes.:beer:

Neil...tis better to try and come up short than to not try at all. You done good.

Good job and keep at it. A lot of us get back pain from climbing if we haven't been climbing enough. If I climb often, it doesn't bother me as much. If you really want to do a century, it will come.

Congrats on the metric, that's a tough 62 miles. Your ride has been added to the Accomplishments page of the web site

http://50pluscyclist.googlepages.com

Good work Neil. I started out this year and am building up to a metric century (also one mile more than my age). I will be happy when I make that and happier still when I go 100 miles. I'm near your area and will have to come out and try that killer hill some time. Does anyone know what the grade is on DC's Capitol Hill?

Good work on the ride. Somewhere in all the articles Sheldon Brown has written, he has one saying why he thinks a metric century is the perfect distance.

a Metric is a LONG ride!!!!! Way to go.

Stay with the distance riding and you will find what works for you. Get very comfortable doing metrics and then do some occassional 75-80 mile rides to see what the added distance feels like. Bike fit is critical on long distances-there are zero margins for error on fit if you want to comfortable complete a really long ride. It hurts bad enough even if your fit is perfect.

Avoid burnout on the quest. Make sure you continue to enjoy riding all along the way. You will get there so just be patient with your inner self........

One more note, Great for you! every time I get to feeling bad about how slow I am, I remind myself that there is a great percentage of the population that at over 50 simply could not ride a metric. You are amongst an elite few. Just that the population is a bit skewed here in the forums.

Neil-
Just to repeat what I said in the NE Forum- good meeting you and you did great! It was a very hot, hilly ride, and you have absolutely nothing not to be proud of. I don't know what the terrain was like on your other metrics, but this was definitely a tough one. And yeah, that "9.8%" grade on the Audubon loop is a kicker- that was second time I've ridden that, and I have walked half of it both times. So did my riding partner on Saturday, and so too did a lot of other SSC riders- we all had a good laugh about it at the top!
Also, to reiterate what others have said- keep on keepin' on. If you haven't already done this, you might try looking at the BCP website ride library (http://www.phillybikeclub.org/)- there are cue sheets in there for a number of good rides, some hilly, others not, including parts of the Montgomery County segments from Saturday's imperial and metric.
Anyway- congrats on a great ride- this wasn't a failed imperial- it was a successful metric! Also, if you want a partner, I'd be happy to ride with you on the MS 150 on the 29th.

To ride through the misery you described is nothing short of amazing.
Hold your head up proudly, I just did a metric last week and even without
the hills and back problems it was a loooong ride.

Congratulations go out to you!!!!
:beer:

Neil you have done better than I have. I got 51.6 trying for a metric, congrats.

Historian:
Is that Trek bike in your blog the same one you rode on that century? With scoliosis, it's a wonder you didn't bail altogether. I've ridden centuries on a roadified old school MTB, converted for touring. It's definitely more work than on a road bike - as long as the road bike fits. It's possible to get a much lighter bike to use on supported century rides - or metrics. The Sequoia in my sig is a natural for long rides because it has a touring posture. I think they actually used people with crippled-up, over worked, aged backs - like mine - for the guinea pig when they designed it.

When you sit so upright with scoliosis, or compressed discs, the road shock runs straight up the spine because there isn't enough arc. Longer rides require a posture that will tolerate the length of time in the saddle. The longer the ride, the more small annoyances come to the fore. It almost always points to the type of bike, and what that bike allows. That Trek is a sweetie, for sure, but probably not the ideal for a long ride with a bad back.

Hats off to you for toughness.

Which Trek? I've ridden metrics on both the Navigator and the fx. Neither of them are mountain bikes by any stretch of the term.

One more note, Great for you! every time I get to feeling bad about how slow I am, I remind myself that there is a great percentage of the population that at over 50 simply could not ride a metric. You are amongst an elite few. Just that the population is a bit skewed here in the forums.

I have a confession. I am a child of 41 years. :-)

Nice ride!
Paying attention and responding to how you feel is a real victory!

