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Hi --
Well, I'm contemplating it. My longest solo ride to-date (and my longest ride) was 80 miles, and it only got painful for the last 5 or so. I can regularly knock out 60-milers with no prep and only a little nutrition. And I'm alone next weekend as my wife and daughter are on a family trip.
I live close to the W&OD trail, which has lots of potential support stops along the way (7-11s, LBSs, etc.) and have lined up a friedn to join me for mile 25-75.
So -- how crazy is this? If I get the calorie intake and water intake right and I have a friend for at least the middle half of the ride, is it doable?
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Hi --
Well, I'm contemplating it. My longest solo ride to-date (and my longest ride) was 80 miles, and it only got painful for the last 5 or so. I can regularly knock out 60-milers with no prep and only a little nutrition. And I'm alone next weekend as my wife and daughter are on a family trip.
I live close to the W&OD trail, which has lots of potential support stops along the way (7-11s, LBSs, etc.) and have lined up a friedn to join me for mile 25-75.
So -- how crazy is this? If I get the calorie intake and water intake right and I have a friend for at least the middle half of the ride, is it doable?
It's very doable, if you want to do it. I assume you have basic tools with you?
When you ride this century, bring a camera, please. We'd love to see photos.
Somewhere between 80 and 90 miles, I usually hit a wall, but if you can push through, you can complete it, like any other Century ride. The chief difference is that you'll be carrying a little more weight with you in food.
on my old bike i wouldnt attempt this. On my new one whre i can carry all the tools and water and food i need I cant wait to to this.
thanks, guys.
i plan to carry:
- standard tools (road morph pump, topeak alien 2 multi-tool, 2 tubes
- 3-5 gel packs and a couple of power bars
- 2 water bottles
- cell phone / crackberry / credit cards / cash
Along the way I can / will get:
- water (several places)
- food (there's a whole foods along the way)
...and i'll see if I can snag the wife's small digicam (I'm not lugging the SLR!)
starting to get excited here. Anyone in the DC area wanna join?
Sounds like a blast! I think you are set on nutrition, but try one more thing. Make sure to eat a very good breakfast, that will carry you through the day. Before my (metric) century I had a "breakfast shake" and then a PB&J&Bannana. I didn't even think about food until mile 30, and never once felt anything near a "bonk". Previous long rides I've neglected to eat beforehand, and no matter what I eat during the ride, I can't get it back.
Another thing to try, Hammer Nutrition makes a drink called "Perpetum". That and "HEED" are pure gold, seriously. I thought it was all voodoo bs until I actually had some on a long ride, then I realized that there's absolute value in it. On my next long ride I plan to take 1 bottle Perpetum, 1 bottle HEED and 1 water, (I may be getting spoiled by the LHT :)) and then refill with water as needed.
Also.. remember ~24oz/water/hour. I've done less, and I've done more, but the science behind this number seems to ring true.
I've done a solo century on the W&OD 3 times - 2x last year, and once on 4/27. It's fairly flat, with only a few hills (Hunter Mill Road, Up and over 66, and the stretch up toward the top of Rt. 7 and 9). It's also got plenty of places for breaks/food, with 7-11's at Falls Church, Reston, and Herndon. At the Shirlington turnaround, there's NOTHING, so make sure you have plenty of water for any off-the -bike time there.
At the Purcellville turn around, there's the bike shop, but I usually head over to the Bloom store just down the street (turn left at the trail end, go down to the light, turn left, and it's on your left - you can get back to the trail by reversing direction or heading down the intersecting street).
Also, there are several bike shops at/on or near the trail:
Purcellville - Trail's End Bike Shop
Ashburn - Pedal Shop (right by the Ashburn store)
Reston - Performance bike shop in the American Plaza (off the trail)
Vienna - Spokes (about 2 blocks from Maple Street intersection)
Bike Stop is opening a store just off the trail in Reston Town Center, but it won't open until July.
