Road Cycling - First Century

After 16 months of dedicated cycling, I finally completed a century, albeit, one of the metric variety.

On Saturday's I usually go a minimum of 40 miles, and usually about 50-55. Yesterday, I decided why not stretch it out a bit and see if I could hit the 100 kilometer mark. No sweat! I just deviated from my planned route and tacked on the additional required miles.

Funny thing, I was not excessively tired, I hammered the last hill, and averaged above 13.5mph. Not bad for an fat old man on a comfort bike! My quads, however, were screaming for about an hour.

Today, I took it easy and only did 15 miles at a slow, leisurely 12.5mph average.

I can't wait until I get my R1000 next year to see how much it improves my average speed and hill climbing ability.

I am aiming towards the Seagull Century next October. This is a charity ride on Maryland's flat eastern shore. I figure by then, I will have had six months on my R1000 and really be ready.

I do hope you turned LEFT at every oppotunity. And congrats, in any event. A good first step to the 'real deal' of 100 miles.

See you at next year's Sea Gull. Our club rides it each year. It will be a good century to start with as it is quite (very) flat. Register early, as it has a cut-off and only the first 9000 (I think it is) registrants are allowed to ride. Same with making hotel reservations, if you need. Generally held the same weekend as a large antique and hot-rod car show and rooms can be pretty difficult to come by.

p.s. - if we happen to see each other there, let's not talk politics.

Good job TrekRider! I heard one time the key to doing your first century is friends. Don't forget to take somebody along for encouragement.

Dave

Originally posted by ParamountScapin
I do hope you turned LEFT at every oppotunity. And congrats, in any event.

Turn left? Heck, PS, I won't even fly on an airplane unless it has two right wings! :D


A good first step to the 'real deal' of 100 miles.

As easy as the metric variety was, seems like it is just a matter of pacing myself and perservering.


See you at next year's Sea Gull.

Look forward to it.


p.s. - if we happen to see each other there, let's not talk politics.

No kidding! Just cycling and bikes.

Congratulations on your milestone :)

Originally posted by TrekRider
After 16 months of dedicated cycling, I finally completed a century, albeit, one of the metric variety.


I can't wait until I get my R1000 next year to see how much it improves my average speed and hill climbing ability.



Congrats. It is a GREAT feeling to have done that.

I am looking forward to the Santa Fe Century in May. Hope I am ready after the winter doldrums.

If i set my goal, maybe I can stay in shape all winter.

Good for you.

Achieving goals - nothing better. Congrats on the Metric Century distance. I just completed the Chile Pepper Challenge hosted by the El Paso Bicycle Club. I did the Metric Century - they also offered a regular century and a 35 fun ride. This was my third Century/half century (Santa Fe - for DnvrFox)/metric century and I'm doing better with each. Averaged 16.9 for this one (really wanted 17mph - another goal yet to be reached). For anyone close to Santa Fe, NM the May Santa Fe Century is a great show. Around 3,000 participants last year.

grr...I wanted to do the seagull, but I have to take the freakin SATs that day! Its my last chance to lock in those scores...

HOG, I've thought about doing the Sante Fe Century the last couple of years, but wonder how windy it is there. I know that three hours east it's insanely windy until about mid June.

Anyway, trekrider, good stuff. The hardest part of the next step (century, American style) is something you've already done. AT this point, it's largely psychological. I read somewhere, and believe this to be true from experience, that the jump from 20 miles to 50-60 miles is harder psychologically than the jump from 50 to 100 miles. It's like you said, you get to your usual maximum distance and decide to tack on a few miles. You'll be training at 70 miles every Saturday before long.

Originally posted by ImprezaDrvr
HOG, I've thought about doing the Sante Fe Century the last couple of years, but wonder how windy it is there. I know that three hours east it's insanely windy until about mid June.



I did it just one year, and you can see the pics at:

http://www.members.aol.com/dnvrfox/santafec.htm

The weather was gorgeous, and no appreciable wind.

I think it varies a lot from year to year.

For Impreza Drvr and DnvrFox - last year the weather was in the high 70s with light breeze (10 to 15 mph). Santa Fe does not usually have the same kind of winds you find on the Eastern NM plains. I was stationed at Cannon AFB in Clovis, NM in the late 70s and Impreza Drvr you know from where you speak. You can tell a person from the NM high plains they automatically lean to the SW.

Phatman - anyone looking for a flat century in the mid-Atlantic region should check out the Belleplain Century at shorecycleclub.org. It is this Saturday, October 4th, and is as flat as the Seagull. And the weather is forecast to be beautiful. Food will be good and scenery is great on quiet country roads.

Originally posted by HOG-I
For Impreza Drvr and DnvrFox - last year the weather was in the high 70s with light breeze (10 to 15 mph). Santa Fe does not usually have the same kind of winds you find on the Eastern NM plains. I was stationed at Cannon AFB in Clovis, NM in the late 70s and Impreza Drvr you know from where you speak. You can tell a person from the NM high plains they automatically lean to the SW.

I'm actually in the northwest of NM; I work in Arizona but have NM plates, for that matter. But, the winds in the spring are insane, and I know what west Texas is like and figured east NM was the same way. Must be something about the middle of the state. Now, if I can only find a way to be in century shape in May.

Just to chime in, I did a century (102 miles) this weekend, the first one in about 4 years. At the last minute a friend decided to tag along, he was on the metric route. The ride was the Lions Club ride for sight in Montgomery TX, weather was great, except for the wind which was always present. Anyway the ride was more difficult than I had expected, having freind along did indeed help out. One other tip, if you don't train with a camelbak, don't use one on a long ride. I finally jetissoned mine at 62 miles, then my back felt much better.

Originally posted by ParamountScapin
Phatman - anyone looking for a flat century in the mid-Atlantic region should check out the Belleplain Century at shorecycleclub.org. It is this Saturday, October 4th, and is as flat as the Seagull. And the weather is forecast to be beautiful. Food will be good and scenery is great on quiet country roads.

hmm...that sounds appealing, but I have a Cross country race (bull run invitational) that day...darn my busy schedule...