You rode a metric century, the hilliest you've ever done, you endure back pain severe enough to get you off the bike frequently, and you finish. :beer: And yet you call this a failure? I call it a complete success, a triumph of the will (there's your stubborn streak for you), and a huge opportunity for learning, which you apparently have done.

I'd do a lot less beating yourself up and a lot more celebrating -- you've certainly earned it!

You may or may not have hit your physical limit for distance. Give your body a chance to catch up to your head and see how you feel.

Congratulations!

Mr. H. I think you did great! The only bad thing about your ride is your being hard on yourself. What's that old saw???????? Something like, "Shoot for the moon, but if you come up a little short, you've still done good." You've ridden over 50 miles 5 times. I'm just a dumb hick from a little Texas town, but I'll bet less than 1% of the people in the USA have ridden that far that many times. "maddmaxx" had some great suggestions. And, to celebrate the metric century, you had pie----pizza pie.

Keep up the good riding and good luck w/the back!!:beer:


ps: be proud of your accomplishment

Congratulations on the metric century. Its quite an achievement.

When you decide to try again, you might want to look into a seatpost rack for drink bottles to suppliment the regular bottle cages. Profile design for example makes a unit that clamps on the seatpost just below the saddle and holds 2 water bottles upright just behind the saddle. If you carry 4 24oz bottles you can leave the hydration pack home.

I don't have time to get the seatpost rack before my next 'attempt' - Saturday! I'm plotting a 100 mile course using the Schuylkill River Trail and the Perkiomen Trail in addition to local roads. Both the SRT and Perkiomen are fairly level, and water should be available at a number of places. The bulk of the climbing will be on the homeward leg, and most of it in the final 20 miles. I will be carrying two water bottles. No backpack though.

Try again without the Camel Back. I did a century a week the last few years. I have a bad back. It would be impossible for me to do one with that much weight on my back. Great try, and that's how we learn. As you keep riding you will learn all sorts of things like this. All you did was learn something about riding. That's how we learn about saddles, positions, types of bars, what to eat, etc. on a long ride.

Maybe stop and re align once in a while before you feel any problems. Change positions as much as you are able to. This works for lots of problems.

I will keep that in mind. I am planning rest stops at a number of locations on the second attempt this Saturday.

Neil-
Just to repeat what I said in the NE Forum- good meeting you and you did great! It was a very hot, hilly ride, and you have absolutely nothing not to be proud of. I don't know what the terrain was like on your other metrics, but this was definitely a tough one. And yeah, that "9.8%" grade on the Audubon loop is a kicker- that was second time I've ridden that, and I have walked half of it both times. So did my riding partner on Saturday, and so too did a lot of other SSC riders- we all had a good laugh about it at the top!
Also, to reiterate what others have said- keep on keepin' on. If you haven't already done this, you might try looking at the BCP website ride library (http://www.phillybikeclub.org/)- there are cue sheets in there for a number of good rides, some hilly, others not, including parts of the Montgomery County segments from Saturday's imperial and metric.
Anyway- congrats on a great ride- this wasn't a failed imperial- it was a successful metric! Also, if you want a partner, I'd be happy to ride with you on the MS 150 on the 29th.

I'm already riding with Team Copaxone, but I expect the rest of the team will drop me like a hot rock within the first mile. So I'd be happy to have someone to talk to during the ride. Or at least gasp to, since I should be pushing myself and not gabbing.

I don't have time to get the seatpost rack before my next 'attempt' - Saturday! I'm plotting a 100 mile course using the Schuylkill River Trail and the Perkiomen Trail in addition to local roads. Both the SRT and Perkiomen are fairly level, and water should be available at a number of places. The bulk of the climbing will be on the homeward leg, and most of it in the final 20 miles. I will be carrying two water bottles. No backpack though.

