Road Cycling - I rode 30 miles today

Wow am I spent.

I just can't imagine riding 100 I don't know if I'll ever be able to do a century :mad:

Exactly how do you work up to doing 100? I don't have the time to ride that long it would take about 7 hours at my current pace of 15mph.

Any suggestions?

I just started riding again in march, also working to a century.

I remember when 18 mikes seemed like a lot, now 22 is my short ride.

Remember to eat right, rest is as important a riding, and extend your milage by 10% per week.

Listen to your body too, if it tells you you need to rest, rest.

If i could ride 4 days a week I'd be at 100 miles a week now. It will come.

It was about 15 years ago I last did 100 miles in a day.

Got back on a bike two months ago up to 20 miles just going out once a week on an old mountain bike, have ordered slicks for it so that should help.

Wow am I spent.

I just can't imagine riding 100 I don't know if I'll ever be able to do a century :mad:

Exactly how do you work up to doing 100? I don't have the time to ride that long it would take about 7 hours at my current pace of 15mph.

Any suggestions?
If you can do 30, you can do 100... but you're right, it's a matter of having the time to build up to it and actually do it.

I remember when 18 mikes seemed like a lot, now 22 is my short ride.



Similar experience, when I got my road bike about 4-5 months ago it was my first real time back on a bike in years.

For the first many (solo) rides, I just could not break much past the 10 mile barrier. I think it was probably in the 17-18 mph range.

Then one day I did 15 miles solo, and that was my new benchmark.

Then it has been mostly 20 mile solo rides for the longest time, inching up from the 19s mph into the 20s mph (i.e. <21mph).

Then after a few 50-mile group rides, the 20 miles sped up to the upper 20s (i.e. 20.5<x<20.9mph).

And the other day I looked down and realized I was approaching 25 miles at the same average mph.

So my experience so far has been gradual but noticeable increments, with moderately consistent effort (2-3 rides per week, maybe 90-100 miles in a good week). I suspect that's how you step up from 30-100. Plus you take breaks on your 100.

I think your and my first century will be much easier and sooner in a group.

...when I got my road bike about 4-5 months ago it was my first real time back on a bike in years.

I think it was probably in the 17-18 mph range.
Wow. I wish I could consistently ride that fast. I've been riding a year now, done 2700 miles, two centuries. I can easily knock off a metric, doing two more centuries in the next month. But I can't ride that fast :(

Wow. I wish I could consistently ride that fast. I've been riding a year now, done 2700 miles, two centuries. I can easily knock off a metric, doing two more centuries in the next month. But I can't ride that fast :(

Hey, which centuries are you doing? Park to Park?

I rode 30 for the first time today over a a long lunch, in the rain, and took that big hill that used to eat me up on the big chain ring for a change. Then, as suggested here, I turned around and did that same hill again a few more times just to get past any lingering dread of it. Two months ago, I would have wept like baby at the thought. Now I feel like I own that sucker!

Just keep at it. Use the suggestions here and you will be surprised what you can do. I know one thing...at about 30, I need to eat something. I could feel myself starting to run out of fuel even though my legs and stamina were still good.

Hey, which centuries are you doing? Park to Park?
Thinking of p2p, but if I do it, I'll go self-supported. You doing it? I should hook up with you for some of it.

Was thinking of the Horsetooth 100 this Saturday, but frankly, that route looks boring.

I'm probably going to do Stonewall 100 in La Veta -- http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1113429

I'm already signed up for and have a hotel room reserved to the Moab Skinny Tire Fest... looks fun! Oct. 1-3. If you're free, join us -- http://www.skinnytirefestival.com/century/century.html

I'm stil looking for my first Century, This Moab one looks good timing wise for my training, but 3000 feet of climbing sounds like a lot.
Is it doable for someone who just got back on a bike this MarcH?

> Exactly how do you work up to doing 100?
Train.
You will need to do some longer rides. You don't need to "pre-do" the 100, but you should get a few 70+ and 80+ mi rides in before your century. Don't think "I did 50 so if I back off the gas, I should be able to 100". Sometimes the ol bod just don't work like that.

> at about 30, I need to eat something. I could feel myself starting to run out of fuel
This is sketchy. I think if you actually feel "hungry", you've waited way too long to eat. I use maltodextrin enhanced Cytomax as my main fuel, but eat Clif bars and fig newtons (say 1 each for 60+) in increments during the ride. I will also have finished 80-90 oz of liquid in that time as well.