There are a couple Porta potty stops - Hunter Mill Road, Smiths Switch station (past 28), and I think two more between Ashburn and Purcellville. There are a couple in the parks past Falls Church, too.
All in all, it's do-able. Just eat well, drink a lot, start out early, and take breaks every 20-30 miles.
Another thing to try, Hammer Nutrition makes a drink called "Perpetum". That and "HEED" are pure gold, seriously. I thought it was all voodoo bs until I actually had some on a long ride, then I realized that there's absolute value in it. On my next long ride I plan to take 1 bottle Perpetum, 1 bottle HEED and 1 water, (I may be getting spoiled by the LHT :)) and then refill with water as needed.
Try any new nutritional regimen on a shorter ride before trying it on a century, especially any of the energy/recovery solutions. Hammer products don't agree with everyone. (I'm one of those people, and I use Accel products and Nuun when riding.)
If you have cell phone reception and a credit card, what's the worst that can happen?
If you have cell phone reception and a credit card, what's the worst that can happen?
Exactly what I was thinking. I've dialed a cab before when my bike failed and no one was around to rescue me.
My first solo century (actually my first ever) was on the W&OD last year. I parked in Vienna, so I could have a rest stop 1/3rd of the way through, and not have to carry so much food with me. I first headed down to the Custis Trail, along the Mt. Vernon Trail to the airport, and then back on 4-mile run to the start of the W&OD, and back to Vienna. There I ate lunch in my air-conditioned Honda Element :) I loaded up some more food for the rest of the trip which was just out to Purcellville and back. It was 97 degrees and humid. I did OK except for what I realized afterwards was a near-bonk when I got about 5 miles from home. A pack of GU would have fixed me up, but I didn't know that at the time.
You can do it for sure!
I've done two unsupported centuries and came through just fine. I carry lots of hydration (water, sports drink, etc.), a good lunch, some snacks, repair stuff, and a first aid kit. Personally, I feel that doing an unsupported century is a little more of an accomplishment than an organized one. You get to pick your own route, set your own pace, and have the opportunity to detour if you decide something looks interesting (or, as in the case on my last century, you get lost).
I do make sure that I have a cell phone and my wallet with me. I also let my wife know that I'm going to be on a "long ride" and about what time I expect to be back.
Plus, it's kind of cool to catch someone else out for a ride, while chatting with them, casually drop that you're on a century :). They usually give you one of those You Must Be Nuts looks.
Hi --
Well, I'm contemplating it. My longest solo ride to-date (and my longest ride) was 80 miles, and it only got painful for the last 5 or so. I can regularly knock out 60-milers with no prep and only a little nutrition. And I'm alone next weekend as my wife and daughter are on a family trip.
It is well doable. If you can comfortably do 60 miles then 100 should be within range as long as you take account of the extra food and hydration. If you keep a credit card and a bit of cash you with, you can always buy food if you didn't bring enough with you.
I've done two unsupported centuries and came through just fine. I carry lots of hydration (water, sports drink, etc.), a good lunch, some snacks, repair stuff, and a first aid kit. Personally, I feel that doing an unsupported century is a little more of an accomplishment than an organized one. You get to pick your own route, set your own pace, and have the opportunity to detour if you decide something looks interesting (or, as in the case on my last century, you get lost).
I do make sure that I have a cell phone and my wallet with me. I also let my wife know that I'm going to be on a "long ride" and about what time I expect to be back.
Plus, it's kind of cool to catch someone else out for a ride, while chatting with them, casually drop that you're on a century :). They usually give you one of those You Must Be Nuts looks.
I've done a week long mountain bike tour of Colorado solo, a 70 mile epic mountain bike ride up Hermosa Creek and back to Durango solo, and a 3 week 1000 mile unsupported tour solo...all without cell phone (did have a credit card). See my sig. And too many centuries to count.
You'll be fine, adrien
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