There are a few types of one litre bottles on the market for bike cages. I have at least two types. I just found one made by Rubbermaid at the grocery store. Your local grocery store may have them. They are inexpensive. It does not leak at all it's a quality bottle. Two litres of water and only two bottles to hold it is lighter than more bottles with more racks, or a Camelback. Does the camelback even hold 2 liters, or 2000 ml ? Many don't. This will keep the weight off your back and your bike lighter.
(Bad back, long distance rider, 10 years experience :D or :( depends on how you look at it).

I just want to add my congratulation to all of the above

And to offer a word from a running context

Running forum advice was always to "train the chassis as well as the motor" - that is to say, to consider the skeleton as well as the heart and lungs.

It sounds like you're doing wonderfully at building endurance and metabolic efficiency - evidence, weight loss and increasing distance and increasing ambition.

Many runners hurt themselves because they get fit, and want to keep pushing while the skeletal strength and the muscular strength to support legs and back takes a bit longer to build. The chassis takes longer!

Slow and steady wins the day.

I'm already riding with Team Copaxone, but I expect the rest of the team will drop me like a hot rock within the first mile. So I'd be happy to have someone to talk to during the ride. Or at least gasp to, since I should be pushing myself and not gabbing.

I'm riding with Team UPHS, and we'll see how fast I get dropped :) I'll keep an eye out for ya!

I have to echo everyone else, that sounds like one h**l of a ride, and managing a metric in that much pain ia N ccompliahmwnt of the first rank. :)

I find that hilly rides irritate my back I have a rib that tends to displace when I stand on the pedals to get up a steep incline, popped it 2 weeks ago and the darn thing still hurts, so I reckon that if you want to ride a century you might want to consider one that just doesn't involve mountain climbing :)

... rode the metric century alternate instead. I was hot, tired from riding as long and as hard as I had ever ridden, and my back was beginning to bother me. ...

My back pain was so severe by the time I reached Betzwood (48 miles) I had to spend a few minutes lying on the ground to 'realign' - it's amazing how much better I feel once my structure has had a couple of minutes without bearing weight. ... I may need to rethink my crazy desire to ride 100 miles, and indeed endurance riding in general. I might have hit my physical limits. ...

The back pain was partly due to my using a 2 liter hydration backpack. It was my first time with it, and ... I still don't know how much of the back pain was the hydration pack, the scoliosis, or my inexperience - this was my third metric ever, and only my fifth ride of more than 50 miles.I suggest you approach riding a Century by doing more long rides first. When 50 mile rides become nothing to mention, and 100k is just a mileage amount and not an historic moment, and you have done several 70-75+ milers without debilitating results, then you're ready for 100 miles. You can't do a marathon on training designed for 10k, but that's what you tried to do.

Your back pain could also be a result of pushing too hard a gear on the upslopes. Mashing can result in your body looking for extra muscles in your back to do more of the pedaling. Spin!

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If you haven't accomplished your Century by next Sept - and there would be no harm in that - may I suggest a FLAT century. I see that you are doing an MS ride in PA (?) in late Sept this year. To do both, FLAT century & MS ride, I suggest looking into something such as the MS-150 in New Bern in eastern NC (prob 2nd weekend in Sept) next year. Other than the fly-over US-70 bridge over the river / sound, there are NO hills. The only potential drawback, other than expense of travel / lodging, is potential for wind (only need two gears to ride around New Bern - one for tailwind, one for headwind). ;-)

I suggest you approach riding a Century by doing more long rides first. When 50 mile rides become nothing to mention, and 100k is just a mileage amount and not an historic moment, and you have done several 70-75+ milers without debilitating results, then you're ready for 100 miles. You can't do a marathon on training designed for 10k, but that's what you tried to do.

Your back pain could also be a result of pushing too hard a gear on the upslopes. Mashing can result in your body looking for extra muscles in your back to do more of the pedaling. Spin!

