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11-18-07, 11:22 PM
The ride was about as unremarkable as rides go. I suppose the only interesting things about the ride are 1) that it was in the low 40s, so chilly, 2) I ate less than I usually do riding centuries, and 3) that it happened at all. But do read on...
I and four friends were scheduled for a social 60 miler starting at 7:30AM from the George Washington Bridge. A couple of drops of rain spooked everyone else, pushing the proposed start to 8 to see what happened w/ the weather. Well, shortly after that decision, everyone bagged on the ride. WTF? Seeing an opportunity to finally ride a solo century and to get my November century in (trying to do at least one per calendar month) off I went!
I rode out and back to Bear Mt from NYC along flat / rolling terrain and added some miles on the Hudson Greenway to make 100. I ride in front a lot when riding a century or brevet with my pals but today was very tough. I don't know if it was the chilly temps, the wind or the fact that I've done few long rides the last 2+ months, but I was suffering a bit on the way back. I think it was more the lack of long rides, b/c arms and such were hurting the most. Anyhow, I didn't face any rain or puddles so my friends lost out, and I got in my century.
Consumed on the ride:
- 48oz Powerbar sport drink
- 48oz GU sport drink
- 12oz Coca-Cola
- 7 Clif Shot blocks (one bag's worth plus one more block), Pinya Colada flavor
- 1 regular sized Snickers bar
- Most of a 99¢ bag of "Cool Ranch" Doritos (my LD secret weapon!)
I normally eat a lot more, and certainly drink more in warmer weather at least, during centuries / 200km brevets. I wonder why I needed so little to eat? I was certainly working hard (averaged 155bpm on the HRM including easy warmup and breaks). Also somewhat mystifying, sore hip flexors! Perhaps a side-effect of riding w/ thick winter tights? I've never ridden a century in chilly weather, after all.
I over-dressed somewhat w/ a baselayer, a warm LS jersey and a Gore-tex jacket on top. The jacket was great coming down Bear Mt but overkill most of the rest of the ride. Total ride time was about 6:45 including a 4-5 minute stop for a Coke at the top of Bear Mt and a ~10-15 minute stop in Tomkins Cove for a bottle refill / snack purchase. I was surprised that the ride took as long as it did, seeing as I was going at a pretty good clip most of the time. I suppose the wind is partially to blame -- it was coming out of the North and this was essentially a N-S ride. The last five miles on the Greenway were murder w/ the wind in my face and the very steep ascent to the street by the GWB (thought I felt good the previous five going South haha).
Having accomplished this small feat, and feeling so uncharacteristically beat at the end, I'll be honest, my desire to ride a century every calendar month (started in June b/c of injury) for a year is waning. We'll see what happens in December. I have this fantasy of riding 15-16 laps in Central Park as a winter century so maybe that's next if I make the time.
I and four friends were scheduled for a social 60 miler starting at 7:30AM from the George Washington Bridge. A couple of drops of rain spooked everyone else, pushing the proposed start to 8 to see what happened w/ the weather. Well, shortly after that decision, everyone bagged on the ride. WTF? Seeing an opportunity to finally ride a solo century and to get my November century in (trying to do at least one per calendar month) off I went!
I rode out and back to Bear Mt from NYC along flat / rolling terrain and added some miles on the Hudson Greenway to make 100. I ride in front a lot when riding a century or brevet with my pals but today was very tough. I don't know if it was the chilly temps, the wind or the fact that I've done few long rides the last 2+ months, but I was suffering a bit on the way back. I think it was more the lack of long rides, b/c arms and such were hurting the most. Anyhow, I didn't face any rain or puddles so my friends lost out, and I got in my century.
Consumed on the ride:
- 48oz Powerbar sport drink
- 48oz GU sport drink
- 12oz Coca-Cola
- 7 Clif Shot blocks (one bag's worth plus one more block), Pinya Colada flavor
- 1 regular sized Snickers bar
- Most of a 99¢ bag of "Cool Ranch" Doritos (my LD secret weapon!)
I normally eat a lot more, and certainly drink more in warmer weather at least, during centuries / 200km brevets. I wonder why I needed so little to eat? I was certainly working hard (averaged 155bpm on the HRM including easy warmup and breaks). Also somewhat mystifying, sore hip flexors! Perhaps a side-effect of riding w/ thick winter tights? I've never ridden a century in chilly weather, after all.
I over-dressed somewhat w/ a baselayer, a warm LS jersey and a Gore-tex jacket on top. The jacket was great coming down Bear Mt but overkill most of the rest of the ride. Total ride time was about 6:45 including a 4-5 minute stop for a Coke at the top of Bear Mt and a ~10-15 minute stop in Tomkins Cove for a bottle refill / snack purchase. I was surprised that the ride took as long as it did, seeing as I was going at a pretty good clip most of the time. I suppose the wind is partially to blame -- it was coming out of the North and this was essentially a N-S ride. The last five miles on the Greenway were murder w/ the wind in my face and the very steep ascent to the street by the GWB (thought I felt good the previous five going South haha).
Having accomplished this small feat, and feeling so uncharacteristically beat at the end, I'll be honest, my desire to ride a century every calendar month (started in June b/c of injury) for a year is waning. We'll see what happens in December. I have this fantasy of riding 15-16 laps in Central Park as a winter century so maybe that's next if I make the time.