Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Century-A-Month 2008

New Years Day is a good time to get in the first century of the year. Let's get there and start the year off right with at least 100 miles in the log. I'm planning to do an ACP 200K brevet to start my Super Randonneur series off right.

So get out your woolies and get on the bike!

Today was not *the day. Will do later ;)

I'm considering going for the RUSA R12 award myself. Seems a little more "official"...

http://www.rusa.org/r12.html

I did a 102 miles today in an annual event at Hains Point today. Other than riding to and from Hains Point, the ride is very flat ... very windy. 7 hours total time.

January (my first month) is complete. 170kms on some snowy roads, wrought with mechanical problems and I got lost for about an hour. This is my first century since August and was a bit painfull but still enjoyable. I'll post a report and some pictures on my blog at some point.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/somegodwin/CIMG3437.jpg

161km today in just under 7hrs.
Very windy out today, and quite hot. I didn't know where I was going till I left, except I had to be at my brothers place around 110km. My legs wanted me to stick to the flats, maybe ride out to the beach(did a hilly century on sunday). Headed for the hills instead. Started well, with a huge tailwind, which lasted for an hour and a half. Against it for the next four and a half hours and then it pushed me home.

See y'all next month.

I was thinking of doing a century on Jan 1 this year but fortunately I was saved from making excuses not to do it by a nasty, cold, rainy day. :D

Machka has entered the challenge!! My January century is complete!! :D

I had been concerned about the weather and road conditions in this area in the winter, and had come to a decision. If a Chinook blew in so that January 1st or 2nd was warm, I'd attempt a century. Sure enough a Chinook blew in yesterday and today was balmy warm. :)

Stats:
Distance: 162.3 kms = 100.8 miles
Total Time: 9 hours and 55 minutes, including 3 breaks (one half-hour break, two 10 minute breaks).
Average Speed: 18.9 km/h (not counting the first 26 kms)
Max Speed: 49.7 km/h
Low Temperature: -4°C (24.8°F)
High Temperature: +4°C (39.2°F) ... I told you it was balmy warm! :)
Wind: Before 2 pm, it was calm. After 2 pm it was windy.

Because the roads were rather snow covered and a bit slippery, I started the ride on my father's mtn bike. Unfortunately it wasn't set up quite right, so by the end of the first 26 kms, I was in pain, I had taken almost 2 hours to cover that 26 kms, and so I decided to switch bicycles.

After that, I finished my century on Machak. My speed improved dramatically. At one point, my average speed was 24 km/h! Unfortunately the wind after 2 pm, and the darkness (nightfall) after 5 pm, kinda cut into that a bit.

Nevertheless ... it's done! :)

January (#1) century done.

I was not sure this morning I would do it. Anyway started with about 75 km with my pals at the club and then went all the way to the Eure river, then left to Ivry la Bataille, and back through the Thoiry château. All in all 179 km at 21.1 km/h average. Some westerly wind in the nose (I was heading West), then turning to North and North-East (I was riding back to the East: still to the right side of my nose). Morning was unbelievably sunny with blue sky. The afternoon was wet and miserable (a little bit like my december century under the rain).

I am in again for the challenge. Will try not to miss October this time ;)

With regards to the RUSA (or equivalent challenge), I prefer US centuries to 200 km. A 200K is about what you can do with panniers, leaving the hotel (can't do that while camping) as early as you can in the morning, which usually means breakfast, bike prepared, at about 7:30. Riding fast with as little stops as possible, expect to reach next hotel by about 7:30pm, just in time for a shower and dinner. This way, you can complete 1000 km in 5 days without excess, which is by far *not sufficient for Diagonales or PBP (where you need to log about 330 km per 24 hours period). A century is a lot more relaxing because, with about 30km less, you gain about 1:30 hour, more than enough for reasonable pauses for lunch and a nap in summer. For this reason, I vote for century challenges in spit of my living in a true metric environment :) :) :)

Still, Randonneur 5000 is also waiting for me. A flèche Velocio is planned in March for Pâques en Provence and a couple of 200 km or more

Well, I tried this in '05 and missed out on my December ride due to health concerns.