Best.

I got my road bike a month ago TODAY and i remeber riding it for the first time and doing 5miles and it was killing me! Now I can do about 20miles easily with 1 rest stop :)

I think that is true, at about 1 1/2 hours I ate something and felt a lot better. Actually when I was within 1 mile of the house I thought I could even do more. But decided not to. I figured the next hill would have done me in.

That's the other kicker, I have a pretty good route that contains some good hills, which I'm not used to since I moved from Virginia Beach to Clarksville TN which is pretty hilly (no mountains) but some good hills none-the less. So I've had to concentrate on getting in some hill work. Secondly, my bike only has a double chain ring, with a 12-25T in the back. I'll get better I know, but 30 is a long way from 100.

I guess that is why the clarksville century is run in kentuck, since there are no hills on the route.

Took me about 6.5 weeks to get into shape for a 185km ride.
During the winter season, I didn't do any cycling at all.
Summer started quite late this year in Toronto due to rain and cold weather. And didn't pick up my mountain bike until the last week of June. At first, a 5km ride (flat) killed my legs totally. To get myself back into shape, I then add on about 5km to each next ride. Ride about 4-5 times a week, with one of them being longer than what it's supposed to be. Then I moved to road bike just 1.5 week before the 185km ride. All went well, because cycling with a mtb at about 25km/h takes more energy than it would be on a road bike. The training on the mtb certainly seemed to help.

Thinking of p2p, but if I do it, I'll go self-supported. You doing it? I should hook up with you for some of it.

Was thinking of the Horsetooth 100 this Saturday, but frankly, that route looks boring.

I'm probably going to do Stonewall 100 in La Veta -- http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1113429

I'm already signed up for and have a hotel room reserved to the Moab Skinny Tire Fest... looks fun! Oct. 1-3. If you're free, join us -- http://www.skinnytirefestival.com/century/century.html

Likely the wife and I will do the P2P, but probably only 39 miles - to confluence park and back. She is not up to a century. It is rather pricey, but it does support Bicycle Colorado, which has provided some very good advocacy in Colorado. So, I don'r mind supporting them a bit, and the barbecue afterwards was fun.

Last year it was cold, alternating some snow with drizzle. BUt, it was ok for riding. Sometimes cold weather is best for riding.

Went out this am after the 3 inches of rain and the temp in the low 50's and had a great ride!

We already hit Moab this year, and don't have the time to go back! Thanks.

I have been training myself for a century, when I first got my bike I paced myself doing 25-30 miles, when I got more comfortable I started doing 40 miles, then 50, and just yesterday I biked 61 miles. I am trying to work on speed, only because it seemed that 61 miles took me a really long time to do.

To be more helpful, no one is going to be a one day wonder, you gotta train and pace yourself to ride more. If 30 seems like alot do like 20-25 miles, then once you can do that with ease move up. That's how I did it. The first day I got my bike I did 14 miles and I was sucking wind when I got home, and now I can do at least 40 miles with ease. You work hard and train and you should be able to reach your goal, my goal right now is to be able to do 100 miles in the Spring of 2005, where as of now I am up to 60 miles, working my way up to 65-70 miles.

Prior to my first century, the farthest I had gone in one day was 66 miles. That's only 2/3 of the way to a century. I just paced myself, ate a lot, drank a lot, and ducked behind other riders when I started feeling tired. Finished with a pretty good time, too.

Went out this am after the 3 inches of rain and the temp in the low 50's and had a great ride
You are hardcore! I had trouble waking up this morning after all that rain and flooding.

Exactly how do you work up to doing 100? I don't have the time to ride that long it would take about 7 hours at my current pace of 15mph.


That's funny. My first century took me 8 1/2 hours in the saddle. Counting the breaks, it took me 10 hours. I thought I was gonna die. :)

Seriously, just keep plugging away.

seems like we've got a fair number of denver riders here. I just got on a road bike and started trying to ride seriously a few weeks ago. Live on the north side of town, looking for a solid 30-40 mile route around the Broomfield-Boulder area where I'm not going to get pushed off the road. Any recommendations?

