Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.pontiac_paulie
09-17-08, 03:29 AM
Hello all,
A couple of weeks ago I completed my first century.
First a little history, I just turned 49, I weigh 207 and am 5'10.My doctor said I needed more exercise and to lose weight so I bought a road bike.
I used to ride mountain bikes, but now own a Giant TCR, great bike, twitchy and fast. I went through a couple of saddles in a couple of months before getting a Brooks B17.
Back in July one of the local lbs, mentioned a charity ride, a double century. (You needed to ride 100 miles and raise $100).
So I started to ride more, one of my rides was from a friends cabin and it was along a lake for 35km, and then back again. After 30km my friend turned around and I continued on another 5km. After turning round I came across a dead deer that wasn't there a few minutes earlier, no traffic had passed so the most likely explanation was a cougar. We get them here on Vancouver Island. Trying to appear big I rode pretty quickly the rest of the way back.
Anyways what seemed like a good idea in July finally came up in September. I was excited and a little apprehensive. I completed the ride in 6 hours, 32mins, and it was much easier than I thought it would be.
I didn't ache too much and in fact rode my bike for an easy hour the next day.
So anyways the moral is if a fat old guy like me can do it, so can you. Your limits are much higher than you probably realise.
Now I am looking at a cyclocross bike for winter riding here, but thats another story.
Paul.
A couple of weeks ago I completed my first century.
First a little history, I just turned 49, I weigh 207 and am 5'10.My doctor said I needed more exercise and to lose weight so I bought a road bike.
I used to ride mountain bikes, but now own a Giant TCR, great bike, twitchy and fast. I went through a couple of saddles in a couple of months before getting a Brooks B17.
Back in July one of the local lbs, mentioned a charity ride, a double century. (You needed to ride 100 miles and raise $100).
So I started to ride more, one of my rides was from a friends cabin and it was along a lake for 35km, and then back again. After 30km my friend turned around and I continued on another 5km. After turning round I came across a dead deer that wasn't there a few minutes earlier, no traffic had passed so the most likely explanation was a cougar. We get them here on Vancouver Island. Trying to appear big I rode pretty quickly the rest of the way back.
Anyways what seemed like a good idea in July finally came up in September. I was excited and a little apprehensive. I completed the ride in 6 hours, 32mins, and it was much easier than I thought it would be.
I didn't ache too much and in fact rode my bike for an easy hour the next day.
So anyways the moral is if a fat old guy like me can do it, so can you. Your limits are much higher than you probably realise.
Now I am looking at a cyclocross bike for winter riding here, but thats another story.
Paul.