Road Cycling - first century complete

I've done solo 65 milers a few times but figured it was time to do the century.

Dansville, NY --- 60 minutes south of Rochester
7000 vertical feet of climbing.
I hooked up with four others and we separated from a starting group of ~20. The other riders were extremely experienced in riding long distances. In fact, one of the guys has ridden RAAM three times. His stories were worth the trip alone.

While we didn't exactly tear up the pavement, we averaged 15.5 mph (which isn't really that bad considering the hills).

I felt pretty good the whole day with the exception of my a$$. By mile 80 my butt was sore. I actually looked forward to the hills so I could get out of the saddle. I thought I did particularly well on the hills and out paced the rest of the group the majority of the time.

The fact that this ride had so much climbing gives me a huge amount of confidence for the Sept century I'm doing with 10K feet of climbing. It's all about energy management.

I'm whipped and going to bed at the unusual hour of 9PM (for me).

-mark

Did you ride the bike in your avatar?

Dude, congrats! A century is a great milestone, I have not done one in some time, but I'm looking forward to my next one.

Congats geneman. Sounds like one heck of a ride. I'm proud to say I also did my first century today. I can relate to what your butt feels like, I'm in the same boat. I live in the Buffalo area and didn't have the hills to deal with. I think the only reason I did it was to prove to myself I could. I try to get in 50-65 mile treks on the weekends and usually 20-25 miles three times during the week. It was the last big ride for my Trek 7200 hybrid. Monday I go in to get fitted for a new road bike. Can't decide on what I want, probrably another Trek maybe a 2200, 2300, 5000 or a 5200. Have to take a test ride on them all. LBS is pretty good about that especially after you get fitted. I'm on vacation for the next two weeks. Hope I can get used to riding the new bike and report my second century before I go back to work. Once again congats.

str8shooter

You might try some chamois creme (I used Assos) - I used some on my second century yesterday and it seemed to help. On my first century, the same thing happened to me - at about 80 miles, the friction between the shorts and my butt was causing a hot spot. I won't bother using it on rides less than 100 miles, but will keep using it on centuries.

I'm glad to say my butt is the only thing bothering me from yesterdays ride. I may take your advice and buy some of that cream. First I think I'm going to invest in a good pair of bicycle shorts. I was always reluctant to wear them. I could never see myself in spandex. Well as I sit here in a little discomfort. I guess my brain is a little closer to my arse than I thought. Thanks for the tip on the cream.


str8shooter

I'm glad to say my butt is the only thing bothering me from yesterdays ride. I may take your advice and buy some of that cream. First I think I'm going to invest in a good pair of bicycle shorts. I was always reluctant to wear them. I could never see myself in spandex. Well as I sit here in a little discomfort. I guess my brain is a little closer to my arse than I thought. Thanks for the tip on the cream.


str8shooter

What did you wear for shorts?

Just a pair of JC Penneys cotton shorts over a pair of Fruit of the Loom cotton briefs. Until yesterday my longest ride was 67 miles, no real problem at that distance. what a difference 33 miles makes. Any recommendations on a good pair of shorts. I was looking at Pearl Izumi Attack shorts. Sizing seems funny I can't figure out how they are suppose to feel. Snug or tight?

cotton shorts over a pair of Fruit of the Loom cotton briefs. I was looking at Pearl Izumi Attack shorts. Sizing seems funny I can't figure out how they are suppose to feel. Snug or tight?[/QUOTE]


You sick freak!! cotton shorts and underwear, now that is hard core!

I just switched to Pearl Izumi Attack shorts this year, now i have two pair of "cycling" shorts. Awesome shorts great $ value, the padding of much more expensive shorts and beats the hell out of just shammy lined. Not to mention bunched up sweaty cotton. Buy em! is my advice snug is right but not tight. Night and day difference worth every penny.

"Riding for myself, no anger, no worries"

Just a pair of JC Penneys cotton shorts over a pair of Fruit of the Loom cotton briefs. Until yesterday my longest ride was 67 miles, no real problem at that distance. what a difference 33 miles makes. Any recommendations on a good pair of shorts. I was looking at Pearl Izumi Attack shorts. Sizing seems funny I can't figure out how they are suppose to feel. Snug or tight?

you'll need the shorts. they feel much better. i always put a pair of light weight basketball shorts on over the spandex, because i have the world's worst set of legs. works for me.

Just a pair of JC Penneys cotton shorts over a pair of Fruit of the Loom cotton briefs. Until yesterday my longest ride was 67 miles, no real problem at that distance. what a difference 33 miles makes. Any recommendations on a good pair of shorts. I was looking at Pearl Izumi Attack shorts. Sizing seems funny I can't figure out how they are suppose to feel. Snug or tight?

Wow - I give you credit for riding a century in that attire!

Good bike shorts - I have Performance shorts, Sugoi, and Nike, and they all work fine. Perfomance shorts are a great value when you get the buy one pair, get the second half price deal, and then apply the 20% coupon code (see "Hot Deals" section on this board).

Sizing - Performance seems to run small - I have a 34/35 waist and wear size large except for the Perfomance, which I got an XL. Fit? Dunno - certainly not TIGHT but I would say comfortable without wrinkles.

Did you ride the bike in your avatar?

Dude, congrats! A century is a great milestone, I have not done one in some time, but I'm looking forward to my next one.

You can't imagine what kind of cadence it takes to reach 15.5 mph on that small little crank.

;)

-mark

Congats geneman. Sounds like one heck of a ride. I'm proud to say I also did my first century today. I can relate to what your butt feels like, I'm in the same boat. I live in the Buffalo area and didn't have the hills to deal with. I think the only reason I did it was to prove to myself I could. I try to get in 50-65 mile treks on the weekends and usually 20-25 miles three times during the week. It was the last big ride for my Trek 7200 hybrid. Monday I go in to get fitted for a new road bike. Can't decide on what I want, probrably another Trek maybe a 2200, 2300, 5000 or a 5200. Have to take a test ride on them all. LBS is pretty good about that especially after you get fitted. I'm on vacation for the next two weeks. Hope I can get used to riding the new bike and report my second century before I go back to work. Once again congats.

str8shooter

Congrats to you too. Once you get settled on your road bike you should really check out the cycling scene in Rochester, specifically for some well organized century rides in some beautiful (and hilly) parts of Western NY.

RBC (http://www.win.net/~rbcbbs/welcome.html)

-mark

Thanks for the advice guys. I picked up a pair of Pearl Izumi Quest shorts this morning.The store I was at was limited on sizes and styles so I settled for these to have something to wear for my fitting this morning. They seem to be pretty comforable and take some of the sting out while I was test riding bikes. :) Tommorow were going to give them a workout when I pickup my new Trek 5000.

str8shooter