In '06 due to injured ribs and depression I only logged 640 total miles. :(

In '07 I got back on the bike, but not until February and wasn't even close to "century shape" until mid-season. I still managed to log 9,000 total miles for the year, including my first 400 mile week and 140 mile day. I'd planned on doing a century yesterday, but woke up feeling like crap. Enough "but"s, this year I'm gonna do this thing.

I am planning on riding at least one century a month this year. I may even try to get a 1,000 mile month or two in too.

Last Sunday, I did my first for '08. Where our group ride normally starts is 22.5 miles away from home, so I rode in, then rode the 44 mile group ride, and another 22.5 home. I was so close to 100 miles that I rode around where I live to get the remaining miles in.

All in all 100.3 miles in. Started at 7:15 in the morning and finished at 3:27 PM with various stops (waiting for the group ride to start, rest breaks, etc.).

The group ride was actually in memorial of a great cyclist that passed away New Years Eve. I kinda felt it fitting to get 100 miles in because he was an avid cyclist who rode many centuries and had completed a 10,000 miles year in 2007. I only knew him from one conversation prior to a ride, but from all I've heard from those that knew him, he was a GREAT guy with a HUGE heart!

Did my January ride last Tuesday the 8th, 100.3 miles, in the saddle 7:25:33, for 13.65 pace. It's my fourth and slowest century :( I'm usually good on hills, but when I broke the ride down into segments, the pace was more around 14.7 except the segments between Auburn and Groton -- lots of hills -- where the avg was down to about 12.

http://lh4.google.com/chipbiking/R4uRsr9ijiI/AAAAAAAAAFY/su0oTPEnSaU/s400/100_1068.JPG

Overall time from start to finish was 8 hours 48 minutes. It was a beautiful day, low 60s -- very unusual for upstate NY. I definitely felt the lack of regular cycling for the past couple of months... And I think I overdid it last week, I rode every day, by Friday my achilles tendons were really sore, and they still are sore when I walk, so I'm taking it easy and not riding until they feel better -- based on what I've read about achilles tendonitis it's not something I want to mess with. I've got to be ready for my February century!

I've got mine in for January!

1st January century completed on the 5th...
2nd century in January completed on the 12th..

Gotta love AZ!

January is in the bag.

Here's the route:

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x26/DXchulo/Jan16Route.jpg

Distance: 101
Weather: High of 35, 9-15 mph wind
Time: 6:40

Oh the joy of slow winter centuries...

Enjoy a picture:

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x26/DXchulo/jancent.jpg

I am trying to get my January century in this weekend.
I have a choice between Saturday or Monday.
Sat: Start temp 15F with a high temp of 34F. No snow and breezy.
Mon: Start temp 0F with a high temp of 15F and light snow.

The issue is that I have more time on Monday. :rolleyes:
A couple weeks ago it was 50F and I was sick. Go figure.

Done. Due to last nights snow I had to ride the first 27 miles on a heavy mtb with 2.1 wide tires.
After it started melting I switched to my fixed gear. With conditions ranging from powder, clear, to ice it took me all freaking day. 9.5 hr ride time.
Egads! I sure hope it gets better from here on out. I suppose is doesn't help that my last century was in August.
Temps ranged from 10F to 34F with a lovely wind. Done is done! :)

Congratulations DataJunkie ... I feel for you riding in those conditions. It does take all day! But future centuries will seem easier. :)

Thanks!

Your recommendation for ensure worked wonderfully. Thanks again! :)

Thanks!

Your recommendation for ensure worked wonderfully. Thanks again! :)

I'm so glad to hear that!

Thanks!

Your recommendation for ensure worked wonderfully. Thanks again! :)

I LOVE ensure on a looooong ride.

Congrats on the ride. The fact that you switched bikes is crazy hardcore. :beer:

Thanks!
Machka gave me the idea with her January century. Otherwise, I would have had to bail. Either that or I could have ridden the entire century on a heavy mountain bike with 26X2.1 tires...and no fenders. :eek:

Next will be a full century on my fixed gear....maybe.