You will get there. One of the riders in our little riding group started cycling last October for the first time since she was a teenager. She gradually worked herself up and got in her first half-century in april, first metric century in June and then back-to-back centuries in mid-July. The trick is to ramp up what you can comfortably ride. When knocking off 30 miles becomes not such a big deal then move up to 40... then 50... then 62 (need to go that little extra for the metric century ;))... and so on. The hardest part to get through on your way to the century mark I think is around 75 miles. The trick I use is to think about my easiest 25 mile route and tell myself, it's just another one of those left. Actually, I find that after I get to around 80-85 miles, I pick up that little extra wind (and I'm not talking the result of Mexican food here) and the last 10 miles are relatively easy.

Are you riding with a group? Having some more experienced riders to help set the pace and offer riding tips can accelerate your progress. Also, as you increase your mileage, intersperse many shorter rides between your "big" rides. This helps keep you from getting discouraged by always being tired as you'll eventually start finishing more and more rides still feeling fresh. You'll also begin to understand how to pace yourself. Good luck.

seems like we've got a fair number of denver riders here. I just got on a road bike and started trying to ride seriously a few weeks ago. Live on the north side of town, looking for a solid 30-40 mile route around the Broomfield-Boulder area where I'm not going to get pushed off the road. Any recommendations?

I am not familiar with B-B area, but the Front Range Trail (Platte River Trail) goes from about 104th or thereabouts south to Chatfield through downtown with just 3 grade crossings - about40 miles one way.

Here is a copy of a recent post for activebody.org:

We have wonderful bike trails in the Denver Metro Area.

There is the 75 miles Highline Canal Trail going from the foothills out east. meandering through open space and beautiful neighborhood.

There is the Platte River Trail, following the Platte River from Chatfield Dam in the south north some 40 miles or so directly through downtown. The entire trail has three road crossings. Every other intersection with freeways and roads is either under or over.

There is the Cherry Creek Trail, from Downtown (it intersects with the Platte River Trail) going 18 miles SE to Cherry Creek Reservoir, with a (hopefully) soon to be completed 2 mile break, then continuing on another 17 miles. The whole route will eventually go to Castlewood Canyon State Park, about 35 miles total.

Off of the Platte River Trail, there are the Big Dry Creek Trail going East (about 5 miles), the Bear Creek Trail going west (15 miles), the Clear Creek Trail going west to Golden (about 15-20 miles), the Sand Creek Trail going west (about 15 miles), the Lee Gulch Trail (gravel) going east.

There is the C470-E470 trail, following the freeway and intersecting the Cherry Creek Trail and the Platte River Trail. Plus there are a lot of smaller local trails in communities. ABout 400 miles total.

seems like we've got a fair number of denver riders here. I just got on a road bike and started trying to ride seriously a few weeks ago. Live on the north side of town, looking for a solid 30-40 mile route around the Broomfield-Boulder area where I'm not going to get pushed off the road. Any recommendations?


You could also get a Colorado Atlas and just check the roads in your area. Look for roads with nice bike lanes if possible.
Just a quick look here and 128 west to 93 north to 170 east to Mccaslin south to 128 east, should give you around 30 ~ miles starting and ending in Broomfield.

But I don't know what the bike lanes look like on those roads.

30 miles is a good milestone. A century is another.

You can tell a non-rider that you rode thirty miles on your bike and just see the little wheels in their head spinning as they try to comprehend that.

I'm stil looking for my first Century, This Moab one looks good timing wise for my training, but 3000 feet of climbing sounds like a lot.
Is it doable for someone who just got back on a bike this MarcH?
Check your PMs.

If you can do 30, you can do 100... but you're right, it's a matter of having the time to build up to it and actually do it.

word.

as posted, gradually increase your miles, and definitely learn how to eat and hydrate on the bike!

if i ride 50 miles without having the proper fluid/carb/electrolyte/glocose/fructose loading and without replenishing that stuff during the ride, i'm totally beat and ready to pass out.

if i eat properly before the ride and drink a good sports endurance drink and eat during the ride, i can ride 150 miles or more and feel great during and after.

Well, I managed to pump out 41.5 yesterday. I chose a less hilly route (still had some climbs though) anyhow, it wasn't too bad, I made sure and ate my snack earlier @ 1.5 hours. It took me 2 hours and 40 minutes. I averaged 15.5 mph.

Though i did run out of water at about 30 miles I had to stop and ask someone cutting their grass if they could get me some water. I was hoping to find a quickie mart but there were none on my route.

Next stop 50 miles, then I'll be half way.

