Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Completed my first century!

Last friday I did an unsupported 106 mile ride. What an awesome feeling! I spent about 6.5 hours on the saddle averaging 15 mph. It took me a little under 8 hours with my breaks (40 minute lunch at a restaraunt). This was on my specialized rockhopper with 1.2 slicks. I can honestly say, the next century i do....i will have a roadbike (next season)! Allthough i have a nice saddle (terry fly) for mountain biking, I found it to be to wide after about mile 65. Other than the saddle pains, I had no other pains from the ride.....well except the extreme quad pain (felt like my legs were about to explode)that went away after about 45 minutes of pacing back and forth.

Congratulations. I plan to be there next year. I hope to make the first 200km brevet of the season in my area. And you did it on a MTB? Even better. Were you using flat bars?

No on the flat bars. I swapped them for a 2.5 inch riser bar....much more comfortable and wider! In about 2 more weeks i will have reached the 1000 mile mark since may of this year on my mtb. Getting a roadbike next year for sure......i'm guessing it will be a little easier to ride distances on a roadbike than my mtb. I will still keep my mtb for commuting though, it's definitely been a good bike!

Congratulations! I thought 100 miles on a road bike was tough, I can't imagine doing it on a MTB.

Congrats!!

First century is always great - and they get easier, eventually.

Good going. I've used a variety of bikes for long distance riding over the years.

You'll definitely benefit from a road-specific bike and if you plan to do distance, there are bikes that perform better for long distance. (http://www.veloweb.ca/randopages/randovelos.html)

I did the Seattle to Portland (204 miles) in one day on a mountain bike (rolling 26x2.1's) in 2006 and 2007. Brutal workouts, taking 15.5 hrs each time.

If you keep up the distance riding, you'll eventually move on to a road bike. There is just too much additional potential to be realized.

Speaking about getting a road bike....i want to continue distance riding but not exclusively. I'm pretty sure i don't need a race bike....well, actually i don't know what i need. Any sugestions? Like I said...I want a bike I can ride...lets say 50 miles or so every day and maybe a century on the weekend. I don't need comfort....I guess I want a well rounded road bike.

Speaking about getting a road bike....i want to continue distance riding but not exclusively. I'm pretty sure i don't need a race bike....well, actually i don't know what i need. Any sugestions? Like I said...I want a bike I can ride...lets say 50 miles or so every day and maybe a century on the weekend. I don't need comfort....I guess I want a well rounded road bike.

Lots of bikes fit this bill. When looking for all-day riding and not worrying about setting new personal records I think most folks prefer steel frames. A number of manufacturers now make some affordable steel bikes (well, I consider them affordable now that I've gotten into that level - two years ago I would have balked at the prices). Check out Salsa (the Casseroll is a good one), Surly (Pacer and Cross Check are good, the LHT is an awesome bike and I own one, but it isn't what you would call quick and responsive), and Soma Fabrications (Smoothie ES and Stanyan [formerly Speedster]) just to name a few. A lot of older bikes are good, too. I have my 1989 Centurion Sport DLX that I bought in.. well.. 1989. It needs a little tinkering but I think even it would make a fine LD bike after looking it over.

The link Randochap posted above gives good information on what to look for in a long distance bike. I enjoyed poking around that site.