Yeah, there's nothing that says the whole ride has to be done on one bicycle. :)

I have done whole centuries on a heavy mtn bike with 26x2.1 tires and no fenders ... but do those ever take a long, long time. I'd much rather start on that if the conditions are questionable, and then finish on a faster bicycle when the conditions get better.

Plus ... for a winter century, when the conditions are wintery, I personally think the safest plan is to do several loops or out-and-backs, from your home base. This allows you the option of changing bicycles, warming up, getting something to drink if your bottles freeze, changing clothes as required, etc. Plus if the weather did take a sudden turn for the worse (which it certainly can do around here) you're not too far away from shelter.

Left it 'til the last possible weekend but my January Century is in the bag as of today. Other than a lot of debris on the road from the past week's storms (San Francisco Bay area) I didn't get dumped on like the forecast promised...I was actually a little disappointed since I rode my LHT with mountain wheels and fenders which I figure can plow through anything. Had a stiff and at times gusty wind which, since I did a giant loop, was a mixed blessing. Stopped in at one of my friends' bike shop (business was dead due to the weather) and we shared a "King Kong"-sized pizza. Those wrenches sure can pack it away. Later drafted a nice carbon/Dura Ace Cannondale Synaps for about 10 miles on one of the down wind legs...The rider seemed a little non-plussed that a mountian bike looking thing with big tires, full racks, fenders and a rack bag could keep up...But looks can be deceiving especially when drafting takes care of the aerodynamic disadvantages and I was willing to pour it on to jack up my average speed a bit. He was a great guy and we had a good time.

Looking forward to February.

Trying to do a century a week. Waiting on my winter bike. All I have now is a 39x16 single speed, but I did manage a 161km, 6:19 hour slugfest in the wind and cold. Have ordered hotronics for my feet as the wool socks and every other suggestion don't seem to be working for me.

Barely got it in for January, phew! 16 laps of Central Park yesterday (no joke). Temp never got above freezing.

I kicked off the year in San Francisco with my first 200K brevet Jan 26th. Forecast was for Definite Light Rain all day long... turned out there was not a drop of rain all day, in fact the sun was peeking out for about half the ride. Wind was tough along the coast as several were apparently blown off their bikes or road... I had to make an emergency unclip once and nearly lost my balance, but luckily regained. However, several times I was blown from one side of the road to the other. If a car was approaching, I'd just stop and let them pass. This went on for about 6 miles of the route as we headed out and back to a lighthouse. Nice views... Ran out of water at one point, and apparently missed a nice water/food stop just off the road in between controls.

And I managed to get lost or felt lost a couple times on the way back in due to some cue sheet errors, only a bonus mile or two, but I was pedaling quite slowly looking for the twist and turns... along with a lack of confidence in the directions given.

Only 32 people out of ~85 registered started due to the weather forecast. 30 finished.

Time 10:53...

300k SF brevet end of Feb. scheduled..

--
SharpT

Done. Fixed.

170 kms on January 20th. Took me nearly all day.

Did a windy 104 early this month and did something to the knee.
Hope I can get it back in shape before Feb. ends I definitely want to do a couple of back-to-back longish days before the soldier ride in March.

I started off planning to do an Imperial century, but events, poor planning and just sheer cold combined to deny me and my son our official January 2008 Century. We ran out of daylight (not a show stopper in itself), the temperatures plummeted and overall tiredness jeopardized our ability to navigate my cur sheet.Luckily we we able to hop on a local train and let SEPTA do the rest. Many mistakes were made and I'll outline some for posterity and so others may benefit from not repeating them.

Dress better, bikes shorts & leg warmers are not enough (I think I'm sterile now)
shoe covers and/or heated insoles
Dense urban routes to be avoided
better cue sheets and use a clip dohicky to hold them
Try not to ride during commuting hours on roads subject to high traffic
Either pre-drive the route or rely on known bike friendly routes


They say the best lessons are those learned the hard way.