OH, the only problem I was having was the "butt" it didn't really hurt, but becuase I was wearing underware, i was getting sweaty and it starting to affect the way the chamous felt under the seat. Next time I'll go without.

Are you sure your cyclometer is set up correctly? 15.5 mph for 2 hours is 31 miles. Or did you possibly mean to type 40 instead of 4 minutes? That would make sense. Just checking.


Well, I managed to pump out 41.5 yesterday. I chose a less hilly route (still had some climbs though) anyhow, it wasn't too bad, I made sure and ate my snack earlier @ 1.5 hours. It took me 2 hours and 4 minutes. I averaged 15.5 mph.

Are you sure your cyclometer is set up correctly? 15.5 mph for 2 hours is 31 miles. Or did you possibly mean to type 40 instead of 4 minutes? That would make sense. Just checking.

Oops sorry, yes it was 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Thanks for catching it.

I am 55 and did my 2nd solo century last Sunday in 6 hours 22 minutes. It took me around a year to work up to my first one in July. The biggest thing for me was overcoming the burning pain and fatigue in my upper legs that woud settle in after many miles. I started with 10 milers then 20's, then 30's and so on over a year.
When I tell my younger friends at work I rode my bicycle 100 miles last Sunday they look at me in total disbelief (yes I brag about it)
Doing a century is a wonderful accomplishment and it gives your self esteem a huge boost.
Hang in there, its well worth it !!!!

http://www.roskilly.com/Century.htm

Wow. I wish I could consistently ride that fast. I've been riding a year now, done 2700 miles, two centuries. I can easily knock off a metric, doing two more centuries in the next month. But I can't ride that fast :(

Well, Houston is extremely FLAT. It is easier to lock into a speed and maintain it when you are not shifting up and down, climbing hills, etc.

Thanks for the compliment though, I didn't think there was anything particularly noteworthy about that speed. :o I am a LONG way from doing a century; that is much more impressive than my average speeds have been.

I am a LONG way from doing a century; that is much more impressive than my average speeds have been.

I dunno about that. Mileage is more about a comfortable bike, eating, and drinking.

...when I got my road bike about 4-5 months ago it was my first real time back on a bike in years.

I think it was probably in the 17-18 mph range.
Wow. I wish I could consistently ride that fast. I've been riding a year now, done 2700 miles, two centuries. I can easily knock off a metric, doing two more centuries in the next month. But I can't ride that fast :(

That's interesting. I just started riding a bike this month (http://www.bashlor.com/blog.html) and I started about 16.5-17mph avg. I can ride averaging about 18mph solo now. Been riding 15 miles every three days with a couple 26ers in there. Now I've moved to every other day. In a couple weeks I want to go 15 miles every day, then I'll work on increasing mileage and speed. I'm 31, about 190lbs, 5'10", not in shape at all...yet. I must be starting off ok. Am I over doing it? I don't feel like it so I guess not... Does this seem like a good plan? Trek 1200 btw.

That's interesting. I just started riding a bike this month (http://www.bashlor.com/blog.html) and I started about 16.5-17mph avg. I can ride averaging about 18mph solo now. Been riding 15 miles every three days with a couple 26ers in there. Now I've moved to every other day. In a couple weeks I want to go 15 miles every day, then I'll work on increasing mileage and speed. I'm 31, about 190lbs, 5'10", not in shape at all...yet. I must be starting off ok. Am I over doing it? I don't feel like it so I guess not... Does this seem like a good plan? Trek 1200 btw.
Don't compare yourself to me. It takes me nearly an hour to get warmed up and most of my rides are just long (10-25 mile) climbs (5-8%)... so I actually don't know what my 'real' average is or should be. I once did a 50 mile ride that averaged 2-3% climb out and descent back @ 17mph.

I'm sure you're plan is great. Mix it up a bit tho with more intense rides and recovery rides... an easy spin once or twice a week is a good idea to pump bad stuff out of your muscles and good stuff in without stressing 'em.

Um...speed wise yeah...you are bookin if you just started. I've been riding just more then a year and I consider myself to be in pretty decent shape and I"m just now averaging 15-17 mph. I don't get so much hung up on speed as mileage. More of a distance gal. If you feel good...keep at it. Once you start riding every day you'll really notice a difference.

...hardest part to get through on your way to the century mark I think is around 75 miles.

Probably very true, give or take a few miles. The Solvang Century (CA) is known for having the "big !*@%!@%^&" hills after the 84 mi mark. I actually felt really good through that section. It was the prior 14 mi uphill through Foxen Canyon that was ... unfun.

