Road Cycling - Failed in 1st attempt at a century

I knew it was a little early in the season and that I probably wasn't quite ready, but I thought I'd give it a try. I was planning on doing a metric century charity ride on Saturday and decided to go for a full 100 miles by doing 20 miles before and the balance after.

I got up & left the house at 6:00AM. It was a beautiful day and I was full of confidence. I had the 20 miles finished and was a the start line for the metric by 7:30. My riding partners didn't show until 8:00. Off we went with no problems until I reached 50 miles. The ride turned into a 15mph headwind that remained for the rest of the day. I kept drinking Gatorade & nibbling on bananas & Oreos, but it became very hard work. At about 75 miles, I began to cramp. At 78 miles, I got off the bike to try to loosen up the muscles. Bad move! My right leg locked up. It took me about 10 minutes to get it relaxed enough to get back on the bike.

The remainder of the charity ride (7 miles) was spent fighting the wind and the cramps. When I finished, I had to decide whether to continue the attempt for the 100 or to just go directly home which would leave me 8 miles short.

I made the decision to head for home and attempt the 100 later in the year. After a shower and a short walk to make sure the body was still with me, I decided not to be too disappointed. Training begins today for the next attempt later in the year.

keep your head up, it happens to the best of us. sometimes you need those near misses to motivate you to finish on the next attempt. I had that happen early last year, but it was the heat that got to me. Next time I went out, I had hydrated better and headed out a little earlier and nailed it, no problem. Y9ou'll get it.

Ahh BC - that's tough. To be that close and not quite get there....

Over the years, I've learned that my performance in a century (or longer) is directly proportional to how well I manage nutrition and hydration in regard to the physical output. Things like extreme hills and hot weather make it all the more difficult. Since you cramped up, I'd take a close look at how much water you were taking in and how often. It can make all the difference in the world.

Good luck - you'll get the next one.

55/Rad

you did more that day than 99% of the people in this country did. good job. now you have even more of a goal to strive for.

at least you toughed it out for the charity ride! the rest of it was just personal and i'm sure you'll have at least one successful century by the fall now that you're so close at the start of the summer.

You did good, just keep working at it and take it slow. I've done close to 80 miles accidentally when I realized I kept forgetting stuff and having to go back and forth home all day. You just gotta keep your mind off it and stop counting miles.
Remember as a kid you'd go play in the park and before you know it it's dark out? That's how centuries should be, so fun that before you know it, you're well over 100 miles, your water's run out, you realize half your riding partners have collapsed onto the side of the road a couple miles back, you completely bonk out, your leg stiffens up, you land sideways into a ditch still clipped in and spend the next 36 hours surviving on runoff from the occasional shower and berries washed off the side of the road before the EMS helicopter spots you.

I knew it was a little early in the season and that I probably wasn't quite ready, but I thought I'd give it a try. I was planning on doing a metric century charity ride on Saturday and decided to go for a full 100 miles by doing 20 miles before and the balance after.
r home and attempt the 100 later in the year. After a shower and a short walk to make sure the body was still with me, I decided not to be too disappointed. Training begins today for the next attempt later in the year.....

Was that the Leap Frog ride you were doing? I was tempted but hadn't ridden much in the past week and opted for 40 miles solo that day. The wind issue is pretty much the norm - hardly ever under 10 mph. I've done 50 a couple of times and plan on hitting 70 once or twice before attempting a full century - like the Shore Fire, Amish Country Tour, or the Seagull in Salsbury. Maybe I'll be ready and be able to do all 3! Make sure you do the Amish Country Tour - real nice event.

I had to decide whether to continue the attempt for the 100 or to just go directly home which would leave me 8 miles short.
Eight miles short of a century is nothing to be ashambed of. :beer:

Did you drink LOTS of water the day before the ride and all day during the ride?
Hydration is the key to preventing cramps.

Was that the Leap Frog ride you were doing? .

Yes. It was a very nice route. The scenery was great. I look forward to it next year. As I'm only 6 miles from the start, I can ride there on my bike.


Maybe I'll be ready and be able to do all 3! Make sure you do the Amish Country Tour - real nice event.

I've done the Amish Tour. That is a nice event. It'll probably be where I make the next century attempt.

Thanks, everyone, for the kind words and encouragement. I thought I was drinking enough. I had a 100 ounce Camelbak full of Gatorade that I emptied by 1/2 way. I finished off another 100 ounces on the 2nd half. I ate several bananas at the 2 rest stops. Perhaps, I didn't hydrate enough the day before.

Actually, I believe I just didn't have enough foundation miles in. I did 2 days of the local MS ride last fall (85 miles each day) without any problem. But, that was after a good foundation of riding all winter, spring & summer. This year, I haven't been able to ride nearly as much. That changes this week.

Anyway, thanks again for the encouragement. I'm sure I'll make it next time.

That's a pretty good job of riding, there. You did 92 miles. My guess would be that with your riding partners, you ended up pushing a little bit harder than you normally would have. This caused the cramps and other problems.

92 miles is quite an accomplishment. Nothing to be ashamed of. You learn from each ride what to do and what not to do.

Well you did good. As others have said 92 miles is not anything to be ashamed of. Also remember cycling is what we do for FUN. There is a point where pushing on beyond misery just does not make a lick of sense.

Another thing to think about is you will probably remember this ride for the rest of your life. I did a century here in FL and some of my friends were on the ride. It was beastly nasty brutily hot and humid too. The ride came in at 92 miles and I figured I had had enough fun for the day. Nat, the friend, still talks about that ride. He always HAS to finish with 100 miles on each and every century. He said he got back and looked at 92 miles and loaded his bike onto his car. He has been talking about that one for years now long after so many other centuries have been forgotten.

look at it this way you did the century, if you convert the miles to Kilometer, then you have reach your century, therenothing to feel about it....

What was your longest ride for this one? I'll bet you set a new personal "best" @ 92 miles. So even though you didn't complete the century you at least accomplished beating your previous longest ride.

Good Job!
Dan.

dont be hard on yourself, you have done more than alot of people in the world. Keep it up, that century will be there...
I remember my first century, man I was pumped, I finished it in an excellent time and still felt as if I could ride more, it was my second century that killed me, keep it in mind that its not easy and that tho you complete it you still have to train, so train for each century as if it was your first... keep us posted and let us know when you finish that century, let us know your time and all the details of your ride... keep it up it will come...ride safe Bean Counter

What was your longest ride for this one? I'll bet you set a new personal "best" @ 92 miles. So even though you didn't complete the century you at least accomplished beating your previous longest ride.

Good Job!
Dan.

My previous "best" were back-to-back days of 85 miles each last October doing an MS charity ride. The main difference is that I had a much better foundation of miles before doing that ride. Before Saturday's attempt at 100, my base foundation was probably a little lacking. I'll be ready for the next attempt.

I ate several bananas at the 2 rest stops.

I find I need more than "rabbit food" on long days. A nice turkey sub or even a hamburger midway sits pretty well with me. The Door County Century here in Wisconsin has a great mid point rest stop that has breads, delli meats and cheese that really hits the spot :D

-murray

bean,

you didn't do 92 miles. you did a metric century with a cherry on top.

sd, who lives in canada -- metric boys, metric :)

You wimped out. The eight mile difference is what seperates the boys from the men. I would have got my ass on that saddle and grunted it out.

Hide your head in shame and quit making excuses for your pitiful performance.

You misnamed the post. Should be: "Succeeded in attempt at a Metric Century AND added 30 more miles!" :) Good work.