I did get 67.5 miles in before calling it quits, so it counts as a metric. For my first attempt at the century a month club in a Northeastern state, I'll take some solace in that fact

February century done
166 km @ 21,8 km/hour.
Started with a ride organised by the Satory bike club in the Chevreuse Valley. Completed the century on the return trip home. Cold and windy, but otherwise fantastic weather. This is far better than BPB: it rains during the week and week-ends are great and sunny (whell... during daytime). Next will be march, and a flèche Velocio with Republique pass on the way is on the program

February century done too.

100.51 miles yesterday.

Commuted in from home to do the area's "Super Bowl Ride". Stopped in downtown Dallas for spaghetti before riding back to the start and then back home. Was a beautiful day for the ride, temps started in the low 60's and go up into the mid 70's.

Yesterday's ride brings me up to 3 centuries for the year and I've got another in two weeks.

Completed Feb last Saturday on a hilly 200K out of Austin, TX. That makes for 5 total so far, including one 300K.

The first 400K of the year is scheduled for this Saturday.

February is done, probably my hardest 162km yet. Made a post in my blog thing (http://allthesecenturies.blogspot.com/).

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/somegodwin/blog/CIMG3508.jpg

edit: anyone know a good way to clean a carradice barley?

February century done.

Just got back from a "back to back to back". There was an organised round the mountain ride on saturday, and its around 170km away so I though I'd pedal up... up is the word, highest point 750m and lots of up and down on the way.

Nice sunny day on friday, got away around 10:30, in no hurry so explored some backroads and kept off the highway. Stopped at 115km for a quick bite. 173.5km 7.51hrs

The ride on saturday was only my second organised century (though I did a double in nov). Loops around Mt Ruapehu and Mt Ngauruhoe (Mt Doom for you LOTR fans) , starts at 550m, climbs to 1100, back down to 500 and up to 900 and then a 40km cruise home.
Was a bit apprehensive about going too fast but I found a good bunch that was getting along just right. At 20km mark the a short steep climb had me switching to the smaller front ring, or trying too... front derailleur not shifting. Continued on for a bit but the looming hills had me stop and see if I could work it out. Ended up loosening the cable so it went into low gear and did did the remaining 130km like that. Ok on the hills but I couldn't keep up with anyone at much over 35 so spent most of the ride on my own. Ended up getting in after 6.52 hrs, my target was 7 so I was happy with that.

Woke up this morning to the sound of rain on the roof and wind in the trees. Rolled over and got another hour in. Out the door at 8:45 during a dry spell. Had the wind at my back most of the ride and apart from the first 30km it was mostly downhill. Really missing my big gears, spent a lot of the day coasting at 35. Home, exhausted after 7.29hrs, 172.7km

Was a nice ride but I think I might take the car next year.

edit: anyone know a good way to clean a carradice barley?

Spray it with a cleaner like simple green and wipe off? If that's not working you might be able to put it in the wash, but you'll need some beeswax to re-waterproof the outside.

February is done, probably my hardest 162km yet. Made a post in my blog thing (http://allthesecenturies.blogspot.com/).

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/somegodwin/blog/CIMG3508.jpg

edit: anyone know a good way to clean a carradice barley?

I have a carradice Nelson Longflap that's gotten quite muddy sometimes. What I've done is to let it dry and then use a very stiff wire brush (eg: http://www.nolansupply.com/small_images/40285.jpg) to brush off all the dried mud/dirt.

It's worked great, though lots of elbow grease required.

February done - 166 km today.

I must admit I did not see this thread or link to it from the other thread. Here is my last post from the other thread:

"January's century done. Did 108 miles solo on 1-13-08. Nice weather, but was definately tired at the end. Had done 62 miles the day before."

February century done last sunday 2-10-08. Did 101 miles. Warm with very very high winds. About 70 miles of it was with a tailwind so strong I was riding 25-27 MPH and feeling as if I was not even pedaling for most of the last 70 miles!

I will likely do another solo century this weekend as it is supposed to be sunny and nice. What am I saying? I live in South Florida. Short of a massive storm every day is sunny and warm:D:D:D:D

Feb done. It is slowly getting easier. Still... after 70miles I start struggling. I think I may need to take more than 2 10 min breaks. :rolleyes:

It was 19F at the beginning at the mid 50s at the end. My messenger bag started empty and at the end was completely full.
I also weigh 2lbs less so my hydration and eating finally hit the mark.