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If you haven't accomplished your Century by next Sept - and there would be no harm in that - may I suggest a FLAT century. I see that you are doing an MS ride in PA (?) in late Sept this year. To do both, FLAT century & MS ride, I suggest looking into something such as the MS-150 in New Bern in eastern NC (prob 2nd weekend in Sept) next year. Other than the fly-over US-70 bridge over the river / sound, there are NO hills. The only potential drawback, other than expense of travel / lodging, is potential for wind (only need two gears to ride around New Bern - one for tailwind, one for headwind). ;-)


This is great advice. Neil, you might want to think about doing a couple 50s or a 50 and a metric each weekend till the 150. Be sure to rest a couple of days before the 150 too- take that Wednesday-Friday off, or nothing more than a brief recovery ride on Wednesday. You mioght also think about making the 150's century loop your first one. That part of South Jersey is pancake-flat (ain't it all?), and that extra 25mi loop isn't a huge deal. If you concentrate on shorter (50-75mi) training rides, with recoveries, over the next two weeks before the 150, you'd be in better position for doing a century on the 150.

Just my $0.02, but that's how I'd handle it- I'm sure others have alternative training options. Oh- BTW, be sure to eat well and stretch- these make a huge difference!

The posts about working up to a century gradually are all 100% right. Most people agree that adding about 10% total weekly miles at a time is the way to build up. There are suggested century training mile schedules all over the internet. Machka probably has one on her site.
You don't have to increase 10% at a time, but that will keep you from having all kinds of problems. Comfort and endurance will be much better on all rides. It's a good way to learn how you can do without bonking or hurting your back so much.
A healthy person with plenty of basae miles can go from riding 50 miles to riding 100 in one jump. But it may be very uncomfortable, with cramps, possible bonks, and killer seat problem. But it can be done.

Jumping from 25 miles tops to a century is going to cause lots of problems. But there are ways it can be done, you just might give up cycling from it because you are so miserable. It involves riding until you can't ride, and then having a huge caffine boost and some tylenol. And some other tricks. Not recommended unless I am next to you. :D

I think I could do a double with Bailey- what a great pup!

I see your are going after the big 100 again, Go Fo It...You show great desire and drive...I am sure you will achieve your goal

(Sounds like a foutune cookie doesn't it)

I
Your back pain could also be a result of pushing too hard a gear on the upslopes. Mashing can result in your body looking for extra muscles in your back to do more of the pedaling. Spin!

I've seen Neil ride...if he spins any faster he'll achieve flight! I've even suggested that he increase his gear and spin just a wee bit slower. He's definitely not a masher.

I suggest you approach riding a Century by doing more long rides first. When 50 mile rides become nothing to mention, and 100k is just a mileage amount and not an historic moment, and you have done several 70-75+ milers without debilitating results, then you're ready for 100 miles. You can't do a marathon on training designed for 10k, but that's what you tried to do.

Your back pain could also be a result of pushing too hard a gear on the upslopes. Mashing can result in your body looking for extra muscles in your back to do more of the pedaling. Spin!

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If you haven't accomplished your Century by next Sept - and there would be no harm in that - may I suggest a FLAT century. I see that you are doing an MS ride in PA (?) in late Sept this year. To do both, FLAT century & MS ride, I suggest looking into something such as the MS-150 in New Bern in eastern NC (prob 2nd weekend in Sept) next year. Other than the fly-over US-70 bridge over the river / sound, there are NO hills. The only potential drawback, other than expense of travel / lodging, is potential for wind (only need two gears to ride around New Bern - one for tailwind, one for headwind). ;-)

Two months ago I drafted an aggressive training schedule for the MS ride - Cherry Hill, NJ, to Ocean City. During that two months I:
- was in a car accident. Being without my car meant I bike commuted 35 miles round trip, so I didn't have time or energy to train.
- developed a head and chest cold that kept me idle for two weeks.
- developed a sore left knee that kept me off the bike for a week and with reduced mileage till now.

I haven't quite realized that my circumstances have changed over the past two months. Perhaps 100 miles is too ambitious. Fortunately I have a few days to decide. Thanks for the advice.