Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - First century...and ss to boot

I just did my first century today. I have been commuting 20mi a day for a few years now with some 20-30 mile rides here and there on my main ride, a Surly KM with big apples. I figured why not stay with what I know and rode on that, at a slow pace 15mi\hr average(no land speed record) and I should be able to finnish it some time before the sun goes down. WOW much harder than I thought it would be, but very rewarding feeling. mabye I'll prepare a little better this :Dyear and do it again!

Congratulations. Was this an organized ride, or solo effort?

On local charity rides, I find that there is a wide range of speeds. I've ridden my cargo tricycle at 8 mph and actually passed people. And I've been passed by people that I bet were doing 30 mph. Whoosh. Riding 15 mph in a charity-ride century will keep you ahead of a lot of people.

It was an organized ride with four routes 15mi, 30mi, 62mi, and 100mi. There were more racers entered than normal joes so I did very little passing. There were probably 100 or so people entered in the 100mi and I finished in the back 10 or 15

Nice! I'm hoping to build myself up to doing a fixed century by next summer. This year I'll be happy with a metric. Lots more hills to contend with up here, but even in Florida I think I'd have a tough time with it right now.

Yea I'm thankful that we don't have hills so the only obstical is the wind, but the downside is that you always have to pedal or you don't move.

Congratulations! That first century surely is a milestone. I think the wind is more challenging than hills, especially for a long ride. At least with a hill you get a view at the top and a fun ride down the other side. Sometimes a windy day will give you a tailwind, but Murphy's Law says otherwise. ;)

palookabutt, so you're in N.Colo as am I. I'm toying with doing a century but am a bit afraid of the unknown. I have two water bottle holders and with my panniers could carry enough food and water for an army I suppose. On a ride in this part of the country, how much water do you consume per hour? I've read some places where if I followed the advice I'd be out of water in a couple of hours.

congratulations. if you want more then it won't take much extra training to really increase your speed (if that is what you want to do).

It is a great feeling completing your first century. enjoy it and give yourself a pat on the back!!