Another february century just for the fun of it, and for preparation to a flèche Vélocio of 22 March.
Went to Chateaudun (a castle on the Cher) and Montigny le Gannelon, also on the Cher across the Beauce, a wonderful renaissance chateau owned by the Montmorency and the Laval families.
Anyway, the wind was east, in the nose to come back. 282 km @ 22.1 km/h in exactly 15 hours. Very cold early morning and in the evening and quite warm under the sun. The food was good

Another century in February also. Went today for 115 miles. About 6+ hours. Had about 40 miles of headwind at about 15-20 MPH that was kicking my but royally. However, nice side/tail wind on the way back for another 40 miles. For the first time I had a cramp. I had heard lots of people talk about it, but I have to tell you that $**** hurts like a mother f.... Had been drinking quite well, ate appropriately, and it was on the way back with the tail wind, so I was not even doing a ton of effort when it happened. I stopped for a couple of minutes and it went away. I can still feel pain in my thigh when I walk. Did I mentioned how much that $hit hurts?

did my feb. century this weekend: Seattle to North Bend & back.. 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM - i definitely wasn't haulin arse, but i was steady if nothing else. part of it was with a group, but most of it was solo.

photos of the ride & more on my blog, here (http://cyclinginseattle.blogspot.com/).

I am joining into this thread late, so I am listing for two months.

Jan - 107 chilly Miles.
Feb 101 miles, warm weather, but ended up doing about 30 miles in a 15 - 20 mph headwind. :mad:

I am joining into this thread late, so I am listing for two months.

Jan - 107 chilly Miles.
Feb 101 miles, warm weather, but ended up doing about 30 miles in a 15 - 20 mph headwind. :mad:

Congrats! Good to hear of someone else doing wintery centuries.

February is always the worst month. Spring can't come soon enough.

I did the Horsey Hundred route today in Georgetown, KY. I killed 2 birds with 1 stone by getting my Feb. century in and doing a century in a new state. I have a goal to do a century in every state. KY gives me 4 states (IN, OH, MI, KY). I'm hoping to get 4 more states this year (TN, IL, MO, and NM). We'll see what happens.

As for today, here are the stats:

Distance: 100 miles
Weather: High of 34. Flurries, but no wind.
Time: 6:35

The route was beautiful. I can only wish I had picked a better day to ride it. A combination of the cold, hills, winter legs, and an I-wish-winter-would-end mind led to a slow ride. I hit a bad funk between miles 65-78. I was crawling up hills at 9 mph that should have barely slowed me down. I stopped at mile 78 and took a 20-minute break, which is something I almost never do, especially solo. I spent most of that time eating, and I worked up enough energy to finish the ride on a positive note.

Here's a random picture from the ride:

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x26/DXchulo/ky1.jpg

Did my February century yesterday: beautiful sunny day, warm -- temps between 28 and 45 -- roads dry except for a few stretches that still had snow and ice on them.

I had planned it as 2 loops -- following I think Machka's suggestion for winter centuries. The first loop was 40 miles, I ended up back at home to warm up/eat, taking about 35 minutes, and then I took off for the second, longer (60 mile) loop.

Distance: 102.9 miles
Time: 07:26'28
Avg: 13.83 mph
Climbing: 5966 ft = 57.98 ft/mile

Dxchulo's right, February is the hardest month, I lucked out that I could actually take the whole day yesterday to do this, and that there was actually a day that wasn't too snowy, icy or frigid. Lack of regular riding in the winter took its toll though...

Here's the route:
http://lh6.google.com/chipbiking/R8Tb1_ZawII/AAAAAAAAANE/pudonVGrD1U/s800/Century02-25-2008.jpg


And here's a creek that part of the route goes along:
http://lh4.google.com/chipbiking/R8N3zvZav-I/AAAAAAAAAKk/KFGx8p25X98/s800/100_1181.JPG

I'm thinking that there's a slight possibility that when I do my March century there won't be any snow on the ground...