I think the tactic to riding long distance is akin to what those Olympic 400m swimmers said ... "don't blow it over the first 100m". So many of them swam "easy/moderate" over the first 100m and really turned it on over the last 100m cause they had "gas" left in the tank.

When you see SOOO many roadies at the start, it is easy to go WAY TO FAST over the first 25 (or so). If you can preview the course, do so. If you have an idea or get tidbits where/when to turn on the gas or where to back off, make a note. Stick to your pre-ride tactics. Pace. Ride within yourself. You'll make it to the finish line.

Best.

Time.. and consistant riding.

Shoot, I started on a mountain bike with knobbies. I did 10.5 miles and thought that I accomplished something. I think I did about 14-15mph.
Over that summer, Igot up to 40 miles and a 15.5 mph average on knobby tires. I got that inititial 10.5 mile ride to about 17mph be the end of the summer.

The next year, i bought a $600 road bike(was back to 243). Over the summer, I increased my solo average to 18mph on 50 mile solo rides. A fast group ride event of 21mph over 54 miles inspired me for this year.

This spring, bought a GOOD road bike. I've put in 2700 miles this year, and NOW my 62 mile solo averages are over 20mph, my old 10.5 mile loop is 23mph.

The point is, if I can do it.... so can you. But you have to give it an effort!

Ride against the clock... and find group rides where people push you!

Me too. More like two 15 mile rides. Took about 5 minutes on the park bench at the river, at the turn around point. I didn't feel like sitting any longer, which I was thankful for.

On the return, for about three miles, I tried to really stretch out the cranks. Felt good. I may need to move the seat back a tiny bit, when I move full time into the drops ??? ha HA.

Doing about 90 miles a week, for two weeks. Next week, I shoot for 120. After two weeks of 120, I will try to cut down to three rides of 40 mile rides a week for my 120.

God it felt good to ride fast.!!!

Yehaaaa !!!

Well folks. It's now October 17th. 30 miles is nothing. Doing that at an 18 mph+ pace with hills.

Did a 69 mile ride 2 weekends ago and the first 30 miles was over 20 mph, average over 69 was 18.1

Right now I'm in between the slower group (average 16-18) and the fast group (20+) Though the fast group doens't seem to be meeting anymore this year. I'm still out riding. I'm setting my MTB up with lights and stuff and we are going to be riding in the "city" as opposed to the county. This will start after the time change.

I took my MTB out with the "slower" group last week and was averaging 17+ and for a good portion on the flats was runing over 20mph. The folks in the "slower" group couldn't keep up and they were on road bikes.

What a great feeling. Though I won't be doing a century this year. I'm planning on one for the spring. If I can just keep this level up.

OH and I just order an extra set of wheels, tires, and cassette for the MTB, I'll be putting on slicks for our night rides in town.

I also did 30 today and would like to work up to a century. I know it is different for everyone, but how often a week does everyone ride. I would like to ride everyday, but think that it might be counterproductive (no rest). I also try to run at least 2x a week.

My long rides were 20 miles until I started riding with someone better than I. Now 25-35 is the usual, with a 40 miler with a huge climb in the middle last week.
Just go out one day and do it. Ride 20 miles out, and you've got no choice but to ride back. Either that or.... :::shudder::: *CALL* somebody... yelgh!

Cole

Then, as suggested here, I turned around and did that same hill again a few more times just to get past any lingering dread of it. Two months ago, I would have wept like baby at the thought. Now I feel like I own that sucker!


I've got a hill around here that is my nemesis. It's about 2 miles at a pretty decent grade (I won't speculate, I have no way of knowing). Your post has inspired me to go ride it 4 times tomorrow, to let it know it's mine.

I'm comfortable with around 25 mile rides now, it's amazing how the body adapts. Funny how when you start riding, 5 - 10 miles is going somewhere. I'd feel silly getting the bike out for that now.

Hmm, my hill is Logan Pass on the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. I rode it a couple of weeks ago. I got within 3 miles of the summit. >5% for just over 12 miles. (east side) I will have my picture taken at top in front of the summit sign!

I've got one hill, which is a 300' climb in a mile that's on my daily commute, but I've yet to get much more than a third of the way up Mt Tam (2400' climb in 13 miles) but there's quite a few cut-off points so my plan is to slowly work my way further up the mountain.